Chapter 436


    "Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Martinez," the two secretaries greeted Owen and Cecilia with respect.


    Cecilia, carefully assisted out of the car by Owen, simply smiled in response.


    "Mr. Martinez, Ms. Yates," Walter approached with a respectful greeting.


    Cecilia remembered him and returned the greeting with a smile.


    The secretaries exchanged confused nces. Why was he now addressing Mrs. Martinez as Ms.


    Yates?


    Their eyes darted towards Cecilia, who seemed initially bemused by being called Mrs. Martinez, but


    then noticed Owen, whose lips curled into a pleased smile, clearly enjoying the title bestowed upon


    Cecilia.


    "This is my ex-wife and current girlfriend, Cecilia. Someday, she''ll be Mrs. Martinez again. Calling


    her Mrs. Martinez now isn''t wrong—it''ll get you used to it sooner, and Cecilia can get ustomed to


    it as well," Owen cheerfully introduced Cecilia to the two secretaries.


    In the past, Owen and Cecilia had kept their marriage a secret, with very few in the know.


    Even if the secretaries had their suspicions, they wouldn''t dare pry until he made an official


    announcement.


    "Cecilia, these are my secretaries, Quincy and Ron."


    Owen''s secretaries were all male, a fact Cecilia was well aware of, partly because of Ruby.


    Although Ruby treated Owen as a backup n, she was extremely possessive and couldn''t stand to


    see attractive women around him. To appease her, Owen had reced his secretaries with men.


    Cecilia couldn''t help but feel a twinge of jealousy, but she quickly put it behind her.


    Ruby had upied a ce in Owen''s heart for a mere decade or so, while Cecilia was destined to


    be part of his life for the decades toe. Whatever Owen had done for Ruby in the past, he would


    surely do more for Cecilia in the future. Why botherparing herself to Ruby?


    Besides, it was Ruby''s turn to be jealous, not hers.


    With this thought, Cecilia''s mood brightened.


    "Quincy, Ron, Nice to meet you," she greeted the secretaries politely.


    They responded eagerly, both noticing Owen''s special care for Cecilia.


    As for Ms. Scott, who once strutted around theirpany like she owned the ce, she was


    history. They were ready to erase her from their minds.


    "Walter, is Mr. Spencer here yet?" Owen asked, turning his attention to Walter.


    Walter led them into the Pinehurst Hotel, reporting as they walked, "Mr. Spencer will be here in two


    minutes. Mr. Martinez, Ms. Yates, please go ahead. I''ll wait here for Mr. Spencer."


    Owen nodded.


    He tightened his grip on Cecilia''s hand and, nked by bodyguards, entered the hotel. The


    secretaries wisely stayed behind with Walter, choosing not to y the third wheel.


    The hotel staff, witnessing Owen holding onto Cecilia as if he''d lose her the moment he let go, were


    filled with curiosity but dared not ask. One thing they were sure of—their boss had finally changed


    his girlfriend!


    Owen''s business meetings in the hotel always took ce in the presidential suite on the top floor.


    The hotel manager was waiting at the elevator, greeting Owen with due reverence before using a


    VIP card to ess the lift. The doors slid open, and he gestured for Owen and Cecilia to enter.


    "Cecilia, let''s head up," Owen said, leading her into the elevator.


    The bodyguards didn''t follow immediately, leaving the two alone.


    As the elevator doors closed, the hotel manager turned to Jay, the head of security, and asked,


    "Who is the youngdy with Mr. Martinez?"


    Jay replied, "That''s Mr. Martinez''s girlfriend, Ms. Yates. If Ms. Yates ever visits, make sure you treat


    her with the highest regard."


    The manager, taken aback, quickly thanked Jay for the heads-up. Now he knew not to make any


    missteps.


    Jay and the others waited briefly before the manager swiped his card again, and they all stepped


    into the elevator.


    "Cecilia, feeling nervous?" Owen asked tenderly.


    Ceciliaughed, "It''s just meeting a stranger, nothing nerve-wracking. Don''t forget what I do for a


    living—I meet strangers every day."


    In her eyes, the wealthy and the penniless were all the same; money didn''t make any difference.


    This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Seizing the private moment before others joined them, Owen pulled Cecilia close and kissed her on


    her lips. "Cecilia, you were born to be thedy of the Martinez family. Most people would be


    nervous, but not you. That means you''re a natural fit for this world."


    Cecilia rolled her eyes yfully. "Owen, it''s only today I''ve discovered you''re quite the talker."


    Owen chuckled. "There''s a lot about me you don''t know yet. I invite you to keep turning the pages,


    all the way to thest one."


    "And what''s so exciting about thest page? Everyone''sst page is the same."


    "Sweetheart," Owen coaxed, "say something sweet."


    "Do men really like sweet nothings?"


    "Men and women alike."


    Ceciliaughed, cleared her throat for effect, and began, "Well then, listen up. Owen, you are the


    epitome of dashing, a vision of handsome, a cut above the rest—even more so than the male


    waiters at Neon Nectar Nightclub. My admiration for you flows like an endless river."


    Owen was speechless.


    "Feeling good all over now?"


    Silence.


    Cecilia gently pinched Owen’s cheek, amused. "I''m not used to this side of you. I kind of miss the


    old, rascal, troublemaker Mr. Malicious. This new you is too perfect, too considerate—I can hardly


    find any fault in you."


    Owen grinned, "Then don''t bother. How about you kiss me twice for my performance instead?"


    Before Cecilia could respond, he pulled her into his embrace once more, tilting his head to capture


    her rosy lips, stealing their sweet essence.


    Cecilia''s lipstick had beenpletely kissed away.


    “I don’t always carry makeup with me,” Ceciliained to him.


    His eyes twinkled with mischief as he said, “I''ve got a way to make your lips as red as if they were


    painted with lipstick.”


    “How so?”


    “I''ll kiss you until your lips are flushed with red, just as if you''ve applied lipstick.”


    Cecilia didn’t know what to say.


    By the time Mr. Spencer was escorted upstairs by Walter, Cecilia had lost count of how many times


    this wolf in gentleman''s clothing had kissed her.


    As soon as Mr. Spencer entered, Owen returned to his guise of seriousness.


    Cecilia lost any chance she might have had for sweet revenge.


    She didn''t understand the intricacies of business, but that didn''t prevent her from listening intently,


    behaving with both grace and propriety.


    It made Owen once again admire her in his heart, convinced she was born to be his wife, naturally


    adept at socializing and wless in her conduct.


    He was determined to marry her sooner rather thanter.


    Tonight, he had kissed her so many times. He hadn''t thought much the first few times.