Although Asher Keating was no longer keeping close tabs on Leah Sinclair, he had sent word to Azure Bay through Ethan Shaw. He'd instructed that from now on, Leah was only to accompany clients for drinks and that they should keep her away from any unsavory customers.
Ethan Shaw had even teased him, asking if he wanted to be her sugar daddy, but Asher Keating ignored him. Asher was busy negotiating a new project and had gone to Kingsford on a business trip.
Leah Sinclair, however, knew nothing about this. She started her new job at Aevon Group. As an assistant intern, her main role was to learn from her mentor.
She knew this opportunity hadn't come easy. She was determined to work hard, earn money, and secure her position at Aevon. Only by staying at Aevon could she slowly begin to achieve her dreams.
Her mentor was a man in his forties named Keith Langdon, the project manager. He had taken on apprentices in the past, but he'd mostly stopped after being promoted to manager.
However, Leah's university professor and Keith had a personal connection. When the professor learned Leah had been assigned to his team, he called and asked if Keith would personally mentor her.
After taking her on, Mr. Langdon found the young woman to be quite impressive. She was down-to-earth, hardworking, and had a solid grasp of her field. She did whatever was asked of her and was even enthusiastic about visiting the construction sites.
She wasn't delicate like some of the other young women who'd complain about the heat or insist on slathering on sunscreen just to visit a site. All in all, Mr. Langdon felt Leah's professor hadn't backed the wrong horse, so he became even more dedicated to her training.
Grandma Sinclair had been discharged from the hospital. Once she was better, her son and daughter-in-law brought her back to their hometown.
Leah knew it wasn't out of any sense of filial duty; they just wanted Grandma Sinclair back to help look after their children.
Although it pained her to see her go, Leah couldn't afford to have Grandma Sinclair stay with her yet. She silently vowed to save up money as fast as possible so she could bring her grandmother to Riverfall and let her live out her golden years in comfort.
It was Saturday, so she didn't have to work. Leah enjoyed sleeping in, then got up, grabbed a bite to eat, and reviewed some project files. Around six, she got ready and left for Azure Bay.
For the past couple of weeks, Eve hadn't been forcing Leah to wear short skirts. It also seemed she was no longer being assigned to difficult clients, which was a huge relief.
Whenever Ethan Shaw and his friends were in, they would ask for her, and she had gradually become familiar with them. The only thing was, she hadn't seen Asher Keating again. She couldn't decide if she wanted to see him or not.
Every time she thought of Asher Keating, she couldn't help but remember those two nights, which made her blush. Eventually, she forced herself to stop. 'I don't even know his full name,' she chided herself. 'What is there to think about?'
She had just finished changing and hadn't even had time to do her makeup when Eve called for her. Looking around and seeing no one else, she asked uncertainly, "Eve, is it just me?"
Eve's eyes darted away. "Mhm. They asked for you by name."
"Who is it? Have I seen them before?"
"Yes, yes, you have."
Eve pushed her forward, which made Leah suddenly feel uneasy. Eve had been incredibly accommodating lately; this pushiness was new.
Moreover, Leah realized they were heading to the private room that was Ethan Shaw and his friends' usual spot. The room was always reserved for them. They came several times a week, and she had rarely seen any other clients in it.
Eve seemed to feel guilty. Just before they entered, she whispered an explanation to her, "The client today is the Eldest Young Master Sterling—Madeline Sterling's older brother. He wants to see for himself how much you look like his sister."
"Is he difficult to deal with?" Leah stopped in her tracks.
"It's not that he's difficult, exactly. The Eldest Young Master Sterling rarely comes here; this isn't his usual haunt. So I find his visit a bit strange myself. In any case… just be careful."
Eve patted her hand. She couldn't figure out why the Eldest Young Master Sterling would suddenly take an interest in coming here today, either.
But Ben Coleman had come along with him, and she was afraid Ben was here to stir up trouble. Everyone knew what had happened last time between Ben Coleman and Leah.
Although Asher Keating had intervened and Ben Coleman had indeed backed down for the rest of the night, all the girls here had breathed a collective sigh of relief. They were especially grateful to Asher for keeping things tame that day.
But having worked here for so long, Eve knew Ben Coleman was not only a creep but also incredibly vindictive. He might have acted afraid of Asher Keating on the surface, but the fact that he was now showing up with the Eldest Young Master Sterling, Morgan Sterling, was definitely a bad sign.
After Leah went inside, Eve hesitated for a long moment before finally sending a text to Ethan Shaw. She asked if he was coming in tonight, saying someone wanted to book Room 8888 and asking if she should hold it for him.
Ethan Shaw replied that he was still at dinner but would be over later. He asked who would dare to take his 'quad-eight' room. Eve hinted, "The Eldest Young Master Sterling is here. And he asked for Leah."
A long time passed with no reply. Unsure what his silence meant, she could only look at the door to the private room and whisper, "Sorry, girl. This is all I can do for you."
For once, Room 8888 wasn't dimly lit; instead, the main lights were on full blast. The first person Leah saw upon entering was Ben Coleman. Her immediate instinct was to turn and leave.
But before she could move, the man sitting in the center of the room smiled and stopped her. "So you're the beauty they call Azure Bay's 'Little Madeline'?"
Leah looked over. The man appeared to be in his thirties. His hair was impeccably styled, he wore what was clearly an expensive suit, and he had on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He was rather handsome.
He had a refined, scholarly air about him, almost like an academic. Sitting there, he seemed somewhat at odds with the club's atmosphere.
Ben Coleman, sitting beside him like a fawning lackey, chimed in, "That's her, Eldest Young Master. Look at her, what a piece of trash. Daring to ride on our Miss Madeline's coattails."
Morgan Sterling shot him a cool glance, and Ben Coleman immediately fell silent. Morgan looked back at Leah, smiling as he beckoned her over. "Don't be nervous. Come here, let me have a look."
Leah wasn't about to be fooled into thinking the man was friendly just because he was smiling. She warily edged closer, but remained standing. Morgan Sterling studied her face. "There is some resemblance, but my sister is prettier."
"My apologies, Eldest Young Master Sterling," Leah replied humbly, lowering her head. "I didn't choose this nickname. If it bothers you, I can ask the company to stop using it for promotion."
"It's no bother," Morgan Sterling said, pulling her down to sit beside him. "How are you young ladies supposed to make money without a gimmick? Don't worry, I understand."
"You drink, don't you?" Morgan Sterling asked, placing a glass in front of her.
"Mhm."
"Then let's start with a toast. It's a pleasure to meet you." Morgan Sterling pressed the glass into her hand and clinked it against his own.
Leah only dared to drink after watching him drain his glass. The moment she finished, Ben Coleman immediately refilled both their glasses.
"What's your name?" Morgan Sterling asked, swirling the liquid in his glass.
"Shuli."
"I'm asking for your real name," Morgan Sterling said with a smile.
"…"