Anton and Sheri had attended several meetings together in the past, so much so that the two of them could easily recognize one another even if they were dressed completely differently. There was a striking contrast between the way Sheri was dressed now and the way she usually appeared at events. At those occasions she was always elegantly presented, with clothing chosen to fit the style of high-class gatherings.
Yet today, in her neat but simple work attire, she looked like an entirely different person. If someone who only knew her from banquets or charity events saw her sitting behind a reception desk in professional but modest clothing, they might have mistaken her for someone else entirely.
The reason for their countless meetings in the past was rooted in the fact that Sanna, Sheri’s mother, had once considered Anton as one of the potential candidates for an arranged marriage. For Sanna, connections were everything, and during the time when her family had been struggling, she had been determined to secure Sheri’s future by tying her to a partner who might help.
However, even the youngest member of the Stern family offered far greater advantages than Anton Stable ever could. Compared to the influence, wealth, and name of the Sterns, the Stables were a weaker option, and at the time Sanna had decided it was better to break away from the arrangement entirely.
Once the engagement was broken off, Sanna chose not to arrange another marriage for Sheri. The decision came after years of disappointment, as neither the Stable family nor any of the other families she had reached out to had stepped forward to support the Curts when they were at their lowest point. From Sanna’s perspective, if no one was willing to lend a hand when her family was suffering, then what was the point of sacrificing her daughter for an alliance that brought them no benefit?
The Curts gained nothing, and Sanna eventually shifted her approach. Even though she still kept her eyes on advantageous relationships, she no longer forced the matter of arranged marriage on Sheri. Instead, she settled for gently nudging her daughter toward people she considered promising.
Because of the many times they had been placed together, Anton eventually developed feelings for Sheri. His emotions grew from familiarity and the time they spent together in meetings, luncheons, and gatherings.
For Sheri, however, her feelings remained neutral. She never reciprocated in the way he wanted. To her, those meetings were simply obligations she attended because her mother had arranged them. The matter of marriage was for the future, something distant, and at the time she was still in high school, focused more on living her youth and enjoying life than on any binding commitment.
Now, years later, standing at the reception desk, Sheri kept her professional smile in place. She folded her hands lightly on the desk and looked up at him with polite eyes. "It’s quite clear that you’re not here to see me, Anton.
So, how can I help you today?" Her voice was steady and calm, though inside she worried. With Anton discovering that she worked here, she feared he might start visiting the building more often just for the excuse of speaking with her. The thought was uncomfortable, but she told herself she would simply have to remain professional no matter what.
Anton, on the other hand, brightened a little at her tone, mistaking her civility for warmth. "Actually, this might be even better than what I had planned," he said, stepping closer to the desk. "Since you’re here, perhaps you could put in a good word for me?" He adjusted his suit jacket as if to emphasize his seriousness.
"You see, I know the group is beginning to open up appointments now. Since the deal was finalized recently, my father has asked that he be allowed to meet with someone from the Billion Bloodline group. He says what has already happened is a good start, but he wants to discuss possible expansion if things continue to go well. It doesn’t need to be the Chairman or anyone so high up. A representative, anyone willing to listen, would be fine."
For once, Anton was not exaggerating or lying. His father had indeed given him this task. What Anton failed to mention, however, was the basis of that assignment.
His father had instructed him to secure a new meeting under the assumption that Anton himself had already managed to close the first deal with the Billion Bloodline group.
The truth, that the deal had only gone through because of the Curts family’s involvement, was something his father remained unaware of. Anton’s pride would not let him admit it.
Still, Anton had learned from his previous humiliation. This time he was determined not to make demands. He had walked in politely, requested an appointment properly, and carefully avoided insisting on speaking to anyone at the very top. His attitude was calmer, his words rehearsed, and his smile calculated. He was determined to succeed.
Sheri, however, disliked the situation. She knew full well that Anton had failed the first time and had leaned entirely on her family to salvage things.
To see him here again, trying once more to use her as a step toward his own success, left her uneasy. Yet she was an intern now, seated at the reception desk, and her responsibility was to do her job. Whether she liked Anton or not, she had to process his request as she would for anyone else.
With steady hands she picked up the phone, dialed through to the appropriate team, and explained that a client was requesting an appointment.
She gave Anton’s name, her voice professional. For a few seconds everything was normal. Then, unexpectedly, the person on the other end spoke in a more urgent tone. "Hold on just one moment. I need to pass this call through."
It was the first time since starting her work that Sheri had ever been asked to wait while a call was escalated.
Every other request that day had been straightforward. She had simply routed the calls, logged the appointments, and carried on. But this was different. Something about Anton’s name triggered a response.
When the voice returned to the line, the message was short, clear, and nothing like what she expected. Sheri’s hand trembled slightly as she placed the phone back into its cradle.
She turned to Anton, her professional mask cracking under the weight of nerves. "I’m sorry," she said softly, her voice carrying the tension of what she had just heard. "Unfortunately, they’ve stated that you are forbidden from entering this building. They told me that they already made this clear last time. If you refuse to leave, they said they will have you removed by force."
The words struck Anton like a physical blow. His face twisted in disbelief. "WHAT!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the reception area. "What the hell did I do to deserve this treatment?" His anger turned immediately toward suspicion. He jabbed a finger at Sheri, his voice shaking with fury. "Are you in cahoots with that bastard Darno already? Did he put you up to this? After rejecting me last time, has he told you to make me into a fool again?"
Sheri’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth to protest, but Anton wasn’t finished. His anger boiled over into cruelty. "So that’s it, huh? You’ve already decided then. You damned slut! You jumped from Max’s meat to Darno’s meat without even giving me a chance!" His words were venom, spat across the desk with reckless spite.
For a moment Sheri was too stunned to speak. Rage began to rise in her chest. She had only been doing her job, repeating the words passed down to her, yet Anton had twisted it into a personal attack. She had never betrayed him, never sought his attention, yet here he was dragging her name through the dirt.
Anton sneered, pressing on, his voice loud and unrestrained. "What, you think I didn’t see how you were slobbering all over Chad for his money? And now here you are, working at this company. I bet you’re already taking one of the Billion Bloodline men too! That’s why they favor you so much, isn’t it?"
Before Sheri could even respond, Anton moved. His shoes scraped against the polished floor as he came around the desk. With one sharp motion he seized the front of Sheri’s shirt, yanking her toward him until her face was inches from his own. His breath was hot with anger, and his grip was rough enough to make her wince.
"You lying bitch," Anton hissed, his eyes wild. "I’m going to teach you a lesson. I’ll show you that you picked the wrong person to side with!"