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His eyes, though clouded with sleep, still managed to unse le her.
Renee’s body tensed briefly. Then, finding her voice, she replied, “Luke called. He said he didn’t see you at the meeting and nned to postpone it.”
Marcelo released her and sat up, the haze of sleep lifting from his eyes.
“Should I tell him to go ahead with the meeting?” Renee suggested.
In her rough estimate, Marcelo could be ready and at KM Group within the hour. The meeting could still happen.
Marcelo responded, “Mrs. King, your husband’s absence from work doesn’t change the fact he has enough money to support you.”
He was implying that she didn’t need to hurry him to the office.
“Who needs your support?” she muttered under her breath.
Eyeing him with a hint of suspicion, she added, “Postponing a meeting affects the entirepany. Even as president, shouldn’t you set an example?”
“Renee, you sound like my assistant.” Marcelo sighed inwardly. His n for the day shifted unexpectedly. Since she insisted, he’d go to the office.
“Come on, I’m not your assistant, okay?“Renee’s eyes widened in disbelief.
As Marcelo neared the changing room, he paused and beckoned her. “Come here.”
“Need help picking a tie?”
Renee, groggy from sleep, took her time approaching.
Before she reached him, he nced down and frowned. Looking at Renee’s bare feet, he instructed, “Wear shoes.”
She wiggled her toes, replying, “The floor heating’s on. It’s warm. Eh.”
Before she could finish, he swiftly lifted her, aligning her body with the bed’s edge and guiding her feet into her pink cotton slippers.
“Put it on.“Marcelo urged.
Renee,caught off guard, slipped her feet into the slippers in a daze.
Satisfied,Marcelo took her hand and led her back to the changing room. “Help me choose an outfit,” he said.
The memory of him holding her hand lingered in her thoughts.
His hand was significantlyrger than hers, the touch rough yet gentle, leaving her feeling a faint numbne
Hand–holding, she mused, was quite intimate and it strangely made her feel safe.
She <b>felt </b>so safe with him.
Marcelo had only nned to visit hispany, not to meet clients, so Renee picked a casual suit for him, less typical in style. She added tinum cufflinks with a lively color and design.
He frowned at the cufflinks.
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<b>He </b>usually preferred darker colors like ck, gray, and blue This pair was new to him.
Sensing his reluctance, Reneemented, “These look great on you, Mr. King. You’re only in your thirties. Don’t dress too old, okay? I remember a professor who dressed younger than you, and he was over fifty.”
Marcelo, always direct, pressed her against the closet door
“Renee, do you think I’m old?” he asked.
Back against the cool door, she blinked.
He was just in his thirties, he was certainly not old.
However, standing beside Renee, who was just twenty–two he did appear somewhat older.
Her silence prompted Marcelo to sneer. “I am going to show you that I’m certainly not old.”
His breath drew close, his hand sliding up under her nightgown, his expression intensely serious.
He took her against the wall, fucking her until she came multiple times and her throat went raw from moaning, senselessly.
An hourter, after Renee had showered, Marcelo gently ced her on the bed. She didn’t regret not immediately assuring him he wasn’t old because she so much enjoyed how he took her in the dressing room.
“What’s this?“Marcelo, now changed, noticed a jewelry box on the bedside table.
Only then did Renee recall the unopened gift from her friend. “It’s from a friend. I haven’t opened it yet.”
Marcelo showed little interest and didn’t inquire further.
“Marcelo, “Renee called out as he approached the bedroom door, mustering the courage to ask, “Did anything happen in Japan?”
“No,just work.“he replied with only three words.
Her heart sank.
She had contemted asking him about the rumors she’de across, but ultimately decided against it.
Perhaps the frustration gnawing at her stemmed from her unpleasant birthday, marred by encounters with people she hated, and the news of her husband’s implication in an affair.
Sitting up, Renee opened the jewelry box.
Inside, nestled on ck velvet, was a pair of Chanel pearl hairpins, styled exactly to her taste, personalized with her monogram.
Renee then texted Damian. “Thank you for the gift, I love it!”
But after a few minutes of sending it, she received no reply. She wondered if he still had her ckliste simply chose not to respond.
As she was about to lock her phone, a message from Sarah popped up: “Renee, check the trending topics on Twitter.<b>” </b>
Curious, Renee logged into Twitter. The fourth and ninth trending topics were “Catherine taken to the police station at night” and
Catherine’s birthday party.”
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Thetter detailed Catherine’svish 21st birthday celebration at Venus Bar, a premier venue in the city. The event was attended by celebrities and wealthy heirs alike.
Catherine’s fans in thements praised her poprity.
However, the data suggested that the trending topic had been artificially boosted..
Since she was a Hudson, Catherine had been crafting an image as an attractivedy from a respectable family. Her birthday was her stage to show the world her sess.
The other trending topic, “Catherine taken to the police station at night,” reported that the rising idol was suspected of involvement in a fight, leading to her arrest.
A photo of Catherine leaving the police station apanied the news, sparking lively discussions in the
“It’s ironic. The paid promotion for Catherine’s birthday is overshadowed by her scandal.”
“Did she…really get into fight on her birthday?”
“As an idol,Catherine should be a role model. Maybe a ban <b>is </b>in order.”
“Why is Catherine constantly trending? She’s pushing this debutante image butcks substance. Catherine, it’s time to leave the industry.”
“Some are quick to judge without knowing the facts. What if Catherine’s visit to the station was for a noble cause?
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Noble cause?
Renee pondered over this phrase before logging into the official Venus Bar Twitter ount to post: “Following the altercation involving Catherine and Andrew at our establishment, Venus Bar will no longer wee them. We appreciate our patrons‘ understanding and support.”
The message was clear: inviting Catherine and Andrew to Venus Bar was futile. The patrons were forewarned.
This post confirmed not only Catherine and Andrew’s midnight police station visit due to a fight, but also their ban from Venus Bar, a significant blow to their public image.
Sarah texted her.“Renee, I’ve got something to bring to your attention. Word is, the guy who leaked Catherine’s detainment news is one of Jason’s underlings. Have you heard?”
Renee replied, “Thanks for the heads–up. I got it.”
Jason’s assistance was not without reason, but at Marcelo’s direction.
Marcelo entered thepany and resumed the adjourned morning meeting.
Midway through the meeting, he noticed the executives were visibly distracted.
The document he tossed onto the table echoed crisply, startling the market manager mid–repor trembling, under Marcelo’s gaze.
cutives sat,
“Why the staring? Am I a data sheet?” He tapped the table expressionlessly, questioning, “Why the daydreaming In a meeting? Should I grant you an extended vacation?”
Such an extended holiday would, in reality, mean termination.
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The executives exchanged uncertain nces, struggling to find the right words.
“Speak up.” Marcelo pointed at a senior executive.
He abhorred the inefficiency that they were demonstrating at this point.
After a moment’s hesitation, the executive revealed, “Mr. King, someone imed you had a woman answer your phone this morning.”
When Renee answered the call, Marcelo ‘wasn’t entirely asleep.
He nonchntly affirmed, “Any issue with that?”
“What? No, no issue!”
All the other executives were taken aback by Marcelo’s straightforward admission.
For years, they had not seen the man with a woman.Some even rumored that he might be gay so this was news to them.
Leaning back, Marcelo surveyed the room.
“Any other burning questions?”
His jovial mood was evident to those familiar with him, rendering him indifferent to their diverted attention during the meeting.
“Mr. King, other rumor is that you have a wife. Who is she? The one from thest time?” Someone inquired boldly.
Marcelo lowered his eyes, smiling without answering.
His smile served as the answer. If not the one fromst time, who else could it be?
“You’ve got ten minutes to gather yourselves.” Marcelo stood and signaled for Luke to follow.
In the CEO office.
“Mr. King, it’s not their fault. When Mrs. King answered your phone this morning, she mentioned that you were still asleep. Since there hasn’t been any woman around you for years, it’s natural for everyone to be surprised.” Luke defended the senior executives.
Gossip had been rampant all morning.
“What were they saying?” Marcelo asked.
“They just wanted to know who your wife is. But don’t worry, I didn’t disclose anything!” Luke assured, “And they asked me what she looked like, causing you to arrivete for the meeting.”
Marcelo, once a workaholic, would never keep senior executives waiting for more than an hour, as he did today.
“Tell them next time that she’s beautiful, very beautiful.In fact, she’s the most beautiful wom in the world.”
“Oh.“Luke was taken aback. “Alright, alright!”
Was this really his boss?
Marcelo seemed to be in love with Renee!
He had guessed it before especially when he came rushing to the police station immediately theynded and was
Chapter 81 So special
informed of her arrest.
He had looked so visibly worried about her.
And now hearing him talk about her like this.
Wow!
He never thought he would see his boss like this.
Marcelo added, “Cancel the rest of my schedule today.”
“What?” Luke thought he misheard. “You have another meeting this afternoon and dinner with Mont Corp’s president. Both can be rescheduled. However, in the evening, you have a crucial meeting with the group’s branch.”
The monthly meeting with the group’s branch held immense significance.
“Postpone the meeting.” He recalled the jewelry box on the bedside table. “Summon Team C from the nning department.”
Team C of the nning department?
It was responsible for majorpany events, a realm usually overlooked by Marcelo.
Luke questioned if something was amiss with his ears today.
Why did Marcelo’s requests seem peculiar?
Soon, the leader of Team C from the nning department, unfamiliar with the CEO, appeared at the CEO’s office, head lowered.
He feared that his meeting with the CEO was a result of a colossal mistake he made at work, which could warrant personal termination.
Unexpectedly, the man in the office chair uttered, “Put everything aside and n a birthday party for me in three
hours.”
After dinner, Renee retreated to the study, sketching the makeup photo draft for Peerless Grace. It wasn’t until Marcelo summoned her to attend an event that she ceased.
Anticipating a formal asion, Renee donned a red cashmere dress.
She drove a Ferrari.
Upon arrival, Renee,bewildered, gazed at the destination, a popr theme park
This renowned park attracted visitors even on workdays due to its poprity.
Scanning the surroundings, Renee found no trace of Marcelo. It didn’t appear to be a business setting.
“Miss Hudson, pleasee in. Mr. King is waiting inside.” A casually dressed woman approached, smiling at Renee.
After a moment’s thought, Renee inquired, “Are you from the KM Group?”
With a nod and a smile, the woman replied, “Pleasee in. I hope you’ll enjoy it!”
Unaware of the event’s nature, Renee entered hesitantly.
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As she approached the entrance, a child, about five or six<b>, </b>rushed forward, offering a beautifully <b>wrapped </b><b>rose</b>. She dered, “Miss, happy birthday! I wish you more and more beautiful years!”
Stunned, Renee epted the flower and began asking, “Can you tell me who…”
Before she could finish, the child darted away yfully.
On the inner side of the rose’s wrapping paper, two golden words read, “Go forward.”
What was Marcelo up to?
Was he celebrating her birthday?
Renee found her assumption a bit absurd.
He didn’t care about her to that extent, right?
Then, at intervals, as she walked, people of varying ages gifted her different flowers.
Roses of all kinds and even eucalyptus leaves and a baby’s breath.
The flower–bearers extended their congrattions.
“Miss Hudson, happy birthday!”
“Beautifuldy, happy birthday!”
“Miss, happy birthday to you!”
Attentive observation would reveal women presented roses, while men offered eucalyptus leaves.
There was no red rose among the blooms.
Gradually, beyond the flower bearers, even strangers in the vicinity smiled, wishing Renee a “happy birthday, miss!”
At that moment, it felt as if goodwill and blessings enveloped her.
Upon reaching the destination, Renee stood holding the flowers. Under the symbolic castle building of the amusement park, a man in a ck overcoat was sitting on a wheelchair, holding arge bouquet of red roses and flowers made of baby’s breath. He looked at Renee silently.
His cold eyes softened, akin to melting ice.
As Renee locked eyes with Marcelo, her heart quickened its pace, thumping fiercely against her ribcage.
Compelled by the powerful rhythm resonating within her chest, she took resolute steps towards the man, drawn to him like a ma.
No matter how unlikely it seemed, Renee was convinced at that moment that Marcelo was indeed celebrating her birthday.
Marcelo’s voice reached only Renee’s ears.
“Happy birthday, Mrs. King,” he whispered.
Right after he spoke, fireworks burst into life behind the castle.
Renee had never felt so special her whole life.