CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 373: THE REAL MASTERMIND

Damian Quinn instinctively scooted his chair to the side, his mouth twitching into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he hastily wiped it with a tissue.

"Miss Sullivan, you really have a way with words. Though I may not be like Mr. Sterling, I’m still a boss. In the factory, the manager calls the shots. I focus on profits, and whether they wish to partner with someone or not, that’s up to them."

Rhonda Sullivan didn’t expect him to be so fearful of Ethan Sterling. Clearly, he had known about her relationship with Ethan Sterling before working with her. Why would he take the risk if he was afraid? There must be a reason.

"If Mr. Roman doesn’t want to talk about it, then let’s just have a good meal and perhaps make a friend out of it." Ruby Sullivan poured him a glass of wine.

Damian Quinn stood up in fear, "Miss Sullivan, no, Mrs. Sterling. Um... I’ll cover this meal, but I won’t be joining you." He said this as he headed for the door, as if he didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

Ruby Sullivan frowned and suddenly slapped the table. "Damian Quinn, aren’t you afraid of offending Ethan Sterling?" She had no other choice. Since her relationship with Ethan Sterling hadn’t been made public yet, she could only scare him like this.

Since Damian Quinn recognized her identity, she knew she couldn’t change the outcome. However, she at least wanted to know the reason. She had recorded their conversation on her phone, hoping to find evidence of an improper transaction between Rhonda Sullivan and Damian Quinn.

The recording was useless to her but could be given to Damian Quinn’s wife, who was being pushed for a divorce, and his pregnant mistress. Since Rhonda Sullivan caused her such trouble, she needed some assistance on her side.

But if Damian Quinn ran away now, she’d be left with nothing but questions!

Damian Quinn didn’t expect the gentle and lovely woman to suddenly hit the table, and he plopped back into his chair with difficulty, "Mrs. Sterling, perhaps you should ask Mr. Sterling. I’m just a minor figure and really know nothing!"

Ruby Sullivan didn’t expect her outburst to elicit Ethan Sterling’s presence. Seth had inadvertently hinted yesterday that Ethan Sterling had gone abroad and was insanely busy, so how could he be involved?

Could it be that Ethan was tangled up with Rhonda again?

Ruby Sullivan felt a bit flustered, quickly regaining control of her racing thoughts, and continued to threaten, "If you don’t explain, just wait for your Vantage Group to be acquired!"

Damian Quinn’s face was dripping with sweat, "Mrs. Sterling, please have mercy on me." His large, oily face was riddled with anxiety, and after a deep breath, he stood up again. "I really don’t know anything!" Then he made a beeline for the exit like his life depended on it.

Ruby Sullivan was completely confused, rising to her feet to stop him, not expecting him to be such an agile person for his size. She could only shout, "Howard, stop him!" and hurriedly chased after him.

Damian Quinn was blocked by Howard, infuriated, "If you keep this up, I’ll call the police!"

Ruby Sullivan emerged from the doorway, "Damian Quinn, if you don’t explain, I’ll say you accused Ethan Sterling and Rhonda Sullivan of having an affair. Consider the consequences of that."

Damian Quinn’s head ached, silently regretting his poor judgment and letting himself be lured by beauty. If he hadn’t come today, none of this would be happening!

While he was at a loss, he suddenly noticed a somber-looking man standing not far away—who else could it be but Ethan Sterling?

Seeing his savior, he was almost moved to tears, "Mr. Sterling, it’s so fortunate to see you here!"

Ruby Sullivan thought he was trying to create a diversion for her and Howard to escape, scoffing, "Stop the act, Ethan Sterling is abroad on a business trip."

Damian Quinn acted as if he hadn’t heard her and walked past her, "Mr. Sterling, I haven’t said anything. Please explain to Mrs. Sterling yourself."

Only then did Ruby Sullivan notice Howard winking at her.

Her heart sank, and as she turned, she saw Ethan Sterling standing in the corridor, his face clouded as if smeared with soot.

Ethan Sterling looked directly at her, "Does Miss Sullivan have anything to ask?"

Ruby Sullivan pursed her lips, unsure of how to begin under his imposing gaze.

Ethan Sterling walked over slowly, lowering his voice as he approached, "I think I just heard someone shouting in the corridor that I have an affair with Rhonda Sullivan?"

Ruby Sullivan frowned, "Does Damian Quinn’s breach of contract have anything to do with you?"

"No comment."

Ruby Sullivan was exasperated, "Then it’s only natural for me to suspect you have an affair with Rhonda Sullivan. Why won’t you clarify if you have nothing to hide?"

Ethan Sterling sneered, "What are you to me that I owe you an explanation? Also..." he lowered his head slightly, leaning in so close that his lips almost touched the tip of her ear, whispering just loud enough for Ruby Sullivan to hear, "Just a reminder, I’m currently single. Even if I had something with someone, I wouldn’t have to explain it to you."

After saying this, he walked off with long strides, as if he’d never run into her at all.

Ruby Sullivan watched his nonchalant back, itching to kick his rear for relief.

But soon, she calmed down, realizing that there was nothing wrong with a single word Ethan said.

She saw Damian Quinn trailing behind Ethan, clicking away, and couldn’t be bothered to question further. She sighed heavily and called Howard in for dinner.

Elsewhere, Ethan Sterling stopped at the restroom door, turning his head to glance at the still-pursuing Damian Quinn, "Why are you here?"

Damian Quinn hesitated, stammering, "I... feared offending Mrs. Sterling and didn’t dare not to come."

Ethan Sterling snorted, "I hope that’s true." With that, he stepped into the restroom.

Damian Quinn initially wanted to say more, but suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Before he blurted anything wrong, he thought it was best to get out quickly.

Back in the private room, Howard tentatively said, "Wenny, I don’t think Mr. Sterling would have anything with Rhonda Sullivan. Maybe Damian Quinn is deliberately stirring things up."

"After he found out I was Ethan Sterling’s wife, he was scared to the point of nearly wetting himself. How could he dare instigate?" Ruby Sullivan frowned in thought for a moment, "The mastermind isn’t Rhonda Sullivan, it’s Ethan Sterling. If he’s not doing it for Rhonda Sullivan, then he simply wants revenge on me."

Howard sighed, "I don’t think Mr. Sterling is that kind of person."

Ruby Sullivan didn’t respond to this.

She was unwilling to admit Ethan Sterling would go so far as to retaliate. She thought that even if they couldn’t remain friends, they didn’t have to become enemies. Nevertheless... if causing her trouble made him feel a bit better, then so be it.

With a sigh, she didn’t want to discuss it further, "If Ethan Sterling is involved, we shouldn’t consider any of these decent OEM factories in Ariston. Let’s go to R City first thing tomorrow morning. The person Vivian introduced shouldn’t have his influence reaching that far."

"Alright."

Howard didn’t understand what the two were on about, only finding it a bit... tiresome to see them hurting each other like this.