Chapter 487
“It’s too early…” Charlotte mumbled softly, her voice still thick with sleep.
No one in the conference room could hear what was being said on the other end of the call, but they could all see the change in Sean’s expression. The usually cold and composed CEO now wore a look of unmistakable warmth and tenderness.
The sleepy employees sat up a little straighter.
None of them had expected to witness live gossip during a morning meeting.
So this was how their famously unattached and emotionally distant boss acted with his girlfriend? Gentle, caring, completely unguarded? It was almost surreal.
Everyone reacted differently. Some exchanged knowing glances. Others struggled to hide their amusement. But one person was clearly not enjoying the show.
Zoe Gibson, the newly appointed Director of Strategy, stared at Sean with a look that could have frozen the room.
The man on the phone didn’t resemble the Sean she knew. He sounded calm. Gentle. Even affectionate.
In her experience, Sean was the opposite–cold, demanding, and utterly unreachable. He never let anyone close, not personally and certainly not emotionally.
She had been with the company for over two weeks now, and aside from brief work–related conversations, Sean had barely spoken to her. She didn’t even have his direct contact information. Everything had to go through his assistant, Sam.
And now, right in front of everyone, he was openly calling his girlfriend, speaking to her with such tenderness it made Zoe’s stomach turn. Her hands curled into fists beneath the table as a wave of frustration and envy swept through her.
Still on the call, Sean asked gently, “Do you have time for lunch today?”
The response must have been no, because a flash of disappointment passed over his face. He tried again. “What about dinner?”
There was a pause.
“I have to go home tonight,” Charlotte replied, meaning back to the Riley estate.
Sean let out a soft sigh. “Alright.”
Everyone in the room had clearly heard it. Their boss had just been turned down. Twice.
Zoe’s face darkened.
When had Sean started dating someone?
She had asked around before joining the company, and everything she heard said he was single.
So who was this woman who had gotten to him first?
Meanwhile, in a VIP private dining room, Desmond was having dinner with a few business associates.
After they wrapped up negotiations, the middle–aged men started chatting casually.
“Desmond, congrats!” said one balding man in his fifties, grinning.
Desmond looked confused. “Congrats for what?”
The man chuckled. “Come on now, don’t play dumb. I heard your family has good news coming.‘
”
“What good news?”
1/3
“Seriously? You’re still pretending? I’m talking about the marriage alliance with the Jasper family. That’s a big win. Why keep it a secret?”
Desmond froze, his expression instantly darkening. “Who told you we’re forming an alliance with the Jaspers?”
The man paused, thrown off by his reaction.
“Well… isn’t your daughter dating Sean Jasper? You didn’t know? My kid went to Megan Stone’s birthday party the other night. He saw them together. Your daughter and Sean were glued at the hip. Everyone saw it. You really didn’t know?”
Desmond’s face remained cold and unreadable.
Sensing the tension, the man quickly changed the subject.
That evening, Charlotte returned to the Riley estate after a long day.
As soon as her car pulled up, Xena came out to meet her.
Xena didn’t look happy. She pulled Charlotte aside and lowered her voice. “Sweetie, your dad found out you’re back with Sean. He’s furious. He’s been sulking in the living room with a face like thunder. If you don’t want to deal with him tonight, you should probably head back to your place. Wait until he cools off.”
Charlotte’s heart tightened. “He already knew?” she thought.
She lowered her gaze, thinking it over for a moment, then quietly said, “It’s alright, Aunt Xena. I’ll go in. I’ll have to face him eventually. Avoiding it won’t change anything.”
