Challenge & Prize

[ Chapter 44 ]

3rd day of the International Conference.

The Huaxia-Russia conference attendees milled in a large and magnificent meeting hall. There were about 300 people in total. A mixture of business representatives, nation delegates, staff and media from both nations.

When the conference started, Julian kicked off the first session with his usual aplomb. He stood with the presence and charisma of a dominating leader at the front of the hall, dressed in another ten tailored blue Tom Ford suit, white shirt and Gucci loafers.

Dapper he always was, Julian looked radiantly elegant and intensely pleasant to look at. His pleasing presence here wasn't limited only to his physical appeal, as he had that kind of magnetism that radiated from his extraordinary interpersonal intelligence and self-confidence.

Similar to his previous conferences, Julian started the conference as the official interpreter. His rich and thick Russian accent, professionalism and flawless translation won over his audience almost instantly.

Naturally, as a half-Russian himself, Julian has absolute command over the conference.

Time rolled past in a very positive light and when it came for Huaxia official's turn to present, Julian took over the stage all by himself. "Over the next hour, I'm going to take you through everything you need to know about Huaxia future projects and prospect investments."

During the next hour, Julian started by articulating the vision, painting a picture of what Huaxia are there to co-build. He then presented the investing roadmap and details flawlessly. What's more, most of his points concentrated on sustainability and eco-friendly business models.

Julian worked the hall, made sharp eye contact, asked questions to engage the audience, generally did a magnificent job. His style of presentation was both passionate and engaging. Aspirational and on points.

Even Cassandra, who sat in the front row with enthusiasm, was caught up in his spell.

Over these four days of the conference, Cassandra has been repeatedly impressed by his proficiencies and intelligence, for he's much better than she speculated.

Based on his well-deserved accomplishments, it's not surprising for him to be the current hot topic in the international business society. Known as a genius polyglot and business extraordinaire.

A certified polyglot. Including Huaxian, Russian and English which are his mother languages. He could speak nine languages in total. Whilst Julian was very fluent in French, Italian and Japanese. He could also speak relatively well in Latin, Arabic and German.

Furthermore, a certain rumour started circulating among the people. Though it's not official, a certain source has it that Julian Long was a top alumnus of Constantine Academy.

Situated in the Swiss Alps. One had to know that Constantine Academy was an exclusive, one-of-a-kind institution. It's viewed as a legendary school for geniuses and its existence wasn't known to many, as its information alone could be accessed only by privileged people of high society.

Therefore, even for Cassandra, who has extremely hard standards in everything, she could only nod her head in approval of his brilliant prestige.

Cassandra continued watching him in action. He's on top of the material, delivering it with authority. His poise, his every word and gesture was served to deliver the presentation. Nothing he did was unpleasant and unnecessary.

For every interruption of questions, Julian provided informed and precise answers. No matter how fielded the question, his answers were always incisive and on point.

It reinforced for Cassandra what a charismatic leader he was, and how he could rally the people in a common cause. She was riveted, so was the rest of the audience.

Cassandra felt simultaneously amazed by him, inspired by his performance, and unbelievably attracted to him.

Such a passionate and capable man was something she could barely resist.

As intrigued as Cassandra was in the subject matter, she couldn't stop herself from appreciating his prepossessing charm.

Sex appeal, intelligence, confidence and charisma. All of these are practically dripping from his every breath at the moment.

Even among these attractive Russian gentlemen, Julian could stand as the hottest among them, which wasn't surprising, since he got his rich Caucasian features from his mother who was famously known as an absolute Russian-Italian beauty.

"If each and every one of us commits to putting the common goals, efficiency and sustainability first, I have no doubt that we'll have a successful cooperation and robust gains in the years to come."

When Julian concluded, both Hauxian and Russian delegates nodded in approval and blown into elegant applause. It's obvious that his performance foretold many successful business deals between the parties in this conference.

Cassandra smiled as she watched the conference end in satisfaction.

…

The following night.

Seated behind her Rosewood desk, Cassandra was now inside her office room and just finished dealing with her business. Twisting her hand, she glanced at her wristwatch and noticed that it's almost eleven. Most people had already gone home.

A single thought crossed her mind before Cassandra reached her hand on the landline, dealing her highest floor receptionist to ask. "Amanda, could you inquire something for me, has Mr. Long already left?"

"Please wait a moment Ms. Qin." Amanda notified from the other line and then continued after a moment of pause, "Mr. Long hasn't yet left his office room since eight o'clock." Cassandra nodded, tapping a finger over the desk she then hung up the call.

Ten minutes later. Cassandra found herself standing in front of a certain room with two cups of black coffee in both hands, putting down one cup first, she made a soft knock on the silver placarded door.

After a few moments of waiting, "Come in," a nonchalant and deep male voice consented from inside.

Straightening her back, Cassandra gently pressed her lips into a slit and opened the door. She stepped inside with an elegant walk as she ambled her way into the room, putting down the cups of coffee atop the glass table at long last.

The room smelled fresh and pleasant, with a faint of masculine and vibrant scent all over the air. The windows have an open view of the magnificent night of Imperial, but Cassandra paid no attention to her surroundings as she aligned her eyes in his direction.

Quite, storm like intensity in white Armani, seated in his seat with elegance that's almost otherworldly.

Magnificent Ten.

Ten out of ten on every part of him. His face, his presence, his eyes. His eyes are glowing, deep and dark, like a stormy sky of midnight black. Those eyes just rested on her for a split second before they drowned themselves again at the folder in his hand.

Right now, Julian has a phone close to his ear as he had what sounded like a business call. She noticed that he's on his business mode, as nothing could distract him. He has a good work ethic, clearly, he doesn't mix business with something personal.

From the way he's through all these times of Cassandra understanding him, he's not any less dedicated and hardworking than she was. In fact, he's more than her, as he's cruel to himself.

Cassandra knew that people only have their eyes on his achievements, his dashing brilliance. They have no idea that behind those accomplishments, there was a real person, a man who put his everything and sacrificed his youth to achieve what he earned.

For him being the heir of Long Household, there's never been a shortcut, he earned his success with his own very blood and flesh. There was only pressure and expectations. She couldn't imagine what he had been through to reach the top he now throned.

He has completely won over her respect for that.

Exhaling as she eased herself on the sofa, Cassandra sat straight with a refined grace and reached out her hand on the coffee, sipping her coffee as she enjoyed her time watching his profile in silence.

Behind the Dalbergia desk, with a blue jacket suit placed on the chair next to him, Julian was just sitting there doing nothing but having a call, he sucked up all the oxygen in the room. He screamed class, power, sophistication, and virility.

His vision was beautiful as always. He wore those clothes like second skin, hell, as if he sometimes sleeps in them. Under his white shirt, she could see the impressive muscle tone of his arms and collarbone.

Despite how devilishly photogenic Julian was, no picture Cassandra saw online truly captured the effect of that defined, well-structured face in person. Absolutely none.

His face was walk-straight-into-a-wall stunning. Not to mention that hot physique, he's what she defined as lithe and slender in shirt, it's only when one undresses his shirtless could one see his rippling musculature. It's the kind of body she's most attracted to.

Cassandra understood why his bed was the most coveted spot in Imperial.

"What a pleasant surprise I have here."

Cassandra heard him say, amused as he sounded. She saw him tilting his head at her the moment he ended the call. He then eased out of his chair, and his muscles rippled under his shirt as he maneuvered his arm up to run a hand over his thick silky hair.

Whilst Cassandra was appreciative of his striking appeal, on the other hand, Julian was doing the same once he ended his business call.

Julian walked in her direction, with his eyes glinted as he took in her exquisite form. Sophisticated as she always was, she sat straight and her legs crossed elegantly. His eyes fell over her lips, which are glistening from the coffee she sipped.

He could have whistled at the sight.

Settling himself in the sofa across Cassandra, with a leg over his thigh in an elegant posture, Julian held her gaze and asked, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

As Julian drawled, he couldn't stop himself from taking a glance at her appealing figure. She's now wearing a V-necked chiffon blouse that showed just a respectable amount of her cleavage. Her glamorous hair was tied at one side and he could make out the pleasant whiff of a lavender perfume.

Cassandra just smiled in response, she then offered, "I made you a coffee."

Julian smiled as he eyed the newly brewed coffee which she gestured to take. "A coffee made by Ms. Qin? It's too much honour you gave me here, but thank you."

Cassandra brushed her glamorous hair back behind her ear out of habit and responded, "You're most welcome."

Reaching out a hand over the cup, Julian held it elegantly and brought it close to his lips before inhaling its fresh, smoky and flowery aroma. His magnetic eyes never left her eyes as he wetted his pink lips by sipping his coffee.

Cassandra smiled. Covering her glistening lips with her feminine hand, she brushed her lips with her well-manicured thumb. "I noticed you haven't done your work, so I thought of looking you, it just happens when I brew a coffee so I thought you would like to have one."

"I sure do." Julian lightly nodded his head in approval before he put on a somewhat teasing look. "I just didn't expect that you could be this attentive Ms. Qin," he said. "I mean you always are, but for you to make it personally, I must say that I feel pleasured."

An enchanting smile tipped the edge of Cassandra's inviting lips in response.

During the next few moments, almost not a word came from their lips as they just enjoyed each other's company in silence.

Pleasuring herself in the pleasant atmosphere, Cassandra just smiled and continued to sip her coffee as she noticeably drank him up, her eyes seemed aflame as they roamed over every contour of his adonis form.

Cassandra luxuriated herself by showering her eyes with his attractiveness. From his well-defined jawline, his manly Adam's apple, down to the upper part of his chiseled chest, further down his ripped abs which she could faintly see through his white shirt.

As Cassandra did so, she's unapologetic, unashamed.

Julian, feeling the ardent attention she's giving him, hiked one of his eyebrows and couldn't resist himself from curling up the corner of his lips.

He's used to receiving such an undressing gaze from women, but from the graceful Cassandra Qin? It's the first time she initiated it, and he liked it, the tightening in his loins could prove it.

"What makes you work this late?" Cassandra began, glancing at his desk. "Julian, it's unusual of you to be here till this late, pressing matter perhaps?"

Julian. He loved the way his name slipped out between those luscious lips of her, it sounded like a beguiling siren tone in his ears. Tasting another sip of his coffee, he then responded, "It's nothing pressing, I just happen to get a hand on information about the upcoming Giantshade's tender so I might as well getting through on it."

"Well, how about you Ms. Qin, what makes you work till this late?" Julian asked.

"Hmm," Cassandra put on a womanly smile and put down her cup of coffee on the table, causing her enticingly-shaped bust to vibrate whilst doing so. She then said coquettishly, "What if I say that I just want to see a certain someone? Would you believe me?"

Julian involuntarily narrowed his eyes for a split second and chuckled.

Silence, as he continued holding her enchanting eyes.

"It's just me or are you hitting on me Ms. Cassandra Qin?" He teased, his voice was low and velvety with an edge of flirtation.

Cassandra held his intense gaze with the impish glint glowered in her eyes as she sipped her coffee. Then, an alluring smirk lined flawlessly on her exquisite face.

"I'm allowed," Cassandra stated.

Hearing such an answer, Julian just sealed his lips in an amused smile. This was one of the reasons why he's smitten by her, an authentic woman.

Clearly, compared to such a womanly woman, all ladies he had been with were just girls in comparison.

Her eyes though, the most exquisite shade of hazel he's ever seen. She had a way about her that spoke of enchantment and maturity in a way that made him only and always enchanted in her presence.

He knew that Cassandra Qin was a woman who knows what she wants and she would stop at nothing when she set her eyes on something.

The reason why they're still in the current stage, despite their apparent mutual attraction, wasn't because of some games or what. Apparently, she's not playing hard to get.

He knew that she's just exploiting her female rights. A man could only court and impress whilst the woman judges whether he's worthy or not worthy of her. That's the rule, which he, as a man of class, followed.

Naturally, being the prideful man he forever was, he took that as a challenge, with her as his yearning prize, his absolute conquest.

Such an alluring and intriguing woman. He has no idea why he allowed himself to breach one of the rules he set on himself. To not allow himself to get influenced by a woman.

Julian smirked and inhaled the fresh fragrance of coffee before sipping it.

Slipping out his tongue between his wet lips, Julian finally responded, "Of course you are."

Julian made a chivalrous pose by placing a hand on his chest and putting on an upright look. "But Ms. Qin, I'll have you know that I am chaste and virtuous."

Hearing such a claim, Cassandra chuckled narrowly escaping the fate of coffee running through her sinuses.

Julian continued with mirth dancing in his eyes, "And I won't be seen in Imperial with the likes of you Ma'am. I have a reputation to uphold."

Cassandra feigned an offended look and Julian just flashed her a boyish smirk.

"Julian, you're about as virtuous as a witch," Cassandra gave a feminine laugh.

Cassandra then put on her sexiest accent, "Imperial is well versed in the reputation of your chastity."

Hearing that, he gave a low laugh but his eyes said otherwise, as something unseemly seemed to be flaming in those blackest eyes.

"What reputation do I have here?" Julian mused with such a low and velvety tone as he spoke, wondering what she's thinking.

Cassandra poked her inner cheek with her tongue, holding his stormy eyes whilst covering her lips with her feminine hand and then chuckled, "You have too much reputation and rumours in Imperial actually."

"Legions of women claimed that they've been with Julian Long, all claim to be willing to do anything just to have him for a single date while most see him as—"

She paused for a moment before continuing in that kind of low and toe-curling voice.

"A challenge and a prize."

Sure enough, just as Cassandra finished her words, she caught an apparent amusement glow in his smoky eyes. A not so harmless smile danced on the edge of his curved lips.

"What a prestige," Julian responded, putting down his coffee, he shifted in his seat and brought a hand up to his lips, touching what women labelled as edible lips with a thumb as he gave a low laugh. "Ms. Qin, there's a reason why rumours are called rumour."

Such a simple movement of his seductive gesture was too much to resist as Cassandra found her eyes gravitated to his lips. She has no idea how it's even biologically possible to look as hot as he looked.

"Then what about you Cassandra?" He asked, looking straight at her in the eye, with a stormy like intensity in his magnetic eyes. "What do you see me as?"

"If that's how you see me." Julian breathed low, seductively smiling as he spoke with a finger tugging on the first button of his shirt, looking sensuously inviting as he did with his newly revealed gorgeously-toned upper chest.

"Since you've won the challenge, Cassandra, then why don't you please yourself by claiming your well-deserved prize?"

At such a blatant invitation, Cassandra just sealed her lips in a silent smile.