### Chapter 87: I’m Proud of You

Morning sunlight slipped through a gap in the curtains, falling upon the rumpled sheets and the two people sleeping in each other’s arms.

When Maxine Rhodes woke, her body was still sore from the previous night’s indulgence, but her mind felt clearer and more fulfilled than ever before.

She gently moved Ethan Hawthorne’s arm from around her waist. Just as she sat up, that same arm decisively pulled her back down, her back pressing against his warm chest.

"Sleep a little longer," he murmured, his voice raspy with sleep. He nuzzled the top of her head with his chin.

"I have to get up," Maxine Rhodes said, but her body betrayed her, relaxing against him.

After lazing in bed for another fifteen minutes, Maxine Rhodes got up. Once they finished breakfast, Ethan Hawthorne drove her to the vicinity of Sterling Tower.

He straightened her collar, his fingertips brushing past a faint red mark hidden just below her collarbone. His eyes darkened. "I’ll pick you up tonight."

Maxine Rhodes’s ears grew warm. She nodded and pushed the door open to get out.

The moment she walked into Sterling Tower, every employee she encountered looked at her with immense reverence.

Maxine Rhodes’s expression remained neutral. She offered a slight nod, her steps steady as she walked toward the elevators.

The elevator doors opened, revealing several managers from other departments already inside.

The moment they saw Maxine Rhodes, their faces broke into smiles. "Good morning, Director Rhodes! After you!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Maxine Rhodes gave a small nod.

When she reached her floor, she saw that the workstation area was almost completely buried under congratulatory flower baskets and potted plants.

The cards bore well wishes from various partners, and even from companies she had never directly interacted with.

Her other colleagues stood up one by one as they saw her, their faces wreathed in smiles.

"Director Rhodes, congratulations!"

"Director Rhodes, you’re incredible!"

"Director Rhodes, do you need help organizing all these flowers?"

Maxine Rhodes smiled, responding to each of them politely but with a hint of distance. "Thank you, but you can just leave them there."

"Everyone, please get back to your own work for now."

She walked to her desk, but before she could even sit down, the internal line rang.

It was Benjamin Sterling’s secretary, Roy Miller. His voice was more polite than ever before. "Director Rhodes, President Sterling would like you to... come to his office when you have a moment."

"Alright."

Maxine Rhodes glanced at the time and calmly agreed.

The door to the president’s office was ajar.

Maxine Rhodes knocked. From inside came Benjamin Sterling’s voice, much gentler than usual. "Maxine? Come in."

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. The atmosphere in the room was somewhat strange.

Benjamin Sterling sat behind his desk. Although there were traces of a sleepless night under his eyes, he had clearly taken care to tidy his appearance. He had even prepared a pot of tea in advance—the same kind of floral tea Maxine Rhodes used to drink occasionally.

Lydia Thorne was also standing to the side, her expression still sour, but she seemed to be exercising extreme restraint as she watched Maxine Rhodes with a complicated gaze.

"Maxine, sit."

Benjamin Sterling stood up and personally pointed to the chair opposite his desk, a smile on his face.

"Yesterday..." He sighed, his tone unprecedentedly sincere. "It truly took me by complete surprise. But, after calming down and thinking it over, this is a wonderful thing! I’m proud of you!"

Maxine Rhodes sat down without a word, placed her folder on her lap, and waited for his performance to begin.

"The fact that you secured the partnership with the Hawthorne Group on your own proves your value. It has also brought Sterling an unprecedented level of opportunity and attention!"

Benjamin Sterling stressed the word "Sterling," trying to tie her success to the company. "The stock price surged at opening today, and many partners have sent their congratulations. This is all thanks to you!"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Maxine Rhodes, filled with what he believed was a moving depth of emotion and understanding. "I know you were upset before, that you felt I might have been neglecting you.

You used this method to prove yourself and show me what you’re capable of. I completely understand. It’s normal for a woman to have a bit of a temper, to act out a little to get some attention."

With those words, he dismissed her brilliant counterattack and independent contract negotiation as nothing more than a childish tantrum—a ploy to get his attention. The notion was so absurd it was laughable.

Maxine Rhodes almost laughed out of sheer anger, but she restrained herself, merely raising an eyebrow without a word.

Benjamin Sterling took her silence as a sign of acquiescence or wavering. His tone grew even gentler. "It’s true I was too busy before and may have neglected you. Rest assured, that won’t happen again. You are now the company’s number one contributor—our core asset!!"

He repeated Ethan Hawthorne’s words, but with an objectifying undertone. "The company will give you its full support! Whatever resources you need, whatever personnel you want, just ask! I’ve already given the orders—your compensation, your authority, everything will be raised to the highest standard!"

Benjamin Sterling felt like a magnanimous emperor bestowing favors upon a newly favored consort. He assumed that by offering her these sweets, Maxine Rhodes would be moved to tears with gratitude and continue to slave away for him, just as she had before.

"Oh? Is that so?" Maxine Rhodes finally spoke, her voice calm and steady. "In that case, President Sterling, this is perfect. Here is the list of personnel for the independent team I’ve drafted for the Celestia project, along with the resource requirements."

She pushed the file across the desk. It clearly listed the personnel to be transferred, the independent budget, and the space requirements.

Benjamin Sterling’s smile froze. He hadn’t expected Maxine Rhodes to be so direct, nor her demands to be so excessive. This was tantamount to establishing an independent kingdom within Sterling.

"Maxine," he began, attempting a more conciliatory approach, "an independent team is necessary, of course. But those people are already working on other projects. Pulling them all at once will affect the company’s other operations. And as for the independent budget... isn’t that a bit rushed? We can coordinate things gradually."

He was trying to stall, to dilute her control.

Maxine Rhodes looked at him and suddenly gave a soft laugh. But there was no warmth in her smile, only the clarity of someone who saw through everything.

"President Sterling," she said, gently tapping the Hawthorne Group’s official seal on the document with the cap of her starry enamel pen. "The partnership agreement with the Hawthorne Group explicitly states that I have full authority over this project, and that efficiency is paramount. If Sterling’s internal coordination cannot meet the minimum requirements for the project’s progress..."

She lifted her eyes, her gaze clear yet sharp.

"According to the contract, I have the right to choose a more efficient partner for execution. For instance, my own registered studio, or any friendly company that can provide immediate support. After all, the project’s final profits belong to me personally. It makes little difference to me where the work gets done. But for Sterling,"

She paused, her tone still level. "The difference might just be whether or not you get a chance to bask in the reflected glory."

A muscle in Benjamin Sterling’s jaw twitched.

The small benefits he offered were hers for the taking if she wanted them. If she didn’t, she could walk away at any moment with a much larger prize.

He felt like he was trying to curry favor with a queen who was completely beyond his control, a queen who could, at any moment, retract the gift of shared prosperity she had bestowed upon him.

"Fine."

He practically gritted the word out through his teeth, a vein throbbing at his temple. "We’ll do it according to your list and your requests! I will have all departments cooperate fully!"

He was forced to agree to all her conditions.

"Thank you for your support, President Sterling." Maxine Rhodes briskly collected her file, preparing to leave.

"Maxine!" Benjamin Sterling couldn’t help but call out to her again, making one last attempt at an emotional appeal. His voice softened. "Are you free tonight? We haven’t had a proper dinner together in a long time. We could celebrate your success?"

*****