That evening, Stella Sterling prepared to leave for Vicenza.
On the way to the airport, Claire Shawcross drove, glancing over at Stella from time to time. Her tone was serious. "You're hiding something from me."
Stella Sterling was scrolling through her phone, only half-paying attention. "No, I'm not."
Claire scowled. "I don't believe you."
Stella sighed. "Honestly, what could I possibly hide from you? I'm going to Vesper Island on business."
At that, Claire arched a suggestive eyebrow. "Handling some 'business' with Mr. Rhodes, are we?"
Stella was speechless.
'That was definitely a loaded question.'
"So Mr. Rhodes is the Mark that Jude was talking about, right?" Claire muttered to herself. "No wonder you were putting on such a prim and proper act in front of him. You've been sneaking around behind my back… I knew I shouldn't have signed you up for that membership. A waste of my hundred thousand."
"Don't be ridiculous," Stella reiterated. "I'm seeing him for actual business."
"Really?" Claire asked skeptically. "Then swear on your life."
Stella was speechless.
'What a great best friend she was.'
Once at the airport, Stella gave Claire no opportunity for further 'interrogation.' She got out of the car and rushed straight into the terminal.
There were still twenty minutes until boarding.
Spotting a specialty gift shop by the gate, Stella ducked inside.
When she emerged, she was carrying two beautifully wrapped gift boxes.
At 8:40 PM, the plane took off on time.
「Meanwhile, at Rhodes Harbor Headquarters.」
After the final management meeting concluded, Roman Rhodes returned to the chairman's office. He took off his suit jacket, sat down, and lit a cigarette.
It had been a full day of intense, efficient work, with barely a moment to spare.
Now that he could finally relax, a trace of weariness was visible between his brows.
Brandon Coleman knocked on the door. "Mr. Rhodes, dinner is ready. Would you like to eat now?"
"No need." Roman Rhodes narrowed his eyes and took two drags from the cigarette between his fingers. "Have it cleared away."
Brandon nodded in understanding. "In that case, I'll inform Mr. Bell to prepare something at the house."
Roman was noncommittal. He leaned forward and tapped the ash from his cigarette, his whole demeanor growing even more languid and weary.
Brandon then went over a few items on the next day's schedule.
Before he could finish, Roman cut in, his voice deep. "Clear my schedule for tomorrow. Have Joe handle the afternoon inspection. You can arrange the rest as you see fit."
Brandon was tongue-tied. This put him in a difficult position.
When he received no immediate response, Roman's gaze shifted. "What is it?"
"Mr. Rhodes, Miss Sterling is coming to Vicenza to visit you tomorrow morning." After speaking, Brandon watched Roman's reaction without blinking.
But the man before him simply continued to smoke his cigarette, slow and unhurried. A faint haze of smoke blurred his features, making his expression inscrutable.
"Should I turn Miss Sterling away?" Brandon probed uncertainly.
Roman shot him a glance. "Where are you scheduled to meet?"
'So it's on,' Brandon thought.
...
「The next morning.」
Stella Sterling woke up in the Promontory Apartments above Kowlen Station.
Feeling bored after arriving in Vicenza the previous night, she had poured and finished half a bottle of red wine by herself.
Now, as she opened her eyes, a dull ache throbbed at her temples.
Stella shuffled into the walk-in closet in her slippers. Before she could even finish changing, she let out three sneezes.
When Brandon Coleman called, Stella was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, rolling little balls of tissue and stuffing them up her nose.
'This is bad. My nose has been running nonstop since I got up, and my head feels fuzzy. It feels like the start of a cold.'
Stella forced herself to sound cheerful and asked Brandon to wait a moment. Before heading out, she made a point to check herself in the mirror.
'Her appearance was crucial for her first formal meeting with Roman Rhodes.'
Downstairs, Brandon was waiting quietly beside an Alpha.
Seeing Stella, he greeted her with a smile. "Miss Sterling, good morning."
"Good morning," Stella returned a faint smile. "Sorry to have troubled you to come all this way. I could have gotten there myself."
'Rhodes Harbor Headquarters was just in The Spire; she'd already looked up the directions yesterday.'
Brandon replied, "It's no trouble at all. It's on my way. Please, Miss Sterling, get in."
Before long, the car was gliding smoothly toward its destination.
Stella felt drowsy the entire way. It wasn't until the car stopped in front of a teahouse in Azure Bay that Brandon's voice broke through her stupor. "Miss Sterling, the first private room on the second floor. Mr. Rhodes is waiting for you inside."
The second floor of the teahouse was decorated in a modern Chinese style.
Following Brandon's instructions, Stella knocked on the wooden door of the private room.
"Come in."
A deep, familiar male voice came from behind the door.
As Stella pushed the door open and stepped inside, a question flashed through her still-fuzzy mind.
'Why did Roman Rhodes's voice sound so familiar?'
Inside the private room, Roman Rhodes was dressed in a classic black shirt and trousers. Backlit by the window he was leaning against, he stood with his legs casually crossed, talking on the phone.
When he saw Stella enter, he gestured with two fingers toward the chair across the square table.
Stella walked over, holding the gift boxes with both hands.
A glance at the table revealed an array of freshly served Vesper Island-style dim sum, and her stomach immediately betrayed her with a growl.
At that moment, Roman Rhodes was speaking into his phone. "Let's plan on next week for now. On my behalf, let Connor Linden know that it's best not to overdo it."
Stella hadn't even had time to recall who Connor Linden was before the man ended his call and walked over from the window.
"Why don't you sit?"
Stella sniffled, then presented the gift boxes with both hands. "Mr. Rhodes, thank you for seeing me on such short notice. This is just a small token, but I hope you'll accept it."
Roman's gaze fell to the gift boxes. The faintest hint of a smile touched his lips, gone in an instant.
'For her to come all the way to Vicenza and be so proper, she must be here to ask for something.'
'Except…'
'Except for the small 'Airport Exclusive: Buy One, Get Two Free' sticker on the corner of the box, which somewhat undermined the formality of the gesture.'
Roman saw it but didn't point it out. He took the gift boxes, placed them on the corner of the table, and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"
Stella glanced at the tantalizing dim sum, fighting the temptation as she prepared to get straight to the point. "I've eaten. Mr. Rhodes, I actually came here today to…"
The man settled into his seat and gestured downward with his hand. "Sit first."
Cut off, Stella faltered for a moment before pulling out a chair and sitting down, trying to gather her thoughts again.
"Mr. Rhodes…"
"Whatever it is, it can wait until after breakfast." Roman unhurriedly picked up a towel to wipe his hands, his tone gentle yet carrying an undercurrent of authority. "It's a Vesper Island specialty, more authentic than in Calderin. Try some and see if you like it."
Stella managed an awkward smile. "After you."
'Fine,' she thought. 'Might as well do as I'm told.'
As Roman took the first bite, Stella followed suit, picking up a shrimp dumpling and chewing it mechanically.
'Mm, the dim sum at this teahouse is amazing.'
Some of the life returned to Stella's listless expression. After finishing the shrimp dumpling, she popped a fish roe shumai into her mouth.
The exquisite food was a balm to her empty stomach, and she began to feel much better.
Across from her, Roman held his cup and sipped his tea.
His dark, profound gaze rested on Stella's face from over the rim of his cup.
The young woman sat facing the light, her skin fair and her aura serene. Thick lashes fanned out, following the upward curve of her eyelids and making her almond-shaped eyes appear all the more exquisite, dark, and bright.
Perhaps it was because she found the Vesper Island dim sum to her liking, but she ate with a refined focus, her cheeks puffed out adorably like a little girl's.
Roman's Adam's apple bobbed. He took a sip of tea, swallowing down the strange tickle that had risen in his throat.