The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2037

Chapter 2037

To claim Cicely wasn't the least bit fazed about meeting with Patty would be misleading, but when itcame down to it, Cicely knew she had to play it by ear.

You just deal with things as they come. If Patty was in a good mood, Cicely could relax a bit more. Ifnot, best to steer clear. It wasn't like it was a new revelation that Patty wasn't her biggest fan.

The chill outside was biting, and naturally, Cicely wasn't about to freeze her buns off waiting by thedoor. She cozied up in the lounge area, wrapping an arm around Seth's.

The receptionist quickly offered them some tea and pastries.

Seth stepped aside to take a call and returned after a few minutes, sitting across from Cicely. Hetook a sip of warm water from his cup.

After two minutes of silence, Seth broke the ice. "Spit it out, will you? What's so fascinating aboutmy face?"d2

Cicely grimaced. She'd always been told if she didn't understand something, she could ask him. Butwith him always buzzing around, she never did. And now, he hadn't even mentioned anything aboutwork.

Cicely twirled a strand of her hair, her palm warming against the porcelain mug, and saidnonchalantly, "I overheard General Manager from project development today. He was talking aboutthis new mechanical equipment upgrade that's going to knock the socks off the old models. Wecould corner the market with this tech. The Ellis family has the know-how and the developmentrights. And he's got a point. Instead of bidding and choosing another manufacturer, why not justhand the deal over to Diaz International? Given the ties between Diaz International and the Ellisfamily, why haven't you considered it?"

Seth's expression was cold. "The big fish like the Harper family, and the Watson clan are all eyeingthe Ellis project. Diaz International doesn't have the muscle to deal with the Ellis family's offer justyet."

"So what? If the Ellis family picks Diaz International, the rest can just sit on their hands and watch.Seth, so many would kill for that kind of opportunity. Are you really not up for it, or do you justchicken out when you see the likes of the Harper family, or the Watsons? Or is it just that you flat-out don't want to work with the Ellis family?"

"As the interim head of the Ellis Corporation, I can say that the Harper family and the Watsons areall more fitting partners than Diaz International. And about not wanting to work with the Ellis family,are you suggesting I use my position in the Ellis Corporation to make things easier for DiazInternational?"

Cicely, predictably, wasn't surprised by his stance. "What's wrong with that? As a businessman, thebottom line is what counts. Why sweat the small stuff? If it's a matter of pride for you, I'll bang thegavel."

Seth's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "Is there a difference?"

Cicely furrowed her brows. "Too scared to take the big deals, too proud for the small fries. What'sthe point of running Diaz International? Might as well let the Ellis family swallow it up. That way, youwouldn't have to worry about any flak for teaming up. Hmm, that's actually a pretty solid idea."

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Seth narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Reading his silence, Cicely propped her chin in her hands and smiled at him. "What if we actuallygo through with that? Assess the value of Diaz International and convert it into shares for you in the

Ellis family? Or, you could hand over Diaz International to me personally, and I'll cut you in on aslice of the Ellis family shares. How about that?"

Seth looked at her coolly. "What's all this rigmarole for? Why the sudden interest in DiazInternational?"

Her eyes twinkled. "Just occurred to me, if there's anything on this green earth that matters to youbesides your mother, it's probably Diaz International, left to you by your father. You know, I've beenthinking that I don't really have an ace up my sleeve that gives me an edge over you. But DiazInternational? That might just be it."

Seth's gaze was meaningful and unfathomable as he watched her. "Indeed, that's the last bit of DiazInternational. So what if I say no?"

Cicely leaned back on the sofa, with a carefree smile on her face. "Then maybe it's time to let itgo?"

Seth's thin lips tightened, clearly displeased with her answer.

Seeing his reaction, Cicely just smiled thinly. "Then isn't my suggestion to roll Diaz Internationalunder the Ellis family banner the best one?"

"What did Diaz International ever do to tick you off?" The voice came from behind Cicely, a familiartone that belonged to none other than Patty.

Cicely glanced at her mug, then switched on her charm as she stood up.

Patty was already standing opposite her, her face a stormy mix of gloom and wariness.

"I was just thinking out loud. Then I figured it wasn't such a bad idea after all. Leaning on the Ellisfamily ain't too shabby, right? Especially since we will be a family soon. No need to keep things so

separate."

Patty let out a scoff, "The future is the future. You bite off only as much as you can chew. And aheads-up, don't even think about laying a finger on Diaz International."

Cicely arched an eyebrow, her eyes carrying a mild, nonchalant smile, choosing not to speakfurther. If Patty wasn't bringing it up, neither would she.

Especially since Seth had already stood up, his expression far from rosy. "Let's go."

Patty glanced at Cicely, probably mindful of Seth's expression. Patty pursed her lips, as if forcefullysuppressing a multitude of discontent.

That evening, they had dinner at the Diaz residence, but Cicely felt that perhaps not dining withPatty might be the real way to make her happy. Therefore, staying the night was out of the question.

On the drive back to the Ellis residence, Seth took the wheel while Cicely sat shotgun. "Where areyou off to tomorrow?"

"Same as today."

"Leaving me alone in the office again, huh?"

"If I'm there, I'll disturb your studies."

Cicely rested her arm against the car window, twirling a strand of hair around her slender finger.

She was silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, "Yeah, maybe."

Seth's lips curled into a half-smile, "Should I prepare some new sketchbooks for you?"

Cicely shook her head, "No need, I've got my own."

Seth fell silent.

Back home, the butler welcomed them respectfully. "Miss, we received quite a few parcels for youtoday; they've been temporarily stored in the warehouse. If you'd like to open them now, I can bringthem out for you."

Cicely changed her shoes and said, "Well, bring them out, please."

There were indeed many packages. Cicely sat cross-legged in the living room corner on awaterproof mat and started to slice open the parcels with a craft knife.

Most of them were small items – mugs, thermos cups, small decorations in the room. She not onlyunpacked them but also studied them. Her demeanor while reading instruction manuals was manytimes more focused and serious than when she read documents.

After Seth showered, he came down to replace Cicely amidst an array of knickknacks. "Go freshen up;we're up early tomorrow."

Cicely looked up and handed him a white travel tumbler. "This one's for you."

Seth examined it—it had a notable heft, and engraved on it was a portrait of Cicely with her namebeneath. Beside her was a matching black one, likely with his portrait and name. The rest of theitems were pairs, hers in dark tones, his in light.

"What made you think of buying all this?"

"Only after coming back this time did I realize there are no traces of you living here, and it feelsuncomfortable."

She spoke while still engrossed in the small items, her tone and demeanor suggesting it was themost natural thing in the world. Seth didn't say much else, just urged her to get some sleep.

The next morning, seeing the white tumbler in the car, Cicely smiled contentedly.

After dropping her at the Ellis estate and setting the staff to work, Seth drove off once more. Cicely'sfocus was still scattered, but after reviewing a couple of documents, she realized they were muchthe same as what she'd heard from department heads yesterday.

Frowning, she set the paperwork aside, paced the office, and then there was a knock on the door.

It was Shane, arms laden with parcels. "Ms. Cicely, these parcels, they're all addressed to you."

Cicely, bored till now, perked up at the sight, "Put them on the desk."

Seated in Seth's chair, she resumed her task with the craft knife.

Before noon, Seth returned to an office transformed. His desk now sported a picture frame, a newpen holder, several stylographs, a fresh mouse pad, and a couple of notebooks.

The desk in the corner mirrored his, albeit with a simpler color scheme, complete with a cushion onthe chair.

A fresh bouquet of flowers had even appeared on the coffee table. He was starting to question thewisdom of leaving her alone in the company.

Cicely, acting as though she'd done nothing out of the ordinary, asked upon his return, "What's forlunch today?"

Seth countered, "How much work did you get through?"

Cicely raised three fingers, then hesitantly added a fourth, "Four documents."

Seth tapped a few keys on the computer, bringing up a video of the office surveillance, capturingevery bit of Cicely's boredom—and her interest in everything but work.

No surprise there.

The video was silent, and Cicely, unaware of its contents, only saw Seth's lips curve slightly upward."I'm hungry," she stated, approaching him. Seth quietly closed the video.

Cicely came closer, seeing a screen full of text. Seth looked at her, "Made quite a progress today,spent the whole morning reviewing files?"

Cicely nodded, "Yes."

His gaze drifted over the new objects on the desk, and he nodded, "Good job. As a reward, I'll takeyou out for lunch."

The prospect of escaping the office for a meal was music to Cicely's ears.

*

That afternoon, Seth stayed at the Ellis Corporation, repeating yesterday's process: summoningstaff for reports and discussions.

This routine stretched over several days, and even if Cicely wasn't eager to learn about companyaffairs, she couldn't help but be immersed.

Once everything settled, it was time for the company's annual gala—undeniably a hectic affair.

The Ellis Corporation, Diaz International, and C&P were arranged to hold their galas on the sameday, at the same hotel, for convenience.

The hotel comprised two twenty-six-story towers, linked by sky bridges. The top-floor ballroomswere split between the Ellis Corporation and Diaz International, one on the south, the other north,distinctly separate.

C&P's event was just below Diaz International's—a floor apart, with no overlap with the EllisCorporation.

Cicely was dressed in a silver-gray, fitted cocktail dress with the hem just above the knee. She worea pair of silver high-heeled shoes, and although she didn't seem as elaborately dressed as others,she still stood out as the most eye-catching in the dazzling crowd.

From the moment of her birth, Cicely seemed destined to make other women feel inferior. Herclothes were simple in design, yet undeniably from the top shelf of luxury. The man by her side wasdistractingly handsome, a sight that made it hard for onlookers to look away. Cicely had everythingpeople longed for.

Seth had brought her to the Diaz International gala to make the rounds, to stand on stage anddeliver the expected pleasantries, to clink glasses and share toasts, before whisking her away tothe Ellis soiree.

The Ellis Corporation gala was orchestrated by Seth's people, but with Cicely's grandfather andfather present, the spotlight was on them.

Upon Seth and Cicely's arrival at the Ellis Corporation gala, they were met with a flurry of toasts andwell-wishes, almost like a bride and groom weaving through their guests, receiving blessings anddrinks alike.

Once they found their seats, Cicely mused aloud, "Isn't the C&P gala happening downstairs? Aren'twe going?"

"Hmm, others are taking care of it," Seth replied.

Propping her chin in her hand, Cicely teased with a mischievous smile, "I hear there are a lot ofcelebrity beauties there."

Seth glanced at her coolly, "And plenty of male heartthrobs, too."

"Not even curious to take a peek?"

With a snort, Seth retorted, "If your intentions weren't so transparent, I might have considered it."

"I just want to admire the pretty ladies."

Unmoved, Seth replied curtly, "Sure, one day I'll bring them all to you for your personal viewing."

Seth seemed serious about skipping the C&P gala. Cicely understood his tendency to keep a lowprofile there, and even more so in the entertainment industry as a whole. C&P, after its grand slamstart and the valuable media assets in its grip, was the envy of many. Naturally, the number ofpeople wanting to cozy up to Seth was staggering.

But Seth was not a patient man, unwilling to waste time on those trying to ingratiate themselves withhim.

The star-studded gala was a magnet for journalists, both overt and covert. Seth's absence from theC&P event was deliberate, with plenty of reasons to stay away. However, not long after, Charliehurriedly arrived, lowering his voice as he spoke to Seth."Mr. Diaz, Ray got drunk at the C&P galaand has now caused a commotion over at Diaz International’s gala."

Seth's brow furrowed, and his demeanor darkened. As he stood to leave, Cicely caught his wrist,"What's happened?"

"Stay put, I'll be back soon," he said, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly before following Charlieout.

Cicely watched him until he was out of sight, then rose and trailed after them.

At Diaz International's gala, Ray was slouched on the steps of the multimedia platform, nursing anearly finished bottle of hard liquor. His face flushed with drunkenness, he greeted Seth with asneer, using the steps for support as he staggered to his feet and approached him.

"Seth." he slurred, emphasizing each syllable with a bitterness that seemed to imbue each wordwith venom. "You're impressive, truly impressive."

He laughed coldly, flashing a thumbs-up at Seth.

"I admit, you play hardball. I've seen just how ruthless you can be. Danielle says it's the victor whowrites history, that I can't blame anyone for the downfall of my family Blame? My family neverprovoked you; we were just in your way. /just because you coveted what the we had, you seized myfamily's legacy."

The attendees hadn't anticipated such drama on the eve of their holiday break. Ray's words hung inthe air, the implications clear to everyone present.

There were whispers about Seth's tactics, about how Ray’s family had been acquired on a whimbecause Ray had once made an indecent pass at Ms. Cicely. As Seth's fiancée, this had incensedhim enough to retaliate fiercely against Ray .

Of course, some speculated that it had been a premeditated strike. Now, Ray's outburst seemed toconfirm the latter.

"Since you are still a shareholder in your family business, my suggestion is that you leave this placeimmediately." Seth said calmly.

Most had surrendered their shares when Ray’s family had dispersed, except for Ray who, evenafter waking from a hospital stay, clung stubbornly to his meager ten percent.

Ray's laughter was bitter, "Rest assured, I know this isn't my place. I'm fully aware this is your DiazInternational event. I can't do anything at my company; it's the last of what I have, and I can't tarnishit. Just as Diaz International means so much to you. You destroyed my company, so tell me,wouldn't it be fitting if I learned from you and ruined Diaz International, let you taste the bitterness Ifeel today?"

Seth looked at Ray with icy detachment, "If you couldn't even protect your company, what makesyou think you can destroy Diaz International?"

That remark seemed to strip away the last shred of Ray's dignity. Rage and malice replaced thedrunken stupor in his eyes, which now brimmed with bloodshot menace, and he looked as if hemight lunge at Seth in a desperate, vengeful fury.

Ray slammed the bottle of whiskey onto the table next to Seth with such force that it shattered,sending sharp shards scattering across the polished wood.

The sound of the breaking glass pierced through the festive din like a needle through silk, causingCicely's heart to skip a beat. Instinctively, her feet moved in quick strides towards Seth, her highheels a clumsy match for her urgency. As Ray brandished the jagged remains of the bottle at Seth,Cicely's face drained of color, and she let out a breathless shout. Disregarding her precariousfootwear, she dashed forward, pulling Seth's arm and embracing him tightly as they spun half acircle to avoid the strike.

Cicely clung to Seth, her body shielding his.

A drop of bright red blood fell onto Seth's hand, and the woman who had suddenly appeared in hisarms seemed about to fall out of his embrace. at any moment.

A collective gasp reverberated throughout the banquet hall.

Seth, who hadn't expected Cicely to intervene, felt a surge of rage at the sight of the blood on hishand.

The veins on his arm stood out, and his face, usually cool and composed, now resembled abloodied sword blade, seething with a murderous aura as he glared at Ray.

Pain shot through Cicely's arm and ankle.

Seeing Seth's unrestrained anger, she gripped his clothes tightly, her entire body trembling withpain. "Seth," she managed to say, forcing herself to stand tall.

Seth's fierce gaze softened as it landed on her pale, bloodless face.

With a resounding slap, Cicely slapped him. Stunned, he looked at her coldly.

"He's drunk and not thinking straight. Have you had too much to drink, too? What good do you thinkprovoking him will do you now? What if he really hurt you?!"

Cicely's lips quivered in pain, and though her voice carried anger, it also held a clear tremble.

Her defiant look seemed to stem from the physical reaction to her pain. But the tears welling up inher eyes made it clear to him—she was crying, whether out of fear, anger, or pain.

A strange, constricting pain gripped his heart as he surveyed her injuries, his gaze finally resting ona clear cut on her right arm. He grasped her arm, his expression dark. "Where else are you hurt?"

Cicely bit her lip, and tears fell from her eyes.

A feeling of unfamiliar panic and restlessness swirled within Seth. He growled in a low voice, "Talkto me!"

Her last ounce of self-control seemed to crumble under Seth's growl, and her emotions—pain,indignation, fear—all converged and broke down silently, tears streaming down her face. "My... myankle hurts," she whispered, recalling how she had twisted it in her last desperate lunge to savehim.

Seth glanced at her high heels and, with a grimace, bent down to scoop her into his arms.

Meanwhile, Ray had been tackled to the ground by Charlie, who had pinned him down with a kneeon his back, restraining his arms.

Charlie had been right beside Seth and was quick to react when Ray lunged, but Cicely's panickedcry had caused him a moment's hesitation. In that instant, the broken bottle had swung past him.

Although he acted swiftly, Cicely had been cut on the arm.

As Seth carried Cicely away, Ray, pinned down by Charlie and unable to break free, could onlyshout at Seth's retreating figure with red-rimmed eyes.

"Seth, don't be so damn arrogant. One day, you'll pay for everything you've done!"

Seth didn't falter in his steps.

*

Upon hearing of Cicely's injuries, Erik and Creighton rushed to the hospital in a frenzy.

The diagnosis: a sprained ankle and a two-centimeter laceration on her arm—not too shallow, butnot too deep.

By then, she had already been treated, her wounds bandaged, and her ankle wrapped. Cicely'seyes were red and swollen from crying.

Seeing her Erik and Creighton, she greeted them with a tearful "Grandpa" and "Dad."

Seth had just ended a phone call and returned to the room. Charlie had taken Ray to the localpolice station for the time being.