### Chapter 83: What Gives Her the Right?!
Lydia Thorne’s eyes flew wide open at the sight.
’Is Maxine Rhodes out of her mind?!’
’Trying to grab Mr. Hawthorne’s attention at a ti like this? What a delusional fantasy!’
Lydia Thorne nearly sneered aloud, waiting to watch Maxine Rhodes make a fool of herself. Mr. Hawthorne hadn’t even shaken her own hand; why would he possibly acknowledge this insignificant clown?
Beside her, Benjamin Sterling also froze, his brows knitting together tightly.
’What is Maxine Rhodes doing?!’ At such a crucial mont, Mr. Hawthorne was clearly in a foul mood—he hadn’t even given Lydia the ti of day. How dare she brazenly walk up and greet him? And with such an ambiguously intimate "long ti no see"? ’Who does she think she is?!’
Benjamin Sterling was terrified that Maxine’s reckless action would further infuriate Ethan Hawthorne and let this sure thing slip through his fingers. Worse, he feared Ethan Hawthorne would think he, Benjamin Sterling, was an incompetent manager whose employees were so ill-mannered and lacked propriety.
He had to fix this imdiately!
Forcing an awkward yet fawning smile onto his face, Benjamin Sterling hurriedly stepped forward. "Director Rhodes! Where are your manners? Mr. Hawthorne is an incredibly busy man; he’s not soone you can just casually—"
But before he could finish his sentence...
Ethan Hawthorne, who had been about to walk straight to the main seat, stopped in his tracks.
Under the focus of countless gazes, Ethan Hawthorne didn’t hesitate for a second. He even leaned forward slightly and took Maxine Rhodes’s hand.
At the sa ti, his deep, pleasant voice sounded.
"Director Rhodes, it has indeed been a long ti."
’It’s been several hours since we left the house this morning. Isn’t that a long ti?’
The mocking expression on Lydia Thorne’s face, which had been waiting for the show to begin, instantly shattered.
Benjamin Sterling’s mouth hung open, the rest of his rebuke stuck in his throat.
The entire venue was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Suppressing the storm raging in his heart and the ominous premonition he felt, Benjamin Sterling forced an eager smile back onto his face. He turned sideways to guide the way. "Mr. Hawthorne, this way, please. The signing table is all set up, waiting for you!"
Right now, he just wanted the proceedings to continue, to use the black and white of a signed contract to quell the unease brought on by that bizarre scene.
The signing table was already perfectly arranged. On the huge backdrop behind it was a massive logo for the Hawthorne-Sterling partnership. The emcee was enthusiastically describing the project’s prospects, setting the stage for a bright future built on this powerful alliance.
Finally, it was ti for the most critical mont.
The emcee announced loudly, "And now, let us invite Mr. Ethan Hawthorne, President of the Hawthorne Group, and the representative from Sterling Enterprises to jointly sign this landmark strategic cooperation agreent! Please welco them with a round of applause!"
Benjamin Sterling, his face flushed with excitent, impatiently nudged Lydia Thorne beside him and whispered, "Go on!"
Lydia Thorne took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked toward the signing table with confident strides, basking in countless envious gazes and flashing caras.
She took her position on one side of the table, picked up the prepared gold pen, and smiled, waiting for Ethan Hawthorne to approach from the other side and complete this historic handshake.
Ethan Hawthorne began to move.
He strode forward with long, steady steps, and in front of everyone... walked straight past Lydia Thorne, stopping in front of Maxine Rhodes, who had been sitting quietly in the corner.
He leaned down slightly and held out his hand.
"Director Rhodes," his voice was deep and certain, his gaze fixed solely on her. "It’s your turn."
BOOM—!
The words were like a bomb detonating in the silence—not with a sound, but with a massive shockwave that shattered everyone’s perception of reality.
’What is going on?!’
The dia caras instantly swung away from Lydia Thorne’s stunned face, pivoting to focus on Maxine Rhodes and the bent-over Ethan Hawthorne in the corner.
While everyone was still in shock, Maxine Rhodes had already walked calmly to the signing table and was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ethan Hawthorne.
Ethan Hawthorne took the microphone and announced in a clear voice, "When the Hawthorne Group chooses a partner, we look for irreplaceable core value. After a rigorous evaluation, we have determined that the key to the Celestia project’s success is, and only is, Ms. Maxine Rhodes’s personal professional ability, industry reputation, and resources."
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the ashen-faced Benjamin Sterling and Lydia Thorne. "Therefore, all rights and obligations of this project will be held and borne by her personally. As for Sterling Enterprises..."
His tone was flat, yet lethal. "Without Director Rhodes, it’s nothing."
The mont Ethan Hawthorne’s words fell, the entire venue sank into a vacuum-like silence.
Benjamin Sterling’s knuckles turned white as he gripped his champagne flute. He stared at the pair standing side-by-side on the stage—the man, tall and distinguished with an imposing aura; the woman, composed and calm, dazzlingly radiant. The sight was so blinding it almost seared his eyes.
’What gives Maxine Rhodes the right? She’s just a woman I, Benjamin Sterling, spent five years cultivating!’
’All her skills, connections, and resources—which of them didn’t co from the platform of Sterling Enterprises? Which of them was she able to use without my permission and guidance?’
’Maxine Rhodes is nothing more than a pretty, sowhat capable woman. In this circle, you can find them by the dozen!’
’I can’t let her escape my control like this. Her abilities, her value, her future—they should all belong to Sterling Enterprises, to , Benjamin Sterling!’
At this thought, Benjamin Sterling forced his lips into a smile, trying to regain so composure. After all, signing with the Hawthorne Group was still a major achievent for Sterling Enterprises.
’Right now, I need to stabilize the situation. Put her back on a pedestal, coax her with tenderness and feigned regret, and make her keep slaving away for the company. Use the Hawthorne Group’s resources to benefit Sterling Enterprises.’
anwhile, Lydia Thorne, standing to the side, had fallen completely into an abyss of despair.
Failure.
Utter, complete, and devastating failure.
She was a joke. All those carefully orchestrated "accidental" encounters, those suggestive text ssages, the vague boasts she made among her colleagues... they had all turned into boorangs, returning to pierce her and leave her riddled with holes.
Anger and resentnt gnawed at her heart like venomous snakes.
The signing ceremony concluded in a bizarre atmosphere. Benjamin Sterling barely maintained his composure with Roy Miller’s support, while Lydia Thorne had long since disappeared.
Maxine Rhodes was politely surrounded by the Hawthorne Group’s legal and project teams, quietly discussing the next steps.
Ethan Hawthorne didn’t leave right away. He stood a few steps away, his calm gaze resting on her, waiting patiently.
Benjamin Sterling fought down the turmoil raging within him and forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace. He walked toward Ethan Hawthorne. "Mr. Hawthorne, about this... could there be so misunderstanding? Sterling Enterprises, we actually..."
Ethan Hawthorne didn’t even turn to look at him. He simply raised his hand slightly, a simple gesture that choked back all the words Benjamin had yet to speak.
Erza Sinclair stepped forward at the perfect mont, professionally blocking the way. "President Sterling, Mr. Hawthorne has other arrangents right now."
Just then, Maxine Rhodes finished her conversation. She turned and her gaze t Ethan Hawthorne’s.
The icy, unapproachable aura surrounding Ethan Hawthorne softened the instant he faced her.
He strode toward her with unhurried steps. "All settled? Are you tired?"
Maxine Rhodes understood implicitly and shook her head lightly. "I’m fine. I have a general idea of everything."
"Good." Ethan Hawthorne took the docunts from her hand and, with a completely natural movent, gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her temple.
"Your hair is a little ssy."
He said in a low voice, his gaze lingering on her slightly trembling eyelashes for a full two seconds before he nonchalantly withdrew his hand.
This possessive and visually intimate gesture made Benjamin Sterling’s eye twitch violently, and his teeth ground together with an audible crunch.
A pleased smile touched the corners of Ethan Hawthorne’s lips. He turned slightly, gesturing toward the exit for Maxine Rhodes. "You must be hungry after a busy afternoon. I know a restaurant with dishes that are just your taste. The head chef saved us a table. Shall we go together?"
*****
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