The Queen They Buried

The study was empty. Aubree pushed open the door but didn’t see Bowen inside

“Bowen?” Aubree called out tentatively as she stepped into the study for the first time. Her eyes swept across the room, but it appeared empty.

Moving deeper into the room, Aubree noticed several cigarelles scattered across the desk.

Aubree thought, “Bowen smokes!

“Who would we thought someone as refined and gentlemanly as Bowen would actually smoke?”

At first glance, Bowen gave the impression of a perfect gentleman, refined in manner, elegant in demeanor, and cultivated in temperament, all seamlessly blended into one.

She’d always pictured Bowen as the type to meditate in a room with burning incense. But this discovery completely caught her off guard.

Aubree picked up an unlit cigarette from the desk and sniffed it. The scent wasn’t unpleasant, more like the kind women would prefer.

***No smoking, young lady.” A large, well–manicured hand reached over her shoulder and plucked the cigarette from her fingers.

Aubree turned back. Towering over her, Bowen’s usually deep and tranquil eyes met hers, yet now, faint ripples of emotion shimmered within them.

With the desk behind her and Bowen standing closely in front, Aubree found herself completely trapped between him and the table.

Trapped in his ams, Aubree’s face flushed with panic and confusion.

The way he was pinning Aubree down from above made Bowen recall last night, her bare back exposed as she lay face down on the bed, cheeks flushed. eyes filled with shyness, completely under his control, just like now

Bowen’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darkened, and he unconsciously leaned in closer. Aubree’s instincts screamed, she could sense danger in the air, warning her, “Something’s not right, he’s way too close.”

“Bowen,” Aubree stammered tentatively.

Bowen braced one hand against the desk, veins bulging on the back of his hand as it restraining some powerful urge.

Bowen parted his lips, clamping the cigarette between them. With his free hand, he swept up the metal lighter from the desk and pressed it into Aubree’s palm. “Light it for me.”

Trapped in the tight space between him and the desk, all she could see was him, all she could breathe was his scent. For a moment, she felt utterly dazed, caught in a whirlwind named Bowen.

The cold metal in her palm snapped Aubree back to reality. Flustered, she hastily shoved the man looming over her away.

With an amused smirk, Bowen stepped back following her push. As he retreated, he deftly snatched the lighter from Aubree’s hand and it his cigarette with practiced ease.

senses, ruthlessly suppressing all the improper thoughts that had been swirling

mind

what brings you here?” Bowen exhaled, the smoke slightly obscuring his features. He took just one drag before letting the cigarette rest

a serious expression. “I want to invest in an

by her proposal. “Not exactly groundbreaking,

Chapter 40

thought, “Indeed, in my previous life, aside from Alvin, the trust ford kid who bankrolled a club of God’s fury and briefly let it compete

if you want a slice of the exports ple, establishing a

in the coming years, League of Legends and several other games will become official Olympic events, if that really happens, esports will enter its golden age. Now is the perfect time to get

full of approval. “I suspect you

but capital was his

caught Aubree’s drift

competition and establish an esports club was a promising strategy. With its current popularity and buzz,

Bowen, Have you ever paid attention to any live

with their idols for real–time, face–to–face interactions? Do you think people would pay for that? And what if this platform was open

her vision to Bowen, describing a short video livestreaming platform model that would go viral nationwide

highly visionary, Bowen remarked. Just from hearing Aubree’s proposals, he could already envision the substantial commercial returns

ventures, and every single one would be a

lit up. Jackpot she thought to herself, barely able

team kick off livestreaming on our platform, starting with gaming streams. Once

the platform’s operator, all we’d need to do

‘Back then, this platform wasn’t just a nationwide phenomenon. Even government agencies

refuse her anyway. If it failed, he’d just treat

an idea truly caught him off guard. But from a business standpoint, if this proposal

asked directly, “So, what do you want me to

straightforward, “Money I need money she declared, “Even the over 3 million in prize money from the tournament is barely enough to keep God’s Fury’s team running for

of Legends franchise spot is already a huge investment. From what I know, a slot usually goes for

help but smile at her bluntness. He’d had plenty of people come to him for investment before, but this was the first time someone had been so

cover it all. But in return, I want a 30% equity stake from the very start, in

Chapter 40

percent is no small stake, but it’s still within my

lip, weighing the offer for a brief moment before giving a farm

percent of the shares for unlimited financial backing from the Turner Group, and the prestige of their nam backing? Absolutely worth it, no matter how you look

all, without this funding, even getting started would be impossible

“I’ll have the funds wired to