NovelXXXChapter 369 Sebastian had just finished his shower and hadn't been out for long.
He lounged lazily on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, exuding an air of effortless detachment. The crisp, tailored white dress shirt hugged his tall frperfectly, the top buttons undone to reveal a hint of defined chest muscles- undeniably attractive.
He lit a cigarette with practiced ease, took a deep drag, and exhaled a lazy swirl of smoke before finally turning his cool gaze toward the middle-aged man standing before him. Sebastian's lips parted in a languid drawl. "How did it go?" The man stood respectfully, watching Sebastian's expression with anxious caution. "CICI Group refused." Sebastian paused mid-flick, ashes dangling from his cigarette. A flicker of amusement lit his eyes. "Interesting." He didn't seem the least bit surprised.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe middle-aged man hesitated, nervously wetting his lips before continuing, "Not only did they refuse, but the woman who met with you today said... that CICI Group only plays to win. If, one day, the entire Shadow Syndicate is willing to answer to them, maybe just maybe they'd consider joining us." Sebastian had just taken another drag when the words hit him. He choked, coughing hard as the smoke caught in his throat.
It took a moment before he recovered.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips. "She's got a death wish. Small as she is, her ambition's something else." The nerve to think she could take his place. That kind of audacity almost entertained him. Thad, the middle-aged man, could never guess what went on in Sebastian's mind. Around this lunatic, his nerves were always stretched thin.
Swallowing nervously, Thad ventured, "Sir, since CICI Group turned down your offer, should we teach them a lesson?" Just the memory of that girl's unflinching resolve made a phantom pain tingle along the spot where Sebastian once felt like he'd been bitten by piranhas. He smirked. "No need." Then he looked at Thad, eyebrows raised. "By the way, what's her name?" Thad hesitated. "You mean the CICI Group rep? The one who met with you earlier?" Sebastian nodded. "Her." "That was one of their lead negotiators, I think. Her name's Citrine Carmichael." "Citrine Carmichael," Sebastian repeated, letting the nlinger on his tongue, lips curling into a faint smile. His eyes narrowed as he gave the next order. "Find out everything you can about her. That girl's no ordinary player." "Yes, sir. I'll get right on it." Thad sounded almost relieved to have an excuse to leave, and he hurried out of the room.
Just who exactly was this woman? Sebastian sat alone on the sofa, deep in thought as the cigarette smoke curled around him, shrouding him in a haze of contemplation.
That night, Citrine lay awake, her mind spinning with thoughts of the Shadow Syndicate.
Her original plan had been to use Sebastian as a stepping stone, to get close to the Syndicate and takem control from the inside. But now, not only did Sebastian not remember her, he'd becthe Syndicate's new leader-and, more crucially, everyone in Shadow seemed unfailingly loyal to him. Her chances of taking over Shadow Syndicate were now next to nothing.
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But she still had old scores to If settle-she couldn't just walk away Shadow Syndicate couldn't be hers, then she'd just have to build her own version of it from the ground up. Citrine was so lost in thought that she barely noticed when her phone buzzed.
She reached for it, opening the screen with practiced ease.
The chat thread with Hastings was a long string of unanswered invitations rom him. She hadn't replied to a single one. Now, she focused on the most recent message.
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