Chapter 156: Chapter 156: The Weight of Privilege

This was the absolute limit of what he could endure in a public setting. According to the strict family traditions and rigorous upbringing he had been subjected to since childhood in his previous world, one’s conduct in front of guests or outsiders had to be impeccable. Whether eating, standing, lying down, or sitting, everything had to follow a specific set of rules and regulations. One had to stand as straight as a pine tree, unyielding and majestic, and sit as steady as a heavy bronze bell, grounded and immovable. No matter how much pain one was in, no matter how exhausted the body felt, one was never permitted to slouch, lean carelessly, or utter a single word of complaint.

However, ever since he had arrived in this world, Julian Sterling had gradually been spoiled rotten by Ethan Caldwell. The constant pampering and attentive care had softened the steel in his spine, making his tolerance for physical discomfort significantly lower than it had been in his past life.

Just as Julian was trying to suppress a heavy sigh caused by the dull ache in his lower back, a sharp, rhythmic knocking sound echoed from the door, effectively shattering the heavy atmosphere of work and strategy that had filled the room.

The door was pushed open, and his bodyguard, who also served as his personal driver, stepped inside. The man bowed his head respectfully, his demeanor the picture of professional servitude as he addressed Julian.

“Mr. Sterling, the boss has arrived. He sent a message saying that whenever you have finished your business here, please come down to the twentieth floor to meet him.”

Lucas Hill, who had been sprawled across the furniture like a invertebrate just moments before, had sat up with lightning speed the instant the bodyguard entered the room. Upon hearing the phrase “the boss has arrived”, his eyes lit up with a mischievous, teasing glint. He hurriedly gathered the scattered papers on the table, shoving them into his briefcase with practiced efficiency, and stood up.

“Alright then, it seems the heavens, the earth, and the people are all in alignment.” Lucas quipped, a grin spreading across his face: “You should go find your husband. Do not make the big boss wait too long, or you might get punished. I will head back first. I certainly do not dare to be the gooseberry here, getting in the way of your reunion.”

As he spoke, Lucas winked at Julian, his expression loaded with implied meaning and playful mockery. That smug “I know exactly what is going on between you two” look on Lucas’s face was so exasperating that Julian felt a sudden, violent urge to pick up the porcelain teacup in front of him and hurl it directly at his friend’s face.

Julian was too tired to dignify his friend’s teasing with a verbal response. He simply waved his hand dismissively, a gesture akin to shooing away a buzzing fly: “Just get lost, hurry up. And send me a text message when you get home so I know you are safe.”

Only then did Julian slowly rise from his seat. He took a moment to smooth out the creases in his shirt, ensuring the hem was flat and his appearance was pristine. He turned to the bodyguard and issued his instructions in a calm, authoritative voice.

“Call the service staff to come and clean up the room. Then, please escort Mr. Hill down to the lobby safely. I will go down to the twentieth floor to find Ethan myself.”

The bodyguard nodded firmly, acknowledging the order: “Yes, sir.”

However, this bodyguard was highly trained and understood his priority mission with absolute clarity. He did not directly escort Lucas away and leave Julian unattended. Instead, he pulled out his walkie-talkie and professionally radioed the security team stationed at the elevator lobby to come and assist Lucas. After issuing the command, he remained exactly where he was, standing like a shadow behind Julian as they all exited the private room together.

When they reached the elevator bank, the two of them stood waiting for a moment. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and a man dressed in a sharp black suit, wearing a specialized earpiece, stepped out. This new arrival bowed his head in a respectful greeting to Julian before gesturing politely to invite Lucas into the guest elevator.

“Mr. Hill, please follow me this way.”

Seeing this seamless handover, Julian glanced back at the bodyguard who was standing like a stone statue behind him. He understood the intention behind this arrangement perfectly. Ultimately, Ethan Caldwell placed Julian’s safety above all else. After the traumatic incident where Aaron Sterling had orchestrated his kidnapping, the defense measures surrounding Julian had been elevated by Ethan to the highest possible level.

Now, having a bodyguard trailing him constantly did not make him feel uncomfortable or restricted. Furthermore, Julian knew that if this bodyguard had actually listened to his earlier instruction and gone down to the lobby with Lucas, leaving Julian to walk alone, even for a short distance in the hallway, and if Julian had suffered even a minor scratch during that time, the bodyguard would likely receive a termination notice immediately the next morning. Even if nothing happened, the mere fact that the bodyguard had left his post without explicit permission from Ethan would likely result in severe consequences. Ethan would not forgive such a lapse in judgment.

This meticulous, almost suffocating layer of protection made Julian feel a mixture of amusement and a profound warmth that blossomed in his chest. It was a heavy cage, but one made of gold and care.

After bidding farewell to Lucas, Julian prepared to step into the guest elevator to descend to the twentieth floor. However, before he could cross the threshold, the bodyguard gently stepped in to block his path. He extended his hand, guiding Julian’s attention toward the corridor on the opposite side.

“Mr. Sterling, please come this way. The boss specifically instructed that you are to use the private elevator.”

Julian looked in the direction the man was pointing. At the end of a secluded corridor, tucked away from the main traffic flow, was another specialized elevator. The doors were plated with gold, exuding an air of luxury and discretion that far surpassed the public lifts. He did not ask any questions. He simply nodded in understanding and walked straight towards it. The bodyguard moved swiftly ahead, retrieving a high-level key card to swipe across the sensor panel. The heavy doors slid open, and he followed Julian inside, pressing the button for the twentieth floor.

Fundamentally, the architectural layout of The Ebony Lounge did not differ significantly between the various VIP floors. The twentieth floor was also carpeted in thick, lush red velvet that swallowed the sound of footsteps. The wide, expansive corridors were lined with expensive art pieces, mirroring the aesthetic of the top floor where he had just been sitting. Perhaps the only discernible difference lay in the floor plan. This level did not have a common waiting lounge. Instead, the private rooms appeared to be significantly larger, with heavier, more intricately carved wooden doors that promised absolute privacy for high-stakes meetings and intimate gatherings.

The bodyguard led him down the quiet hallway, his footsteps silent and steady. They finally stopped in front of a room located at the very end of the corridor, the prime location, offering the utmost seclusion. The bodyguard stepped aside, clearing the path. Outside the door, several other bodyguards were already stationed like sentinels. Upon seeing Julian approach, they simultaneously bowed in a synchronized, respectful greeting.

Julian raised an eyebrow slightly, taking a deep, subtle breath to compose himself and regain his most composed, dignified demeanor. He knocked on the door a few times out of politeness, but he did not wait for a response from within. He pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside.

The interior was not the chaotic, noisy scene of debauchery he had half-expected from a gathering of the upper class. There was no deafening music, no wild partying.

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