### Chapter 100: All Hell’s Broken Loose!

Maxine’s face instantly flushed red.

That loaded statement, combined with the look he had just given her, made her instantly think of certain... unspeakable things.

"Ethan Hawthorne!" she chided in a low voice, turning to look out the window. But the blush creeping up her ears and her slightly quickened heartbeat betrayed the turmoil inside her.

The car grew quiet, but a silent, sweet ambiguity lingered in the air.

Outside, the neon lights began to flicker as the gentle night descended.

Ethan Hawthorne chuckled softly and said no more. Then, he raised the car’s temperature by a single degree.

-

Ever since he became convinced that Maxine Rhodes had a sugar daddy backing her, Benjamin Sterling couldn’t eat or sleep peacefully.

His first thought for a breakthrough was his former assistant, Roy Miller. Roy had been with him for years, knew a lot about the company’s internal affairs, and had now jumped ship to the Hawthorne Group. Maybe he’d heard some gossip.

He went to some trouble to find Roy Miller’s new contact information and called him from a newly registered burner phone.

The phone rang several times before it was answered. Roy Miller’s voice sounded all business. "Hello, who is this?"

"Roy, it’s me." Benjamin Sterling’s voice still held a hint of his old boss-like authority.

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds before a flat reply came: "Oh, so it’s Mr... former... Sterling."

The attitude left Benjamin speechless. Suppressing his anger, he said, "Roy Miller, we worked together for several years. I’m calling to ask about Maxine Rhodes. Do you know any inside info about her new company? Where did she get so much funding and so many connections? Is there someone behind her?"

"Inside info?" Roy Miller let out an exaggerated laugh. "Benjamin Sterling, did going bankrupt fry your brain too? Director Rhodes—oh, my mistake, I should call her Ms. Rhodes now—started her own company because she’s capable! She has vision! She has skills! You think everyone is like you, doing nothing but exploiting employees all day? Without your family’s money, you’re nothing!"

Years of pent-up employee resentment now burst forth like a floodgate opening.

"’Someone behind her?’ You think people don’t know? She worked herself to the bone for you at The Sterlings for five years! You took all the credit for her hard work, and she took all the blame! And in the end, you used her as a scapegoat. You have the nerve to ask about her now? You disgust me!"

"We’re still cleaning up the mess you left behind—the muddled contracts, the shady little tricks! And you still think you’re hot stuff? You think Ms. Rhodes can’t live without you? Where in the world do you get that audacity?!"

"Ms. Rhodes is now a key strategic partner, personally endorsed by our own Mr. Hawthorne! Mr. Hawthorne has nothing but 100% respect and support for her! You think everyone is like you, with a mind full of nothing but filthy thoughts about men and women? What they have is the mutual admiration of powerful equals, fighting side-by-side! Someone like you could never understand that!"

Roy Miller’s tirade was cathartic and left no room for Benjamin to interject. When he was done, he hung up and blocked the number in one smooth motion.

Benjamin Sterling stood there, holding a phone buzzing with a dial tone, his face shifting between pale and green. He was trembling with rage.

Even Roy Miller, who used to be so meek and subservient, now dared to curse him out and belittle him so completely.

’This is insane!’

Unable to find anything through official channels, Benjamin Sterling gritted his teeth and decided to use some unorthodox methods.

Through some shady channels, he contacted a team of private investigators who claimed there was no secret they couldn’t uncover. Their fees were high, but they promised absolute confidentiality and superior methods.

The meeting point was a noisy, smoke-filled underground pool hall.

The so-called head detective was a middle-aged man in a floral shirt and a thick gold chain, nicknamed "Blackie." He spoke with the heavy swagger of the underworld, his eyes glinting with cunning and a mercenary air.

"I need you to tail someone for me," Benjamin Sterling said, deliberately keeping his voice steady, feigning deep concern. "Maxine Rhodes of Stellar Tech."

Blackie blew a smoke ring and narrowed his eyes. He’d seen plenty of jobs like this. It was always about catching a cheating spouse.

"Focus on the people around her," Benjamin said, choosing his words carefully, trying to achieve his goal without sounding too despicable. "Especially the men who might have ulterior motives, who might be using her! It’s not easy for a woman in the business world. I’m afraid she’s being deceived."

Blackie raised an eyebrow, a knowing, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips. "Oh? Ms. Rhodes, you mean? She’s been making quite a name for herself lately. Is this a case of a concerned friend getting overly worried, my man?"

Benjamin winced at his look, feeling a flash of humiliation, but he immediately straightened his back and spoke with more force. "That’s not what I mean! I’m worried she’s naive and being blinded by resources and benefits, that she’s being led down the wrong path! I want to know who’s pulling the strings!"

The more he spoke, the more self-righteous he felt. "Money is no object! I want something concrete, something that will make her see those people for who they really are! Photos, recordings—evidence that proves those men have ill intentions toward her or are involved in dirty deals!"

Blackie knew exactly what was going on. ’This client is obviously just jealous that the woman has made it big, but he has to wrap it all up in a ’this is for your own good’ facade.’

’Still, who’s going to say no to money?’

He took another slow drag from his cigarette, then rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, drawing out his words. "My man, what you’re asking for... is more than just simple surveillance. A deep dive on a target of this level, getting close to potential big shots... that’s high-risk, which means high-cost."

Benjamin knew he was being hustled, and the thought pained him. But the image of Maxine being manipulated and toyed with by some old man ignited a fire of jealousy and misguided responsibility that burned away all his reason.

He gritted his teeth, pulled a thick stack of cash from his bag, and slammed it on the table with a SLAP. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Blackie. "This is the deposit! You’d better be worth the price! Find me the truth!"

Blackie glanced at the stack of money, gauging its thickness. A smile spread across his face as he swept the cash toward himself. "Don’t you worry, my man! When Blackie takes a job, you can count on one thing: reliability! I guarantee I’ll drag out every single ghoul and demon hanging around Ms. Rhodes!"

-

Recently, Stellar Tech had made a name for itself in the industry with several impressive projects, which naturally attracted more attention.

One day, an invitation appeared on Maxine Rhodes’s desk.

It was from the "Kingsland Chamber of Commerce," for an event at the famous private club, Orchid Pavilion, this Friday evening.

The Kingsland Chamber of Commerce sounded respectable, but everyone in the circle knew it was a loose association dominated by old-guard male titans from traditional industries. They held regular gatherings, ostensibly for "networking," but in reality, they were more for consolidating connections, flaunting resources, and even making under-the-table deals.

Women were rarely invited, and even when they were, it was usually as decoration or as a plus-one.

Coco held the invitation, her brow furrowed so deeply you could trap a fly in it. "Sis, this is obviously a trap! I did some digging. Several of the presidents in this association have terrible reputations." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"That President Wyatt is notorious for forcing his female subordinates to drink. President Shaw tells dirty jokes in meetings. And that President Archer... I heard he’s got sticky fingers. What good could come from them inviting you? They must have seen that our company is on the rise and want to put you in your place!"

For once, Bubbles also looked serious. "From a risk-avoidance perspective, I do not recommend attending. There are too many uncontrollable factors at this kind of informal, highly private gathering."