Chapter 249: They Finally Made A Move

As the car continued toward the Imperial Hotel, Sienna’s emotions gradually preoccupied her mind and became more complicated.

Today was her final day at work.

She was happy because a new Chapter of her life was about to begin, one where she could spend more time with both her husband and her son. At the same time, she couldn’t deny the sadness growing inside her. She had spent years working at the Imperial Hotel. The people there weren’t just colleagues anymore. Many of them had become close friends who had stood beside her through difficult times.

Leaving them behind wasn’t as easy as she had expected.

Noticing the thoughtful expression on her face, Zachary gently reached for her hand.

"Do you want me to come with you to your farewell party?" he asked.

Sienna smiled softly.

"I don’t mind," she answered honestly. "But everyone will probably get nervous if you’re there."

He frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"Mia and Ava probably won’t be able to speak their minds freely and will become awkward if you’re around."

Zachary looked even more puzzled.

"Am I really that scary?"

Sienna laughed quietly.

"Not that kind of scary." She paused, trying to remember something Mia had once said about him.

After thinking for a few seconds, she smiled again. "It’s your big boss aura. That’s enough to make them nervous and behave like boring adults."

Zachary couldn’t help laughing.

"They’re exaggerating."

He shook his head with amusement before giving her hand another gentle squeeze.

"Alright. I’ll let you enjoy your last day with your friends." His smile softened. "I’ll pick you up after you’ve finished having dinner with them."

Sienna nodded happily.

"Okay."

Just then, the car slowly pulled into the entrance of the Imperial Hotel.

After the driver brought the vehicle to a smooth stop at the staff entrance, Zachary turned toward her before she could open the door. He leaned forward, kissed her gently, and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, holding her close as though he wasn’t ready to let her go yet.

Sienna smiled against his shoulder and quietly returned the hug.

For a few peaceful moments, neither of them said anything.

Finally, Zachary loosened his embrace and looked at her with the same gentle affection that always made her heart feel full.

"Have a good day, my love."

Sienna smiled back before giving him one last quick kiss.

"Bye."

Only after Zachary finally let go of her hand did Sienna step out of the car. She closed the door gently behind her, took one last look at him through the window, and smiled before turning toward the entrance, ready to begin the final day of a Chapter she would always remember.

...

At the Sterling Capital Building.

When Zachary stepped into his office, his calm expression stiffened slightly. Sitting comfortably on the sofa in the seating area was his best friend, Kevin Richardson, who greeted him with an unusually bright smile and a casual wave of his hand.

Zachary closed the office door behind him before walking toward the seating area. He set his tablet on the coffee table and took the seat across from Kevin.

Instead of immediately asking why Kevin was there so early, Zachary studied his friend’s face for a moment. Kevin looked far too cheerful, and that alone made him suspicious. His brows drew together slightly as he waited for Kevin to speak first.

"Morning, Boss Zach!" Kevin greeted him with his usual playful grin.

Zachary leaned back against the sofa, crossing one leg over the other.

"I don’t remember scheduling a meeting with you," he said calmly. "So why are you here, Kev?"

Rather than answering immediately, Kevin laughed quietly to himself. The playful expression on his face lingered for another second before gradually fading into something much more serious.

"They finally made a move, Zach," he said. "Just like you predicted."

A faint chuckle escaped Zachary. There was no surprise or excitement on his face. Instead, he leaned back more comfortably and calmly turned his gaze toward the large window beside them, as though he had expected this news for a long time.

Kevin watched him for a moment before continuing.

"We’re ready to move forward with our plan as well." His voice became noticeably more serious. "But before we do, I want to ask you one last time."

Zachary looked back at him.

"Are you absolutely sure you want us to go after Sterling Tech?" Kevin asked. "This won’t be a small fight. They could suffer serious losses this time and might affect the whole Sterling Group, at least to some degree."

For a brief moment, a cold look flashed across Zachary’s eyes.

He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

William Sterling had spent years treating Sterling Technology as one of the most important companies under the Sterling Group. Now that Riley had taken over its leadership, Zachary finally had the perfect chance to test both his older brother’s influence and his nephew’s ability.

He wanted to see whether William could still protect the company he valued so highly.

More importantly, he wanted to see whether Riley truly deserved the position he had been given and to teach his foolish nephew, who planned to steal Sienna from him.

Returning his attention to Kevin, Zachary spoke without the slightest hesitation.

"I’ve already told you before," Zachary said evenly. "The only company I care about is Sterling Capital."

His expression remained calm, but there was no warmth in his voice.

"As for the rest..." He paused briefly before finishing, "I don’t care. Go ahead and crush Sterling Tech."

Kevin burst into laughter, clearly pleased with the answer.

"Understood." He leaned forward, resting one arm on his knee. "Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything carefully. We won’t damage our own company in the process." His confident smile returned. "And when this is over, we’ll be the ones who secure the Norvayne Military project."

This time, Zachary’s expression became thoughtful. "How confident are you?" he asked. "Do you need my help?"

Kevin frowned.

"I still have connections within the military. If necessary, I can use them to support you," Zachary added.