Chapter 37: Forced Trading

When Monica returned to the dining table, lunch was almost over.
Today was a work day, and the others had to go back to work in the afternoon, so they couldn't delay for too long.
They said brief goodbyes at the entrance of the restaurant and went their separate ways.
Eric asked her, "What are you planning to do in the afternoon?"
"I'm going to... the beauty salon," Monica almost blurted out the word "manicure," but caught herself, "I've already made an appointment."
"Okay, then I'll drop you off," Eric instructed the driver, "When you're done, the driver will come pick you up."
Monica looked at him and then at Steven, "What about you guys?"
"We have a shareholder meeting for the new project in the afternoon, and a dinner party in the evening."
"Oh," she dragged out her tone.
"Bored?" Eric laughed, "I told you earlier not to come along."
She insisted on coming because of Steven! As a result, she didn't even get her earrings, and inexplicably ended up in bed with him.
Thinking of this, Monica was quite dissatisfied and glared at him discreetly.
Steven calmly met her hostile gaze and politely asked, "If you're going shopping in the afternoon, can you help me pick out a new outfit for the dinner party?"
He raised his arm and pointed to the cuff, "It's dirty."
He wanted her to buy it? But Monica clearly remembered that he had clothes of his own.
"Are you sure you want me to buy it?" she teased him, "Aren't you afraid I'll pick out an ugly outfit for you and make you look ridiculous?"
Eric reminded her, "Monica, the dinner party is important, no joking around."
She snorted, "If it's so important, then don't ask me to buy it. Can't you find an assistant?"
Steven calmly said, "Of course, it's because I trust your taste."
Monica: ?:?
Why doesn't she trust herself?
But it had come to this point, and not helping would make her appear petty, so she could only agree.
The car quickly arrived at their destination.
"Wait a moment." Steven said in his usual calm tone.
Monica had just gotten out of the car when she was called back. She turned around and saw Steven also stepping out of the car.
"What's wrong?" she asked with a bit of contempt.
She felt a moment of unease, not knowing what Steven was planning to do when Eric was watching from inside the car.
Fortunately, he didn't do anything excessive, he just took out a card from his wallet and handed it to her, "My card, the password is 610723."
She... was taken aback and
Shaking her hand, Monica said, "It's just a piece of clothing, I have money."
"I know, but for now, I don't plan on letting someone else pay for my clothes," Steven replied.
Monica took it as a strange sense of male pride and took the cardlothing from his hand, muttering, "What a hassle."
Steven added, "If there's anything else you want to buy, you can use this card."
Was he really being so kind? Monica wondered.
Monica had long stopped trusting anything he said and looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he had some ulterior motive.
"Give you a chance to get back at me," Steven said slowly, "Once we leave this place, there won't be another chance."
He obviously knew how to play with Monica's emotions. After hearing that, she immediately tightened her grip on the card, pretended to evaluate it, and snorted,
"Just so you know, when I spend money, I don't blink, and this is your treat, so I won't pay you back! Nor will I agree to any other conditions you may have!"
"Mmm, no need to pay back," Steven didn't finish the second half of his sentence. Giving himself up was enough.
Monica spent the afternoon shopping and picked out a suit for Steven, then returned to the hotel under the setting sun.
She sent a message to Steven, asking his assistant to come to the hotel lobby to pick it up.
The sunset glow spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel lobby, casting dim shadows on the passing pedestrians, creating long strands of shadows.
Bored, Monica played with the shadows by stepping on them. Suddenly, she saw a group of people walking in from the entrance, chatting and laughing.
Their voices drifted into her ears intermittently.
"... FinallyFinally, we can rest after a busy day. The meeting this afternoon was too long, I almost fell asleep."
"Well, then you should have sat in my seat. The two girls behind me were arguing all afternoon about who looks better, Eric or Steven."
"What's there to argue about? It's definitely our Mr. Wright who wins, after all, he pays my salary. I firmly support him."
It sounded like employees of Sterling Holdings.
"I think Eric is not bad. Steven is a bit too cold for my taste, and doesn't he have a girlfriend already? After that screenshot leaked yesterday, the group chat was in such an uproar, so many people were crying."
Once gossip was mentioned, their interest was piqued, "Speaking of girlfriends, has anyone figured out who she is? In theory, it should be easy to find out since she stays in the same hotel as us. Maybe we'll run into her during breakfast."
Monica's heart tightened and she turned her head conspicuously, pretending to admire the nearby potted plant.
"It's not that easy. What can you tell just by looking at someone's hands?"
Even though she had gotten a new manicure, she nervously stuffed her hand into her pocket.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
"I think someone like him, a workaholic, would probably like a smart, intelligent professional woman, so she should be someone with a classy beauty," one person speculated.
"I think so too." Another agreed with this idea.
The group of them started gossiping about what type of woman Steven liked, and the lively laughter gradually faded away.
It wasn't until her head was lightly tapped that Monica snapped back to reality, realizing that Steven was standing behind her.
"What are you daydreaming about?" steven asked.
Monica glanced behind him looking who else was aroundim. "Why is it you? Didn't I ask for your assistant to come instead?"
"Are you unhappy to see me?" steven asked oblivious to her irritation.
"Of courseOf course, I don't want to see you." She stuffed the bag into his arms. "Take it."
Steven took the bag but didn't rush to leave. Instead, he reached out to embrace her waist and said softly, "Accompany me upstairs to change?"
Monica quickly broke free from his grip and anxiously scanned the surroundings, confirming that the few Sterling Holdings employees weren't around anymore. Only then did she relax and grit her teeth in response, "Don't even think about it."
She took out a card from her bag and handed it to Steven, raising her eyebrows at him. "By the way, I have good news for you. Miss Monica is beautiful and kind-hearted and has decided to let you go. In simple terms, I haven't spent your money."
"Don't think I don't know what kind of scheme you're playing." She tiptoed closer and deliberately lowered her voice, "You're not really that kind-hearted. Once I spend your money, even if you say I don't have to repay you, you will definitely find a way to get it back from me using other means. I won't fall for your tricks, you cunning businessman."
Steven made a sound of acknowledgment, "Hmm, you've become smarter."
Monica felt a bit proud and playfully stuck out her tongue at him.
But before her excitement could last a few seconds, she suddenly heard Steven sigh, "What a pity."
She became alert, "What a pity?"
"It is Pity that I am an unscrupulous businessman who never reasons in business dealings." Steven looked into her eyes and leisurely said, "Tonight, let me teach you how to write the phrase 'buy low, sell high.'"
How could there be such shameless person?
Monica immediately took a few steps back, "Steven, I advise you to give up!"
He stood still, seemingly satisfied with her flustered and alarmed appearance. He raised an eyebrow at her and then turned around to go back to the room to change clothes.
**Chapter 38: Room Service**