CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: DISAPPEARING WITHOUT A WORD

"Contact the florist to prepare two bouquets, one to be sent to the Ford Residence. The other... to the hospital."

This was Conrad Sterling’s instruction to Ethan before the project meeting.

Half an hour later, he received a text from Ethan reporting the situation.

[President Sterling, the bouquet to the Ford Residence was returned. As for the hospital, when I went, I heard that Miss Thornton had already completed the discharge procedures.]

This text successfully furrowed Conrad Sterling’s brows. In the meeting room, as the faces of others grew tense, President Sterling raised his hand to interrupt the project manager speaking: "Meeting paused, we’ll continue in ten minutes."

The project manager sat down, trembling, not daring to rest. He cautiously peeped at President Sterling’s expression, reviewing if he said something wrong just now, heart fluttering.

Conrad Sterling didn’t pay attention to others. After pausing the meeting, he immediately dialed Ethan’s number.

The part about Marilyn Ford refusing the flowers was within his expectations.

So when Ethan answered, Conrad Sterling asked, "Why wasn’t I notified about the discharge?"

"President Sterling, I just asked the hospital, they said Miss Thornton was discharged early this morning. They didn’t want to disturb you, so they didn’t report promptly..."

"Who decides when they report things? Do they decide that for me?"

Ethan: "..."

Others in the meeting room: "..."

Everyone could sense that President Sterling’s mood had turned sour. In the same world, under the same circumstances, their hearts subtly trembled, and they dared not speak.

"Go to their previous place and find a way to get them back to the hospital."

Although Pop’s previous fever wasn’t a flare-up, the doctor had recommended a cautious hospital observation.

What on earth was Anna Thornton doing?

Wasn’t she always the most anxious about her child?

After hanging up the phone, Conrad Sterling irritably tossed his phone to the far end of the table, gesturing for the meeting to continue.

The project manager stood up and said a couple of sentences, which seemed to go unheard by him. Subconsciously, he picked up the phone again.

Ethan’s efficiency was high; in less than twenty minutes, he replied: "President Sterling, Miss Thornton isn’t there, all her luggage is gone. The apartment was temporarily rented upon their return, and the landlord said they canceled the lease several days ago."

Click—

After reading the text, Conrad Sterling tossed the phone again, startling the project manager in the middle of his speech, making him forget what he was going to say.

A sullen President Sterling glanced at him, "Continue."

"Yes, President Sterling." The project manager, "..."

Where had he left off just now?

The entire meeting room suddenly turned tense, others exchanging cautious glances. Now, mention of visceral organs was fruitless as if their insides were bashed alongside the unfortunate phone—twice.

It was known, President Sterling rarely let his emotions show.

But once he displayed displeasure, the consequences were... terrifying!

Conrad Sterling wouldn’t say much, but there was an invisible chill spreading in the air.

The cold front was so severe; even global warming couldn’t match its power...

But for those under him, the real torment was just beginning.

From then on, every proposal was denied, and President Sterling commanded, no one would leave until a good plan emerged today.

Centering on the meeting room, the cold tension swept through Sterling Group’s headquarters.

Each employee was as if facing a formidable enemy, using emails to advise their trapped supervisors, yet the entire company couldn’t devise a proposal satisfactory to President Sterling.

The secretaries, after several trips to bring tea and coffee, emerged as if they’d lost half their life.

"President Sterling instructed to order dinner for the meeting room; seems like we’re definitely working late today."

"Anyone with evening plans? Cancel them fast, no need to court trouble."

"Sigh, working late and canceling appointments are secondary issues. Isn’t the most daunting problem right now President Sterling’s dinner order?"

Whoever first raised this question led the secretaries to collectively pale and sink into boundless panic.

It was well-known, President Sterling had sophisticated taste in food. His home had top chefs for all cuisines, devising delicate, varied dishes daily.

When focused on work, President Sterling didn’t mind skipping meals, but in a foul mood, if a carefully prepared project brief could be criticized, imagine his reaction to takeout?

If the prepared dinner didn’t please him, wasn’t it like dipping their heads into a smoking oil pot, waiting to be fried?

No one wanted to take this job at the moment.

Yet, they couldn’t avoid it. If President Sterling was hungry and no dinner was delivered, it would still lead to being fired.

The old saying is akin to accompanying a tiger while serving a king.

Although feudal remnants have long been abolished, employees in large companies frequently experience the profound truth in ancient conclusions.

Interestingly, President Sterling never involved personal matters in work, showing that his crisis with Miss Ford was severe.

Indeed, everyone at the company knew Marilyn Ford and Conrad Sterling were in a cold war.

Even when busy, President Sterling regularly made time for candlelit dinners with Miss Ford. Likewise, no matter how hectic, Miss Ford maintained daily calls with him to care for the "workaholic" who often skipped meals due to work.

"Model couple" became the Sterling Group’s private nickname for them, referring to how they complemented each other’s tasks, without actually dating.

Thus, it was odd that such "model couples" could have a cold war?

While diligently selecting restaurants, the secretaries couldn’t help but vent privately: "Miss Ford is also at fault. Why is she picking a fight with our President Sterling out of the blue? When deities battle, we mere mortals suffer."

"Surely it’s about President Sterling’s recent rumors with Anna Thornton. Women can’t tolerate any sand in their eyes."

"She’s nagging too much; if she’d defined her relationship with President Sterling sooner, Anna Thornton wouldn’t have had a chance to intrude. Honestly, having another woman around President Sterling is refreshing; I can’t stand how Marilyn Ford feels the world should revolve around her..."

"Careful, in case President Sterling hears."

"Indeed, what’s it to her if President Sterling breaks up with her one day? Then how would she face anyone?"

"Perhaps, it could happen. That Anna Thornton is no pushover... First, she crashed into President Sterling’s company, then stirred up rumors of late-night rendezvous, and even dared to expose her dark past. Now I follow entertainment topics eagerly, anticipating her next antic."

"Alright, enough! Adding fuel to the fire, we’ll all end up as casualties."

...

Who would have thought the name "Anna Thornton," unknown to many, would become the most talked-about gossip keyword among women across Aethelgard in just a week after her return?