Chapter 568: Don’t Start Assuming Things

What he didn’t mention was that he now owned the entire mall. As far as he was concerned, anything Bianca wanted here was already hers.

"This is too much. I won’t even wear all of it," Bianca said, surprised and a little worried. "We should be saving, not spending like this. If you keep buying everything I touch, I’m going to stop shopping and go home," she added, folding her arms and giving him a look.

Even with all of Phoenix Alliance Group’s wealth, Bianca still believed in being simple and careful with money.

Dave’s lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. Meeting Bianca had been like finding something rare and precious.

He thought back to all the moments that showed who she really was—how she didn’t care for material things, how much she valued self-respect, and how thoughtful she was with others.

He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Going home sounds good. There are plenty of things that could keep us busy there.”

Bianca blushed, raised an eyebrow, and kept walking without missing a beat. “I’m not done shopping yet,” she smiled at him.

Dave let out a low laugh and followed her, happy to spend the day by her side.

Bianca and Dave spent the whole weekend together, wrapped up in each other’s company.

Still, maybe because of her promise to Blake, Bianca gently kept some distance whenever things got too close.

Dave noticed. He saw her hesitation but didn’t push. He respected her without needing an explanation.

They cooked together in the kitchen, washed dishes side by side, and laughed over their favorite shows. At night, they curled up next to each other, finding peace in just being close.

The moments were simple, but they left a lasting warmth, sweet, and comforting.

On Monday morning, Bianca’s phone buzzed nonstop on the nightstand. Still half-asleep, she reached for it and saw Diana’s name on the screen.

“Bianca,” Diana said quickly, “get to the office as soon as you can. A few people are here waiting to talk to you. They’re potential partners, and they all want your input.”

Her voice sounded a little rushed but excited. “Brandon’s here too. I need to go over the plans with him first.”

Bianca frowned. Meetings this early?

She hadn’t even fully woken up yet.

Beside her, Dave shifted in his sleep and wrapped an arm around her waist. His breath brushed against her neck, making her shiver slightly.

“Bianca, are you even listening to me?” Diana’s voice came through the phone again, but this time there was a hint of suspicion in her tone.

Just as Bianca opened her mouth to answer but Dave’s voice, still rough from sleep, interrupted her, “Who’s calling this early?”

There was a brief silence from Diana's end.

Then Diana spoke again in a teasing tone, “Bianca… don’t tell me you overdid it this weekend and now you can’t even get out of bed.”

Bianca tried hard not to laugh. Diana couldn’t have been more off. If anything, she’d spent the whole weekend trying to hold herself back. Lying next to a man that good-looking, with a perfect body, had been its own kind of torture.

She cleared her throat to cover her amusement. “Don’t start assuming things. I’m getting ready now.”

Just then, Brandon’s voice came through the phone, full of energy. “Bianca, your company’s about to make a big move!”

Bianca felt even more confused after hearing Brandon’s words. Since the day Emerald Artists Agency opened, many people have approached her for partnerships. This wasn’t something new to her.

What did Brandon mean by saying they were going to make a splash?

She was about to ask when Diana’s voice cut in. “Okay. I need you here as soon as possible. It’s urgent.”

Diana hung up right after that. She pushed Brandon aside and said, “Brandon, you can see how chaotic things are here. If there’s nothing you can help with, just head back first. I’ll handle things here. I’ll come to you once I’m done.”

By now, the reception room was packed. The elevator lobby was also crowded with people waiting to discuss business with Emerald Artists Agency. Even downstairs, a long line had formed. The whole building was suddenly overflowing with people.

Brandon looked at Diana and said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If I go out and those people see me, this place will get even more crowded.”

Honestly, he was surprised too. Most of the people waiting outside looked familiar. They were big names in the entertainment industry, people he usually only saw at annual conferences. But seeing them show up like this was unusual. It was clear they were here to see Bianca.

Everything was happening too fast. None of them expected this sudden rush of people wanting to work with them. Brandon couldn’t think of any other reason except Dave. This had to be related to him.

“Stop talking. That’s not helping,” Diana said sharply. “If you don’t want to leave, fine! Put on your mask, go out there, and get them added to the waitlist. Keep everything in order. I have a feeling more people will show up before Bianca gets here. If we don’t control the crowd now, things will only get worse. We don’t want Bianca walking into chaos.”

Diana was right. By the time Bianca reached the company, the line had already stretched to the roadside. She was shocked to see so many people waiting outside. As soon as she parked her car, the crowd recognized her and rushed over.

“Ms. Scott, I’m the CEO of…”

“Ms. Scott, I’m the planner of a program…”

“Ms. Scott, our TV station wants to work with your company. We’d like to invite your artists to our shows.”

Bianca was too stunned to respond. She hadn’t expected to see anything like this when she arrived.

The two bodyguards behind Bianca frowned. They were worried about her safety. Without wasting a second, they rushed over and escorted her upstairs.

Diana and Brandon had expected this situation. They had already sent staff downstairs to meet Bianca. But the crowd was too thick. The staff could only watch from a distance. They couldn’t get near her, much less help her.

Bianca walked up the stairs she used every day, but today was different. Too many people wanted to talk to her. She never thought the simple path to her office could feel impossible to cross.

Sweating as she climbed, Bianca felt confused. She couldn’t figure out what was happening. Why were all these people suddenly rushing to Emerald Artists Agency, desperate to work with her?