Chapter 484

As the conversation carried on, no one seemed to notice the way Citrine's eyes grew colder by the second-no one except Carney, who sat directly across from her. He sensed something was off.

Suddenly, Citrine slammed her hand down on the table. "Mr. Fuller, since when did partnerships come with a hierarchy? Apparently, working with small companies means you can just take advantage of them for free. If that's your style, Mr. Fuller, then CICI Group wants nothing to do with it. We're not interested in being taken advantage of." She let the last words ring out, her tone sharp and deliberate.

"President Carmichael... that's not what I meant at all," Danny Fuller stammered, his face draining of color as panic crept in.

The others who had sided with him moments before all fell silent, their expressions darkening. No one dared to speak up.

Citrine offered a cold, mirthless smile. "Oh, but that's exactly what you meant."

"There's no business without a touch of cunning, but I must say, Mr. Fuller, I haven't seen anyone quite as shameless as you."

"CICI Group doesn't work with swindlers. Mr. Fuller, I think it's time for you to leave."

She paused, then added, "Oh, and in case you were wondering, that gentleman you insulted earlier? He's a friend of mine."

Danny's face fell. He never imagined that Sebastian would be connected to Citrine how could two people from such different worlds know each other?

He realized, too late, that he had just made a powerful enemy.

Citrine ignored the rest of them. With everyone watching, she strode directly over to Mr. Shaw from Crestwood Hospital.

She extended her hand. "Mr. Shaw, I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise, Ms. Carmichael." Caught off guard, Hawley Shaw stood up so quickly

he nearly tripped over his own feet, grinning as he shook her hand.

After exchanging a few formal pleasantries, Citrine cast a cool glance at the others. “That's all for today. You're all dismissed."

With that, she turned to leave.

Danny Fuller rushed after her, desperation written all over his face. "President Carmichael, please give me another chance!"

He dropped to his knees with a dull thud.

The Fuller Group might be a major corporation, but years of financial

mismanagement had hollowed it out. Danny was counting on this partnership with CICI Group as his last hope for a turnaround.

Citrine's expression didn't soften in the slightest. "Mr. Fuller, maybe you should learn how to act with some integrity before talking business."

Without another word, she walked away.

After leaving the club, Citrine was about to get into her car when she noticed a man standing at the entrance. She closed the car door and walked over to him.

Since the music festival, they hadn't seen each other once. In just a few short months, Citrine had gone from privileged heiress to chairwoman of CICI Group.

Now, seeing her again, Sebastian

couldn't even meet her gaze. In that moment, a gnawing sense of inadequacy took root in his heart She was so far out of his league, all the words he wanted to say lodged in his throat, likely never to be spoken.

Citrine noticed his silence and smiled. "Still here? Were you waiting for me?"

Sebastian nodded.

He knew he didn't deserve her, but he couldn't bear the thought of watching her get close to someone else.

Sebastian seemed more withdrawn than usual tonight. Citrine assumed he was just upset about losing out on the partnership and didn't dwell on it.

She glanced at her watch. "It's still early. Let's get something to eat."

He couldn't bring himself to say no, so he nodded and got into Citrine's car.

December nights were bitterly cold, so they ended up at a small grill house. Citrine was genuinely hungry, as soon as the food arrived, she started eating without

hesitation-quick but always with an effortless grace. sŵnovel

Sebastian, on the other hand, barely touched his food. Instead, he watched Citrine, quietly

mesmerized. Just seeing her earn et

was enough to fill him with a strange, unexpected sense of contentment.