As if guided by some divine intervention, the name Chuck suddenly shone like a beacon, illuminating a


    path for Leanne.


    Finding information on Chuck wasn''t hard. Over the years, he''d remained at Vector Vista Bank and


    climbed the ranks to the Vice President, making frequent appearances on various financial TV


    channels.


    Leanne browsed through his resume. He and Joseph had attended the same prestigious university,


    with Chuck being a few years junior. After graduating, he joined the IT department at Vector Vista Bank


    and worked directly under Joseph.


    Thetest news about him mentioned a strategic partnership signing ceremony set to take ce on


    Wednesday afternoon between ElitePinnacle Investments and VectorVista Bank, with Chuck attending


    as part of Vector Vista''s leadership.


    Leanne nced at the calendar on her desk.


    It was happening the next day.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Joy had arranged to meet a client near the hospital and decided to catch up with Leanne for lunch


    afterward.


    Selina, who had slept until eleven and idly scrolled through a food delivery app, felt left out seeing the


    two nning lunch without her and had her driver take her to join them.


    However, the trio ate at a small diner, and Selina shook her head. "Don''t bother calling me for such


    trivial meals next time."


    "No one called you. You came on your own," Joy retorted, sneakily taking some beef from Selina''s


    te and ncing at Leanne, "Honey, did Curtis upset you again?"


    Leanne snapped out of her reverie and replied, "Not at all. Why do you ask?"


    "You''ve seemed a bit preupiedtely."


    Was it that obvious? Leanne turned to look at her reflection on the ss beside her but couldn''t


    pinpoint anything amiss.


    She had been trying her best to appear normal.


    "I was thinking of attending the ElitePinnacle signing ceremony with Curtis tomorrow, but I''m unsure


    how to bring it up."


    Seeing Selina''s beef disappearing into Joy''s te, Leanne kindly shared some with Selina. Feeling the


    gesture, Joy passed her stolen pieces to Selina, sharing beef among their dishes.


    Joy interrupted the silent beef transaction. "There, now our dishes taste the same."


    "I thought it was something serious," Selina eximed, "Just sweet-talk Curtis a bit. He''d take you to


    the Moon if you asked."


    Joy nodded in agreement. "Curtis spoils you rotten. He wouldn''t say no to you attending his signing


    ceremony. Heck! You could ride on his shoulders, and he''d still praise you for being so adventurous."


    Leanne smiled. "That won''t be necessary."


    "Ahem." Selina cleared her throat, "Keep it down. People are staring."


    "Let them stare. What''s the harm in giving the folks a good view of three beauties?" Joy dered with a


    righteous air.


    Selina was in awe. "Where did you get that thick skin? Could use the contact of your beauty clinic."


    "Back at you!"


    Watching her friends'' yful banter brought Leanne a brief moment of relief.


    The summer warmth was intensifying, but Leanne''s Castle felt like an oasis amid the bustling city, its


    temperature lower than the surrounding concrete jungle.


    Curtis had an evening engagement, and after her shower, Leanney in bed, flipping through a novel


    with only half an interest, asionally checking the time on her phone.


    She didn''t realize when she drifted off, but a faint sound slowly roused her from sleep.


    The house was silent, and the bedroom door creaked open softly, letting in the warm, yellow light that


    revealed a tall figure in the doorway.


    Stretchingzily, the cat sauntered over and rubbed against Curtis'' leg, attempting a meow.


    He ced a finger to his lips and shushed it softly.


    Whether the cat truly understood or not, it stayed quiet. Curtis bent down to scoop up the cat that had


    tried to sneak into the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him.