Transmigrated: Stealing the CEO husband-Chapter 19: Retrieving the card key.

The deal had been signed and officialized after the much-discussed collaboration party, an event widely covered by the media. As cameras flashed and reporters scrambled, all eyes were on the glamorous lady by President Luiss's side—Ariana Grey. She had effortlessly stolen the limelight, captivating the audience with her elegance.

"The girl is pretty," a middle-aged man, watching the news from the comfort of his living room, commented, his eyes fixated on her.

Benjamin Wellington was a man driven by ruthless ambition, with an aura of control so intense that anyone around him couldn't help but feel small. His presence demanded attention, and he never failed to command it.

"This is not good," he muttered, dark clouds looming over his mind as he observed the unfolding events on the screen.

Beside him, his wife, Ms. Wellington, a picture of composure and grace, broke the silence with her ever-quiet yet commanding voice. Her movements were deliberate, always poised, like a woman who knew the importance of every word.

"I told you we need to hurry up. Our son has grown up."

"The President of Visionary Ventures has a daughter... Lucia," Benjamin Wellington informed her coolly, his eyes narrowing with sharp calculation. "If we can get Lucia engaged with Luiss, President Whitaker will be on our side. We won't need to fear those damned Andersons anymore."

"I heard our son gave Gerald, the son of Edward Anderson, a tough time during the recent collaboration. And the girl... she seems to be the reason behind his victory," Ms. Wellington continued, her voice careful, yet laced with tension.

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"I see... So, the girl has some brains after all." Benjamin's voice dropped, his tone heavy with contemplation.

"Exactly. And that's exactly why we need to be cautious. If she's smart, her ambition won't be small either." Ms. Wellington's gaze never wavered, her understanding of the situation as sharp as ever.

"Always at the forefront when it comes to intel," Benjamin remarked, nodding slightly in approval. "I see you haven't changed."

Then, without skipping a beat, he asked, "Do you want me to visit the Whitakers?"

"That would be the wise thing to do," Julian answered, a glint of satisfaction in his voice at the praise.

"Remember, he is our only son," Ms. Wellington added, her voice calm but firm. "And I fear that he might be too young, too sentimental. He could fail to see the bigger picture."

Meanwhile, far from the scheming walls of the Wellington family, Ariana hurriedly returned to the main city. "Destructive obsession," she mused to herself, a quiet understanding stirring within her. If she ever gave in to it, she knew the consequences would follow swiftly.

In the original story, the destructive obsession had come much later for the female lead, Lucia. But in the hidden corners of her mind, Ariana couldn't shake the feeling that one day she might be the very target of it.

With a sigh, she left the Presidential Suite and changed into her formal attire, preparing for her return flight with her coworkers. She gathered her things and started heading toward the exit, but as the doors loomed closer, a thought struck her.

"I forgot my card key." The curse slipped from her lips before she could stop it, and she quickly turned back toward her room.

To her surprise, the door was slightly ajar—something she had not expected. "Must be the cleaning service," she reasoned, stepping inside. As the door clicked shut behind her, she didn't think much of it, immediately starting her search for the lost key.

Her eyes scanned the living area, then the kitchenette, and finally the bathroom. But there was no sign of it.

She was just about to give up when she made her way into the bedroom, hoping the card had somehow ended up there.

The lights were off.

Carefully, she crept along the wall, her hand reaching for the socket. When she found the switch, she flicked it on, and the bright, blinding light immediately flooded the room.

Ariana blinked and froze in place, her heart stopping for a moment. There, sitting on the bed, was a man—Gerald.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, placing a hand over her chest to calm her erratically beating heart. "You scared me to death. What are you doing here?"

Gerald looked up at her, his smile both charming and unnerving as he lazily twisted something in his hands.

"I can be anywhere I want, Ms. Grey," he replied coolly, his tone almost casual, but the weight of his presence made her feel like prey being sized up by a predator.

Ariana's eyes immediately fell to the object in his hand—the card key. It was her card. The very one she had come back to retrieve, but now, it was in his grasp, a symbol of the control he seemed to wield effortlessly.

Her back pressed against the wall instinctively, as though trying to put as much distance between them as possible. Her body screamed to flee—to run. Do not get close to this man.

But she had no choice. The card key was important—losing it would cause more complications, especially now that she had managed to build some positive rapport with President Luiss.

Gerald's eyes locked onto hers, clearly amused as he noticed her hesitation.

"Why don't you come forward and retrieve your card from me?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock sweetness.

Ariana remained silent, her body frozen in place.

"Isn't this why you rushed all the way back to your room and searched through the entire living area?" He tilted his head, his voice sharp yet playful, as he gestured toward the card. "Why don't you come and get it?"

A mischievous grin spread across his face, a smile that made her skin crawl.

"No." The word was out of her mouth before she even realized it, her defiance surprising her.

"You didn't come here for this?" He asked, his voice low, almost coaxing.

"No, I won't come near you," she declared firmly, even though the fear was evident in her eyes.

"Why? Are you scared of me?" he teased, a flicker of something darker flashing in his gaze.

"Yes," she thought, but she only whispered the word in her mind. Terrified. But she couldn't let him know that.

Gerald shrugged, his smile never wavering. "Either way, you have to get it." He placed the card on the bed, close enough that she could almost reach it, yet still distant enough to test her resolve.

"Come and get it. I don't bite," he added, the words meant to sound reassuring but dripping with something more dangerous. His smile was now full of challenge and meaning.

Ariana was caught between a rock and a hard place, her mind spinning with the consequences. She could go for the card, retrieve it safely, and avoid further conflict. Or, she could risk the fragile relationship she had with the male lead and avoid the man she feared.

In the end, practicality won. The card was the priority, and Ariana knew that making the right choice here would be critical in the long run.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and walked towards the bed, trying to ignore the sensation of Gerald's gaze following her every movement. She reached out for the card, feeling the weight of her decision, and at that moment, she knew there was no turning back.