novelraw Chapter 23: The Thrill is Gone
Chapter 23: The Thrill is Gone
The other end of the line was silent for several seconds.
Then, a cool voice asked, "Care to join, Kade?"
Kian Sterling’s gaze swept coolly over the person sitting across from him. "I can’t get away."
Silas Norwood gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and hung up.
The political and business networking event at the hotel was still underway. Losing interest, Kian Sterling stubbed out his cigarette and gestured to a nearby waiter.
"A glass of whiskey. On the rocks."
A glass of whiskey was quickly delivered.
Across from him, a soft, ingratiating laugh. "Chairman Sterling, you seem a bit troubled. Was it because of that call?"
Kian Sterling gripped the golden glass, his voice cold and laced with obvious disgust. "My affairs are none of Eldest Young Master Sutton’s business."
The Sutton Family’s eldest son, Wyatt Sutton, shrugged. "I was out of line. If you have urgent matters, Chairman Sterling, feel free to leave. What’s between us can’t be resolved in a moment anyway."
Kian Sterling sneered. "You’re overthinking it, Eldest Young Master Sutton. There is nothing between us that needs resolving."
"And why not?" Wyatt Sutton had a harsh, bony face—thin, with no flesh on his high cheekbones. It was only the prestige of the Sutton Family name that lent him an air of wealth. His personality, however, was sharp and direct. "The eight percent of shares you’re managing, Chairman Sterling, are Sutton Family property, after all. It’s hardly appropriate for an outsider like you to keep them in your hands for so many years."
Kian Sterling scoffed. "What, so it’d be appropriate in the hands of you bastards?"
Wyatt Sutton’s expression turned slightly sour. "Chairman Sterling, you must know that I’m not in the same boat as the others. The second and third brothers are ruthless and have no qualms about going after my sister, Summer. Instead of watching the fire from across the river, why not cooperate with me?"
Kian Sterling drained his whiskey in one go. A chilling layer settled over his dangerously handsome features as he slowly smiled.
"I, for one, detest things like illegitimate children more than anything. Cooperate? You’re dreaming, Eldest Young Master Sutton."
Wyatt Sutton’s tone stiffened. "You may not be afraid of trouble, Chairman Sterling, but you should also consider my sister."
"Pass on a message to the Sutton Family for me." Kian Sterling’s posture was languid yet cruel. "Summer Sutton’s life is their life. If they think they’ve lived long enough, I’ll personally see them off."
Wyatt Sutton fell silent and raised his glass to him.
Norwood Conglomerate Business Tower.
A discreet black Guster pulled out of the garage and merged into traffic.
In the car, his assistant, Theo Chambers, sat in the passenger seat holding a list he had just retrieved. He reported in a low voice:
"The six in the private room are the Sinclair Family’s fourth daughter, the Lowell Family’s third daughter, Eldest Miss Warren, Miss Sterling, the Marsh Family’s second daughter, and..."
He didn’t say who the last one was.
But everyone who needed to know, knew.
In the back seat, Silas Norwood rolled a thumb ring over his finger, his eyes impassive, his voice soft. "Quite a lively gathering."
His tone held no sharpness, but Theo Chambers instantly felt the air in the car turn frigid. He silently reached out to turn up the heat and said respectfully,
"These young ladies often get together. They’ve just chosen a different venue today. While The Sovereign Club isn’t the most high-end place in Metropia, it’s a legitimate establishment—elegant and grand, not vulgar."
He sounded perfectly serious, but inwardly, Theo Chambers was in turmoil.
He wasn’t even supposed to be here today. During the conglomerate’s regular meeting, the BOSS had suddenly taken a call from that person from the Sterling Family. His already cool and detached expression had looked like an impending avalanche after he hung up. The CEO, Julian Langdon, who was chairing the meeting, and the other directors present had instantly fallen silent, each one cautiously stealing glances at his face.
"Continue the meeting," Silas Norwood said flatly, then stood up and left the conference room.
Theo Chambers followed close behind. Silas Norwood’s eyes were dark and bottomless. "Find out who’s at The Sovereign Club with Cece."
Theo Chambers hadn’t thought much of it at first. However, when he saw the six files on the male models, his mood was like a roller coaster derailing. He was utterly shocked!
’How long has it been since they signed the marriage swap agreement? Two days? Three? And Eldest Miss Sterling is already out hiring male models? Is this how all the princesses in her circle play these days?’
Sneaking a glance in the rearview mirror at his BOSS’s devastatingly handsome face, Theo Chambers took a deep breath.
’The thrill is gone once you’ve got them. Who knew that iron law of love applied to the BOSS, too.’
「The Sovereign Club.」
Unaware that their whereabouts had been exposed, the group of socialites from the Capital Circle were relaxing and playing cards, accompanied by their chosen models.
They were all being boisterous, but only Miss Sterling and Miss March were truly letting loose, enjoying perfectly-timed massages from the models. The others merely had them do things like pour tea, fetch water, and make conversation.
The model beside Celia Sterling was demurely shelling melon seeds, placing the uniformly sized kernels onto a white jade plate. Celia didn’t eat any, simply pushing the plate over to Quinn Sinclair.
Quinn Sinclair threw down a card, glanced at the man next to Celia Sterling, and clicked her tongue. "So many handsome guys, and you picked such a bland one. The one I have is a real sweet-talker. Want to trade?"
Not to mention Declan Nash, who had clung to her calling her "baby" for three years, and just considering the men Kian Sterling had introduced Celia Sterling to at clubs, their sweet nothings were like handfuls of sugar. Celia had genuinely developed a psychological aversion to how cloying it all was.
She shook her head. "I’m into this type lately."
"I get it," Quinn Sinclair teased. "The aloof, otherworldly type!"
"What’s with the inside jokes?" Nearby, Jasmine Lowell shot them a suspicious glance. "Celia Sterling, don’t you like the wild and untamable ’little puppy’ types like Declan Nash? What, change of taste?"
"Don’t mention Declan Nash," Quinn Sinclair sighed. "Careful, or she’ll get mad at you."
"The trending topic thing?" Jasmine Lowell’s gossipy side perked up. "So what’s the situation with you two now?"
Celia Sterling was evasive. "There have been some changes to the marriage alliance. For the final result, wait for the official announcements from the Sterling and Norwood family websites."
Jasmine Lowell looked displeased. "After all our years of friendship, you’re giving me the official corporate line?"
Eldest Miss Warren, who was being fed by a model, casually interjected,
"Speaking of Declan Nash, I ran into him at a bar yesterday. He was moping around like a ghost. I heard he’s spent the last two nights drinking at the bar, crying and making a scene. A real mess."
"He deserves it," Quinn Sinclair scoffed. "I can’t believe you all haven’t seen the photos from the trending topic."
Jasmine Lowell added, "My cousin was with Declan Nash when he was taking down the trending topic. He said Declan was in a total panic, hands shaking, terrified he’d be a second too late. His eyes were all bloodshot from the stress. If you ask me, that Declan Nash is really serious about you, Cece. I’ve lived this long and I’ve never seen a man so obsessively attached to a woman."
Celia Sterling’s mood soured. She tossed her cards back onto the table. "I’m done playing."
"Alright, alright, no more talk about Declan Nash." Jasmine Lowell changed the subject. "I heard your brother is putting together a list of debutantes suitable for a marriage alliance. Think you can slip my name in there?"
Celia Sterling remembered Kian Sterling saying it was just to appease the clan elders and threw cold water on Jasmine Lowell’s hopes. "Give it up. He has no plans to get married in the next few years."
A flash of disappointment crossed Jasmine Lowell’s face. "I don’t have to marry him. I’d be happy if you just let me have a taste."
Celia Sterling flatly refused. "In your dreams."
Jasmine Lowell grew angry. "Celia Sterling, if you hadn’t ruined my blind date back then, I would’ve landed that handsome man long ago! You won’t let me touch your brother, fine! Then you can pay me back with that blind date from the concert hall private box!"