Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Giving Her Too Much Face
Led by the receptionist, Cecilia Croft entered Sebastian Hawthorne’s office.
The man she thought would still be half-asleep was already dressed in a sharp suit, sitting at his desk and focused on his work.
He glanced up when she came in.
"You’re here."
Cecilia Croft nodded. "Mr. Hawthorne, good morning."
Sebastian Hawthorne gave a slight nod, glancing at the seat opposite him before casually setting down the document in his hand.
"Have a seat."
Cecilia didn’t stand on ceremony, pulling out the chair and sitting down.
Sebastian then took out a contract he had prepared earlier, placed it on the desk, and pushed it toward Cecilia.
"Take a look."
Cecilia took it with both hands and began to read through it.
Sebastian said, "If you have no objections, we can also provide an electronic version of the contract."
Cecilia’s eyes lit up. "Let’s sign the electronic version, then."
"I’ll come back for the physical copy another day."
’Jude Sheridan was still waiting downstairs. He must be dying to see the contract’s contents.’
She had been worrying about how to handle him when she went back down, but with Sebastian’s reminder, the problem solved itself.
Sebastian said, "Alright."
Cecilia skimmed the main clauses, confirmed the amount was correct, and then indicated she was ready to sign.
The future of Vantage had nothing to do with her anymore. Whatever Sebastian wanted to do with it wasn’t her concern.
Sebastian had the legal department send over the electronic version of the contract.
After confirming the electronic version was identical to the physical one, Cecilia prepared to sign.
Before signing, she looked up at Sebastian and spoke hesitantly.
"Mr. Hawthorne, could you wait six days before having your people move into Vantage? I have a few loose ends to tie up, and it will take about six days."
Sebastian nodded in agreement.
"Of course."
’It was only six days. It would have little impact on the Hawthorne Group.’
Relieved, Cecilia signed.
As she did, Sebastian spoke, his voice low.
"Once you sign this, there’s no turning back."
Cecilia’s hand didn’t falter in the slightest. She cleanly and crisply wrote her name and tapped "confirm."
"From the moment I approached you about the acquisition, regret was never part of the plan."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow as he received the signed contract back from Cecilia.
He said no more, simply having the finance department come and transfer the funds to her account in her presence.
A smile spread across Cecilia’s face when she received the notification of the deposit.
"Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne."
With the company business settled, all she had to do for the next few days was "prepare" for the wedding.
"If you really want to thank me, then let me watch a good show."
Sebastian’s deep, dark eyes were fixed on her, as if he could see right through all her plans.
"Naturally."
Cecilia didn’t try to hide anything from him.
"I just hope Mr. Hawthorne won’t be laughing at me when the time comes."
Sebastian looked at her and said leisurely,
"I can’t make any promises. What if it’s just too funny?"
Cecilia: "..."
’So he really does want to see her make a fool of herself! And there’s absolutely nothing she can do about it.’
Sebastian noticed the hint of embarrassment in her eyes and stopped teasing her, lowering his gaze to the documents in his hands.
Taking the cue, Cecilia rose to her feet and said softly,
"Mr. Hawthorne, I won’t keep you. I’ll see myself out."
Sebastian nodded without looking at her.
Cecilia got up and walked toward the exit. At the door, she stopped and turned to look back at the man focused at his desk.
A few rays of morning light crept in through the open French windows, happening to fall upon his long fingers. The sapphire cufflinks on his shirt glinted brilliantly in the sunshine.
Cecilia pursed her lips and spoke softly.
"Mr. Hawthorne..."
Sebastian looked up at her, his gaze warm and filled with an emotion Cecilia couldn’t quite decipher.
Thinking about what she was about to ask, Cecilia couldn’t hold back a smile.
"So, about that game last night... was it really the system playing for you after you fell asleep?"
The warmth in his gaze instantly vanished. Cecilia already knew the answer. She just smiled, turned, and left.
’Who made the rule that he could laugh at her poor taste in men, but she couldn’t laugh at him for being bad at video games?’
’He was going to laugh at her in a few days anyway, so she might as well get a laugh at his expense now.’
Cecilia left the Hawthorne Group building in a very good mood.
As she walked out to her car, Jude Sheridan got out of his own and blocked her path.
"Cecilia, it’s done, right?"
"Let me see the contract."
Without asking for permission, Jude snatched her bag and started rummaging through it for the contract.
The smile on Cecilia’s face vanished instantly.
’She had briefly forgotten what a nuisance he was.’
When Jude didn’t find the contract, a flicker of confusion crossed his face, and he stared intently at Cecilia.
"Cecilia, what’s going on?"
Her expression hardening, Cecilia snatched her bag back and looked at him coldly.
"Perhaps Mr. Hawthorne found your performance last night so utterly pathetic that he’s seriously reconsidering whether to partner with Vantage."
Jude’s expression grew heavy, his eyes simmering with anger.
"So you didn’t manage to close the deal either, did you? What gives you the right to be so arrogant with me?"
Cecilia quietly watched Jude’s furious and flustered expression, her own eyes completely indifferent.
Jude realized he had gone too far. His chest heaved as he took a deep breath.
"I’m sorry, Cecilia. I just had such high hopes for this that I can’t handle any setbacks."
"Zane Keller has already spread the news everywhere. I... I’m just trying to save face for Vantage."
Cecilia gave a scornful laugh. "It wasn’t even a done deal, yet you let your good buddy broadcast it to the world. Jude Sheridan, I’m afraid you’ve let them put you on too high a pedestal all these years."
Jude said, "Zane, his personality is just..."
Cecilia cut in, "The higher they lift you, the harder you fall. I hope you’ll be able to handle the pain when it happens."
Jude closed his eyes. "Don’t be upset. I’ll keep my distance from him from now on. I won’t hang out with him anymore."
"Whatever." Cecilia opened her car door and bent down to get in.
She started the car and drove off, and this time, Jude didn’t try to stop her.
After driving for a while, Cecilia noticed Jude’s car was following her.
Cecilia rolled her eyes and sped up, heading back to her villa.
The moment she was inside, she immediately locked the main door, giving Jude no chance to get in.
Locked out, Jude was furious.
"Cecilia, we’re getting married in a few days! There are still so many wedding details to plan. Can we please sit down and talk properly?"
Standing just inside the door, Cecilia replied flatly,
"I’ll coordinate the wedding details with the planners. You just need to show up on time."
Jude: "Cecilia, are you really going to keep giving me the cold shoulder like this?"
Cecilia didn’t answer him, simply walking further into the house.
Jude heard her footsteps retreating and clenched his jaw.
’Maybe I really should try Zane Keller’s suggestion,’ he thought, ’I’ve been way too good to her. That’s why she’s become so entitled and temperamental.’
