Undivided

Chapter 4: Whispers and Whirlwinds

Vincent had just casually mocked the situation and didn’t pay it much attention. With his busy schedule, once he left Clearwater, both household and personal matters were put aside, not to mention reflecting on his own words or caring for the young mistress's feelings.

At 2 p.m., the bustling CBD area of the capital city was choked with traffic. Warm gusts of wind carried the heat of the sun, which hung high and bright in the sky.

After lunch break, office workers, mostly holding coffee cups, grouped in threes and twos, make their way back to their offices. Today being Friday, the mood was relaxed, and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. However, two girls working at Elysium Group hurried back to their office upon receiving a group notification, their previous casual chatter turning into anxious urgency.

“Why so soon? Wasn’t he said to be unlikely today?”

“Who knows, if I could read these people's minds, I’d be striking it rich in the stock market. Come on, let's hurry.”

Elysium Group’s headquarters, near the financial center, consisted of two interconnected buildings with a striking geometric design. The one on the east side housed the luxurious Elysium Hotel, while the other served as the corporate office building.

At 2:15 p.m., the usually empty lobby of the office building was filled with the company's management, lined up in two neat rows according to rank, with the event team leaders standing at the outer edge.

At 2:20 p.m., a convoy of three black cars drove up to the building. The leading Cadillac parked to the right of the Roman columns, while the Bentley boldly stopped directly in the center.

A young man in glasses got out of the passenger side of the Bentley. He adjusted his suit as he walked to the back, bending slightly to respectfully open the rear door.

Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the car door, a sense of tension rising from the ground.

The afternoon sun was particularly fierce, the road scorching hot, and the leaves of the trees were so green they seemed to glow, creating a distant stillness amidst the summer heat.

Vincent stepped out of the car, standing up slowly. His features were sharp and clear, complemented by his tall and elegant stature, exuding a natural coolness. From a distance, he looked young and distinguished.

Before everyone could recover, the doors of the other two cars opened simultaneously, and six assistants – three men and three women, all in business suits, carrying briefcases – stepped out and followed Vincent, maintaining a distance of about half a meter.

Many senior executives had come to greet Vincent today, but a few veterans deliberately stayed away, wanting to show the younger generation the various colors of the world.

The group walked expressionlessly inside. As they entered the elevator, someone unexpectedly pressed the floor button for them.

"Mr. Sterling, I am Secretary Yu from Director Huang's office. You can just call me Little Yu. Director Huang has been unwell recently and is resting at home, so he couldn’t come to meet you today," Secretary Yu said with a courteous smile, standing straight and exuding an air of superiority despite his soft tone.

"Director Huang also specifically instructed me to take good care of you. Anything you need or want to see, just let me know."

The air fell into a brief silence.

Jeremy Brooks, standing at the side of the elevator, leaned slightly forward, extending his right hand to clear the way for Vincent. Once Vincent entered, Jeremy turned to Secretary Yu, saying, “Director Huang is getting on in years; it’s natural for his health to decline. Please convey to him that he should rest assured and enjoy his retirement, perhaps even take up gardening. There's no need for him to worry about the Group's affairs anymore.”

“Mr. Sterling's return will see him taking full control of the Elysium Group. Esteemed contributors like Director Huang will be provided with the finest retirement life by Mr. Sterling.”

Retirement life? Secretary Yu was momentarily taken aback.

But Jeremy didn’t wait for a response, stepping into the elevator and positioning himself behind Vincent, pressing the button for the 68th floor.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, Vincent stood in the center, his demeanor gentle yet distant, not once acknowledging the eager Secretary Yu.

They arrived at the long-vacant Chairman's office on the 68th floor. One assistant efficiently affixed a temporary nameplate on the door; two others measured and recorded dimensions in the office to arrange furniture and supplies to Vincent’s liking.

Jeremy, the Chief Assistant, opened his laptop and issued a pre-prepared announcement to all employees via the company intranet:

“After deliberation by the Group's leadership, effective today, Mr. Vincent Sterling is appointed as the President of Elysium Group, transitioning from his previous role as Director of Overseas Development and President of the Australian division. All departments are expected to actively cooperate with Mr. Sterling’s appointment and work towards a new era under his leadership.”

The announcement was signed by Charles Sterling, Vincent's father.

Simultaneously, the sound of incoming emails echoed through the office areas. The company was abuzz with the news.

“Is Mr. Sterling’s health really that bad? His son is only twenty-seven, isn’t he? It seems too young for succession.”

At the end of the workday, the marketing department of Elysium Group organized a team gathering. Usually, at the weekend, everyone preferred to return to their personal lives, avoiding even greetings with colleagues. But today, due to Vincent's appearance, there was an unusual restlessness within the Elysium Group, with many gathering for a casual drink to indulge in gossip.

“What’s wrong with being young? He’s a Harvard graduate, oversaw the acquisition of ThinkCon at just twenty-two. It was impressive.”

“I know he’s capable, like how he built up Mist and Clouds, but taking over the Group... it just feels too soon for someone so young.”

Another colleague chimed in, “I don’t think it’s about age, it’s about being too handsome. He looks like a movie star; it just doesn’t seem reliable.”

“Since when is being handsome a problem? Would you rather stare at an ugly face all day?”

Laughter filled the room, and the atmosphere lightened significantly.

"That handsome, and no girlfriend? It would be a waste not to have an office romance," a female colleague teased playfully.

A male colleague scoffed, bursting the bubble of excitement without mercy, "Girlfriend? He's already married."

"Married?"

"No way, how come I never heard about it?"

"Who's his wife?"

"Young and married already."

The room buzzed with multiple voices.

The gossip expert shared the scoop, “His wife is from the Hamilton Family.”

"Which Hamilton Family?"

"Which one do you think? The Hamilton Family of SinoElectric Corporation, of course.”

While Elise was the subject of Elysium Group employees’ discussions, she was wrapped in a bath towel at Mist and Clouds, venting her frustrations so fast that she choked, coughing uncontrollably while clinging to the edge of the pool.

Kyle had been listening to her rant for a quarter of an hour, laughing so hard that her stomach hurt. She handed Elise a tissue while wiping away her own tears.

The temperature in the ginseng-infused pool was a perfect 40 degrees, not too hot, but Elise, overwhelmed by emotions, felt short of breath after just a short while. “I can’t take this anymore, I’m getting out.”

She stood up, wrapping herself in a dry towel, her long hair trailing behind as she walked to the edge of the pool.

This private ginseng pool, exclusive to Elise, was located in the deepest part of Mist and Clouds’ pool garden. A quaint pavilion was built beside it, with intricately carved palace lanterns hanging from its eaves and surrounded by screens painted with ancient motifs. During the day, one could see green trees and flowers, while at night, it was a blend of misty fog and warm yellow light, offering two distinct experiences.

Hearing the movement, the attendants outside the screen came forward, some with bathrobes, others with tea.

Soon, Kyle also emerged. After showering together, the two continued their chat, leisurely strolling towards the spa center.

Passing by the VIP lounge, Kyle suddenly stopped and nudged Elise with her elbow, nodding towards someone inside. “Charlotte Carter.”

Elise paused, following Kyle's gaze. A server was presenting Charlotte with a fruit salad, partially blocking their view. Nonetheless, Charlotte, quick-eyed, spotted them and boldly called out, “Elise, Kyle!”

Elise smiled, sharing a knowing glance with Kyle as they casually strolled inside.

“Ms. Carter, what a rare guest,” Elise greeted, sitting beside Charlotte with ease. She crossed her legs, nonchalantly picking up a small silver fork and selecting a piece of cucumber from the salad.

Charlotte eyed their attire and suddenly remembered why she couldn’t roam freely in the spa earlier – the exclusive ginseng pool was Elise's.

Picking up a fruit piece herself, Charlotte remarked with a forced smile, “Long time no see. I heard your husband is back in the country. Last night at the Zero Degree gala, he even bid on a necklace for Victoria, right? That necklace tops at one hundred and twenty thousand, but your husband raised it by more than four times. Quite generous.”

Elise responded with a light tone, “Can't help it, Vincent is quite committed to philanthropy.”

The mention of 'our Vincent' sent a shiver down both Kyle and Charlotte's spines.

Elise then turned to Charlotte with a feigned regretful smile, “It’s a shame you weren’t there last night. Oh, why didn’t you go?”

Charlotte's fleeting discomfort froze on her face. Not long ago, to secure front-row seats at a brand's premiere show in the capital, she had placed orders worth over four million without hesitation, bragging about her connections. But the brand faced a severe plagiarism scandal and was boycotted by several fashion icons.

Furious, Charlotte bombarded the brand's PR with calls for three days straight, but couldn’t get her orders refunded. The incident had turned her into a laughing stock in the social circles, leading her to keep a low profile lately.

Caught off-guard by Elise’s jab, Charlotte, forgetting her newly learned manners, crunched her fruit aggressively and replied flatly, “I was busy.”

Just then, her fiancé, Yan, messaged her, asking where she was and proposing dinner together. Her mood brightened instantly, flaunting her phone to Elise with a childish sense of superiority, “My man is coming to take me out for dinner. I won’t keep you. Oh, why isn’t Mr. Sterling with you today?”

Elise, unimpressed by such displays of affection, flicked her long hair to casually reveal a red mark on her neck, resting her chin on her hand with a sweet tone, “He’s busy with work, usually accompanies me in the evenings.” She threw Charlotte a suggestive wink.

Charlotte was left speechless.

Elise's clear disdain was unmistakable – a masterclass in subtle provocation.