The weather took a sudden turn. The morning had been all sunshine and gentle breezes, but when Leanne stepped out of the operating room in the afternoon, the world outside had darkened ominously. Large raindrops hammered against the glass, drumming out a chaotic symphony.
She peeled off her scrubs while Amy, changing beside her, lamented, "I was planning to take my mom for a shopping spree after work. So much for that plan.
"Why not shop online?" Leanne suggested casually, pulling out her phone from her locker.
"Good point!"
Leanne glanced at the news, where the signing ceremony between ElitePinnacle and VectorVista had just concluded smoothly.
Curtis' photo was front and center. He was a vision of perfection with his deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, and jawline sharp enough to cut glass.
Representing VectorVista at the signing, Phillip stood alongside him. The brothers shared a striking resemblance yet exuded entirely different auras.
Phillip maintained his usual composure, rarely seen without a stern demeanor. On the other hand, Curtis seemed much more laid-back.
Caught by the camera in mid-laughter at something said off-camera, Curtis' smile contrasted with the cool detachment in his eyes, a completely different picture from the Curtis Leanne knew.
The media frenzy wasn't only about the corporate collaboration but the Richardson brothers standing together, reigniting speculation about the Stonebridge elite, the Richardson family's succession drama. Rumors swirled about the rivalry between Phillip, the guarded elder brother who had supposedly driven Curtis to forge his path with ElitePinnacle, and Curtis, who, after years of strategic silence in Bullion Boulevard, was said to be eyeing the family empire.
Known for their discretion and seldom speaking to the press, the Richardson family never addressed these speculations.
Given the typical narratives of power struggles within elite families, the harmonious appearance of the Richardson sons, each excelling in their respective fields, was unexpected. Phillip, the elder, anchoring the family's century-old business, Vector Vista, and Curtis, the prodigious maverick, expanding into new markets, seemed to solidify the Richardson family's empire as impregnable.
Leanne recalled a saying by Charles, "Unity among fathers and sons, harmony among brothers, love between spouses, these are the foundations of a prosperous family."
Despite Curtis' past rebellions against perceived injustices within his family, he had never shown disrespect toward his parents, Maddox and Jennifer, or resentment toward Phillip for their father's favoritism. His outward demeanor might be that of a rogue, but inside, he was forthright and free-spirited.
Catching a glimpse of Curtis' enlarged photo on Leanne's screen, Amy teased, "Can't even last a moment without seeing his picture to cure your lovesickness, huh?"
"Just stumbled upon it," Leanne deflected, locking her phone. "Can't I take a look?"
"Sure, sure," Amy conceded. "If my husband were that handsome, I'd print his photo and paste it over Ruben's face. Then I'd agree with everything he says."
Leanne couldn't help but laugh. "I support that."
After work, Leanne changed into a simple yet elegant dress, and Jake drove her to the celebration.
The night seemed to fall earlier under the gloomy sky, and the fierce rainstorm that had hit earlier had settled into a steady drizzle, weaving rivulets down the car windows.
Curtis stood under the portico at the hotel entrance, watching the slender rain threads dance in the night-lit drizzle.
As their car pulled up and Leanne prepared to step out into the rain-soaked night, two bow-tied doormen hurried down, bowing as they placed a carpet at her feet to shield her from the puddles.
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