Intentional Seduction: The Abstinent CEO Falls

The night in New York was prosperous and cold.

At the private gala on the top floor of the Sterling Group, celebrities gathered. The light and shadow cast by the crystal chandeliers were mottled and scattered, reflecting on the whiskey glass in the man's hand, creating ripples of cold flowing light.

Julian Sterling sat on the single sofa in the main seat, his black suit buttoned up tightly, even the top button tightly choking his slender neck. His face was cold and stern, his nose bridge high, and those eyes hidden behind gold-rimmed glasses revealed a sense of detachment that was almost divine.

"Mr. Sterling, this is Manager Vance, responsible for the PR case with Raylin Real Estate this time."

Julian raised his eyes slightly.

The woman in front of him was wearing a dark green silk backless long dress, the thin straps tightening on her rounded shoulders, so thin that it seemed they would slip off with just a flick of a finger. Her skin was extremely white, and against the backdrop of that rich dark green, it was almost glowing.

Elena Vance held a glass of champagne in her hand, her red lips slightly curved, revealing a bright but not sweet smile: "Mr. Sterling, I've heard so much about you."

She was born with a pair of extremely beautiful fox eyes, and when her eyes moved, they seemed to carry invisible hooks.

Julian's gaze stayed on her face for less than two seconds before coldly moving away. His slender fingers gently shook the wine glass, his voice deep and magnetic, but without a hint of temperature: "Sit."

Elena did not sit in the empty seat beside him, but instead bent down gracefully, deliberately pausing near his ear before slowly taking her seat. At that moment, a faint, aggressive cedar fragrance mixed with the woman's body scent drifted into Julian's breath.

His brow furrowed imperceptibly.

"Mr. Sterling doesn't seem to like this project very much?" Elena sat down, her body leaning forward slightly, and the neckline of her long dress created an enticing curve because of this movement.

Julian put down his wine glass, leaned back, and looked at her with cold eyes, filled with scrutiny and pressure: "Manager Vance, the duty of a PR manager is to solve trouble, not to create interference."

Elena let out a low laugh, the sound crisp, like a feather lightly brushing across someone's heart: "Mr. Sterling worries too much. What can interfere with you must not be an ordinary thing."

As she spoke, her slender fingers carelessly brushed her long hair falling over her chest, her fingertips seemingly accidentally brushing against the cuff of the man's suit placed on the armrest.

It was an extremely subtle touch, even through the expensive fabric.

Julian, however, seemed to have been burned by something, and his eyes instantly turned cold. He leaned in close, the chill emanating from his body instantly enveloping Elena.

"Elena." He called her by her name directly, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a warning, "Don't waste your time on me."

Elena not only didn't retreat but instead smiled even more broadly. She felt the mature and abstinent aura on the man, and the desire for challenge in her heart was completely ignited.

This was the most difficult-to-pluck flower in New York's business world, Julian Sterling.

The power-holder of the Sterling Group, a machine whose heartbeat frequency seemed to be calculated.

But she knew that this kind of extremely self-disciplined, extremely abstinent man, once he goes crazy, is the most suffocating.

"Mr. Sterling." Elena also moved closer, their noses almost touching. She could see his deep, bottomless pupils behind the gold-rimmed lenses, reflecting her ambitious face.

"Time, when wasted on the right person, is called luxury."

Julian stared at her for a long time, then finally snorted coldly, took a step with his long legs, and walked straight away.

Watching that tall and lonely back disappear at the exit, Elena slowly took a sip of wine, her tongue gliding over her red lips, leaving a trace of crystal.

Julian, this is just the beginning.

Sterling Group, Public Relations Department.

"Elena, this is the latest public opinion report Mr. Sterling asked for. Mr. Sterling's office just called and specifically asked you to deliver it personally." Assistant Sarah shrunk her neck. "Mr. Sterling seems to be in a bad mood today; everyone in the CEO's office is trembling with fear."

Elena took the document, a playful curve appearing at the corner of her mouth: "Got it."

She changed into a professional outfit today. A waist-cinching white shirt, the hem tucked into a black pencil skirt, outlining a breathtaking waist-to-hip ratio. To match this outfit, she deliberately wore a pair of black stilettos with red soles.

Walking into the top-floor CEO's office, the air seemed several degrees cooler than downstairs.

"Mr. Sterling, the documents have been delivered." Elena pushed open the heavy solid wood door.

Julian Sterling, behind the desk, was bowing his head to review documents. He wore a pair of silver semi-rimless glasses today, showing more of the elite class's coldness and restraint than at last night's gala.

He didn't even look up: "Put it down."

Elena stepped in her high heels, walking gracefully to his desk. She didn't put the documents down immediately but instead deliberately circled to his side.

"Mr. Sterling, there are several key points in this report. Do you need me to interpret them for you?"

Julian's fingers tapping the keyboard stopped. He turned his face, his gaze behind the lenses sharp as a blade: "Manager Vance, since when does this job require you to be responsible across levels?"

"Because this concerns the brand image of the Sterling Group, and I am the person who cares most about Sterling's image." Elena leaned down, her hands propped on the edge of the desk. This posture made the buttons on her collar seem somewhat precarious.

She could even feel Julian's body tensing up because of her proximity.

Julian's gaze fell on her hands propped on the desk. The nails were trimmed very round and painted with crimson, much like red plums in the snow.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed Elena's wrist.

The man's palm was burning hot, forming a sharp contrast with his cold exterior.

"Elena, what exactly do you want to do?" Julian's voice was very low, carrying a hint of dangerous warning.

Elena didn't dodge. Following his strength, she pressed her body even lower, almost pressing into his arms.

"Mr. Sterling, what do you think I want to do?" she whispered, every word accompanied by warm breath puffing against his neck. "Is it wanting Sterling's resources, or... wanting Mr. Sterling himself?"

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He looked at this face close at hand, those fox eyes full of cunning and provocation. He had always loathed women who actively delivered themselves to him, but for some reason, facing Elena, that long-buried sense of irritability deep in his heart grew heavier and heavier.

"Get out." He let go of her hand, his voice cold and hard without a hint of emotion.

Elena rubbed her slightly reddened wrist. Instead of leaving, she let out a low laugh.

"Mr. Sterling, your heartbeat... seems faster than before."

She dropped the documents, turned around, and the sound of her high heels was exceptionally loud in the silent office.

It wasn't until the door closed that Julian suddenly let go of the fountain pen he was holding.

The nib drew a glaring black line on the expensive paper.

He took off his glasses and rubbed his brow, his eyes full of gloom.

This woman is playing with fire.

New York encountered a sudden heavy rain, and in the underground garage of the Sterling Group, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Elena Vance finished her overtime and went downstairs, just happening to meet Julian Sterling in the lobby, who was also about to leave.

"Mr. Sterling, what a coincidence." Elena carried her bag, her smile bright, not feeling embarrassed at all because of yesterday's "get out."

Julian just glanced at her faintly, nodded slightly, and walked into the CEO's private elevator without saying a word.

Elena followed behind him and, in the second before the elevator doors closed, slipped inside.

The elevator car was spacious, but at this moment there were only the two of them, and the air was filled with the signature cold tobacco scent on Julian.

Julian stared at the jumping digital keys, his back straight.

"Mr. Sterling, aren't you going home? Are you still waiting for the rain to stop?" Elena stood behind him to the side, her tone light.

"Manager Vance, your social distance has crossed the line." Julian looked straight ahead, his voice cold.

"The elevator is only this big, where can I retreat to?" Elena deliberately sighed, but her body quietly moved a small step toward him.

Just then, the elevator suddenly shook violently, and then the top light flickered twice and went out completely.

The elevator stopped.

Elena let out an exclamation and crashed into Julian's arms.

"Mr. Sterling!"

In the pitch black, Julian's reaction was extremely fast; he reached out and stabilized Elena's shoulders.

But Elena didn't stand firm; instead, her hands tightly circled his waist, her whole person pressed against his chest. Through the thin shirt, she could feel his hard abdominal muscles and that steady heartbeat like a drum.

"Let go." Julian's voice was exceptionally low in the darkness, but it carried an imperceptible tension.

"I'm afraid of the dark, Mr. Sterling." Elena's voice carried a slight tremor, as if she were truly frightened.

"Elena." Julian gritted his teeth. He could feel the woman's body was soft as water, eroding his sanity in every possible way.

He wanted to push her away, but Elena held him even tighter.

"Mr. Sterling, do you know? In the dark, a person's senses become particularly acute." Elena's voice became somewhat charming. She looked up, and although she couldn't see, her breath fell precisely on his collarbone.

Her warm fingers began to move restlessly on his back, her fingertips lightly tracing the outline of his spine.

Julian's whole body stiffened.

At that moment, the string named "restraint" in his mind was almost pulled to the breaking point.

He suddenly grabbed both her wrists and pinned her against the cold elevator wall.

"Elena, do you think such low-level tactics work on me?" Julian's breathing became heavy. He stared at her in the darkness, and although he couldn't see her face, he could feel those seductive eyes staring at him.

"Low-level?" Elena let out a low laugh, her body pressing even closer, almost without any gap. "Then why is Mr. Sterling sweating?"

Julian's breathing hitched.

He indeed felt a strange heat rising from deep within his body.

Just as the atmosphere was tense to the extreme, the elevator light suddenly turned on, and the digital keys jumped again.

Julian suddenly let go, quickly stepped back, and adjusted his shirt collar, which was not messy.

He looked at Elena, the trace of desire in his eyes that hadn't faded yet was quickly covered by ice.

"Submit a resignation letter tomorrow."

After saying that, the elevator doors opened, and he walked away with large strides without looking back.

Elena stood in the elevator, looking at the man's slightly hurried back, slowly curling her lips.

Resignation?

Julian, can you bear to?