Forbidden Passion
Chapter 691 Uncontrollably Drawn to Her

Phoebe instinctively pulled her hand away from Theodore's arm. But in the next second, Theodore's warm hand covered hers, giving it a gentle pat, like he was trying to calm her down. This little gesture brought the lively vibe back to the banquet hall.

The host of the party, Caroline Gonzalez from Vanguard Magazine, quickly approached, lifting her skirt slightly and smiling warmly. "Mr. Reynolds, welcome! And who is this stunning lady?" Theodore tilted his head a bit, looking at the dazzling Phoebe beside him. "This is Phoebe Ziegler, the head of Superstar Entertainment. Phoebe, meet Caroline Gonzalez, our host for tonight." Phoebe extended her hand to Caroline, greeting her politely, "Hello, Caroline. I've heard so much about you while I was abroad. It's an honor to finally meet you."

Caroline shook hands with Phoebe.

With a warm smile, Caroline said, "Superstar Entertainment has been making waves lately. I've heard of Ms. Ziegler for a long time but never had the chance to meet her. Thanks to Mr. Reynolds for the introduction." Caroline's words were enthusiastic and inclusive, showing her knack for handling such situations.

Phoebe smiled and said, "Yes, thank you, Mr. Reynolds."

Just then, a waiter came over with a tray. Theodore grabbed a glass of champagne and handed it to Phoebe. She took it and thanked him.

Their fingers brushed briefly, like a spark of electricity passing between them.

Phoebe discreetly tightened her grip on the glass, while Theodore glanced at her lightly and took a sip of his red wine.

His Adam's apple moved slightly, hinting at some unspoken restlessness.

Caroline chatted with them for a bit, complimenting Phoebe's makeup and asking if she did it herself. Phoebe shook her head. "It was done by my friend. You might know her. Her name is Cindy." "So, you're the amazing friend Cindy always talks about. No wonder I felt an instant connection with you. Let's add each other on social media."

Caroline pulled out her phone from her clutch and added Phoebe as a friend right there. Someone came over to whisper something to Caroline, and she had to excuse herself to attend to other guests. After Caroline left, Theodore took Phoebe around the room, introducing her to the editors-in-chief of the four major magazines. They also met top executives from various big brands in the country. Phoebe had met these people before, but back then, she was Theodore's chief secretary, and their interactions were just polite nods.

Now, she needed to secure endorsements from these people, so she couldn't just stand by Theodore's side as his secretary.

Phoebe spoke eloquently about her experiences in Caneda and the current state of the entertainment industry. Even though the topics were light, everyone was engaged, and they were impressed by Phoebe's elegance and poise, which left a lasting impression.

Phoebe herself didn't realize that her proud demeanor while speaking was very similar to Theodore's in the past.

Throughout the banquet, Phoebe shone brightly, while Theodore quietly stayed by her side, happy to be her support.

During breaks when Phoebe got tired of talking, Theodore would jump in and chat with the others, giving Phoebe a chance to rest before handing the spotlight back to her.

The vibe at the banquet was super chill and laid-back. Even though everyone was dressed to the nines, it felt more like a friendly get-together.

With Theodore backing her up, Phoebe scored a ton of business cards. Some reps from high-end fashion brands even threw some opportunities her way.

Tonight was a big win for Phoebe.

Finally taking a breather, Phoebe leaned against the bar and rubbed her ankle. Theodore, who had been chatting with someone, noticed and quickly walked over. He looked down at her reddened ankle and asked, "What's up?"

Phoebe instinctively stood up straight, lowered her skirt to cover her slender ankle, and said calmly, "It's nothing, just these high heels making my feet sore." Halfway through the banquet, the number of guests hadn't dwindled.

Theodore's gaze fell on her face, "If you're tired, we can bounce early."

Phoebe watched the guests mingling. She had to admit, Vanguard Magazine had serious clout in the fashion world, and all the guests were big shots.

Without Theodore, breaking into this circle would have been way tougher.

Phoebe knew she couldn't make all the connections she needed in one night. Instead of pushing herself to stay till the end, it was smarter to leave early with Theodore.

Leaving a bit of mystery made a lasting impression.

Phoebe nodded, "Okay."

With Theodore by her side, they left early, and Caroline personally escorted them to the hotel entrance. Amid her busy schedule, Caroline seemed to remember that Noah was an artist under Superstar Entertainment. Caroline said with a faint smile, "The cover figures for the September and October issues are already set. If Ms. Ziegler doesn't mind, how about having Noah on the cover of the December issue?"

Phoebe was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "It would be an honor for Noah to be on the cover of Vanguard Magazine. Thank you so much, Caroline."

Phoebe hadn't expected to score such a sweet deal tonight while just trying to network.

Phoebe knew that Caroline's offer was all thanks to Theodore's influence, but she wasn't about to turn it down.

After working hard in Caneda for two years, Phoebe realized that sometimes having too much pride wasn't a good thing. When the opportunity arose, she had to seize it.

Phoebe shook hands with Caroline again. Jack drove the car over, and Theodore helped Phoebe into the car. After closing the door, he nodded to Caroline and walked around the car to sit next to Phoebe.

As the car slowly drove away, Caroline watched the black Maybach disappear into the night and let out a long sigh of relief.

She had finally completed the task Theodore had entrusted to her.

After drinking, Phoebe had rosy cheeks and a pleasant, subtle scent of alcohol.

As the car passed through the bustling streets, the colorful lights outside the window poured in, illuminating her slightly tipsy face.

Theodore felt a slight stir in his heart.

"Thanks for tonight," Phoebe said before Theodore could. She turned her head and looked at him with a bright smile, saying, "I haven't talked this much in a long time."

Theodore stared at her, dazed. In Phoebe's bright eyes, he saw his own reflection. He felt as if he was being drawn in, and he couldn't help but lean closer to Phoebe.