His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 153

"Mr. Vanderbilt," she draped her blazer over her arm, her tone utterly detached. "I'll have my finance department transfer the payments for the medication to the Vanderbilt Group quarterly. I won't default."

She walked out without a moment's hesitation, never once looking back.

...

Five days later, in the afternoon.

Virginia was sitting in her office, organizing the day's consultation files, when the door suddenly swung open.

It was Chloe.

She was dressed in a tailored cream-white dress and pale pink Mary Janes. Her chestnut curls cascaded loosely over her shoulders, and her flawless makeup made her look like a porcelain doll stepped straight out of a magazine.

Carrying a classic matte Birkin bag, she strolled in with a beaming smile.

"Virginia, I came specifically to thank you."

Virginia didn't stop flipping through her files, nor did she bother looking up.

Chloe's grip tightened on her bag straps, a flash of pure malice crossing her eyes. But in the next second, her smile only grew wider.

"If you hadn't been willing to step aside, I would've missed out on this year's speech."

"You probably haven't heard, have you? The dean personally welcomed me when he found out I was Mrs. Vanderbilt."

"And my presentation was a massive success. The applause went on forever, and so many students lined up just to get my autograph..."

Her smile was dazzling, her eyes shining with a feverish excitement that barely concealed her sick sense of triumph.

Virginia finally put her pen down and looked at her.

Then, she offered a single word: "Congratulations."

Having delivered that, she looked back down and resumed organizing her files.

Chloe's smug satisfaction was instantly extinguished by Virginia's suffocating indifference.

Chloe glared at her viciously, refusing to believe that Virginia was actually as unaffected as she appeared!

Before she could say anything else, Virginia's assistant, Holly, knocked and walked in.

"Dr. Caldwell, your four o'clock appointment is here."

His tone over the phone was casual, though laced with a barely noticeable trace of nerves.

Virginia glanced at the clipboard on her desk. She was just about to decline when he quickly added:

"Mr. Preston is actually really interested in the corporate mental health program you designed for Hunter Industries. He's mentioned wanting to meet you before, so this could be a great networking opportunity."

That moved things out of personal territory and strictly into business.

She agreed without hesitation.

The next evening, Virginia dressed specifically for the occasion in a dark green velvet slip gown, draped with a pearlescent silk shawl. Her dark hair was swept up into a loose French twist, highlighting the delicate collarbone chain resting against her skin.

Valentin's car was waiting downstairs. When he saw her emerge, genuine awe flashed in his clever eyes.

"Dr. Caldwell, you look absolutely radiant. Now I feel entirely underdressed..."

"Stop flattering me. Let's go."

...

The gala was held at The Preston Manor, perched on the hillside in the north end of the city. Everyone in attendance was a heavy hitter in the local elite circle.