Celia Sterling and Miles Trenton chatted frequently about the base and had gotten to know each other quite well.

Well enough to trade a few passive-aggressive complaints about Rivermoon.

And well enough that she felt comfortable asking whatever came to mind: "Didn’t your boss and his wife used to have a great relationship? In group chats, on social media—they always revolved around each other."

Miles Trenton let out an "oh." "Their relationship is great now, too. The boss is even clingier with his wife than before."

Celia didn’t buy it. "I haven’t seen it. All I’ve seen is him being clingy with someone else all day."

Miles Trenton gave a cryptic smile.

"Miss Sterling, you shouldn’t say such things. Right now, the boss is like a besotted ruler who’s been put under his wife’s spell. He neglects his duties all day long, only thinking about how to flirt with her and go on dates with her. Even in the days right after a date, he has no interest in work. He’s either looking at her photos or figuring out how to please her next time. His heart and mind are completely filled with his wife—how could he possibly see anyone else?"

Celia couldn’t be bothered to explain. "There’s a conference in a couple of days. Is your boss coming?"

"Definitely."

"Help me arrange a dinner meeting with him. Silas Norwood and I will go together." Celia wanted to clear the air face-to-face. Otherwise, that man could even spout nonsense like "have his babies," and who knew what other outrageous things he’d say next.

If it were anyone else, she would have rolled up her sleeves and smashed a bottle over their head.

Miles Trenton mulled it over for a moment, then smiled. "I will pass on your message, Miss Sterling, but whether or not he goes isn’t up to me."

When Silas Norwood arrived, Celia Sterling had already booked a table at a specialty restaurant nearby. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"I hear the night view here is incredible." Celia’s almond eyes shimmered as she looked at him. "Want to go on a date?"

Silas Norwood’s heart tingled at the sight of her sparkling eyes. He gave a soft nod. "Okay."

Just outside the hotel was a famous local shopping street.

The two first had dinner at a nearby music-themed restaurant, then walked hand in hand under the dazzling neon lights, picking out interesting little trinkets along the way.

"There’s a Perfumer’s conference coming up, organized by Rivermoon," Celia mentioned casually. "If you’re not in a hurry, why don’t you stay for it?"

"I was never in a hurry. You’re always the one rushing me off." The smile in Silas Norwood’s eyes deepened as he feigned ignorance. "When is it?"

"It’s the day after our time together is over."

Silas Norwood’s large hand gave her waist a gentle squeeze. "So that means I get to stay with my baby for four days this time."

"Mm, you could say that." Celia hung on his arm, putting all her weight on him as she made a preemptive declaration. "But we can’t be so wild later. You have to leave me some energy for the conference."

Silas Norwood agreed in a low voice.

The street was filled with young couples. At first, they were just strolling normally, but when they reached a few romantic, "Instagrammable" photo spots, the atmosphere grew more intimate. Many couples were taking photos and videos, some even embracing for passionate, ceremonial kisses.

Celia’s face flushed. She gently tugged on Silas Norwood’s hand. "Let’s take another street."

Silas Norwood didn’t answer.

Celia pulled him toward another, quieter street.

But in the darkest corner, Silas Norwood pinned her against the wall.

"Silas Norwood, you—"

Silas Norwood pressed forward, silencing her with a kiss.

A long while later, Silas Norwood said softly, "This is the first time I’ve really kissed my baby outside."

"Nonsense, I remember several times..."

"That was different. Those were just light pecks. You can’t call those kisses."

As Silas Norwood spoke, the desire he had been forcibly suppressing finally broke free because of that passionate kiss. His cool tone was laced with a slight breathlessness. "Baby, let’s go back to the hotel. I’m not in the mood to wander around anymore."

"But we’ve only seen a third of it..."

"We’ll come back tomorrow," Silas Norwood said in a low voice. "And I’ll bring you back the night after that, baby. I promise."

The moment they were back in the hotel room, he gently pushed Celia Sterling onto the bed.

As Celia was lost in his kisses, he opened his suitcase to get something. Celia glanced over and noticed he’d brought twice the usual amount.

"Why did you bring so many?" Celia asked. "It’s as if you knew beforehand that you’d be staying two extra days."

Silas Norwood wouldn’t admit it. "I left in a hurry. I wasn’t paying attention to the count."

He then took out several black silk ribbons from the suitcase.

"Baby," he said, his tone tentative. "Want to try playing with these?"

Celia watched him, suddenly as wary as a small animal. "Where did you learn these kinds of tricks?"

Naturally, Silas Norwood wasn’t about to admit that his own Assistant Thorne had given him a new idea.

He avoided the question, simply placing the ribbons in her hand. "Want to?"

Celia said, "In your dreams."

"Use them on me."

"Hm?"

Celia froze for a second.

Silas Norwood sighed softly. "Don’t you always say I bully you? I’m giving you a chance to get even."

He guided her hand to his buttons. "Tonight, we play by your rules."

The corners of Celia’s lips curled up unconsciously. "I-I don’t know if that’s a good idea."

Though her words were hesitant, she had already taken the initiative, grabbing all the ribbons to examine them closely.

The lights dimmed...

A rustle of clothing...

The already handsome man’s amber eyes were covered by a silk ribbon, his cool, jade-like features now bathed in a shimmering light.

Celia was suddenly so mesmerized she lost all sense of direction.

「Late that night.」

Far away in Metropia, Assistant Thorne and Assistant Chambers were out drinking and eating barbecue again.

Theo Chambers’s phone rang. It was the CEO of an electronics group in Kaelen. His voice was hesitant. "We’ve prepared all the documents. According to the itinerary you sent, Chief Assistant Chambers, the boss should have arrived here twelve hours ago, but we still haven’t received any notice about an inspection..."

This wasn’t an isolated case. Theo Chambers was very calm. "Just wait patiently. Maybe he’ll come, maybe he won’t."

He paused. "Even if he doesn’t show up, you are to act as if he did."

’So the boss doesn’t lose face.’

After hanging up, Theo Chambers leisurely took a bite of a beef skewer and sighed. "The boss is so brazenly skipping work for a date under the guise of business. He doesn’t even care about anyone else’s feelings anymore..."

Assistant Thorne was about to chime in when his phone rang.

He gave Theo Chambers a silent look, cleared his throat, and answered, "Boss."

Silas Norwood seemed to be in the shower—the sound of running water was distinct. The boss’s voice was incredibly husky, sexy as hell.

"This time’s suggestion... it was effective."

Assistant Thorne was bewildered and didn’t quite understand. "Which suggestion are you referring to, Boss?"

But Silas Norwood didn’t answer, his tone merely laced with pleasure as he said, "Your year-end bonus is doubled."

Who cared what suggestion it was? Assistant Thorne wasn’t concerned anymore. His entire hazy night was lit up by those heavenly words. "Thank you, Boss!"

Beside him, Theo Chambers shot Assistant Thorne a dark look and took a long, frustrated gulp of his drink.

Silas Norwood wasn’t in the shower.

The call ended. He pulled Celia Sterling, who had just stood up, back into the warm, turbulent water of the bathtub and leaned in for a deep kiss.

’His wife, having played to her heart’s content, was now granting his every wish. So very obedient.’