Chapter 24: Chapter 24: The Show Is About to Begin
###Chapter 24: The Show is About to Begin
Maxine Rhodes’s attention was immediately captured. "Wedding anniversary? It’s a good thing you reminded me! This project has certainly taken up a lot of Director Young’s personal time. Since it’s their anniversary, it’s only right that we do something for them."
After a moment of thought, a decisive look appeared in her eyes. "I’ll have Coco, on behalf of the company, upgrade them to the hotel’s honeymoon suite, arrange a candlelight dinner for two, and send over a gift. That should make up for things and show our sincerity."
As she spoke, she efficiently picked up her phone, ready to contact Coco and make the arrangements.
Ethan Hawthorne watched her profile as she masterfully handled the situation. He raised the glass of water beside him and took a sip, perfectly concealing the gentle curve that had formed on his lips.
Two days later, all of Maxine Rhodes’s arrangements were in place. All that was left was for the Youngs to arrive and receive their surprise.
It was at this exact moment that Rose Joyce picked up some important information from a friend who worked at the hotel.
"Rose! The latest intel!" The voice on the other end of the line was excited, clearly looking for praise. "That Director Young you told me to keep an eye on—he’s been upgraded to our hotel’s most expensive suite, the Cloud View Suite, and it’s been decorated for a honeymoon!
And get this—the front desk system shows that it was Maxine Rhodes, the one you said is always trying to steal your man, who called personally to request the upgrade!"
"And there’s more!" the voice grew even more gossipy. "This morning, 999 roses were air-freighted in. It was such a huge display that it caused a stir on the entire executive floor!"
"And they ordered Dom Perignon! With this kind of extravagance and this kind of atmosphere... anyone with eyes can see what’s about to go down~"
A suggestive giggle came from the other end of the line.
"Perfect!!"
Rose Joyce clutched her phone, her fingertips trembling with excitement. Her face was contorted in an undisguised, almost twisted ecstasy.
Suppressing the laughter that was about to burst from her throat, she said into the phone, "You’ve done a great service! Send me the photos! Quick!"
’My efforts have finally paid off. To think that Maxine Rhodes, that self-righteous bitch, has finally shown her true colors!’
After hanging up, Rose Joyce immediately received the photos from her friend: a magnificent bouquet placed at the suite’s entrance and a profile shot of Maxine Rhodes entering the hotel.
"Hahaha..."
Staring at her phone screen, she finally let out a low laugh, her eyes fierce and burning. "Maxine Rhodes, oh, Maxine Rhodes, your day has finally come! Let’s see you try to act innocent now! Once Benjamin sees your true colors and learns you’re just a cheap slut who’ll climb into anyone’s bed for a project, he’ll never look at you again!"
"Then, Benjamin will be all mine! He’ll finally know that I’m the only one who truly loves him, the purest one!"
After composing herself, Rose Joyce immediately took out her phone and dialed Benjamin Sterling’s number. He answered almost instantly. The background was noisy, suggesting he was at a social function.
"Benjamin..." Her voice was filled with feigned panic and worry. "Is it a good time to talk? I... I saw something I shouldn’t have. It’s about Maxine..."
"What is it?"
Benjamin Sterling’s voice immediately tensed, and the background noise instantly subsided.
"I... I don’t know how to say it..." She trailed off, then let out a sob. "I’ll send you a few photos, but... Benjamin, you have to promise me you won’t get angry or do anything rash. Maybe... maybe we’re just misunderstanding Maxine?"
While her words suggested caution, her hands moved swiftly, sending him the photo of the suite filled with roses and the blurry profile shot of Maxine entering the hotel.
The other end of the line fell deathly silent.
A few seconds later, Benjamin Sterling’s voice came through, laced with suppressed fury and disbelief. "Where is this? What is she doing there?! Who is she with?!"
"It’s the Cloud View Suite at Willow Creek Resort..." Rose Joyce answered in a small voice, continuing to fuel the fire. "My friend said she saw Director Young go in, too. And the roses and champagne... Maxine arranged it all in her own name. Benjamin, do you think... do you think she might be discussing... some very important business with Director Young? Are we overthinking this?"
She deliberately added a suggestive tone to the word "business."
"Does discussing business require a fucking honeymoon suite?! Does it require 999 roses and Dom Perignon?!"
Benjamin Sterling’s roar nearly shattered the earpiece, filled with the fury of betrayal. "That bitch, Maxine Rhodes! How dare she do this to me?!"
"Benjamin, don’t be like this. You’re scaring me..." Rose Joyce pleaded with a sob in her voice, though inwardly she was blooming with joy. "Maybe Maxine was just confused for a moment, or... or maybe that Director Young forced her? If we go over now and catch them, where will she be able to show her face..."
Her words sounded like she was trying to dissuade him, but in reality, every syllable was precisely calculated to get on Benjamin Sterling’s nerves. The words "catch them" and "show her face," in particular, were a clear hint that he should go and catch them in the act!
"Face?! When she did this shameless thing, did she think about *my* face?!"
As expected, Benjamin Sterling completely lost his composure, his voice distorted by extreme rage. "Where are you? Don’t move! I’m coming to get you right now! I want to see with my own damn eyes just how Maxine Rhodes ’discusses business’ under another man!"
Without waiting for Rose Joyce to reply, he viciously hung up the phone.
Listening to the dial tone, Rose Joyce slowly lowered her phone. The pitiful, damsel-in-distress expression vanished from her face, replaced by a cold, triumphant smile that said her scheme had succeeded.
’The show is about to begin.’
「Meanwhile, at Hawthorne Group.」
Ethan Hawthorne’s phone screen lit up with a message from Erza Sinclair:
"President Sterling and Miss Joyce are heading to Willow Creek Resort. They are highly agitated and may pose a threat to Madam."
Ethan Hawthorne’s gaze turned cold.
He hit the speed dial for Erza Sinclair, his voice steady. "Two things."
"First, send some people over to wait on standby outside the hotel. If Benjamin Sterling acts out, ensuring Madam’s safety is the top priority."
"Second," he continued, his speech even and his thoughts clear, "contact Finn Finch. Give him a concise warning so he’s prepared. If necessary, he can play along."
Erza Sinclair: "Understood!"
On her end, Rose Joyce meticulously touched up her makeup before elegantly sliding into the passenger seat of Benjamin Sterling’s speeding sports car.
Seeing his profile twisted in fury, she remained thoughtfully silent. Inwardly, however, she was screaming, ’Faster! Go faster! I can’t wait to see the sordid scene that’s about to unfold!’
Besides Rose Joyce, Benjamin Sterling had even called a trusted associate with professional camera equipment. The trio, like soldiers marching into battle, charged furiously toward Willow Creek Resort.
