The smoky gray Bentley stopped at the entrance of the TV station. Clara Sutton unbuckled her seatbelt and took the car keys out of her bag, handing them to him, "My car is still at Peach Bar. Sorry for the trouble, Mr. William Yong. Please help me get it. Keep the repair bill for me; I need it."
Sebastian Astor instinctively reached out to take the keys, frowning as he asked incredulously, "Are you ordering me to run errands for you?"
Clara Sutton's shallow eyes carried a hint of a smile, "I don't have as many people to command as you do, so I can only rely on you."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at the time and hurriedly pushed the door open to get out of the car.
As she walked to the elevator, she pressed the up button. The crisp sound of high heels 'click clack' stopped beside her. Clara instinctively turned her head slightly to glance and caught in the corner of her eye, stood a dazzling figure who intentionally brushed aside her bangs in front of her forehead.
"Good morning."
"Hmm, good morning." Clara responded indifferently, seeming a bit absent-minded.
The woman looked at her with displeasure, obviously not satisfied with her response. Just as she was about to speak, the elevator arrived. Clara stepped inside, elegantly turned around, and her serene, beautiful eyes gazed at her.
"Carter, aren't you coming in?"
Betty Carter inhaled sharply in anger, but had to maintain a dignified and noble demeanor, taking off her large sunglasses from the bridge of her nose and revealing a gracious and appropriate smile as she walked in elegantly.
Clara reached out and pressed buttons for two different floors. Next to her, Betty's voice deliberately pried, "I just saw you get out of a luxurious Bentley. Who gave you a ride?"
"My husband," Clara calmly replied.
"The Crown Prince of the Astor family is awake?" Betty was somewhat startled.
"Hmm, he's awake."
Her tone was so calm and steady, without a hint of fluctuation, that it made Betty uncomfortable. Affecting casualness, she said, "Actually...with family marriages like yours, I don't know whether to pity you or to congratulate you."
The grand wedding that had no groom but only a bride had already reached the top of the trending charts on major platforms. Although the Astor and Sutton families had since pulled all reports, most people were already aware.
Clara didn't even need to see the comments to imagine what the scene would be like.
"I heard that Carter's show's sponsor withdrew their investment, and the new investor requested to replace the host with Lana Lane. It seems... Carter deserves more sympathy."
After a while, the elevator slowly opened. Clara turned slightly to her side and curved her lips into a slight smile, nodding, "I accept Carter's blessings."
Watching the graceful silhouette in the white suit step out of the elevator, Betty stomped her foot angrily and turned around, trying to calm the anger in her heart against the elevator wall.
Ever since Clara Sutton entered the TV station, she had overshadowed her in every way possible. Whether it was appearance or ability, the only thing she could exploit was her well-known status as an illegitimate daughter.
But unfortunately, Clara Sutton was a person with a cold and clear temperament, and her sharp tongue always left Betty at a disadvantage.
On the other side, Sebastian Astor drove to the headquarters of Yong Corporation, met by special assistant Egbert Parker and the secretarial staff at the door.
"Mr. William Yong, the venue for this afternoon's press conference is all set. The reporters and media will be on time. The detailed plan for the NE.C project collaboration is right here." Egbert walked in step behind him, handing over the tablet.
Sebastian reached to take it, skimmed through it, then handed it back: "How's the preparation for the banquet?"
"Everything is proceeding according to your previous schedule. The delay of the conference and banquet due to your coma had some people uneasy, and there were also instigations at the board. Your attendance at this conference will help dispel their concerns and dirty thoughts."
Sebastian's lips curved into a cold smile, knowing well who Egbert was referring to.
Nathaniel Astor, the adopted son of the Astor family, his uncle in name.
Once inside the elevator, Sebastian tossed a set of car keys to Egbert, who caught them off guard. Seeing what it was, he was a bit perplexed until a cold voice sounded, "Go to Waiting Music Bar's parking lot and take this car to the repair shop, and make sure to keep the receipt."
"Yes."
Egbert suddenly understood, recalling that it was outside the bar where they picked up the madam last night, the realization dawning on him: "I checked Alexia Sutton's recent announcements and schedule. Her biggest project recently is negotiating for the role of Asst. Female Lead in 'Suhua Records.'"
"That role doesn't suit her."
Egbert again understood, "Yes, I got it."
The video of Yong Corporation's press conference that afternoon was released on all major platforms, making it known to more people that the Crown Prince of the Astor family, who had been in a coma for half a month, was now awake, with his vigor and demeanor still as outstanding as before.
Putting aside the health issue that led to his coma, Sebastian Astor, as the overlord of North Metropolis, was the head of Yong Corporation, known as the 'King of the North Metropolis Business World' and also the famous founder of SPH Bank internationally.
In terms of background and appearance, he was flawless, utterly perfect, continuing to cause many affluent ladies of the Imperial Capital to admire and fall for him.
Clara Sutton finished a show and Evelyn Greene promptly handed her a cup of coffee, "Clara, you worked hard."
"Thank you."
Clara took it calmly, and just as she took a sip, the phone on the table rang with its pleasant ringtone. It was Emily Taylor calling, so Clara put it to her ear, "Peach."
"I sent you the surveillance video you wanted on WeChat. It was indeed done by that little vixen Alexia Sutton. I'm so mad. Next time I see her, I swear I'll give her a good beating to vent my frustration."
As soon as she finished speaking, Emily's indignant roars blasted through the earpiece.
Clara instinctively held the phone away, and only brought it back to her ear once it had calmed: "Alright, thank you."
"Why are you being polite with me? By saying thank you, are you slapping me in the face?" Emily huffed in displeasure, suddenly remembering, "Oh, by the way, did you watch the Yong Corporation's press conference this afternoon?"
Press conference?
In the morning, Sebastian mentioned something about a press conference, but given her morning state, she wasn't in the mood to ask further. Besides, she wasn't particularly interested in his company affairs.
"You should go and see your husband's dazzling performance. The women in the comment section..."
Just as Emily was about to finish, an unknown number suddenly called, interrupting their conversation.
"Hello?" Clara hesitated for a moment and answered politely.
"Where are you?"
The familiar deep voice from the other end slowly reached her ear.
Clara paused for a moment, glancing at the unfamiliar number and suppressing the slight flutter in her heart, speaking calmly, "TV station, just finished a program."
"When will you be done?"
Clara checked her watch, "I have another quick news program in half an hour, about forty minutes."
"You'll be done by six-thirty?"
"Hmm..."
Clara barely replied when the call was abruptly cut off. Holding the phone in Evelyn's gaze, she tried to appear calm as she set it down and gripped her coffee tightly.
This man...