Chapter 111 Reaching an Agreement
Stefan's question sounded casual, but it made Cecilia's heart skip a beat. She took half a step back, creating distance, avoiding his penetrating gaze.
"I'm fine," Cecilia replied coldly, wanting nothing more than to leave immediately. The dangerous aura emanating from him set off alarm bells throughout her entire body.
Just then, urgent rolling sounds came from the other end of the corridor.
"Excuse me, coming through!"
A nurse was rushing along, pushing a tall treatment cart.
Cecilia quickly stepped aside to dodge, but her foot landed on a freshly mopped wet spot. She instantly lost her balance and cried out as she fell backward.
The pain she expected never came.
An arm shot out like lightning, wrapping around her waist and pulling her securely into a solid embrace. An unfamiliar scent—a mix of light alcohol and men's cologne—enveloped her.
Cecilia's mind went blank for a moment, then she immediately struggled and pushed him away forcefully.
"You..."
"Miss, you're not trying to hit on me with this old trick, are you?"
Stefan released his grip, letting her steady herself, his eyes behind the lenses gleaming with mockery.
"You're reading too much into it!"
Cecilia blurted out, lifting her face, ready to scold this narcissistic and rude man.
However, the moment she clearly saw his face, all her words got stuck in her throat.
This face—Cecilia had seen it countless times in financial news.
Stefan.
Someone who could go toe-to-toe with the Chapman Group in business, and had even made Rufus suffer losses multiple times. A real tough player.
In other words, Stefan was Rufus's number one enemy.
What was Stefan doing here?
"If it's not hitting on me," Stefan completely ignored her stiffness and spoke leisurely, "then Ms. Martinez accidentally bumped into me. So distracted—could it be because..."
"Rufus's money is burning a hole in your pocket?"
Cecilia's heart clenched.
Stefan actually knew her last name, and even knew about Rufus spending money on her!
Stefan had investigated her!
"Mr. Hensley is remarkably well-informed." She forced herself to calm down and turned to leave.
Every extra second spent with this kind of person could result in being calculated down to the bone.
However, her arm was gently caught. Stefan didn't use force, just blocked her path with his body.
"Don't rush off, Ms. Martinez."
"I'm just a bit curious—how similar are you to Rufus's supposedly dead wife from the rumors, to make him lose control like this?"
Stefan let out an ambiguous chuckle and moved directly in front of Cecilia again.
"Looking closer, you really are quite similar. Even I was momentarily confused."
Cecilia's footsteps were completely frozen in place by Stefan's words.
She whipped around, staring hard at Stefan, trying to discern truth from lies on that face wearing a playful smile.
Rufus's enemy.
An idea grew wildly in her mind.
She couldn't keep passively waiting to be crushed by Rufus.
She had to fight back. She needed power, needed a blade that could strike at Rufus!
And Stefan, standing right before her, was exactly the force she could use.
The panic and resistance faded from Cecilia's face.
Her spine straightened, her chin tucked slightly, and her previously evasive gaze became focused and sharp.
"Mr. Hensley, rather than treating you to dinner, I'd like to discuss a business deal with you. Interested?"
Her words came so abruptly that it was Stefan's turn to be stunned.
The mockery in his eyes faded somewhat, but his interest grew stronger.
He'd thought this was just a kitten backed into a corner, only able to show its claws to scare people. He hadn't expected this kitten would dare to bare its teeth at him.
Wasn't this even more interesting?
"A deal?" Stefan repeated, then laughed. "Ms. Martinez, what capital do you have to discuss a deal with me? Your tears, or that face of yours?"
His words were contemptuous, yet carried a businessman's unique assessment.
"Because I'm currently the only person who can easily provoke Rufus's emotions."
Cecilia met Stefan's gaze without backing down.
"Because this face of mine is your best weapon against him."
"What? A weapon?" Stefan pushed up his glasses. "You want to become a blade? But Rufus's weakness isn't as simple as a similar face. His obsession with his dead wife Cecilia will only make him tear apart anyone trying to use that face even more thoroughly."
"What if this blade knows all his weaknesses?" Cecilia stepped forward, lowering her voice. "And most importantly, what if this blade hates him enough to willingly become your pawn, ready to destroy him even if it means mutual destruction?"
Watching Stefan's eyes change instantly, she continued to raise the stakes.
"Is a blade like that qualified enough to be the opening statement of our cooperation?"
The smile completely disappeared from Stefan's face, the cold light reflecting off his lenses concealing all his emotions.
She was smarter and bolder than he'd imagined.
She hadn't just seen through Stefan's hostility toward Rufus—she'd precisely identified her own value as a pawn in this desperate situation, and actively thrown out bait that Stefan couldn't refuse.
"What do you want from me?" After a long pause, Stefan finally spoke, his tone now serious.
"Money, power, and a platform that can help me quickly establish myself."
Cecilia's demands were direct and clear.
"I want you to use all your resources to help me grow strong as fast as possible—strong enough to stand against Rufus."
"Quite an appetite." Stefan smiled, that smile carrying a businessman's particular shrewdness. "Why should I believe this blade of yours won't turn around and cut me instead?"
"Because we have a common enemy."
Cecilia's answer was decisive.
"Until Rufus falls, our interests will always align. I need your power to break free from him, and you need me as a thorn permanently lodged in his heart, never letting him rest easy."
"This deal, Mr. Hensley—you can't lose."
"Unless you think you can't handle the consequences of cooperating with me? Surely Mr. Hensley isn't that lacking in confidence?"
The entire corridor fell silent except for the sound of their breathing.
Stefan suddenly extended his hand.
"Welcome, Ms. Martinez."
He'd made his decision, those attractive eyes gleaming with the excitement of a hunter spotting premium prey.
"Starting tomorrow, come work at my company."
Cecilia didn't immediately take his hand.
"I have one more condition."
She lifted her face, looking directly at him.
"During our cooperation, if Rufus comes to harass me again and I need you, you must unconditionally help me deal with the trouble."
Stefan raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting her to dare make additional demands.
But this condition was trivial to Stefan. In fact, he might even get to watch Rufus suffer.
So Stefan only paused for a second before readily agreeing.
"Deal."
Cecilia finally extended her hand, clasping his.
Two cold hands touched, and an alliance of hidden agendas was formed.