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29. The Leadership Panel
publish date:
2026-06-24 20:58:41
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Don’t Beg for Love 29. The Leadership Panel
After Cassandra’s words, the whispers began immediately,And more people closed in.I folded my arms. “Miss, are we familiar?”Cassandra frowned, her composure cracking. Then she put on an aggrieved look and came forward.“Annalise, I know…”Her words withered behind me, because I was already heading out of the hall.The Next Day,A knock woke me up.The sunlight streaming through the corridor windows told me immediately that I overslept.Thinking it was Aurelia, I opened the door to find a young lady dressed in a neat OL suit waiting outside.“Good morning, Ms. Sterling.” The lady looked relieved to see me awake. “Ms. Sterling, the Leadership Panel has already commenced.”“Huh?”My brows furrowed.She immediately held out a cream-colored envelope. "Mr. Hartmann asked me to deliver this personally. He said it was very important."Leon?I took the envelope.Inside was a guest card bearing my name, and beneath it was a hastily written note.[Stop sleeping. You're on the panel.]I stared
Don’t Beg for Love 28. What a Coincidence
The cocktail reception.It was the event happening this evening, where the guests mingled again, socializing to make connections.I never planned to attend it or stay another day. Not with the unfortunate turn of events.Yet, here I was, standing a few minutes later in Aurelia’s dress.The hall was a buzz of laughter and chatter. Tonight, the guests went beyond business conversations to more personal discussions.“Loosen up, Annalise!” Aurelia’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.She clicked her glass of sparkling water against mine, chuckling, “Don’t tell me you're a recluse and don't like these kinds of events.”“Well, you've hidden for so many years, so the answer is obvious.” She added. “But believe me, this is one of those events you'd wish to keep attending throughout your lifetime. You never know who you'll meet or what you'll get.”As Aurelia spoke on, my eyes instinctively scanned the room, Searching for no one in particular.“Annalise,” Aurelia called my attention.She was
Don’t Beg for Love 27. The Finish Line
For a moment, a deafening silence descended.The entire hall seemed to have frozen, before whispers erupted from every direction.“What!?”“I thought he wasn't attending!”“The Andrew Hale? No way!”The audience glanced at each other as if the speaker had just pulled a huge prank. Most people began bringing out their phones. Several reporters were already scrambling to communicate with colleagues.The auditorium was thrown into a frenzy, but I barely heard any of the noise.I didn't even realize I’d stopped breathing until the curtains began to part.And he stepped onto the stage.The whispers died almost instantly. He wore a dark tailored suit without a single unnecessary detail. No flashy accessories. And yet, the moment he appeared beneath the lights, the entire room adjusted.His steps were unhurried as he crossed the stage, as though standing before thousands of influential people was no different from entering an empty room.After the silence, applause began, growing louder and
Don’t Beg for Love 26. The Keynote Speaker
She blinked. Then laughed softly. “I suppose I don’t need to introduce myself.”“You really don’t.”Aurelia Voss.One of the most influential designers in the world.The strange thing was how young she looked in person. “I take it you’re one of my admirers.” The amusement remained in her eyes.“Yes.” I straightened up. “Your work on the Celestine Collection remains one of my favorites. The silhouette construction was ahead of its time.”That seemed to genuinely surprise her, and she quirked a brow. “I see you’ve done your homework, Ms. …?”“Sterling.” I shook her hand. “I am Annalise Sterling.”Aurelia froze.Then her brows shot up. “The Annalise Sterling!? The hidden Sterling heiress? The thirty-one husbands scandal? The woman who somehow became Mason Reed’s favorite student!?”“…..”Speechless, I took a sip of the water.“And here I thought I’d simply be attending a business forum.” Aurelia shook her head with visible amusement. “Who would have thought that I’d end up meeting the
Don’t Beg for Love 25. Aurelia Voss
…Lake Geneva appeared in fragments between buildings as the car moved through the city.A flash of blue water.A row of elegant stone facades.Flags fluttering outside embassies.A distant fountain rising high above the lake before disappearing again behind a cluster of trees.The streets were clean, almost unnaturally so. Even the traffic seemed quieter. Cyclists glided past outdoor cafés. Well-dressed pedestrians crossed intersections without rushing. Everything moved with a kind of effortless order.Like a city accustomed to power.The car turned onto a broader avenue lined with luxury boutiques and historic buildings before slowing to a stop.Ahead stood The Montclair Geneva, one of the city’s most prestigious lakeside hotels and the official residence for distinguished guests attending the Global Economic Forum.Its pale stone façade overlooked the water. Tall windows reflected the afternoon sunlight, while a line of national flags stretched across the entrance.The moment the c
Don’t Beg for Love 24. Too Late
Two days later,The helicopter landed on the helipad, on the rooftop of the company.I stepped down, my eyes squinting at the sight of the burning sun, the city’s hustle and bustle echoing far down below.In that moment, my mind drifted back to the serenity of the Island, subtle longing awakening.“Welcome back, Ms. Sterling!”Inside the company, the employees all left their cubicles, greeting in unison as I headed towards my office.But their whispers trailed behind.“Ms. Sterling is finally back.”“Hey, did he come today also?”“Should we tell her?”“Ms. Sterling just returned from a long trip. Is it appropriate to tell her now?”I paused,Then turned around. “What do you want to tell me?”The employees quickly composed themselves, each exchanging fearful glances.Only one was brave enough to step forward. Yet, her voice trembled as she spoke, “Uhm, Ms. Sterling. Ever since you traveled two weeks ago, one of your thirty-one husbands— I mean, one of the thirty-one men who claimed to
Don’t Beg for Love 18. Not Your Wife
On our way to the airport, Tania was strangely silent,Her head lowered, her lips jutted out in a child-like pout.Xander leaned in and whispered, “Hey, Sis. Why’s your friend sulking?” “Argh!” Tania suddenly groaned before I replied, pulling at her hair aggressively. “Why!? Why!? Why!?”“Huh?”Xa
Don’t Beg for Love 17. The Mask Falls
Turning around, I quirked a brow.Finally,The mask was off.“Stop looking at me like that!” Cassandra’s voice cracked, her chest rising and falling violently. “Do you know what I hate the most about you, Annalise?”A bitter laughter escaped her lips. “You act as though you're above everything. Abo
Don’t Beg for Love 16. The Woman on Her Knees
Over the next few days, the media buzzed with news of the scandal, leaving netizens talking about it for a while.As I sat in my office, going through some documents, the TV ahead showed a newscaster reporting on a marriage scandal, referencing it.For concentration, I picked up the remote and turn
Don’t Beg for Love 15. Thirty-One Husbands
Love.Hearing him say it now sounded even more ridiculous.“Anna, look at me!” Tania grabbed my shoulders, giving me a stern look. “Don’t believe what he’s saying! The scumbag definitely cares that you’re now rich! Please don’t let his words fool you.”Tania’s worry was justified.In the past, I wo
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