Chapter 15
“Mr. Quade?” Serena returned to the CEO’s office, knocked on the door, and walked in.
She saw Wilson lying casually on the nearby couch with his impossibly long legs crossed lazily. He had one arm resting behind his
head and the other holding a cigarette. His eyes were slightly closed, as if he were asleep.
Serena placed the food on a side table, and her gaze inadvertently settled on his face.
The man’s appearance was almost excessively refined, with sharp contours and deep features. With his eyes closed, he looked like
a carefree aristocrat straight out of a comic book.
She just couldn’t help but stare a little longer, and Wilson suddenly opened his eyes.
“Uh, Mr. Quade, I brought your lunch…” Feeling guilty, Serena quickly averted her eyes and handed the
he food to Wilson.
Wilson sat up lazily, noticing her slightly flushed cars. “You were gone for so long. I almost thought you’d switched sides and gone back to your blind ex–boss.”
“I would never go back,” Serena immediately defended herself. But remembering her brief encounter with Justin downstairs, she
felt a twinge of guilt.
“Mr. Quade, I’ll step out now,” she said quickly.
“Wait. Send me your measurements. I’ll have someone pick out a dress for you,” Wilson called after her.
“For me?” Serena turned, and her face was filled with surprise.
Wilson nodded. “There’s a huge charity gala in a week. I’d like you to be my date. Ms. Judd, would you do me the honor?”
A large charity gala? That meant Justin would likely be there too.
“If you don’t want to go, you can decline,” Wilson added, as if sensing her hesitation.
“I’ll go,” Serena replied. She hadn’t done anything wrong–why should she avoid Justin? Besides, she couldn’t spend the rest of
her life dodging him.
After lunch, Serena threw herself straight into work.
Her meeting with Daniel went smoothly. Perhaps Wilson had already spoken to him, as Daniel didn’t seem surprised to see
Serena al Quade Group.
By the end of their discussion, Daniel smiled and praised her capabilities. “By the way, Farrow Corporation’s new personal
absolutely ridiculous she even mispronounced basic Velrithian. I really don’t know what Mr. Farrow was thinking, letting someone like that take on such a role ”
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The new personal assistant? Was he referring to Candice?
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Serena gave a faint smile. “I’ve already left Farrow Corporation. Whatever happens there has nothing to do with me. However, I’d
like to thank you for trusting Quade Group.”
After finishing the video call, Serena followed Wilson to attend several meetings. By nightfall, they went together to a five–star
hotel to meet with business partners.
At the dinner table, Serena carried herself with grace and politeness. She drank two glasses of wine with the clients, but Wilson
tapped his fingers lightly on the table when they tried to push her for more.
“I know my new assistant is very capable, but she still has to work overtime with me later. If you get her drunk, I’ll have to deduct my losses from your account.” He might have said it teasingly, but everyone could hear the protective undertone.
The clients took the hint and set down their glasses with a laugh. As Serena sat back down, she caught a faint, cool woody scent
nearby.
Wilson’s deep voice followed, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. This much wine is nothing,” she replied. After all, she could handle her alcohol well.
“Yes, I know you can handle your drinks, but don’t overdo it. Otherwise, who’s going to bring me breakfast tomorrow?” Wilson
chuckled softly.
Serena lowered her gaze, and warmth spread through her chest. She knew he was just looking out for her.
Justin, on the other hand, never did. He always assumed she was strong and capable, like an unbreakable machine.
The group left the private dining room after dinner. As they stepped out, a loud voice suddenly rang out. “Why, isn’t this Mr.
Quade?”
Serena turned her head and saw the door of another private room open. A man in a blue suit was looking at Wilson
He was tall and broad–shouldered, and his black hair was slicked back with gel. Large gemstone rings gleamed on his fingers, and his hawk–like eyes swept over the group with an intimidating presence.
Wilson’s smile faded considerably as he called out, “Mr. Carter.”
“Now, now. You’re the CEO of Quade Group now. There’s no need to be so respectful,” said the man as he took a sip of red wine.
“Didn’t you say that we needed to discuss the Opulence Street business face–to–face last time? What a coincidence! There’s no need to pick another day–bow about we do that now? Do you want to come in for a chat?”
As he finished speaking, two men stepped out from behind him. Both of them wore shirts that revealed muscular forearms.
covered in striking tattoos.
They then approached Wilson, and one of them said, “Mr. Quade, please”
The atmosphere grew tense, and Wilson glanced at the visibly uneasy business partner standing nearby. “Mr. Erickson, let’s
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catch up another day. You go on ahead; I have things to handle.”
Ted Erickson nodded repeatedly and quickly excused himself.
Afterward, Wilson, Serena, and two of Wilson’s bodyguards were “invited” into the private room. Once inside, Serena realized
there were about ten people in the room, and they were all men.
Despite their suits, their rough demeanor and piercing gazes betrayed them. She suddenly remembered that Wilson had a rough background and a less–than–clean history.
Was this some sort of grudge from his past life?
“Mr. Quade, you’re clearly riding high these days. Your business is thriving, and you’ve got a beauty like this by your side. Life is good for you, isn’t it? But don’t forget to think about the people who helped you in the past now!”
Michael Carter plopped himself into a seat not far from Wilson, grinning as he looked at Serena. “Young lady, how old are you?”
Before Serena could respond, Wilson’s calm voice interjected, “Mr. Carter, if you have something to say, just say it.”
“Oh my. Protective, aren’t we?” Michael bared his teeth in a grin. “Such a beauty–how could I not want to get to know her?”
He poured a glass of red wine and slid it toward Serena, then leaned back Jazily in his chair. “Regarding the business on Opulence
Street, I’ve already sent people to discuss it with you previously, I’d like to partner up.
“That land is prime real estate, and your club attracts those rich, idle heirs with money to burn. Just let me sell some goods there,
and it’ll be a goldmine.”
Michael continued, holding a cigar between his fingers, “Don’t worry. I’ll split the profits with you–40% for you, 60% for me.”
Serena quickly grasped the situation. This man wanted to use Wilson’s venue to sell illegal goods. She then instinctively glanced
at Wilson beside her.
The man exuded an air of nobility. His refined bone structure and composed demeanor remained unshaken even in this setting He still radiated effortless elegance while holding a lit cigarette between his fingers.
Wilson curved his lips into a lazy smile. “Mr. Carter, you’re too generous. But I’m not interested in this collaboration.”
Snubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray before him, Wilson continued, “I’ve got a casino in Macer that’s short on management. If you’re interested, you could try your hand there, but we’re not discussing anything else.”
He stood up, and Serena immediately followed. They were just about to leave when the sound of a glass shattering echoed behind
them.
Michael had slammed his wine glass onto the table, breaking it into pieces. His face still wore a smile, but it had turned menacing “It seems like I’ve gotten so old I can’t even get a sliver of respect from you anymore”
fis eyes shalted to the untouched wine on the table. “What’s this? You won’t even take a sip of the wine I poured myself? You’re unwilling to give me such small courtesy?”
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Hearing this, Serena reached for the glass of red wine. Wilson grabbed her wrist just as she was about to drink it. “You don’t have
to drink if you don’t feel like drinking.”
“You jest, Mr. Quade. Mr. Carter seems to have known you for quite some time. As someone younger, I should show some respect.
I’ll drink it.” She gave Wilson a reassuring glance before downing the wine in one go.
Since she barely touched her drink at dinner, one glass now was nothing to her.
Michael clapped his hands with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Mr. Quade, this beauty of yours certainly knows her manners!”
Serena’s expression didn’t falter. “You flatter me, Mr. Carter.”
She knew that refusing the drink would likely escalate the situation. It was better to resolve things peacefully and leave as soon as
possible.
Wilson’s tone carried a hint of irritation now. “Mr. Carter, I have other matters to attend to. Do excuse us.”
The group then walked out of the room. This time, no one stopped them. However, a loud, mocking voice rang out from behind as
they exited.
“Dammit, that Quade kid’s been in charge of the Quades for only a few years, and he’s already so full of himself! Mr. Carter, he
was nothing more than a little nobody back when he was with you!”
“He really thinks he’s someone now that they’re calling him Mr. Quade. If I’d known he’d turn into such a backstabbing ingrate,
I’d have taken care of him back then!”
“He even told you to manage his casino in Macer? He’s just trying to make you his henchman! What a piece of work!”
“He’s pretending to be someone important now that he’s all dressed up, all sharp in a suit. He forgot where he came from. He’s just a bastard child who used to fight for scraps!”
Brazen and deliberate laughter erupted behind Wilson and Serena. It was clear those words were meant for Wilson to hear.
Serena sensed the tension around her suddenly thicken. When she looked up, she caught a flash of fury in Wilson’s eyes. They were filled with a violent, chilling intensity that startled her.
However, his expression was calm the next moment, as if that frightening demeanor had been nothing but her imagination.
“What’s wrong?” he asked:
“It’s nothing. Mr. Quade, don’t let it bother you. They clearly aren’t decent people. Just think of it as bad luck, like getting bitten
by a dog on your way out.”
Wilson half–smiled as his deep gaze rested on her face. Then, he said in an enigmatic tone, “Yeah, my luck’s bad, but theirs is
pretty good today ”
Before Serena could make sense of his words, Wilson was already walking forward. “Let’s go.”
They then took the elevatur down and exited the hotel
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The moment Serena sat in the back seat of the Rolls–Royce, she began to feel unwell. She with her hand, but the heat inside her kept surging
She tugged at her collar and fanned herself
Wilson also noticed something was wrong. “Why is your face so red? Are you drunk?”
“No… Mr. Quade, something feels off,” Serena murmured, lifting her eyes, full of unease and tears, to meet his.
Wilson froze for a moment before reaching out to touch her forehead. It was burning hot, and her face was the same. It seemed
like her entire body had overheated
He immediately realized that the wine Michael had given her was spiked.
“Mr. Quade…” Serena’s soft body leaned against him. “le’s… It’s so hot…”
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