Chapter 11: Business Summit

Words : 2020 Updated : Nov 20th, 2025

Denise wore a black tailored suit that showed off her elegant curves. The skin she left exposed gleamed like polished jade. She stood tall, her long legs together in perfect lines, a subtle sheen playing over them. Her chin tilted just so, as if she were clinging to the last bit of pride. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest and her clenched fists betrayed the nervousness within. Besides needing to obtain the Ice Phoenix Physique, Dante found himself moved by the woman before him. Without pretense, he shrugged off his shirt. He stepped closer, close enough to notice the fine tremor running through her. "Be gentle... It's my first time..." Denise shut her eyes, her small fists tight, her body quivering, offering herself up with a barely audible plea. Dante lifted a hand and set it on her smooth, white shoulder. At the touch, she jolted, her body going rigid. "So she really had never been touched by a man. So sensitive..." Dante thought. Who would have thought the billionaire CEO Denise Mendes was also a virgin? He supposed he'd lucked out. He moved to scoop her up, to lay her on the bed. Knock, knock, knock! "Dante, are you asleep?" Pamela's voice came from the hallway, out of the blue. Dante's hand stopped midair. Denise's reaction was even sharper. Her eyes flew open, wide with panic and confusion. She instinctively covered her chest and tried to crouch for her clothes, but Dante stood too close for her to bend. Seeing her flustered and embarrassed, Dante stepped back, picked up his shirt, and called out. "Mom, I'm not asleep. Give me a second, I'm coming." He threw his shirt on and waited while Denise fumbled into her dress, then hurried to make herself presentable. He opened the door. His mother stood there, gaunt. When she saw Denise, surprise flickered across her face. "Denise, you're here too..." Realization dawned. She glanced between them, contrition shading her gaze. "I'm fine. Don't let me interrupt." Denise flushed crimson. "Mrs. Pamela, it's not what you think. I came to invite Mr. Easton to a Business Summit." "The Davidson family plans to push into the southern market, with Junbert as the hub. They've tapped the Mendes family to host a Business Summit. I think it's a great opportunity. I don't know if Mr. Easton is interested in taking part." "The Davidson family? They want to set up a Grivoria branch?" Pamela's sharp business sense caught the scent of opportunity at once. The Davidson family stood at the trillion-dollar level. If you can hitch your wagon to them, even a small slice of the business could send you soaring. Three years ago, the Mendes family had been first-tier. If the Davidsons expand into Grivoria, they would surely choose a local partner. The Mendes family was lucky enough to be chosen to host. That would inevitably open doors for local firms. Every major family would fight over the participation slots for that summit. Denise had come in person, clearly out of gratitude for Dante saving her father's life. "I'll go," Dante said evenly. Standing beside his mother, he caught the glint of excitement in her eyes. He had to go. Just then, Denise's phone rang. She gave them an apologetic look, stepped to the window, and answered. "What? Ambrose Davidson collapsed? What happened? All right, get a doctor immediately. Find me the best doctors..." Mid-sentence, urgency struck her anew. She spun, looked at Dante, and said at once, "I'm on my way." She hung up and came to him, a plea in her eyes. "Mr. Easton, Mr. Ambrose is here on this trip to Grivoria, and suddenly lost consciousness. Please come with me." "I've already arranged for other doctors to head over. You may not need to do anything, but I'm afraid something could go wrong. With you there, I'll feel much more at ease." Dante did not answer at once. Pamela urged him, "Dante, go with Denise. I can wait." It had taken her several days to accept that her son possessed unrivaled skills in traditional medicine. He had been an ordinary med student, then after three years in a coma, he had somehow become someone who outclassed the titans of medicine. With his mother's word, Dante did not refuse. He left with Denise. She had driven herself. She went to get the car. Dante waited at the front gate. A prickle ran along his spine. He felt eyes on him and turned. In the neighboring villa's garden pavilion, Kara stood watching him. Their gazes met. She tensed, turned away at once, her eyes darting aside. Denise pulled up beside him. Dante snapped back to the moment and slid into the passenger seat. "How are the coffins for the Swift family coming along?" "I've prepared thirty-six coffins. They will be delivered on time at the Swift family's Renaming Banquet tomorrow." "Good." ... "The two of them?" Kara murmured, startled. She had heard that Pamela and Dante were staying at the Mendes Residence. She'd guessed, but seeing it with her own eyes still threw her. "Kara, I have a plan." A soft voice came from beside her. "Mom, what are you doing here?" Kara's mother, Victoria, took her hand, her gaze following Denise's departing car. "Kara, about what Dante did to you, you reaped what you sowed. But I've noticed you've been restless these past few days, often looking toward the villa next door. In a way, that comforts me. The night you lost your virginity, though it was forced, opened a door to a new world. Your aversion to men seems to have eased a little." As a parent, Victoria wanted Kara to adopt a conventional orientation toward marriage, having children, and finding happiness. After Kara was interested in women, Victoria had felt helpless. Days ago, Kara had come home and told Victoria everything that happened with Dante. Victoria hadn't blamed him because Kara had been in the wrong. In the days since, she had seen her daughter's growing attention to him. Perhaps losing her virginity had nudged Kara's orientation a little. "Mom, didn't we say we wouldn't bring this up again? I regret telling you already." Kara stomped her foot, a little petulant. She had come home that night, shattered, scrubbing herself in the shower until her mother noticed. Under relentless questions, she confessed. "Only the two of us know," Victoria said with a relieved smile. "And I think it might be a blessing in disguise. Your plan failed. Didn't Ashley refuse to help you get a slot at the Davidson family's Ecological Summit? I think you should find an opportunity to approach Dante. The Mendes family is hosting that summit. From the look of it, Dante and Denise are close enough that he could get you a place." Kara's eyes widened. "Mom, you want your daughter to ask a favor from the man who forced himself on her? Yes, I was at fault that night, but do you think he'd help me? I'd be lucky if he didn't beat me up. What are you thinking?" Victoria patted Kara's hand, her gaze sweeping her daughter up and down. "You were out of line that time, but it was your first time. And you're one of the three famed beauties on the North Side. You're every bit as attractive as Ashley Swift. Dante has already divorced Ashley. He might even become the Piper family's son-in-law." "Mom, are you serious?" Kara saw that her mother was earnest. In matters of romance and sex, Kara was a blank page. Victoria, rich in experience, had seen at a glance that her daughter felt something different for Dante. Whether her daughter would end up straight depended on him. The bond between Kara and Dante wasn't about to fade. It would tighten again soon. Victoria would see to that.

Chapter 11: Business Summit

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