Crossroads

There wasn't even a trace of lingering warmth left from an embrace after they had gone to bed. What did this even mean?

"Damn it, what does he take me for?" Stephanie cursed under her breath at the ceiling of room 302. She was angry, but her eyes were filled with confusion and frustration.

Last night, Dominick had despicably coerced her into his room. His actions were hasty and demanding. He hadn't turned on the lights, so she couldn't see his expression clearly. Exhausted, he had fallen asleep. Her mind had been a tangled mess. and truthfully, she had felt a bit of longing.

When she woke up, the pillow beside her was cold. He had already left.

Still groggy. Stephanie noticed the clothes scattered on the floor. Her heart was in turmoil, filled with mixed emotions. She grabbed her long coat and quickly fled. She had forgotten to wear underwear the night before, which played right into his hands as if she had served herself up on a silver platter. It was infuriating.

Her hair was disheveled, and she wrapped herself in the coat as she hurried out. She looked truly pitiful.

Just as she stepped out, the elevator across the hall chimed, and a group of residents walked out and bumped into her.

Stephanie blushed as the residents' eyes filled with suggestive disdain. The property manager, who had been patrolling the night before, passed by and said. "Ms. Reed, don't you live in 402 I couldn't find you with the spare key last night. You didn't go home to sleep?"

The manager stopped halfway when he saw her state. Even an idiot could guess what she had been up to last night. Stephanie lowered her head, wishing she could disappear.

"He's my husband!" she shouted suddenly, lifting her head in a burst of emotion and addressing the gossiping residents.

She thought, 'Dominick is the worst husband ever. Why did I marry someone like him?"

Her ears burning with shame, she fled back to Room 102, locked the door, and hid away.

Stephanie hid for two days, not wanting to see anyone. She didn't even order takeout. Probably because she had eaten too many frozen meals and her brain felt undernourished, every time she looked up while lounging in the living room watching TV or resting in bed, she couldn't help but glare at the ceiling with a complex mix of emotions:

She thought. He lives right above me. He actually lives right above me! Why does he have to live here?"

Stephanie asked him, but he refused to say.

She was angry at him, but she tried to numb her feelings. If it was a contest of coldness, she vowed to be even colder than him, ignoring all these questions and ignoring him.

However, her plan to be a recluse was interrupted on the third day. The advertising team from the Innovate Group called her. "Are the results our?" she asked nervously, clutching her phone.

"Don't just talk about boring work stuff, Stephanie. Come out and have some fun tonight. Let's all get together and get to know each other better. We'll be working together from now on

"But the director said we'd have results in three days. She was anxious to know the outcome.

"Stephanie, socializing is a necessary part of our industry. You should know the rules by now. Besides, we're not those shady types. Eloise and the others are here, too. It'll be good for you to meet some bigwigs. Hurry up and come to the club"

The call ended before she could get an answer, but the mention of that particular club changed Stephanie's expressions.

She stared at the burritos on the coffee table, struggling internally for a minute. Then she turned around, quickly went to her room, and changed into more appropriate attire.

Half an hour later, Stephanie walked into a spacious club on the north side of the city that seemed rather quiet.

The club was quiet because it was so large and had few patrons.

Out of all the businesses under the Wellingtons. Stephanie had always been most intrigued by this club and clamored to see it. Vincent had told her that Dominick had opened this club purely for his own entertainment. The club spanned over 50,000 square feet and had just over 1,000 anonymous members, with a staff of over 1,000 providing highly private and professional one-on-one services.

The club featured a boxing ring and a shooting range and even offered equestrian lessons at a company-owned stable. All the equipment and facilities were top-notch.

Obviously, such an exclusive place wasn't open to anyone. As expected, as soon as Stephanie approached the counter, two polite security guards blocked her way.

"Ms., please show your ID. Even the security guards looked tall, bandsome, and fit, like male models or fitness trainers.

I'm not a member here. My friends are having a gathering, and was invited, Stephanie responded calmly. She wasn't a novice. She knew that many high- end clubs the Wellington familly ran were members-only.

"Sorry, only members are allowed inside. The staff's refusal was polite but firm, in line with his style.

Stephanie didn't say anything as she was considering who to ask for help. Just then, the main door opened, and a male employee from the Innovate Group, the one who had called her earlier, walked in quickly.

"Stephanie, why are you taking so long? Mr. Gower and the others are waiting for you," he said impatiently, his tone reproachful. "Hurry up. With this attitude, how do you expect to survive in this industry?" As he spoke, he reached out to grab her.

Stephanie frowned. She didn't like strangers touching her and instinctively stepped back.

"What's wrong with you? I'm trying to help you here," he said.

Jack, don't jump right into lecturing." Eloise said as she approached in high heels. Her meticulously done makeup enhanced. her stunning appearance under the lights. Leaning casually against the counter, she wore a generous smile.

"So you are not qualified to come in?" Jack was taken aback, which carried a mix of surprise and disdain His impatience grew, and he said, "Do you have 60 thousand dollars on you? If so, you can get a membership card, and we can discuss additional services later."

Only a fool would spend 60 thousand dollars on a membership card, especially now when she was broke.

"No, I'm not getting a card" Stephanie's voice was cold and indifferent, showing no gratitude.

Jack said, "So you don't have money? Fine, I'll lend it to you for now. Mr. Gower is inside waiting for you. He saw your commercial and is very interested in you..

"Interested in what exactly?" Her her."

blunt question left Jack momentarily speechless. The implied transaction was apparent, JackXdon't force Eloise said as she leaned against the counter, applying for a new card. She turned to look at them with a self-satisfied smile, reminding them,

"You need a referral to get a card here."

This meant that money alone wasn't enough. Connections were necessary, too.

Eloise had gone to great lengths to get her card. She looked Stephanie up and down, thinking that aside from hooking up with Vincent, Stephanie probably had no other connections. She might even have been dumped by him already.

Jack, working on behalf of someone Why don't you else, was eager to get Stephemie inside. He suggested. "Why don't you call Mr. Hayes? He Knows everyone here. As he spoke, he couldn't help but worry, knowing Vincent had a history of changing girlfriends. quickly. Stephanie was probably an ex-ex-girlfriend by now.

"I just came to find out about the commercial results." Stephanie didn't want to trouble Vincent, as she intended to keep her distance from him recently. No matter her reasons, she was wary of Lucy, Her calm gaze swept across the club, finally resting on Eloise's simig face. She coldly emphasized. "I'm not interested in going inside."

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