Chapter 219 Wish
The quiet atmosphere didn't last long.
Elodie seemed to have misunderstood the meaning of this embrace. Her hands began to wander restlessly across his back, her body pressing closer intentionally or unintentionally, her breathing becoming rapid and cloying. She even stood on her tiptoes, trying to find Rufus's lips.
Her deliberate, flattering attempt at seduction crudely disrupted the cool, resolute shadow in Rufus's mind, making it fragmented and distorted.
Cecilia would never be like this.
Even when she loved him most, Cecilia had been proud. Her love was gentle and reserved, not this kind of naked physical offering.
The hint of confusion in Rufus's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by undisguised disgust.
He abruptly let go and stepped back with revulsion.
"Rufus?" Elodie lost her footing and nearly fell, her face full of shock and hurt, her lips still positioned for a kiss, looking both ridiculous and awkward.
Rufus didn't look at her. He walked to his desk, pulled out a few wet wipes, and methodically cleaned the fingers that had just touched her, his movements full of disdain.
"Your wound is still bleeding." His voice returned to its usual cold hardness, emotionless. "Go to the hospital and get it treated. Don't let it scar."
What was this? Concern?
Elodie was confused. That look in his eyes had been so cold just now, but these words clearly showed he cared about her.
"I don't need to go to the hospital. It's just a small injury," she tried to salvage the previous intimate atmosphere.
"I said go get it treated." Rufus threw the dirty tissue into the trash, his tone sharpening. "That face is your only value. If your face scars, you'll be completely useless."
Elodie's whole body trembled, chilled to the bone.
So that's it... he only cares about this face.
But then Rufus pressed the intercom on his desk: "Have finance transfer five hundred thousand dollars to Ms. Turner, and have two assistants take her to the mall downstairs to pick out some clothes. Put it on my account."
He hung up and looked at Elodie: "Consider this compensation for hitting you with the ashtray. Go on, get out of my sight."
Elodie's emotions went on a rollercoaster.
Though she'd been humiliated, five hundred thousand dollars and the privilege of shopping with the Chapman Group president's assistants were enough for her to show off on Facebook for a long time, and enough to prove she hadn't been abandoned by Rufus.
She might not be smart enough, but she knew when to quit while ahead.
"Thank you, Rufus." Elodie lowered her head and obediently left, a flash of smugness in her eyes.
The office returned to dead silence.
Rufus sank back into his leather chair, tiredly pinching the bridge of his nose.
I did lose control just now, but Elodie's presence is still necessary for now. Since Stefan has hidden Cecilia away, keeping Elodie around can occasionally help stabilize my emotions late at night.
Rufus lit up his computer screen.
The page displayed was the official homepage of the National Designer Competition.
Only three days left until the finals.
This was currently the most watched event in Harmony City's fashion circle, even nationwide. Overwhelming promotional ads occupied the splash screens of major mobile apps.
Cecilia was a designer, the kind who would risk her life for design. Since she'd returned as "Echo" and even publicly embarrassed Isadora in the last round, there was no way she'd miss the final competition.
That was Cecilia's glory.
Stefan could hide her, but he couldn't hide her ambition.
Rufus stared at the "Finals Countdown" on the screen, his gaze gradually deepening.
As long as she appears, this time, I absolutely won't let her escape again.
A knock sounded, and Louis entered.
"Mr. Chapman." Louis's expression was somewhat strange, hesitant.
"Speak."
"We just received word that Stefan seems to be communicating with the competition organizers about a special procedure." Louis handed over his tablet. "And the organizers have already agreed to it for the publicity, and just posted a preview on their official blog."
Rufus glanced at the tablet.
It was a newly posted pinned tweet:
[To encourage designers' creative passion, this competition's champion will not only receive a huge cash prize and international resources, but the organizers will also fulfill one special wish proposed by the champion within their capabilities! Each contestant's 'champion wish' has been sealed. Finals night, we'll reveal them for you!]
The comments section was buzzing with netizens making wild guesses about the designers' wishes.
Rufus frowned: "What's Stefan up to?"
This kind of flashy gimmick had never been part of previous design competitions. Why would Stefan, as behind-the-scenes capital, interfere with such details?
"The Hensley Group is one of the biggest sponsors of this competition, with rule suggestion rights." Louis analyzed. "Everyone's saying this is Mr. Hensley trying to win Ms. Martinez's favor. Everyone thinks the championship definitely belongs to Ms. Martinez, and this so-called wish is probably Mr. Hensley wanting to create buzz and publicity for Ms. Martinez, to help her make a bigger name in the design world."
Rufus gave a cold laugh.
If Stefan wanted to give Cecilia something, he could just give it directly. Why go through such a roundabout way, using this public method?
Unless...
A flash of insight struck Rufus.
Unless this "wish" was meant to accomplish something Stefan couldn't conveniently do directly, or needed this kind of public occasion to force certain people to agree.
Cecilia was now living with Stefan but being targeted by Dione. Though Stefan protected Cecilia, he was still constrained by his family elders.
If Cecilia's wish was related to Stefan, saying it through this kind of live-streamed broadcast, even Dione couldn't refuse publicly.
"Childish." Rufus gave his assessment.
Stefan's tactics were nothing more than the juvenile tricks high schoolers use when dating.
But Rufus felt inexplicably irritated.
If Cecilia really wished in front of tens of millions of viewers to be with Stefan, or to marry into the Hensley family, then what am I? An ex-husband? Or a joke?
"Go investigate."
Rufus slammed the computer shut, his eyes frighteningly sinister. "At any cost, I want to know what wish Amelia submitted to the organizers."
"But Mr. Chapman, this is top-level confidential information, the organizers..."
"I don't want to hear excuses." Rufus cut him off. "If you can't get concrete information, don't bother coming back."
Louis felt a chill down his spine: "Yes, I'll handle it right away."
Rufus stood and walked to the window, looking down at the tiny traffic flow below.
Cecilia wants to make a wish?
Whether she wants to marry Stefan or use this to escape the past.
As long as I'm here, that wish won't come true so easily.