''Lynne casually mentioned before we stepped out of the car that this opportunity to meet a bigshot came at the cost of two bottles of whiskey last night. When it comes to her career, she never holds back.''

Over the past two years, I’d occasionally caught glimpses of Lucius in finance news—praised for his sharp instincts and undefeated track record. His takeover of a major tech company six months ago catapulted him to fame in the investment world.

It was no surprise he had been the star of last night’s alumni gathering.

As for me, the ex who should’ve kept her head down, I chose instead to face the situation head-on, despite the layers of foundation masking Lynne's hangover. After all, we were just a small-time game studio. Lucius himself wouldn’t bother meeting us, right?

I was correct.

Three sharply dressed executives awaited us in the conference room, patiently listening to our pitch. The process stretched over two hours, and by the end, one of them escorted us downstairs. Lynne effortlessly arranged dinner plans with him, while I stood awkwardly by her side.

Then, a syrupy voice rang out.

"Sylvie, is that really you?"

I turned to see Lucius and Cecily standing not far away.

Lucius, in a perfectly tailored suit, looked even more striking than I remembered. His angular features, sharp side profile, and commanding presence were enough to draw anyone's gaze.

Beside him, Cecily wore a light blue blouse and black slacks, exuding a youthful charm. On closer inspection, I noticed his sapphire cufflinks matched her blue earrings—an annoyingly complementary detail.

Ignoring the flicker of displeasure in Lucius's eyes, I nodded politely.

Cecily's curiosity was evident as she studied me. "Sylvie, are you here for a partnership meeting?" she asked sweetly.

Quite perceptive of her.

Sensing the tension, Lynne stepped forward with her usual charm, extending her hand to Lucius.

“Mr. Albrecht, it’s an honor to finally meet you. Sisi speaks so highly of you,” she said with a smile.

A standard line from Lynne, but today, she’d miscalculated.

Lucius cast her an indifferent glance before his gaze shifted back to me. His lips curled into a cold sneer as he replied, "Is that so?"

The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.

Remembering the confidence I had exuded the night before, I suddenly felt small and utterly humiliated.

''“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Cecily’s warm voice interrupted, her enthusiasm evident. “Our company’s meals are famous for being amazing. Why don’t you stay and try them before you leave?”''

It dawned on me then: Lucius had already placed Cecily within his company.

For a college senior yet to graduate, that was an incredible advantage.

He was shielding her, supporting her.

The memory of my own experience surfaced—how, years ago, I had to muster all my courage just to visit him in the library, only to be assigned a seat across from him. It was as if maintaining his untouchable, aloof image mattered more than making me feel welcome. Back then, I had foolishly regarded it as a privilege, a badge of honor.

“No, thank you,” I managed to find my voice. “We have other plans later, so we’ll be on our way.”

I glanced at Lynne, silently urging her to leave. But her face betrayed her frustration at my lack of assertiveness.

In the car, Lynne crossed her arms and gave me a pointed look. “Care to explain?”

“He won’t invest in us,” I sighed. “No point wasting your energy.”

Lynne frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then her eyes widened in shock. “Wait—Sisi, your jerk ex…is Lucius?”

So much for keeping it a secret.

“Great,” Lynne concluded. “If Lucius so much as glances at our proposal…”

We exchanged a worried look, the gravity of the situation hitting us simultaneously.

Our game proposal featured a romantic storyline with a male lead modeled after a finance genius—designed as a hopeless simp for the female protagonist. No matter how hard he tried, he never won her affection.

The outlook for our project suddenly seemed bleak.

Now, I could only hope Lucius would toss the proposal straight into the trash without a second glance. If he decided to make an example of us, our struggling studio would be in dire straits. His clout in the investment world was such that he could shut every door in our path.

The afternoon passed uneventfully, and Lynne and I managed to regain some composure. We resolved to continue our search for other investors.

By 9 p.m., drained and weary, I returned to my apartment. Stepping off the elevator, I froze at the sight of someone waiting in the dimly lit hallway.

Lucius.

Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his face was obscured by shadow, but the crimson glow of his cigarette was unmistakable.

The motion sensor activated, and the light illuminated his sharp features. Our eyes met, and the smoky air between us thickened with tension.

“What a coincidence,” I said politely.

Lucius remained silent, his imposing presence suffocating.

I took a steadying breath and said, “We’re already pursuing other investors. Please, Mr. Albrecht, don’t concern yourself with us.”

I didn’t mind burning bridges with Lucius personally, but I couldn’t afford to drag the company down with me.

My words seemed to soften the edge in his demeanor. He exhaled a long plume of smoke, and I reached for my door.

“Your project—we’ll invest,” he said suddenly.

My hand paused mid-air, my chest tightening at his unexpected offer.

So, he’d read the proposal.

But why?

Lucius had no shortage of high-profile projects. If he were serious about working with us, he could’ve simply reached out to Lynne. Why bother standing here?

I lowered my gaze, questions swirling in my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Something felt off.

Sure enough, Lucius added, “But I have one condition.”

I looked up, meeting his eyes. “Mr. Albrecht, please elaborate.”

“Cece needs a project for her graduation design. I want her to participate in your game.”

Ah. So that was it.

He wanted to use our hard work to polish Cecily’s credentials.

I curled my fingers into my palm, then slowly released them. “I’ll report this to Ms. Wales in the morning,” I said evenly.

I was only a partner on paper; rejecting Lucius outright would be reckless, especially when we were desperate for funding.

To my surprise, Lucius’s cold expression wavered, as if he hadn’t anticipated my calm response.

With a short nod, he turned and left without another word.

I slipped inside and crouched down, burying my face in my knees.

---

The next morning, I told Lynne that PrimeSphere Capital had agreed to invest.

She was stunned silent before muttering, “Even a scumbag’s connections can come in handy.”

I chuckled bitterly and informed her of Lucius’s condition.

After hearing it, Lynne patted my shoulder with mock sympathy. “Think of the 2,080-square-foot luxury apartment, the private club with male models—this money is worth it.”

I nodded with resolve. “If the duck lands on your plate, you eat it.”

So, Lynne and I headed back to PrimeSphere Group.

This time, we were escorted to the executive office on the top floor.

Before entering, I caught the sound of a girl’s bell-like laughter.

Looking up, I saw Cecily seated beside Lucius, her radiant smile unrestrained.

As we walked in, she immediately shifted away from him, blushing. “I’ll leave now,” she murmured shyly.

“No need,” Lucius said calmly. His gaze fell on us as he added, “Say hello to your new colleagues.”

“New…colleagues?” Cecily’s doe eyes flashed with surprise before filling with hurt. “Lu, do you think I’m not good enough?”

“Don’t be silly,” he replied gently. “You were struggling for inspiration, weren’t you? Here it is.”

Cecily looked at him, bewildered.

Lynne seized the moment, extending her hand. “Welcome to the 'Heartstrings Saga' team, Miss Linwood.”

Cecily’s face lit up as she turned to Lucius, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Lu, you’re so good to me.”

Watching the scene, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of irony.

Six years ago, I’d gone to great lengths to surprise Lucius with birthday parties and anniversary celebrations. Now, it seemed he’d finally learned the art of giving surprises—but for someone else.

Still, his contradictory behavior puzzled me.

But in the face of five million dollars, none of that mattered.

Lucius had invested in us.