Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 124: Words of Love That Can’t Be Spoken
Ruby Sullivan walked briskly, the tight clack of her high heels putting everyone on edge. Howard repeatedly quickened his pace just to keep up the pace with her.
When she finally sat in the car, she found her whole body shaking, as if the annoyance she had held back earlier suddenly surged forth.
Howard looked back at her, "Mr. Sullivan, are you okay?"
Ruby shook her head and, after a while, looked up at him, "How did I do earlier?"
Howard clapped his hands with a smile, "Perfect!"
Only then did Ruby manage a smile, "I really wanted to tear Rhonda Sullivan apart just now." She sighed, "But, I have to admit, I know nothing about managing a company, and when it comes to playing with people’s minds, I’m like a grade-schooler compared to her."
She promptly bit her lower lip and didn’t voice the rest of her thoughts.
If Ethan Sterling needed a right-hand person, Rhonda Sullivan really outshines her. Luckily, she can still concoct fragrances; otherwise, she’d be left fuming in comparison with others.
Howard understood her feelings, but hasn’t the world always been like this? Xerxes would be defeated by Lucius, and only Bastian Lowe of Bastian, Corvin, and Marius got a third of the world. Those who understand the art of scheming always seem to live better.
The car took to the road and stopped at a red light. Howard glanced at Ruby Sullivan via the rear-view mirror, noticing her mood seemed a bit low, so he sought to comfort her: "Actually, there’s no need to be overly anxious. The remaining shareholders of The Sullivan Group aren’t significant; Mr. Sterling investigated their backgrounds thoroughly during the acquisition preparations. If they want to leave now, buying their shares would be perfect for rejuvenating The Sullivan Group."
Ruby Sullivan had never been informed of how much Ethan Sterling spent to buy The Sullivan Group’s shares from Miles Mona, but she recalled that coming out of Mona’s home, Ethan Sterling’s face looked as if he had lost a significant amount of blood or even a chunk of flesh.
However, when Ethan Sterling acquired the shares, he didn’t call for a shareholders’ meeting. Could it be that The Sullivan Group’s shares had become so worthless that there was no need to inform the shareholders anymore?
Unable to figure out this mystery, she changed the subject, "If Rhonda Sullivan’s child was scared off today, would Ethan Sterling go after me?"
Howard chuckled and feigned ignorance, skillfully dodging the conversation.
Moments later, Ruby suddenly felt herself becoming uninteresting. What did Rhonda Sullivan and Ethan Sterling have to do with her? Now, she only hoped her own belly would quickly conceive a child.
Upon returning to the company, Ruby reported on the meeting’s happenings in Ethan Sterling’s office, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to the lab."
Ethan Sterling nodded, saw her turn to leave, and blurted, "Are you still upset?"
Ruby turned around and looked at him with bewilderment, "Upset about what?"
He frowned, clearly unhappy with her demeanor, "Don’t feign ignorance."
She smiled, "Mr. Sterling, you’re being too hard on me. Alright, I’m not upset anymore. Will that do?"
Ethan Sterling sighed, "Let’s have lunch together at noon."
"Sure," Ruby agreed readily and reminded him before leaving, "Mr. Sterling, it’d be best not to discuss personal matters in the office from now on. You know my working hours are expensive." She finished with a bewitching smile and then turned to exit.
Ethan Sterling’s face darkened further.
Was she berating him over money on behalf of him, the capitalist? Was this her way of trying to drive him mad without having to face consequences?
However, he indeed had no grounds for throwing a tantrum. How outrageous of fate to throw him an illegitimate child at such a time.
After Ruby left, Howard came in, "Mr. Sterling, Rhonda Sullivan said she doesn’t want to see you."
For a moment, Ethan Sterling was at a loss. That woman currently leaned on Dr. L’s influence, and although The Lawson Group seemed not to have much foundation domestically, no one could say for sure how many connections L himself had locally. Acting rashly and creating unnecessary enemies was not worthwhile.
Seeing him deep in thought, Howard couldn’t resist teasing, "In my opinion, you don’t need to bother with the child she’s carrying. What kind of commotion can an unborn baby stir up?"
Ethan Sterling sighed. While a child wasn’t much of a threat, Ruby Sullivan was now the one holding his weak spot. In her presence, no matter how venomous he was, he couldn’t find a place to strike.
Yet, he couldn’t figure out when he handed over his weak spot.
At noon, Ethan Sterling took Ruby Sullivan to a somewhat distant Chinese restaurant.
After not having had a proper Chinese meal during the recent stint in Meridia, Ruby Sullivan had become even thinner than before leaving. She feared that continuing to lose weight would mean she couldn’t fill out those form-fitting dresses and was also worried it might affect her chances of conceiving.
Ethan Sterling ordered a few dishes Ruby liked. Once the order was placed, he silently gazed at her with gentle eyes.
Ruby felt uneasy under his watchful eyes and broke into a shiver, "Is my makeup smudged?"
He laughed bitterly, "Why do you always seem so tense when I look at you?"
"Why are you looking at me for no reason?" Ruby found him rather strange.
"You’re nice to look at," he thought fleetingly, but the idea sent a cold shiver down his spine, and he found himself unable to voice it.
He withdrew his gaze, "Nothing, just not in the mood to look at my phone."
Ruby pouted as she mindlessly looked around, and just then, she saw Rhonda Sullivan walk in with a tall man wearing sunglasses and a white striped suit. His glossy shoes screamed of a high-end bespoke workshop.
Ruby’s expression froze. Wasn’t that man her long-unseen mentor, Dr. L?
Ethan Sterling followed her gaze. Those two were heading to a private box on the second floor.
He smiled and waved a hand in front of her stunned face, "Want to go say hello?"
Ruby closed her mouth, which had fallen open in shock, and took a sip of water. "Say hello for what?" Should she ask why her mentor expelled her and then deliberately teamed up with Rhonda Sullivan?
"My mentor is a petty man. Do you think The Lawson Group’s current glory comes from him pretending to be something he’s not?" It was all due to his ruthless methods.
In fact, in Euronia and Meridia, many small companies survive solely by making fragrances. If these companies refuse to collaborate with The Lawson Group, it won’t be long before they close down or get taken over maliciously for various reasons. And as for the perfumers who vanished from the industry after offending The Lawson Group, Ruby could name more than ten just off the top of her head.
Capital is the pervasive audacity everywhere, and L has never denied his capriciousness, because he could afford to be capricious.
Thinking of it this way, her mentor had done her justice, at least giving her complete freedom when he let her go, even without a confidentiality agreement.
When the food arrived, Ruby ate absentmindedly. Ethan Sterling saw through all her thoughts from her expression, "Rest assured, since The Sullivan Group has been entrusted to you, we won’t let Rhonda Sullivan take it away again."
Ruby smiled, "I’m not afraid." It wasn’t because she trusted Ethan Sterling; it was just that being afraid was useless.
The plan was to finish eating and leave quickly, but unexpectedly, Rhonda Sullivan and L, who had gone up to the second floor, turned back to the lobby and sat in a spot near the counter.
