Sarah’s looks and vibe fit perfectly with what these trust-fund kids liked-beautiful, elegant, and with a killer figure. Taking her out in public would turn heads, and every guy in the room would be jealous as hell.
That was the dream Jeffrey had been chasing.
Just as he was lost in his daydreams, Mark kicked him lightly under the table. “Before you try to chase some star, maybe think about whether you’re ready to handle the people backing her.”
Jeffrey sneered. “Everyone in City N knows me. Even if she has connections, she’ll end up with me.”
Mark gave him a look that said you idiot and rattled off a list of Sarah’s endorsement deals. “You sure you can provide her with that level of resources?”
Jeffrey let out a curse. Most of it he could probably manage-but that top-tier luxury car endorsement? No way he’d ever land that one.
“My dream girl’s sugar daddy isn’t from our dads’ generation, is he?” Jeffrey looked a bit dumbfounded too. “Forget it. I’ll just buy a sports car to support her and enjoy her pics on Twitter. ”
No way he was getting involved if someone from his dads’ generation was behind her. That was a fight he wouldn’t dare pick.
Mark patted him on the shoulder. “Better stay away from Mr. Holden. The farther, the better. Take care, man.”
When Holden got home, Sarah was still at her desk, watching a long and boring documentary. It featured some old footage of Janice, though the images were grainy and silent. Sarah had to rely on the subtle expressions and mannerisms captured in the clips to understand the woman’s personality and essence.
After a while, her shoulders started to ache. She stood up to stretch and looked up-there was Holden, leaning against the doorframe.
He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers, his broad shoulders tapering into a narrow waist, with long, elegant legs. His tie was nowhere to be seen, and two buttons on his shirt were undone, but he still looked as refined as ever.
He held a box in his hand.
“This is for you,” he said.
Curious, Sarah opened it. Inside was a dazzling necklace, with diamond petals spaced between yellow sapphire ones, giving the design an airy, ethereal look.
It just so happened that Sarah was wearing a white chiffon dress with floral accents. The neckline was bare, with no jewelry to complement it-until now.
Holden reached over and clasped the necklace around her neck.
It looked just right.
Then, he tilted her chin up, brushing his thumb gently over her soft, pink lips.
The thought of what had happened earlier still lingered in his mind, stirring a quiet rage inside him.
This was his wife-the little pet he kept in a gilded cage, surrounded by luxury. No one else was allowed to even dream of touching her.
******
Later that night, Sarah’s fans were delighted to find she had posted a new photo.
Her golden hair framed her fair skin, and she appeared with no makeup-completely bare-faced but still stunning beyond belief.
As always, her fans were so captivated by her face that they overlooked the clothes and jewelry she was wearing.
Some fans, however, started to get curious. “This angle… it doesn’t look like a selfie. It’s more like someone else took it.”
It didn’t take long for others to catch on.
“Yeah, this definitely wasn’t taken by her. Someone had to be holding the phone right in front of her.”
But in the middle of the night, who could’ve taken Sarah’s photo?
Sarah didn’t have a personal assistant, and her agent wasn’t someone from the entertainment industry-her fans knew that well.
One fan sighed. “Let’s face it, this is totally a boyfriend’s point of view.”
The fans were aware that Sarah was married.
And with the kind of endorsement deals she had been landing lately, it was clear that only someone with serious connections could make them happen. Many speculated that Sarah would either sign with a major company soon or that her husband had some powerful background.
At the moment, the only company with that kind of clout was Upward Group.
But even the top stars at Upward didn’t seem to have access to the level of resources Sarah was enjoying. There was no way the company would offer her better deals than their own A-listers just to sign her.
Which left only one possibility-Sarah’s mysterious husband.
To be honest, the fans never expected Sarah’s husband to be some drop-dead gorgeous guy.
Everyone knew that sugar daddies across different circles were usually notorious for being unattractive-either way too old, greasy middle-aged types, or sporting a big belly.
As long as fans didn’t have to see it, they could pretend it wasn’t real.
Sarah’s on-screen image was way too captivating, and since she wasn’t following the idol route but a serious acting career, the fans were willing to turn a blind eye and act like they didn’t know anything.
At this moment, however, Sarah was held tightly in Holden’s arms, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, as if they were about to overflow.
Sarah let out a soft breath, her voice barely audible. “You…”
Holden’s expression remained as calm and restrained as ever. His slender fingers tilted her chin up, and his low, cool voice cut through the air. “Be good. Don’t move.”
Then he leaned down again, pressing his lips to hers with a touch that felt both soft and addictive. There was a faint jasmine sweetness lingering in her breath, and her body melted against him like she’d lost all strength.
Holden’s shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing a muscular forearm. The size difference between them made it easy for him to trap her entirely in his arms.
Sarah was getting breathless from his kisses, bewildered by how someone who seemed so gentle in everyday life could be so possessive when he kissed her, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Her small hands slid around his lean waist. Even through the fabric of his shirt, she could feel the defined muscles beneath.
Curious, she wondered how many abs he had and reached out to touch them.
Holden caught her hand in his, covering it completely with his own. His voice was low and a bit hoarse. “Don’t touch.”
Before long, Sarah drifted off to sleep in his arms. Her golden hair tumbled over her shoulders, making her face look even smaller. Her lips were slightly swollen, kissed pink and tender.
Holden planted another kiss at the corner of her mouth, his gaze dark with emotion.
The necklace around her neck shimmered under the soft light, casting a glow against her pale skin, making it look even more flawless.
******
From that day on, Butler Ted noticed something odd-Mr. Holden, who usually had little interest in jewelry, began browsing auction catalogs and exhibitions, buying all sorts of jewelry.
Well, Ted thought, keeping a beautiful little cat at home meant you’d buy it the best toys. So, of course, if you had a gorgeous actress for a wife, you’d spoil her too.
What puzzled Ted, though, was why Mr. Holden insisted on getting so many diamond necklaces that looked almost identical. And since Sarah was often off filming, there was no way of knowing if she even liked them-they just sat there collecting dust.
At least, Ted figured, jewelry was cheaper than the rare antiques or paintings Holden usually hunted down. Even custom jewelry arrived faster than ordering a car, and sending assistants all over the world to handle the purchases was way easier.
The team let out a collective sigh of relief at that.
But trouble wasn’t far behind. Like right now, Mr. Holden’s good mood disappeared in an instant, his face going ice-cold.
The culprit stood there, cheeks flushed red, holding a glass of wine, looking at Holden with a shy, coy expression.
Ted’s heart immediately shot into his throat.
Others might not know, but Ted did-Mr. Holden was a clean freak.
Spilling a drink on him was a surefire way to end up in serious trouble. Only someone really clueless would dare pull a stunt like that.
Elisa had used the same tricks to get Ronald’s attention back in the day, and now that she was doing it again, she was even better at it.