Early the next morning, James received a call from Thea.

“Hey, honey,” Thea said excitedly, “I got in touch with my classmate. She’s willing to help and has scheduled an appointment with the chairman, Alex Yates. Where are you? Let’s go to Celestial Group’s office now and secure the order. Grandfather will be pleased!”

“Wait for me at home. I’ll pick you up soon,” James replied.

After hanging up, James leaped out of bed and quickly got ready. Henry, already waiting with the car, asked, “Where are we going, James?”

“To Thea’s,” James answered.

“Hop in,” Henry said.

James got in the car. They arrived at Thea’s in minutes. They waited outside.

Thea soon appeared, impeccably groomed for her meeting with the chairman. In a pretty, form-fitting dress, her black hair loose over her shoulders, she was stunning.

Seeing their black SUV approach, Thea jogged to the car, a joyful expression on her face. “My classmate really went the extra mile,” she exclaimed. “She got us the appointment, so all we have to do is show up at Celestial Group’s office.”

James smiled faintly. He knew the appointment was due to his conversation with Alex Yates, not her classmate's efforts. However, seeing Thea so happy, he decided against revealing this. Instead, he complimented her. “I knew you could do it, darling. It’s all up to you now. If we don’t get the order, I’m out.”

Thea smiled brightly. “Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen.”

Though Thea was still somewhat unaware of James’s background, she’d seen his villa—the House of Royals, the most expensive in Cansington. She felt incredibly lucky to be with him and wanted to prove her capabilities. She wanted to show him she wasn’t the same Thea she used to be—the laughingstock of years past. She’d diligently pursued her studies and become a scholar.

“Let’s go, darling,” she said, getting into the car.

“Henry, to Celestial Group’s office,” James instructed.

Cuddling close to James, Thea recounted last night’s events. “Honey, did you know old Warren Xavier was killed last night?”

The Xaviers, leaders of The Great Four, were prominent figures. Warren, the head of the family, was widely known. At their banquet celebrating the partnership between Megatron Group and Celestial Group—a partnership that would significantly expand their influence—and Warren’s eightieth birthday, a mysterious person crashed the party with a coffin, beheaded Warren, and fled with the head. The news had spread like wildfire, becoming the top story in Cansington. Authorities were investigating, but with limited leads.

James feigned shock. “I went straight to bed after getting home last night. I didn’t know. The Xaviers are part of The Great Four in Cansington, right?”

“That’s right,” Thea replied. “The Xaviers lead The Great Four, with businesses spanning various industries. Megatron Group alone is more powerful than all the Callahan businesses combined, and the Xaviers own many others.”

Thea looked slightly envious. “All the women in Cansington desperately want to marry into the Xavier family for an easy life.”

James chuckled. “Didn’t you have a chance yesterday? Divorce me, and you’ll have your chance.”

Thea scoffed. “Being in a rich family isn’t all roses. I’ve endured too much ridicule over the past ten years. To them, I’m a joke. I know who treats me sincerely. I don’t care about marrying rich; besides, my husband is rich.” She grinned, a blissful expression on her face.

James squeezed her hand. She was remarkably sensible. Henry, silent and focused on driving, soon pulled up to Celestial Group’s office.

Celestial Group, an international conglomerate owned by the Yates family of the Capital, occupied an impressive eight-story building.

James and Thea exited the car. Thea looked up at the imposing building, a wave of panic washing over her. She'd spent the last ten years largely at home, but she had a deep desire to explore the world. Her studies had been her path to freedom and a brighter future.

She called her classmate.

About twenty minutes later, a heavily made-up woman in a business suit approached. Seeing Thea, she was visibly surprised. She’d seen Thea’s picture but hadn’t believed the transformation. Now, confronted with Thea’s beauty, she felt a pang of envy.

“Thea?” she asked hesitantly.

Thea, excited, grasped the woman’s hand. “Jane, it’s me! You’ve become head of a department at Celestial Group!”

Jane Whitman was flattered. “Just trying to make a living,” she said, smiling. “Thea, to meet the chairman, you’ll need the general manager’s permission. Come with me.”

Thea froze. Jane had promised a meeting with Alex Yates.

“Thea, getting an order from Celestial isn’t easy,” Jane said, leaning closer and whispering a proposition.

Thea firmly rejected it. “Absolutely not.”

Jane lost patience. “Thea, without sacrifices, you get nothing. I’ve shown your picture to the manager; he’ll give you the order if you sleep with him. You don’t even need to see the chairman!”

“Jane, I thought we were friends. Is this how you treat a friend?” Thea asked, hurt.

Jane shrugged. “Want an order without sacrifice? Impossible. I’ve made my offer. Think about it.” She left, her heels clicking sharply.

Thea was close to tears. Turning to James, who had remained silent, she whispered, “I’m useless, aren’t I?”

James comforted her. “Of course not. Why not try seeing Alex Yates directly? I think he'll see you. Go on; I’ll wait in the car.” He gently nudged her toward the building.

At that moment, Jane returned with a middle-aged man in a suit, Linus Johnson, the manager responsible for business deals and order allocation. Jane's arm was intimately linked with his. Smiling, she said, “Thea, this is the general manager. He decides who gets the orders.” Jane’s position was due to her affair with Linus. She’d sent him Thea’s picture, and he’d promised her a promotion in exchange for helping him secure Thea. Seeing Thea in person only increased his desire.

Linus, chest puffed out, approached Thea. “Thea, right? Jane told me everything. It’s a hot day. How about we discuss this in a hotel room? Don’t worry about the order; I’ll give you a deal of fifty million dollars!”

The passage has been edited for grammar, punctuation, and flow. The repetitive phrase about FindNovel.net has been removed.