Captivating the CEO's Heart

The break of dawn was almost upon Bridta.

Nonetheless, the Sunrise Club still blazed with lights, its vibrant atmosphere undiminished. Inside a VIP private room, opulence reigned supreme, and Lena Yates was perched on a plush sofa. More than once, she had considered making a discreet exit.

After a week of waiting, Lena had resigned herself to the idea that the film crew she had interviewed with had moved on without her. However, just an hour ago, her phone rang, and the producer delivered unexpected news. Apparently, the coveted position of assistant director would be hers, provided she could secure an investor.

"Lena... Lena!" someone urgently called, jolting her from her momentary reverie, and nudging her on the arm.

She turned to find the producer frantically gesturing at her. "What on earth are you daydreaming about? Mr. Wallace is asking you a question!"

Lena struggled to collect herself, but her vacant gaze gave away the fact that she hadn't heard a word of what Josh Wallace had said.

Growing slightly exasperated, Josh questioned, "Is this how your subordinates typically behave, Mr. Higgins? I'm beginning to reconsider my investment-"

"Please, Mr. Wallace. You're a person of great stature, while this young lady is still in the process of learning the ropes. Please forgive her," Timothy Higgins interjected with a placating smile. He then turned to Lena and added, "Lena, apologize to Mr. Wallace."

Lena couldn't help but steal a surreptitious glance at Josh's excessively shiny forehead, and a surge of distaste washed over her. Nevertheless, she replaced her expression with a welcoming smile. "I am deeply sorry, Mr. Wallace. Please accept my sincere apology. You're the esteemed business tycoon of our city, and I must say I was a little starstruck, making me lose my train of thought."

She cringed internally at the coquettish tone she had momentarily taken on. Then, she reached for a wine glass and suppressed her urge to gag. "Allow me to make amends with a drink. Mr. Wallace, please accept my apologies."

As the red wine slid down her throat, the discomfort lingered like an unwelcome guest.

"It's not enough." Timothy placed a wine bottle in Lena's hand and continued, "Lena, why don't you pour Mr. Wallace a glass? Since he hasn't brought a female companion tonight, you can keep him company."

Upon hearing this, Lena fought to maintain her smile.

Word had already spread about Josh's unrelenting infatuation with Lena. Despite Roderick Barton, Lena's ex, having shielded her from Josh's advances in the past, Josh remained undeterred.

After being a coward for so long, Lena was finally beginning to face reality.

Roderick had left her.

"Mr. Higgins, I'm not feeling well. Maybe you should find someone else to accompany Mr. Wallace," Lena suggested, a faint ache in her heart at the sudden realization. She set the wine bottle and glass down on the table and reached for her bag on the sofa.

Before coming here, she had no idea that the significant investor she was meeting tonight happened to be Josh. And she was also in the dark about the intentions they had in store for her.

Lena's gaze flicked to a shadowy corner of the room, but she didn't have the luxury of dwelling on it. Suddenly, Timothy's grip tightened around her arm, and he asked, "Hey, where are you going? You don't want to be the assistant director?"

"I..."

"Mr. Higgins! Don't be so impolite to such a gorgeous lady," Josh intervened.

Lena's arm was liberated from Timothy's grasp as Josh inserted himself into the situation. With intentions far from noble, he insinuated, "So, you aspire to be the assistant director? If that's so, spend the evening with me, and I'll invest in the project immediately. Forget about the assistant director position. Perhaps you'd prefer to be the leading lady? Rest assured, no one will dare to oppose my choice."

Lena deftly evaded Josh's hand, which had ventured toward her waist, and struggled to wrench her arm free from his grip. "Mr. Wallace, let me go!"

Her resistance left Josh feeling somewhat humiliated.

"Lena, it would be wise for you to cooperate while I'm still generous," he warned in a low, menacing tone. "Since you're already here, you might as well meet all my expectations. Do you honestly believe Roderick still loves you?"

Lena subtly leaned back to avoid the unpleasant odor coming from Josh's mouth. "I was under the impression this was a standard business social event. That's the only reason I came."

"A standard social event, huh?" Josh retorted with a sneer.

He released her, swiftly turning to grab a bottle of vodka from the table. "In my book, a social event involves drinking. Let's make a deal. You finish this bottle, and I'll add ten million to my investment."

Drinking heavily was not Lena's forte.

Yet, escaping this situation unharmed seemed unlikely without making some concessions.

Thankfully, she was resilient enough to withstand more than a mere sip of vodka. She wouldn't get drunk immediately after finishing the bottle.

Reaching for the bottle, Lena asked, "If I drink this, can I leave?"

"You're welcome to stay and drink more," Josh proposed, his eyes revealing a sinister intent.

Lena doubted his honesty, but she still said, "I trust you'll keep your word."

She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her, weighing her next move. Lena was counting on a slim chance.

Her hope now rested on that man.

She let her gaze drift to a dimly lit corner of the room, where a man's silhouette lingered almost unseen in the shadows. He appeared uninterested in intervening.

"Are you going to drink, or are you waiting for Roderick to save you?" Josh asked, his impatience growing.

"Roderick? Roderick Barton! All Bartons are bastards!" Lena thought to herself.

With no sign of assistance from the shadowy figure, Lena shifted her focus away and brought the bottle to her lips.

The sharp aroma of alcohol filled Lena's senses, and the strong taste of the vodka was just about to touch her lips when a calm, commanding voice interrupted the tension. "A bottle for ten million? Have you always been this generous, Mr. Wallace?"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it exuded a natural authority.

There were those who seemed destined to stand out, their presence effortlessly commanding attention.

Josh, who was initially annoyed at this interruption, changed his demeanor as he recognized the speaker. He managed a strained smile. "Ah, Mr. Barton. Just a bit of fun, nothing serious. In your esteemed company, such an amount is hardly worth mentioning."

With a flick, Collin Barton ignited his lighter, bringing its blue flame to a cigarette that had suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth. Moments later, the flame disappeared, leaving behind a trail of white smoke curling around a brightly burning ember.

In an indifferent voice, Collin remarked, "You seem quite daring tonight."

Josh, trying to gauge the meaning behind Collin's nonchalant tone, stepped closer with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm simply pursuing a woman I've been interested in for some time. If my actions displease you, I'll leave with her right now."

As the cigarette slowly burned, Collin's attention wasn't really on Josh.

His eyes were fixed beyond Josh. It was on Lena. "Would you like to go with him?"

The scent of the vodka still hung in the air around Lena. She promptly shook her head and said, "No, I wouldn't."

"Did you hear her response?" Collin then turned away from her, addressing Josh with a question that seemed more like a statement.

Josh, though driven by desire, was not without sense. He began to understand that Collin was interfering with his plans.

But he wasn't ready to back down. His long-standing infatuation with Lena fueled his determination to win her over that night.

"Mr. Barton, this seems a bit unfair, don't you think?" With his smile now gone, Josh's tone hardened. "You've just returned and might be out of touch with local affairs. Your elder brother usually shows me some regard. And let's not forget, the Barton Group still answers to him."

The Barton family, with their history as intricate and sprawling as a banyan tree, held a position of undeniable prominence in Bridta, standing tall among the four leading families.

Lanny Barton, the leader, had experienced his share of sorrow. His first wife's early demise left him with two sons, one of whom tragically passed away, leaving only Kieran Barton, his surviving child from that marriage, under his care until he remarried. Kieran was Collin's half-brother.

"Are you seriously using Kieran to blackmail me?" Collin's tone was still devoid of emotion, yet the atmosphere grew noticeably tense.

When he saw an opportunity, Josh's features twisted into a smirk. He reached out, aiming to casually pat Collin's shoulder.

His hand was almost upon Collin's dark grey coat.

In a swift, almost imperceptible movement, Collin's reaction sent Josh hurtling through the air, crashing into a marble table adorned with liquor bottles.

The sound of shattering glass filled the room, and the sharp scent of spilled alcohol permeated the air.

Everyone in the room was taken aback by Collin's sudden and forceful action. By the time the guests had regained their composure, Collin was already standing, no longer obscured by shadows, and his striking features were now fully visible.

Groaning in pain, Josh struggled on the floor, trying to get up. But as he looked up, Collin loomed larger in his vision.

A sharp cry of agony echoed through the room, the air tinged with the smell of burnt flesh.

It was unclear what Collin had done, but it was evident that the cigarette he had been smoking was now pressed against Josh's eyelid.

"It's been a while since I've personally handled someone," Collin remarked casually.

He flicked the cigarette away and slipped his hand into his suit pants pocket. "This is your fault for bringing up my brother's name. You brought this on yourself. Does this satisfy you, Mr. Wallace?"

Overwhelmed with pain and fear, Josh remained silent, unable to respond.

Only then did Josh realize the severity of his mistake. The rumors of Collin's return had caused Kieran to become alert. Kieran had quickly arranged his only child's marriage to the heiress of the Hewitt family. This move was a strategy to secure his standing within the family.

However, Josh was still puzzled by one aspect. He couldn't understand why his pursuit of a woman had provoked Collin.

He wondered if it was because Lena was the ex-girlfriend of Collin's nephew.

----

Lena understood the situation much better than Josh did.

She left the private room with Collin and they walked through the quiet corridor. A staff member had already called the elevator for them.

Thereafter, Collin entered the elevator with a purposeful stride.

Lena paused at the elevator door, hesitating to move forward.

Collin, inside the elevator, turned to face her. Their eyes met briefly. Lena quickly averted her eyes when Collin invited her in. "Come in," he said.

After briefly hesitating, she stepped into the elevator.

Soon, the doors closed, and the elevator started its descent.

"Mr. Barton," Lena began, her voice slightly shaky.

For her, the room with Josh had been a nightmarish experience. Being in the elevator with Collin was not much of a relief. She found neither good.

Lena tried to steady her voice and pinched her palm. "Thank you for your help tonight," she said.

"There's no need for thanks," Collin replied succinctly.

Lena managed a forced smile. She thought the conversation was over, but then Collin spoke again. "A bottle of liquor for ten million. What would be your price for a night?"

The elevator reached the ground floor. The doors opened with a chime. Lena, startled by his question, turned to face him. Her face lost color rapidly as she looked into his eyes.