The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 2106

Chloe had a way about her, an undeniable magnetism. Nathan trusted her implicitly, enough to leave his own kin in her care without a second thought. Rose was on the horn every other day, fussing about coming to see her. Cicely didn't even bother heading home after Seth took off. She picked up Hugo from school and made a beeline for the Harper household.

The house was bustling with activity. Hugo and Anya, in their soft and clean pajamas, were playing around with Little Sun and Little Moon.

Cicely, hugging a throw pillow, lounged comfortably on the plush sofa in the home theater, with a half-eaten fruit bowl nestled in her lap.

"All in all, not too shabby." After finishing the movie, Cicely lazily gave Chloe the long-awaited review.

Chloe chuckled, "This flick's been pegged for a few awards. Crysti's likely to nab Best Supporting Actress."

"Shouldn't be a problem. Crysti's performance really sparkles. But the lead actress is a bit off the mark."d2

While Cicely wasn't a film buff, she had an audience's intuition for when empathy fell short, turning scenes cringe-worthy and breaking the spell.

Chloe pursed her lips, "We did cut some key scenes from the lead. You're spot on. The footage just didn't work."

Cicely glanced at the lead actress on the screen and snorted softly, "Compared to other flicks this year, she's riding her luck. Dodged a bullet there."

Chloe glanced at Cicely strangely, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but held back.

Cicely arched an eyebrow, "What’s that look?"

"The entertainment biz thrives on gossip and journalists stirring the pot. If you've got doubts, best clear them up with Seth directly. Don't let outsiders brew unnecessary misunderstandings."

Cicely let out a soft chuckle, "What misunderstandings could possibly be unnecessary?"

Chloe watched Cicely for a moment, her fingers brushing her brow, then pointed to the woman on the screen, "Xenia, Wave Entertainment's rising star from last year."

"Mhm," Cicely hummed lazily, a veil of lethargy in her gaze, "Danielle's heir in many ways."

Chloe's delicate brow twitched subtly, a fleeting glint in her eyes.

Yulia, observing this, quietly turned away her gaze. Though brief, Yulia sensed that Chloe had something on her mind.

The next day.

Cicely, descending the stairs after waking up, paused at the sight of another woman in the living room. She leaned on the banister with a lazy smirk, "Am I mistaken about your hubby, Mr. Harper? He's quite the host, isn't he?" The man seemed jealous to the point of not distinguishing between genders. Could he really allow Chloe to be so welcoming?

The visitors were indeed a constant stream.

Crysti coughed discreetly, "As if you're not the one squatting here while he's away."

Cicely tilted her head, pondering. Yeah, fair point.

A maid swiftly prepared breakfast, and Cicely took a seat on the sofa. "Aren't you busy skyrocketing? What brings you here?"

Crysti inhaled deeply, then suppressed it, "I was up for a role recently but got sniped midway. I'm here to see if Chloe might have some wiggle room for me."

Cicely laughed softly, "Who's bold enough to compete with our mighty CEO Chloe for resources?"

At this, even Crysti's good temper frayed, "Xenia, your artist."

Chloe remained silent, her lips curling into a subtle smile as she sipped water, her gaze veiled.

Crysti continued, incensed, "I barely interacted with her on set, and now she's clearly targeting me. The role I had was minor; what interest could she have in it, given her status?"

Taking a sip, Crysti speculated, "With a new film to promote, we're slated for a variety show. Who knows what petty moves she'll pull?"

"And what's with your husband's taste? There were plenty of gorgeous, talented actresses out there, so why pick another drama queen?"

The emphasis on "another" was shrewd.

Cicely laughed coldly, "Who knows? Maybe he finds drama more entertaining."

Crysti shivered discreetly and snuck a glance at Chloe. Crysti wondered if she had gone too far.

Chloe set down her glass and mused, "Here's what we'll do. I'll call Noah and let him know that I'll join you on the variety show tomorrow."

Crysti's eyes brightened.

The show, a hot ticket produced by Noah's HC Television, was a major draw. With Noah's clout and connections, his favors were sought after as much as Chloe’s and Seth's.

The show, 1+N, invited guests to bring friends or family for a casual cookout and chat, aiming for authenticity and virality. HC Television would ensure star power if needed.

Though not a celeb, Chloe was a social media titan. Her presence would be a boon for Crysti—and a shield against Xenia's antics.

"Fantastic. I'm already excited for the air date."

Chloe smirked at Cicely, "Joining us?"

Cicely locked eyes with Chloe for a beat, then quirked an eyebrow, "Sure."

-

The next day, the financial news buzzed with an image-laden alert.

At the towering skyscraper's entrance, sleek black cars lined up, each with two umbrella-wielding bodyguards escorting someone out.

The men stood tall and imposing, their faces obscured by the shadows of black umbrellas or the hulking figures of their bodyguards. Clad in crisply tailored suits, their perfect proportions exuded an air of nobility and power that was palpable.

The buzz was all about Obsidian Group's latest meeting—it was the talk of the town. Every capitalist worth their salt knew the deliberations of these individuals could signal the next big investment opportunity.

The entertainment section of the news had taken to hyping up the usually low-key Seth, painting him in grand strokes.

Where Seth was concerned, there was no escaping the gossip that trailed him in the celebrity world. His private life, his stable of artists, his once-favored sweetheart, and now Xenia, the company's rising star, rumored to have had a fling with him, all made for juicy stories.

Xenia's fans wanted their idol to live a life a million times better than their own, fiercely defending her from any perceived rival seeking to leech off her fame. They were blatant in their desire to see Xenia "marry for love," with P City's golden boy Seth becoming her husband.

And the person involved never came forward to clarify the matter. Even when the topic about Seth arose, a post closely followed shortly after. It was a photo of Xenia and Seth outside a restaurant.

It was a time when spring met summer, and Seth's jacket hung casually over his arm. His black shirt, with the top two buttons undone, revealed a skin slightly paler than that of other men, made even more striking by the visible marks that adorned it. It wasn't hard to imagine the intimate night that might have left them.

Below, Xenia's fans were in a frenzy.

Cicely glanced at the screen with a hint of disgust at the sight of the countless comments.

Chloe, who was driving, had seen the notification Cicely was looking at. Seeing Cicely's reaction, she teased, "Jealous much?"

Cicely let out a laugh, "If only it had a different ship name, I might have looked a bit longer."

Chloe was familiar with that ship name.

-

Chloe, in a loose-fitting white suit, towered over most, her stride creating a stir wherever she went.

Cicely, on the other hand, wore a simple white lace dress with a cinched waist, her voluminous hair framing a beautiful, fair face half-hidden behind oversized sunglasses.

Upon entering, the staff didn't dare to neglect them and led them straight to Crysti's dressing room.

With some time before the shoot, the staff suggested that Chloe and Crysti take a tour of the set. Chloe thought it wise to greet the director personally and took Crysti with her, leaving Cicely who couldn't be bothered to join.

Shortly after their departure, the dressing room door swung open.

The newcomer didn't recognize Cicely, nor did Cicely recognize her. Assuming Cicely was Crysti's assistant, the woman barely gave her a glance before turning to the staff behind her, "The lights around this mirror are working, aren't they? We'll take this room. Get Xenia set up here."

The staff member hesitated, "But this is..."

"Sorry, we'll have to switch dressing rooms. The mirror light next door is out."

The tone was dismissive, belying the courtesy of the words.

Cicely's eyes flickered as a familiar figure appeared at the door—her husband's rumored love interest.

Raising an eyebrow, Cicely stood, her pride palpable as she approached Xenia. She peered closely at Xenia through her large sunglasses, and when Xenia's smile began to falter, Cicely's lips curled into a smirk, her chin tilting up, "Go ahead."

Her demeanor and tone were almost charitable.

Xenia's brow furrowed, but she maintained a polite smile, "Thank you for your generosity. Please thank Crysti for me."

Cicely stepped aside, her gaze amused, "No thanks needed. Our Crysti is a natural beauty, and a little touch-up is all she needs. But you—make sure your foundation is flawless. If it creases or cakes during the show, it'd be embarrassing for you. It would also spoil the show and inconvenience others."

Xenia's expression turned stormy.

After Cicely tossed her hair and walked away, Chloe and Crysti arrived to find her casually browsing her phone. They had heard about the incident from the staff, and Crysti was trying to contain her laughter. "It's annoying to give up the room, but well done. Just walked into that dressing room, and Xenia was already giving her makeup artist an earful about the thick foundation, haha."

Cicely downplayed her role, "Just stating the facts. Her excuse for changing rooms showed some self-awareness, didn't it?"

Crysti's laughter grew louder.

—

The shooting was about to begin, and guests started arriving. The staff efficiently ushered the artists out of the dressing rooms and into the waiting area.

Crysti was very diligent and enthusiastic about her work. When Xenia and her entourage came out, Crysti had already been waiting with Chloe and Cicely in front.

Xenia and her group chatted as they walked, and Cicely raised an eyebrow subtly, a faint trace of coldness playing on her slightly curved lips.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Just as the director signaled for everyone to head out, a sharp slap echoed through the area. Everyone was taken aback and rushed to the scene.

Xenia was on the floor, hand to her cheek, looking up at Cicely with eyes that shifted from shock to fear to tearful indignation.

There Cicely was, her light-colored dress bearing a large, brown, liquid stain, and a crumpled paper coffee cup lay on the floor.

Chloe draped her jacket over Cicely, casting a cold glance at Xenia. "Every industry has its rules. Ambition is one thing, but underhanded tactics are another; as peers, we turn a blind eye. You're just starting out. You're not at the level where you can lash out without repercussion."

"You're just a pawn in someone else's game. How long have you been in the industry? Do you think we're all blind to your scheming? The only reason we've spared you any dignity is because you still hold value to your company, and that's the extent of it."

Xenia felt a shiver run down her spine at Chloe's icy, blunt words. "I didn't mean to, it wasn't on purpose."

Chloe just gave a soft chuckle, "Spare me the sob story, Xenia. I've seen more tears than an Oscar night."

"What's important isn't whether you did it deliberately or not. It's about who you've crossed." Chloe paused, a chill filling her eyes, and her next words fell like ice shards onto Xenia. "You're in deep water now, Xenia."

Xenia's face turned ghostly pale.

Her assistant, jolted back to reality, spoke to Chloe with restrained frustration.

"Ms. Summers, Xenia is a star at CP Entertainment. Even if she accidentally crossed you, Mr. Diaz wouldn't let anything happen to her."

Xenia's show was gunning for awards, and regardless of anything else, even just for her market value, Seth couldn't afford a scandal.

But Chloe just smiled, "You should be praying that Seth doesn't tear her apart."

Cicely tightened her coat around her and took a couple of steps towards Xenia, looking down at her with an air of superiority. "I thought I'd have to work harder to slap you with some sense, but here we are."

Xenia froze, not quite understanding.

Chloe, however, slightly curled her lip with a smirk. This was an unexpected turn.