radicalducati Chapter 196: You’re Still As Impressive As Ever
Chapter 196: You’re Still As Impressive As Ever
She glanced at Rupert and added, “He looks like you.”
“Oh?” Rupert raised an intrigued eyebrow, curious. “Go on.”
“I’m not sure of his full name yet. He started as my stepdaughter’s fake boyfriend. I heard he was poor, but his commanding presence is puzzling. Eventually, they became a real couple.”
“A poor guy?” Rupert’s expression turned thoughtful.
This caught his interest.
He sat up on the sofa, taking a long drag from his cigarette. He thought showing Stacey a photo of Dave might help her identify him more easily.
However, Dave kept a low profile and maintained an air of mystery, making it nearly impossible to find any photos of him at events.
Rupert exhaled a smoke ring towards Stacey and said, “I can help with Ashley’s situation, but you need to get me a photo of your stepdaughter with that man.”
“Okay, I’ll go along with your plan, but we can’t forget about Ashley’s situation,” Stacey said, enduring the smoke.
Rupert gave her a quick glance and dialed a number on his phone.
After hanging up, Rupert put his arm around Stacey’s waist. “All the negative stuff about Ashley will be cleared up tomorrow morning. I’ve also handled things with the Reed family. Ashley won’t be at Golden Gate Films anymore, but I’m moving her to Orion Entertainment. With my support, she’ll have a smooth career in the industry.”
Stacey felt a surge of happiness. Even though Rupert said he wouldn’t interfere in her life, this would still make it easier for her daughter to succeed.
Stacey smiled warmly. “You’re still as impressive as ever.”
“You’ve seen what I can do before. Tonight...” Rupert’s eyes fixed on Stacey’s. Initially, he hadn’t paid her much attention, but now, the captivating woman in front of him made him rethink.
Stacey smiled playfully, wrapping her arms around his neck. “We just made a deal. If you want more from me, it’ll cost you.”
Even though she was pregnant, she felt no guilt. She was determined to do whatever it took to achieve her goals.
Rupert raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming serious. “What do you want?”
“Just money. I want a large sum.”
Rupert laughed coldly. To him, money was nothing, even though she seemed as materialistic as ever.
“Agreed.”
****
Bianca had been working non-stop all day. When she finally checked the time, she realized it was already 8 in the evening.
She had planned to go grocery shopping and cook with Dave before she left in the morning. She hadn’t expected to be this busy.
Just as Bianca was about to call Dave, he called her.
They both apologized at the same time after answering the call.
For a moment, they were both surprised, and Bianca laughed. “Are you working late too?”
“Yes, and you?”
“There’s a lot of work at the company today. Looks like I’ll be burning the midnight oil...”
Dave’s calm and soothing voice came through the phone. “Make sure to take care of yourself and don’t overdo it. I had hoped we’d spend tonight together, but…”
Bianca realized Dave was referring to their dinner plans. She cheerfully replied, “Don’t worry, we have plenty of time ahead of us; there will be other opportunities.”
Dave simply hummed in response.
Suddenly, Bianca felt a blush rise on her cheeks from her casual mention of a lifetime together. Playfully, she squinted her eyes and said, “There’s no way you’re getting away from me! I’ll hold onto you tightly unless...”
“Unless what?”
Bianca paused, her voice softening. “Unless one day you tell me you don’t love me anymore. Then I’ll let you go.”
“That day will never come,” Dave’s deep, warm voice assured Bianca. “In this life, it’s just you and me, together forever.”
His words felt like a gentle feather touching the water, creating ripples that spread outward.
A rush of emotions hit Bianca, and her nose tingled slightly. She quickly pushed aside her sentimental feelings and raised an eyebrow. “You’re quite the charmer. How about sharing a few more sweet words with me?”
Dave was momentarily speechless.
He had said those words because he meant them, and now being asked to speak tenderly felt a bit difficult.
“Don’t get too greedy, Bianc. I’ve got other things to take care of. We’ll talk later.”
After hanging up, Bianca felt warm and happy in her heart. Dave’s voice really lifted her spirits and eased her tiredness.
Bianca was so absorbed in her work that she fell asleep at her desk that night.
The next morning, she found a message from Dave, sent the night before, explaining why he hadn’t been in touch—he had been swamped with work.
Realizing that both she and Dave had worked late and couldn’t go home, Bianca smiled and replied, “Me too! I didn’t even notice when I fell asleep at the office.”
It seemed Dave was eagerly waiting for her reply. Moments after she sent her message, her phone pinged with a new one.
“I thought you might be upset because I didn’t come home last night,” Dave wrote.
As she left her office, Bianca replied, “Am I really that narrow-minded?”
Dave’s response came quickly: “I just hope you miss me when I can’t make it home.”
A playful smile appeared on Bianca’s face as she typed back a single word: “Freak!”
After sending the message, she looked up and saw Reese, the new employee who had started the day before, sweeping the empty office. Glancing at the clock, Bianca realized it was only six in the morning.
“Why are you here so early?”
Startled by Bianca’s voice, Reese almost dropped her broom. “Bianca... Why... Why are you here?”
Bianca chuckled softly and said, “That’s the same question I asked you a moment ago.”
“I... It’s my first day. I thought if I came early and did extra work, I could meet your expectations,” Reese explained, feeling a bit self-conscious. “I’ve already sorted out the company’s network, but I wasn’t sure what to do next, so I started cleaning,” she admitted.
“You’ve done all that work... before six in the morning?” Bianca was surprised. It usually took her an entire day to get that much done.
“Because... it’s easy for me,” Reese said, her embarrassment clear as she scratched her head.
Bianca looked at her curiously.
“Bianca...” Reese hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers, unsure whether to speak up.
“Just say what you want to say,” Bianca encouraged softly.
Nervously biting her lower lip, Reese finally asked, “Can I join the performance training sessions when I don’t have tasks? And... learn alongside them?”
Though Bianca’s company wasn’t large, it had a dedicated training department and a special classroom for practical sessions. Knowing how important it was for aspiring performers to improve their skills, Bianca spared no expense in hiring experienced instructors to train new talents.