"Why does the Brooks family want to meet with us?" I asked, turning toward Belle as we sat at the dining table.
Belle smiled warmly, setting down her teacup. "Love, the land where our new Cosmos Group regional headquarters is being constructed in River City actually belongs to the Brooks family. To finalize the lease and secure the building rights, we need to meet with them directly and sign the formal agreements. We only have two weeks left before the official launch, so setting up the regional office on time is critical. On top of that, the Brooks family owns a top-tier international interior design and styling company staffed by overseas-educated designers. We can hire them to furnish and decorate both the new corporate headquarters and our future residence in River City."
I nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, I’ll come with you. Where are we meeting them?"
"At the Grand Horizon Golf Club," Belle replied. "It’s a high-end private country club located right on the border between Metro City and River City."
"Sounds good," I said, offering her a tender look. "I’ll be ready tomorrow morning sharp at 9:00 AM, love."
After finishing our peaceful family dinner, I walked upstairs toward the master suite, gently holding Sophia by her waist. As soon as we stepped inside, I closed the door behind us, drew the heavy velvet curtains shut, and set the room’s climate control to a comfortable 22°C.
Turning back toward Sophia, I pulled her slender frame into my arms, resting my hands against her lower back as I leaned down to press my lips against hers. Sophia let out a soft sigh, her arms wrapping around my neck as she met my kiss with intense, overflowing passion. Our lips melted together in a deep, breath-stealing embrace that lasted for nearly ten minutes.
When we finally separated for air, Sophia’s cheeks were flushed crimson, her chest heaving softly. Her slender fingers reached up to unbutton my collared shirt, while my hands slipped behind her back to slide down the zipper of her elegant dress. Lifting her effortlessly into my arms, I laid her gently onto the plush mattress, climbing over her as I pulled the thick duvet over both of us. The quiet night slipped away as we let our deepest emotions and affection take full control, sharing a passionate, loving encounter that lasted for over two and a half hours.
By the time our passion settled, Sophia had passed out completely, consumed by absolute satisfaction and exhaustion. I lay softly beside her, carefully tucking the duvet around her bare shoulders so the cool air from the room wouldn’t chill her. Leaning over, I pressed a soft, tender kiss onto her forehead.
In her sleep, Sophia let out a gentle, contented murmur: "I love you, Julian..."
I couldn’t help but smile, whispering softly so as not to disturb her rest, "I love you too, Sophia."
Just as I pulled her close into my arms, a familiar electronic chime resonated in my mind:
[System Notification:] Host spent an intimate, passion-filled night with Inner Circle member Dr. Sophia Starling! Host has gained 50,000 Indulgence Points!
Smiling at the pleasant update, I held Sophia securely against my chest and drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The next morning, I opened my eyes as soft daylight filtered through the edge of the curtains. It was 7:00 AM. Gently slipping out from under the covers, I walked into the master bathroom to take a hot, invigorating shower.
After drying off, I stepped into the adjoining walk-in dressing room. Opening the active sports section of my wardrobe, I picked out a sleek, high-end golf outfit—a fitted navy performance polo paired with tailored athletic trousers. I put on my blue sapphire stone watch, grabbed my custom carbon-fiber golf kit, and laced up a pair of pristine golf shoes.
Checking the time on my wrist, I saw it was 8:30 AM. Stepping back into the bedroom, I noticed Sophia was still sleeping soundly under the covers. Looking down at her bare shoulders, I smiled softly, worried that leaving her uncovered in the air-conditioned room might cause her to catch a cold. Picking up her dirty dress from the floor, I placed it into the laundry basket, then pulled a silky, comfortable nightgown from the closet. With utmost care and gentle hands, I dressed her sleeping form in the soft gown without waking her, carefully pulling the plush duvet back over her shoulders.
Satisfied, I grabbed my golf bag and headed down the grand staircase to the main living hall.
Belle was already waiting on the central sofa, dressed in a stunning female collared athletic shirt and tailored performance trousers that highlighted her perfect figure. Seeing me walk down, she stood up with a playful smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, love," I said warmly, walking up to her. "I was changing Sophia’s clothes upstairs. She was fast asleep, and I didn’t want her catching a cold under the AC."
Belle stepped in close, leaning up on her tiptoes to whisper softly against my ear. "Tonight is my turn, Julian... Will you change my clothes for me in the morning too?"
I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Starting the day by teasing me, are we? If you want, I can change your outfit right now. Shall we head back upstairs?"
Belle flushed a bright, gorgeous pink, playfully pressing her hands against my chest as she pushed me back. "Stop it! We have an important corporate meeting to attend!"
"As you wish, my lady," I laughed softly.
Outside the main entrance, our private driver was waiting beside our custom Aurelius Executive sedan—one of only one hundred units produced globally. The driver opened the rear passenger door, and Belle and I slid comfortably onto the luxurious leather seats.
"If you’re feeling tired, you can rest your head on my lap or my shoulder, love," I offered, pulling Belle closer. "It’s going to take quite a while to drive to the border."
Belle smiled sweetly, leaning her head against my shoulder and closing her eyes to relax.
System, display my current status overview, I commanded mentally.
A translucent interface materialized in my mind:
[System Status Overview]
Host: Julian VanceCharm: 100 / 100 | Physique: 100 / 100Skills: Eyes of Insight | World-Class Business Mind | Grandmaster Combat | Grandmaster Driving & Racing | Ace Shooting Skill | All-Weapon MasteryPrimary Assets: 100% Equity in Cosmos Group | Grandview Villa No. 1 | 10 Prime Commercial Storefronts (Grand Galleria) | Fleet of 7 Luxury VehiclesLiquid Cash: $1,053.12 Billion Stardollars | Net Worth: $1,310.12 Billion Stardollars | Indulgence Points: 60,000 (10,000 remaining + 50,000 from last night)
[Inner Circle Panel]
Seraphina Lin: Destiny Confidante (100% Complete Devotion)Clara Carter: Destiny Confidante (100% Complete Devotion)Dr. Sophia Starling: Inner Circle Member (Relationship Status: Complete Devotion)Belle Young: Inner Circle Member (Relationship Status: Complete Devotion)
System, open the system shop, I instructed. I want to purchase the Pro Golf Skill.
The Pro Golf Skill costs 20,000 Indulgence Points, the system replied. Do you wish to confirm the purchase?
Confirm.
20,000 Indulgence Points deducted! Remaining Indulgence Points: 40,000. Pro Golf Skill successfully acquired!
Instantly, an immense wave of physical body memory, wind trajectory calculations, turf analysis techniques, and swing mechanics flooded into my brain and nervous system. Just like when I acquired Ace Shooting, every nuance of elite golf mastery became as natural to me as breathing. I knew with absolute certainty that no professional player on earth could match my accuracy now.
What is my current liquid balance? I asked mentally.
Host’s Liquid Cash stands at $1.053 Trillion Stardollars ($1,053.12 Billion), with a Total Net Worth of $1.310 Trillion Stardollars ($1,310.12 Billion).
Closing the system interface, I looked down at Belle, who was still resting against my shoulder. In her stylish athletic collared shirt and performance trousers, she looked absolutely breathtaking.
As I was admiring her beauty, Belle fluttered her eyes open, catching me staring down at her with deep affection. A sweet smile touched her lips. She lifted her chin, pressing a gentle kiss against my lips. I turned my head slightly, meeting her kiss with warm passion.
When we separated, Belle looked at me with mischievous, sparkling eyes. "Do you like what you see, Mr. Chairman?"
"Very much," I smiled, squeezing her hand. "You look ravishing in athletic wear."
Belle teased softly, "If you like it this much, maybe I’ll wear an even hotter athletic outfit for you tonight."
I let out a low laugh, tightening my grip around her waist. "You can certainly wear it, love, but I can assure you that if you do, you won’t be getting a single minute of sleep until tomorrow morning. Seeing you like that once will never be enough for me."
Belle giggled, her cheeks turning a cute shade of pink. "We’ll talk about tonight later! First, let’s secure this land deal on our own terms and show these River City noble families that Cosmos Group is not a push-over!"
"Yes, ma’am," I grinned playfully. "I will do exactly as my executive director commands!"
Belle tapped my arm gently. "Stop fooling around and let’s go over our negotiation points! Neither of us has played golf with high society figures in a while, and the future heir of the Brooks family is supposed to be attending today. I heard she is exceptionally talented at both business strategy and golf. However, she rarely appears in public, so only a handful of people even know her real name, and even fewer know what she actually looks like."
I leaned back against the plush leather headrest, a confident, effortless smile playing on my lips. "It doesn’t matter who this heiress is, love. With my skills, no one on that green can beat us. Today, we secure the land, set our terms, and show River City exactly who we are."