Chapter 25

The impeccably dressed and strikingly handsome man before her seemed to have stepped from a classical painting. But Cynthia’s return to reality was immediate.

“Stop acting like you didn’t enjoy it,” Cynthia said calmly, showing no embarrassment.

In her high heels, she wandered through the house, glancing around curiously. The layout was almost identical to Greenfield Villa.

Jonathan stood and moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her slim waist. His lips brushed her ear, his voice laced with ambiguity. “Why did you come to me last night?”

Cynthia regretted it. She didn't want to be entangled with him, but she had sought him out and slept with him.

Turning, she cupped Jonathan's handsome face and gave him a light peck.

“Of course, it was for the interview. See? Didn't you just walk right into it?” She smiled brilliantly, a rose in full bloom under a scorching sun, igniting something within him.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Fine. But if you come to me again, I’m not letting you go easily this time.”

He kissed her ceaselessly, and soon Cynthia found herself pressed onto the couch. “Stop it. I have an interview later. My makeup will get ruined,” she protested.

Barely restraining himself, Jonathan rasped, “Let’s meet at Greenfield Villa tonight.”

Cynthia considered for a moment. “Alright.”

Jonathan frowned. “You were just as quick to agree last time.”

Cynthia chuckled. “Don’t worry. This time I won’t stand you up.”

The office connected to a large conference room. Cynthia entered through the internal door and was already seated. Lilian’s former assistant hurried over with a stack of papers. “Cynthia, these are the interview notes Lilian prepared for the Paradise Resort segment.”

Cynthia didn't even glance at them. “Put them away. I won’t be using her notes.”

The assistant looked worried. Lilian had stolen Cynthia’s credit, attempting to take her place, and had prepared meticulously crafted questions reviewed by the entire team. The assistant assumed Cynthia's refusal stemmed from spite. This was a live interview, however; any mistakes would be irreparable. While Lilian was wrong, the assistant believed Cynthia should prioritize the bigger picture, but Cynthia's refusal left her at a loss.

Once Jonathan entered, the interview began. News of the event had been announced officially, so thousands of viewers flooded the live stream as soon as it started, the numbers steadily increasing.

(Social Media Comments - Chapter 25)

[Everyone knows Jonathan Bennett is the son of the wealthiest man, but no one has ever seen him. I’ve heard many domestic and international media outlets wanted to interview him, but his first public appearance is on the small Roncrity News Network.] [RNN has really made a name for itself. The staff at BCB must be livid.] [Who is this interview host? I love her looks; she’s both sexy and graceful.] [Haven’t you heard of Cynthia Jones, RNN’s rising star? She’s from Midday News Insight. Her hosting style is professional and sophisticated; I really like her. Finally, my favorite host is getting recognized.] [I heard she’s the one who played golf against Jonathan. She made a hole-in-one to secure the interview.]

As Jonathan slowly entered, the camera focused on his face. The live stream fell silent for a second before exploding with excitement.

[Who is this hot guy? I need to know everything about him in the next minute.] [Oh my god, I can’t believe there’s actually someone so handsome in this world!] [I can tell at a glance–this is my future husband.]

Jonathan sat, and Cynthia began her introduction. The live stream was already overflowing with comments.

[Jonathan Bennett? It’s really him? Gosh, he’s exactly my type!] [Rich, powerful, and handsome–this guy is simply perfect.] [My mom asked me why I’m drooling while watching TV, and I told her it’s because I saw my favorite.]

The interview began. Cynthia’s questions focused on Paradise Resort. Having studied the project thoroughly due to Yates Construction, her questions were highly professional.

The relieved assistant tossed Lilian’s notes into the trash. Cynthia’s questions were far superior—more professional, in-depth, and sophisticated. In twenty minutes, viewership surged to six million.

Finally, it was time for the last segment. Cynthia smiled professionally.

“Thank you, Mr. Bennett, for accepting our interview. We currently have six million viewers, all curious about you. Now we will select three questions from the viewers via screenshots for you to answer. Is that okay?”

Jonathan smiled graciously. “Of course.”

The backstage team immediately took screenshots. “The first question: Mr. Bennett, do you have a girlfriend?” Cynthia asked.

Feeling the question was somewhat intrusive, she added, smiling, “Mr. Bennett, it seems everyone is very curious about your personal life. If you find it offensive, feel free to skip to another question.”

“It’s fine,” Jonathan replied graciously. The screen was flooded with similar questions.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Jonathan answered succinctly.

Cynthia smiled subtly. His response was expected. She was fairly certain she had been the only woman in Jonathan’s life for three years. It was a woman’s intuition. But she couldn’t consider herself his girlfriend, nor could she define their relationship. They weren't lovers; lovers typically had feelings, not just physical desires.

The second screenshot appeared. “The second question: What kind of woman do you like?”

Jonathan pondered. “A woman who can’t cook and has a mole at the corner of her eye.”

Cynthia was surprised. She didn't narcissistically assume he meant her; she’d never cooked for him, and her mole was barely visible with makeup. Perhaps he loved someone else. Did he choose me because I resemble the woman he loves, with a mole at the corner of her eye? she wondered.

The live stream exploded again.

[What a niche preference! I can’t cook, and I have a mole at the corner of my eye. Jonathan, would you give me a chance?] [Can’t you see? He’s not describing his type, but the specific woman he likes.] [So, Jonathan already has someone in his heart? The woman he likes must be incredibly happy; is this a public confession?]

The third question appeared; a screenshot was unnecessary as similar questions filled the screen.

Cynthia asked, “Does the person you like also like you?”