The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2032

Seth had barely settled into his office when Charlie's call came through.

Issac dismissed the caregiver Seth had arranged for Danielle and replaced them with someone hired by the Ellis family. Every aspect of Danielle's care, even the unexpected ones, had been meticulously arranged.

Striding into the elevator, Seth's tall, imposing figure came to a rest. He ended the call and dialed Cicely's number.

— Powered off.

His brow furrowed, and he then called the apartment.

Carly answered, "The missus, she left around noon and hasn't come back yet."d2

"Alright," Seth replied coolly.

Seizing the moment, Carly added, "Sir, will you and the missus be dining at home tonight? Is there anything specific you'd like to eat? It seems you've both been dining out quite often lately."

After a brief silence, Seth said, "We'll eat in. Prepare some of her favorites."

"Sure thing."

*

An up-and-coming media outlet had been gaining popularity rapidly over the past two years.

They interviewed only the heavy hitters in show business, and they certainly didn't skimp on expenses.

Stepping into the interview studio was like entering a realm of luxury—the lighting and the sound quality were top-notch.

First, there was a soundcheck, followed by a visit to the make-up room. There, refreshments and snacks were ready, and the heating was more than sufficient.

As Santino was getting his makeup done and touched up, Cicely watched with interest.

She was curious to see the transformation makeup could achieve on a man, but in the end, he looked pretty much the same as usual—just with an extra layer of foundation, a touch-up on the brows and eyes, and a setting spray.

Boring.

She had been hoping to witness a makeup miracle akin to plastic surgery.

The makeup artists probably mistook Cicely for Santino's assistant given no one recognized her.

But with her demeanor, she seemed even more high-profile than Santino himself, making them all hesitant to give her any orders.

In reality, Santino's actual assistant was busy coordinating interview questions with the staff.

"How long will your interview take?" Cicely asked.

Santino glanced up, catching her reflection in the mirror. "Around an hour or so."

Cicely raised an eyebrow, "Are they expecting you to recite your life story in excruciating detail?"

"Not quite."

Cicely sighed. "Sounds dull."

"Sorry to bore you. I'll make it up to you with dinner afterward," Santino offered.

"It better be the best meal ever."

The makeup artists exchanged glances—her boredom wasn't their fault, was it?

Santino and Cicely were a pair bold in speech and even bolder in audacity.

During the interview, Cicely sat outside the camera's view on a nearby couch. Santino's demeanor was relaxed, no different from his usual self. He spoke coherently, without giving any openings for criticism—a flawless image personified.

The host was naturally fishing for more juicy details, and Cicely had already caught their attention.

The makeup artists had been gossiping from the start, and now the entire crew responsible for Santino's interview was curious about her.

From the moment she arrived until now, she seemed inseparable from Santino.

Santino's assistant stayed close to Cicely, nervously trying to clarify at every opportunity that they were just friends.

In the entertainment industry, the slightest spark could cause a thunderstorm. Even if Santino and Ms. Cicely were innocent, any hint of a romance could stir up a frenzy.

Their plans did not include a love affair for Santino.

Fortunately, the host didn't press further and simply asked the assistant who Cicely was after the interview.

The assistant sincerely replied that she was a friend of Santino's.

As winter days are short and the nights are long, when the interview ended, it was already dark outside.

At the entrance, Santino's fans held up support signs, eagerly waiting. Upon seeing him, they erupted into excited screams.

Santino waved back with a smile.

However, when the fans noticed the unfamiliar woman by his side, they became anxious.

"Santino, who is she?"

"Is she your new assistant?"

The assistant and other staff quickly ushered them into the car amidst the chaos, explaining that they were just friends.

But the term "friends" seemed too dismissive and almost incriminating at that moment.

Some fans even started crying on the spot.

Cicely sat comfortably in Santino's car, watching the chaotic scene outside with detached amusement.

"What a spectacle," she remarked.

Santino gave a wry smile. "Are you mocking me?"

"Why would it be mocking? So many people out there like you, love you. Do you find them ridiculous?"

Santino shook his head. "Not ridiculous. But some forms of affection can be suffocating."

Cicely narrowed her eyes, "How so?"

"What if I announced I had a girlfriend today? How would they react?"

Cicely pondered for a moment. "The fan at the bridal shop hoped you would be happy."

"That's the majority. But there are some who, if they can't have something, they don't want others to have it either. They'd rather destroy it. The same people who adore and idolize me now would be the ones trampling and vilifying me later."

Cicely understood; such people did exist.

"That does sound suffocating."

Santino couldn't tell what Cicely was thinking at that moment, or if she was even interested in the topic at all.

He shifted his gaze back inside the car. "Give your car keys to my assistant; they'll be returned to you shortly."

Cicely did as instructed.

Santino had booked a table at the newest themed restaurant in town, which specialized in dishes featured in movies and TV shows from around the world.

Cicely was genuinely intrigued.

She had seen her fair share of films and had often been curious about the meals portrayed in them. She had even flown to Paris on a whim just to try a dish she had seen in a movie.

*

When Seth returned to the apartment, Carly greeted him with a warm smile, her apron wrapped around her waist as she emerged from the kitchen.

Noticing Seth alone at the entrance, removing his shoes, her smile faltered, and she glanced towards the door.

"Sir, you're back."

"Yes. Where is she?"

Carly wiped her hands on her apron. "The missus hasn't returned yet."

She had thought the couple would come home together.

Seth's thin lips pressed into a tight line, his jaw clenched as he pulled out his phone and continued to call Cicely.

Voicemail.

It had been voicemail all afternoon.

He turned and dialed Charlie's number instead.

This morning, Cicely had a spat with him over Charlie and Shane. Since she valued Charlie's work ethic, Charlie was the person to ask.

"Can you find out where she is right now?"

There was a brief pause on the line. "Ms. Cicely? She should be at this new Hollywood-themed diner."