Chapter 180: Having Tea

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Having Tea

Warren and Lewis came to pick her up, and Renee Morgan said goodbye to Ethan Sterling.

Ethan Sterling saw she was in a hurry and didn’t say much else, grabbed the key card, and escorted her downstairs.

Warren saw Renee Morgan walking out of the gated complex with a man, and was just thinking about how to question her later. But the moment she recognized the man’s face, all thoughts of interrogation vanished instantly.

She hurriedly opened the car door and got out, extending her hand respectfully to Ethan Sterling: "Officer Sterling..."

Ethan Sterling reached out and shook her hand, finally speaking: "You can call me Ethan Sterling."

"E-E-Ethan..." Warren couldn’t seem to say the name for a while.

She had once asked Renee Morgan about Ethan Sterling’s background, knew he was a front-line soldier, held quite a status in District J, and came from an ordinary family.

Warren never suspected Ethan Sterling had a powerful background, but being around the entertainment industry’s stage of fame, she’d seen every kind of status. Even that Prescott Family guy didn’t have Ethan’s bearing, making her think of that saying: "A golden carp is not meant for a pond; it will achieve great things someday."

Before leaving, Ethan Sterling glanced at Renee Morgan, his lips curling, his soft voice: "I’ll report on time tomorrow."

Renee Morgan: "..."

Warren watched him walk away, then looked at Renee Morgan, who had already gotten in the car, hurriedly climbing in after her.

Lewis drove in front, while Warren seized the chance to ask Renee Morgan what Ethan Sterling meant by that remark.

Renee Morgan picked what she could say and explained.

Warren’s shocked expression: "You mean he retired?"

"No, why would Officer Sterling suddenly retire?"

Renee Morgan saw her reaction. Sure enough, she wasn’t the only one with this thought. Anyone who met him would feel that it was a pity.

Renee Morgan still remembered back in Merrick, when he led his team on a mission, wearing a tactical jacket and holding a rifle. That aura reminded her of ancient generals—cold, sharp, ruthless.

In that moment, it felt like, no matter if there was a mountain of blades or a sea of flames ahead, he’d flatten everything underfoot—nothing could stand in his way.

Renee Morgan shook her head: "I’m not sure either. Isn’t there that film festival coming up, where I’m invited as a guest performer? I haven’t found a suitable bodyguard yet, so I asked him for help."

Warren recalled the call she had with Renee Morgan, and faintly guessed: "Are you worried Officer Sterling had financial problems, so he decided to retire?"

Renee Morgan wasn’t sure, but her face appeared heavy: "He’s already retired now, not sure if he’ll go back later. If it really is a family hardship, I gave him two hundred thousand, so at least that’s some help."

Warren knew Renee Morgan had some prize money. Giving out two hundred thousand wasn’t odd, but she still felt something was off: "Officer Sterling took your money?"

Renee Morgan didn’t want Warren to make any bad assumptions. She said: "If I gave it for no reason, he definitely wouldn’t take it. Having him as my bodyguard is just an advance on his salary."

Warren: "Does Officer Sterling know you’re helping him?"

Renee Morgan: "He doesn’t know, he thinks I urgently need people and he happened to be free, so he came to help."

Paid help is still help.

Warren was silent for a while, then finally said: "If Officer Sterling isn’t returning to District J for now, we can sign him to a long-term contract and offer a higher salary. With him around you, I’d be at ease."

The company was searching for a bodyguard. Apart from the usual extra temporary ones for events, they also needed a long-term bodyguard. Considering Renee Morgan was a girl, they preferred a female bodyguard, which was why it was hard to find someone suitable.

But if that person was Ethan Sterling, there’s no such issue.

Ethan Sterling came from a military background, absolutely upright; having him with Renee Morgan meant no worries about potential danger.

"Don’t, don’t, Warren..." Renee Morgan had just leaned back in her seat, but hearing Warren, immediately sat upright.

She just wanted to repay a favor. In a situation like this, ignoring it would trouble her conscience. Now the favor was repaid, and the matter settled.

As for making Ethan Sterling her long-term bodyguard—that’d be like someone holding a knife to her throat every day.

Not that Renee Morgan was being dramatic—it’s just Ethan Sterling’s presence was too overwhelming.

He’s actually seen combat, fought enemies, with ferocious warlike energy. Even though he already restrained himself in front of others, just facing those star-like eyes made anyone feel pressure.

Warren was a little disappointed not to be able to sign Ethan Sterling long-term.

Renee Morgan was sweating, worried Warren might press for Ethan Sterling as her bodyguard again, hurriedly changed the subject: "What did Director Lincoln say?"

"He arranged to meet us at the teahouse." Mentioning it, Warren’s face looked grim, and confused.

She’d just made calls to look into it. After today’s audition, Director Lincoln and the producer decided to use Renee Morgan, and even sent over the script early. But soon after, Director Lincoln was called away to have tea.

Usually, being called for tea doesn’t end so quickly. If Director Lincoln left and came back so fast, it really must have just been tea, a bit of warning, and then sent back home.

Director Lincoln returned and immediately asked them to hand back the script.

Such things happen in the entertainment industry but aren’t common. The market has its own rules and interests. Usually nobody disrupts them at will, unless some king upstairs goes mad for beauty.

Now, with this happening, if Director Lincoln just wanted her to return the script, why bother meeting at the teahouse? Was it to use the occasion to pressure them?

Was returning the script not enough? Do they want to use the tea meeting to intimidate them?

Warren thought of this possibility, and lowered her voice: "Do you think it’s Nicole Prescott..."

The Prescott Family stands at the center of Maridia’s elite. If it was them intervening, it’s normal for Director Lincoln to be cautious.

If the Prescott Family really made a move...

Warren’s mind was a mess, not knowing what to do.

Their company wasn’t a big one, and had some connections. But against policymakers, there’s really nothing they can do.

Those people could decide a company’s fate with just a word. Civilians can’t fight officials, and can’t win—that’s been the iron rule since ancient times,

Renee Morgan’s expression stayed calm: "Let’s just meet and we’ll know."

She wasn’t someone who shied away from things. If it really was the Prescott Family, she’d have to consider whether to earn points on the base app, and make a deal with the base...

Though the tasks were absurdly hard, not all jobs involved hunting terror|ists|leaders. There were also assignments like representing the base in official functions; not many points but, since the base’s senior members are all big shots (except her), hardly anyone wants to be the mascot.

Maybe, just maybe next time such a task comes up, she could step in and grab it?

Warren saw that Renee Morgan didn’t seem bothered at all, just took it as her being too young, not knowing the Prescott Family’s standing in City of Maridia. Calling them the local emperor was too much, but these families were tangled up so deeply, all the city’s powers and aristocrats had ties to the Prescott Family. People like them were mere ants in front of those giants.