Sweet Conquest: The CEO's Captivating Sweetheart

In the presidential suite of the Part Hyatt Hotel in New York City… "How many times have I told you—" "Don't send this kind of thing to my office again." Ryan Steven walked in, holding a familiar paper bag in hand, his thin lips pressed tightly together, irritation flashing in his eyes. Inside the bag was a black lace lingerie set. "Do you like it?" came a sultry voice. Grace Shirley threw herself into his arms, her soft body pressing against his. She had just finished showering, her hair still damp, and her misty eyes filled with anticipation as she looked up at him. Ryan hesitated, then admitted, somewhat helplessly but honestly, "…I do." For the longest time, Ryan had considered himself indifferent to women. Over the years, countless women had thrown themselves at him, yet none had stirred his heart. In his earlier years, he had spent time in a monastery, meditating with prayer beads in hand, earning him the nickname "The Monk." So, why had he maintained this relationship with the woman in front of him for two years? He himself was confused. "What are you thinking about?" Grace asked, her fox-like eyes glinting with desire as they locked onto his. The black lace lingerie he had just brought in was now in disarray, accentuating her pale skin, making her even more alluring. Ryan snapped out of his thoughts, raising an eyebrow. "I was thinking… it's my turn to be on top." With a swift move, he flipped her onto the bed, pinning her underneath him. But just when things were heating up, Grace playfully refused to cooperate. She leaned into his ear, her voice teasing, breathless, "Ryan, there's this movie I want to shoot. Will you invest in it for me?" At that moment, Ryan wasn’t in any state of mind to think about whether the investment was worth it or not. With the night still ahead of them, of course, it was worth it. "Alright," he agreed. ... It wasn’t until after 3 PM that the hotel suite finally quieted down. Grace, feeling sore all over, picked up her phone and called her assistant, "Have someone send my red carpet gown over." She pushed Ryan away, slipped out of bed, and walked over to the mirror, still completely bare. That damn man had left marks everywhere except her neck and chest! She shot him a fierce glare, but he remained unfazed. The prayer beads were already wrapped around his wrist as he slowly buttoned up his shirt, his every movement filled with an air of detachment and elegance, as if he had once again become the untainted monk with no worldly desires. Who would’ve thought that this so-called "monk" had long succumbed to desire? Grace gritted her teeth in frustration. Typical… getting out of bed and flipping the switch. Good thing she was smart enough to only bring up important matters while they were still in bed. "Come help me with my tie," he called out in a low voice, laced with a hint of command. Grace didn’t dare disobey. She quickly grabbed a robe, wrapping it around her body, but deliberately left the neckline loose, revealing just enough to tease him as she approached. She slowly tied his tie, making sure to brush her soft curves against him every now and then. His eyes gradually darkened, like a thin veil of mist had settled over them, making it hard to see through. Ryan lifted her chin and kissed her, a kiss full of intent, slowly unraveling her defenses. Her mind grew foggy, her body weak. Sensing his breath becoming unsteady, Grace bit his lip lightly. He finally let her go, his gaze still locked on her. "One more round?" he asked, his face so striking that she couldn’t help but fall for him every time. His features were sharp, his eyes deep, and that gaze—always carrying a hint of cold detachment. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her tone regretful but teasing, "Don’t you have a meeting at the office? I have an awards ceremony starting soon. Let’s save it for next time." As if she could satisfy him every single time! Playing the part of a monk—what a joke. He couldn’t even control his desires. Just then, a knock came at the door. Grace gently pushed him away, tidying her clothes before opening the door. Her assistant came in, delivering several custom gowns. "Grace, hurry and pick one to try on. We’re almost ready to leave," the assistant urged. Grace casually picked a blue, diamond-encrusted gown and went to the dressing room to change. By the time she came out, Ryan still hadn’t left. He was sitting on the sofa, reviewing documents his assistant had sent over, every gesture exuding an air of sophistication and detachment. When he noticed Grace had changed, he glanced up at her, frowning slightly. "That dress is ugly. Change it." Grace looked at herself in the mirror—how was it ugly? The gown was strapless, perfectly highlighting her slim waist and accentuating her curves. The short front and long back design showed off her long, straight legs, smooth and pale like carved jade. The heels she wore only made her posture more elegant and alluring. She looked stunning, but Ryan insisted it was ugly. Well, he was the boss, after all. She smiled sweetly and gave him the choice. "Whichever dress you think suits me, I’ll wear. How about that?" He casually pointed at a white gown. "That one." Grace obediently complied. This man’s possessiveness was really something. Once she’d changed into the white gown and finished her makeup, Grace headed to the awards ceremony. The gown was long, covering her feet, with delicate tassels that gave it an elegant touch. It wasn’t eye-catching compared to the other actresses’ flashy outfits, but luckily, her face was striking enough to stand out. Despite her innocent appearance, Grace had fox-like eyes that turned up slightly at the corners, adding an edge to her beauty. After walking the red carpet with her co-stars from *Summer Dream*, she went backstage to wait for the other actors to finish. Tonight, she was here to take home the Best Actress award. Her role as the lead in *Summer Dream* had earned rave reviews, and unless something unexpected happened, the award was practically hers. It had only been two years since she started dating Ryan, and in that short time, he had practically catapulted her to the top of the industry. Now, she was one of the most sought-after actresses. Of course, such a rapid rise didn’t come without its enemies. As soon as she entered the backstage lounge, her competitor, Elizabeth, sidled up to her, giving her a once-over with a scrutinizing gaze. "Why are you dressed so plainly today? Did Mr. Steven dump you?" Elizabeth sneered. Everyone knew Grace had a powerful backer. After all, they worked at the same company, and Elizabeth was well aware that Grace’s benefactor was none other than Mr. Steven—the same man who had earned a reputation for being indifferent to women. It was a shock to everyone that he had fallen for Grace. Grace didn’t even bother to engage, glancing lazily at Elizabeth, who was dressed like a peacock on display. She smirked, not at all concerned by the insult, "Trying to let everyone know your sugar daddy’s a nouveau riche, huh?" "You—!" Elizabeth was fuming. Her sugar daddy was, in fact, an old man, and yes, a nouveau riche at that. She forced herself to calm down and sneered, "How long can you stay on top? Haven’t you heard? Mr. Steven is engaged to Mr. Justin's daughter from Washington. Or are you still in the dark?" Grace had no idea about the engagement, but at this point, she didn’t care. Her career was thriving, and she’d be just fine without Ryan. To be honest, if it weren’t for his looks and, well, his skills, she wouldn’t have stayed with him this long. But she had her limits. If Ryan was getting engaged, she’d find a way to end things. No way she was playing the role of the other woman. Grace’s smile didn’t waver. "Doesn’t matter. I’ve already gotten everything I wanted." Elizabeth was left speechless, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. After a long pause, she muttered under her breath, "You’re nothing but a fox!" The awards ceremony began shortly after. As expected, Grace took home the Best Actress award, along with several other accolades for *Summer Dream*. But just as she stepped off the stage, still clutching her trophy, her phone buzzed with a message: "Hello, I’m Ryan Steven’s mother. Let’s meet tomorrow at 10 AM, at the executive lounge in Part Hyatt Hotel.