CEO’s Seduction Trap

After sending the message, Caleb waited but received no reply from Mason.

Caleb hesitated as he stared at the screen for a while, then typed a question mark in their chat box: [?]

System prompt: [Message sent, but rejected by the recipient.]

…

The next day, when Leila woke up, Mason was nowhere to be found.

Leila looked around and couldn’t find her clothes. Finally, her gaze fell on Mason’s shirt.

Though Mason’s shirt wasn’t exactly long on her, it covered what needed to be covered.

Leila buttoned up the shirt and checked herself in the mirror to make sure everything was in place before opening the door and stepping out of the bedroom.

As soon as the door opened, she was met with Mason’s cold and menacing voice and the gaze of several Ascend Group executives.

“Let’s just change the planning team altogether. Don’t waste my time. If even a new team doesn’t work, then let’s forget about this deal altogether.”

Mason was sitting with his back to Leila, his voice dripping with coldness.

Upon hearing the door move, the several executives glanced up and their surprise was evident. Leila met their gaze, her hand clenched, unconsciously taking a deep breath.

This was a scene she couldn’t explain…Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Daniel was the first to notice the executives’ unusual reaction. He glanced back and, though surprised, he wasn’t exactly shocked. He leaned in towards Mason’s ear and murmured, “Boss, Miss Patel is here.”

Mason turned his head, and when he saw what Leila was wearing, his voice sank. “Go back.”

At Mason’s command, Leila looked at him, and after about seven or eight seconds, she left the room under the watchful eyes of everyone present.

With the door closing behind her with a loud thud, Mason scratched his brow with his fingertips.

The room fell silent for a moment.

After a full three minutes, Mason spoke in a cold tone, “You have one week to submit the new proposal to me.”

The deadline was more than generous. Everyone present understood why Mason was acting this way.

The project lead wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, “Mr. Ramirez, you can trust us. We’re not ones to gossip.”

Mason remained silent.

On the other side, Leila returned to her room, her cheeks flushed, leaning against the door to catch her breath.

Her phone vibrated. She looked down to see a message from Mason: [It was an accident. I’ll handle it.]

Leila read it and didn’t reply, gripping her phone even tighter.

This incident… she was caught red-handed, and there was no way to explain it. Especially when facing the Ascend Group people. In their eyes, she was still Hunter’s fiancee…

For the next week, Mason didn’t show up again.

With the proposal still pending, Leila spent her days remotely managing the company’s work and the rest of the time stuck in the hotel.

Her neighbor Shirley’s friend Cindy had invited her to dinner a few times, subtly trying to pry some private information about Mason from her.

During one dinner, when Cindy brought it up again, Leila set down her fork and wiped her mouth. “I really don’t know him that well.”

Cindy looked at her with a smirk, squinting her eyes. “Really?”

“I know you’ve heard something, and yes, it happened, but it was an accident,” Leila replied bluntly.

Cindy didn’t expect Leila to be so straightforward. Her smile froze for a moment. “Miss Patel, don’t overthink it, I was just being nosy.”

Leila motioned for the waiter to bring the bill. “I’m done, take your time.”

With that, Leila paid and got up to leave.

Cindy threw down her knife and fork, a look of disdain in her eyes. “So arrogant! If it weren’t for Mason’s backing, would you even be in this position?”

As Leila rode the elevator up, she sent a message to Shirley: [Is that Cindy your neighbor?]

Shirley, the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine, had just finished supervising a cover shoot and was taking a break. [Yes, have you met her?]

Leila: [Yes, I’m on a business trip to East City, and she’s in charge of Ascend Group’s project department.]

Shirley: [That woman is not a good person.]

Leila: [Just found out.]

Shirley: [She’s been trying to pursue Mason.]

No wonder.

Someone approached from behind. When Leila heard the footsteps and turned to found out who it was… she subtly moved to the other side of the elevator doors.

Daniel had intended to greet Leila, but seeing the situation, he couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. He whispered to Mason, “Boss, Miss Patel is over there.”

Mason seemed indifferent, as if they were complete strangers.

The elevator doors almost opened simultaneously, and they both got on, one on the left and one on the right.

As the elevators ascended slowly, the slight turbulence in Leila’s eyes gradually subsided.

When the elevator doors opened, Leila stepped out faster than Mason.

She reached the door and entered the access code, with Mason stopping behind her.

He was dressed in a shirt and trousers today, looking rather conventional, but he still couldn’t hide his innate charm.

“Miss Patel,” he spoke in a deep voice.