CHAPTER 11: CHAPTER 11: RECIPROCITY

Sienna Monroe caught the distant silhouette of Caleb Sinclair pausing from the corner of her eye, and her heart skipped a beat.

It wasn’t the best time to confront him since the evidence wasn’t fully in her hands. She didn’t have time to think of a strategy, so, as if guided by instinct, she grabbed the collar of the person in front of her and pulled him into the corner, placing a finger on her lips.

"Shh."

Sebastian Prescott, who was suddenly pushed against the wall by her, was utterly stunned, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

Sienna’s heart was in her throat now, paying no mind to how inappropriate her actions were.

In the distance, Caleb slowly turned around, seeing only two guests and a waiter walking in the grand hallway, his expression gradually relaxed.

"What’s going on?" Vivian Nash asked, confused.

"Nothing."

Caleb frowned slightly. He had clearly heard someone call Sienna’s name just now; was it an illusion?

Sienna cautiously peeked out from the wall, watching them walk into the private room. She then slowly straightened up and, after several seconds, withdrew her gaze, only to lift her head and meet a pair of piercing phoenix eyes.

His eye sockets were deep, making his pupils appear intense and sharp. His drooping eyelids gave off an aura of arrogance that seemed to look down upon everything.

Sienna’s thoughts snapped back, realizing just how close they were. She hadn’t even let go of his collar yet.

"I’m sorry."

A rare fluster crossed Sienna’s pretty face as she let go and quickly took a few steps back. "I apologize, Lawyer Prescott, there was a reason for my urgency earlier..."

Didn’t handle this well.

Sebastian calmly tidied his collar and suit, his slightly furrowed brow indicating his displeasure.

Sienna could only sincerely apologize again, "I’m truly sorry."

"Were you following someone?"

Sebastian had no intention of dwelling on this small matter, casually asking.

His private room was at the end of the corridor. He had noticed a young couple earlier; his memory was usually excellent, but the picture Sienna had shown him was of two people kissing, side profile, and too blurry.

He had glanced only briefly, so it was understandable that he didn’t recognize them.

Sienna felt a bit embarrassed, realizing she had indeed looked like a sneaky thief, hiding in a dark corner watching Caleb and Vivian standing in the bright and dazzling light, indulging in each other’s company.

"Something like that." She awkwardly turned her face away, changing the subject, "Is Lawyer Prescott here for a meal?"

"A business meeting." Sebastian replied coldly with two words, looked around, and called over a passing waiter, "This lady dropped an earring. Please help check the surveillance footage."

Sienna was slightly stunned, meeting his gaze, understanding his intention.

"Thank you." She smiled and nodded at the staff member, "Thank you."

The waiter, noting her attire of designer labels, assumed the earring must be valuable, nodded, and said, "Please follow me."

Sienna scrutinized their journey from the first floor to the second floor through the footage, observing Vivian kissing Caleb’s cheek in the elevator as Caleb smiled and affectionately pinched her nose, telling her not to be mischievous.

Caleb’s tender and pampering expression was all too familiar to her.

In that moment, it felt like her lungs were filled with sea water, and every breath was excruciatingly painful.

Her eyes rimmed red. She licked her lips, her soft voice choked with emotion, "Can I get a copy of this video?"

The female manager saw this and understood immediately; the earring was just a pretense.

She promptly instructed the staff to copy the video to her phone.

After leaving the surveillance room, the manager informed her that her ordered signature dishes were ready, and Sienna chose a window seat on the first floor to sit down.

After eating a few bites, her phone suddenly chimed.

It was a text message.

[Danger! Sebastian mustn’t drink that glass of wine! Marcus Jennings put something in it to ruin him!]

Sienna paused, almost without hesitation or a trace of doubt. Just as she was about to get up and intervene, she stopped abruptly.

She remembered that Caleb and Vivian’s private room was on the right end, and going up might run into them and not be fast enough to stop it.

Suddenly, the business card Sebastian had given her before flashed through her mind. She quickly dug it out of her bag and dialed the number.

The call connected just as Marcus Jennings, holding a wine pot, walked up to Sebastian and poured a drink, "We had some misunderstandings over Elias Yates’ case before. Here’s a toast, hoping Counselor Prescott can forgive."

This dinner, organized by Imperial City’s top-level lawyer group, was one Sebastian had attended reluctantly due to their insistence.

Hearing the ring, he excused himself politely to Marcus, glanced at the unfamiliar number on his phone, ignored Marcus’s awkward expression, and walked to the window to answer.

"Hello."

Sienna cut straight to the point, "This is Sienna Monroe. Did you drink the wine Marcus Jennings offered you? He spiked it, absolutely do not drink!"

Listening to the familiar soft voice, Sebastian was momentarily puzzled, feeling more than a bit suspicious.

How did she know Marcus would toast him and even spike the drink?

The previous incident with the pen was similar; the front desk had informed him that Sienna visited that morning, but the pen was conveniently bought at the pawnshop after visiting the firm.

This was another point he found questionable.

Suppressing his thoughts, Sebastian slightly frowned but didn’t ask further, stating simply, "Got it."

Even without Sienna’s call, he hadn’t planned on drinking the wine Marcus offered.

Marcus wanted to put him in a compromising situation, but it depended on whether he would play along.

Ending the call, he returned to the table, saying calmly, "I’m afraid I can’t accept this toast, Counselor Jennings. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."

With that, he picked up his coat, ignoring the stares and attempts to hold him back, and walked out.

His reputation for being unsociable and decisively independent was well known.

With such credentials, being an undefeated top-tier lawyer in Imperial City and a young master of The Prescott Family, he had the right to be arrogant.

After the call, Sienna settled the bill and left the restaurant. Just as she opened the car door, a familiar deep voice called from behind, "Miss Monroe."

Sienna turned around.

The chill of the late autumn night was biting. The man in a black coat, tall and upright, walked towards her with confident strides.

Without needing to guess, Sienna already knew what Sebastian wanted to ask after coming over.

However, she didn’t quite know what excuse she could use to deflect his inquiry.

Not wanting to dwell on it, as he approached, she said evasively, "No need to thank me, Counselor Prescott, just returning the favor."

He had reminded her about the surveillance, she had warned him about the drink—it seemed fair enough.

At least if the logic wasn’t scrutinized.

Sebastian, of course, realized her reluctance to speak, his deep gaze catching a light floral scent as the cold wind blew around them.

It was the scent of camellias.

He had noticed it earlier, while she held him, a contrast to the pear blossom scent from before, adding a layer of sunlight and warmth.

As a lawyer, he had encountered all sorts, but the woman before him remained a mystery.

After a moment’s consideration, he refrained from pursuing the topic, simply stating quietly, "The evidence you copied today mustn’t have any traces of editing, or else it would be deemed fraudulent in court."

"Oh, okay." Sienna acknowledged and then remembered her own evidence, "Could I bother Counselor Prescott with something?"