Chapter 298
Shakira was taken aback, still trying to understand why Walter was so eager to contact her. Just as she was about to click the messages from Walter, a notification from Xanthe’s message popped up, and she accidentally clicked on it instead.
Xanthe sent a video featuring Brian in the Finance Department, looking serious as he loudly announced to everyone, “Mr. Lopez is fair and strict. He never allows anyone to get a job in the company based just on connections.
“If any employee privately spreads rumors about Mr. Lopez, you are encouraged to report it anonymously. Once verified, any unqualified individuals with connections will be removed from the company immediately.”
Brian spoke with a force that echoed. Almost naming Fiona, who blushed with embarrassment amidst the crowd. This morning, she had bragged about being favored by Walter.
A few hours later, Brian, Walter’s most trusted assistant, personally went to the Finance Department to clear things up. The slap in the face was so loud. One could almost hear it echoing in every corner of the Finance Department.
After watching the video, Shakira received another message from Xanthe: [Mr. Lopez is really something. He doesn’t give the angelic bitch a chance to cling on!]
Shakira shook her head and chuckled.
She reopened the chat with Walter, and sure enough, it was explaining why Fiona was brought into the company.
It turns out that Fiona’s parents had secretly asked Benji for help, and Benji didn’t know Fiona had caused trouble at the villa, even speaking rudely and making threats, which was why the Finance Department hired her.
Otherwise, Walter wouldn’t have agreed to Fiona’s involvement in the company. Shakira noticed his growing worries through his messages. After pondering for a bit, she entered a private meeting room to call Walter.
Walter picked up immediately. “Is the meeting over?”
Shakira raised her eyebrows in surprise.
She thought, ‘He knew I was in a meeting, which indicated he had someone check up on me. Could it be that he was so concerned I might be upset for several hours?‘
Thinking about this possibility, Shakira felt as if a feather brushed her heart. It was a ticklish sensation.
“Did Xanthe secretly inform you?” asked Shakira.
Walter hesitated briefly. “Yes, she apologized to me, saying she expressed herself in a way that made you misunderstand.”
Shakira raised her eyes, looking at her reflection in the glass mirror before her. A smile, sweet and joyful, appeared on her lips, something she didn’t even notice.
She explained, “I told her I wasn’t mad, but she didn’t believe me. I was in a meeting this afternoon and had my phone on silent, so you thought I was mad too.”
“I don’t think you’d get upset over something like this,” said Walter.
His response took Shakira by surprise. “Then why did you still let Brian…”
“Just because you’re not upset this time doesn’t mean you won’t be next time. I have to prevent this kind of issue.” Walter acted calm and collected. “No one else gets a chance but you.”
Shakira burst into laughter and pointed out without mercy. “You say that with so much confidence, but why did you send me so many messages at first? Was it only when you found out I was in a meeting that you calmed down?”
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Walter, having his true feelings exposed, was rendered speechless.
55%
The silence on the other end was palpable, and Shakira’s laughter grew. “To make up for the forty–five minutes of anxiety you’ve endured, I’ll treat you to some delicious food tonight. Let’s have a barbecue!”
+5
In Rosewood Hotel, Lucy dressed up elegantly and headed to Continental Lounge. On the way, she kept looking at photos of Sean, practically imprinting his image in her memory.
Now, as she lifted her eyes, she spotted him right away among the bustling crowd. Lucy’s eyes sparkled even more brightly.
Sean was even more handsome and elegant in person than in photos, exuding an air of wealth and sophistication. She stared intently, making her way toward his table.
Sean had been chatting with his old classmate, Bella Braun, who had a thing for him for ten minutes now. Her exuberance
d warmth were making Sean feel increasingly uneasy, causing him to keep glancing at the door every few moments.
Sean thought, ‘Gosh, Xanthe won’t just leave me hanging, will she?‘
Just as he was about to lose his composure, a gentle and soft voice with a questioning tone came through. “Sean, who is she?”
Sean looked up happily but then froze. “You…”
Lucy sat down right next to Sean, holding his arm tightly as if she owned the place, and glared at Bella across from them. “Who are you, and why are you having dinner with my boyfriend?”
Bella was shocked. “Sean, y–you have a girlfriend now?”
Sean was dumbfounded.
He wondered, ‘No way, where’s Xanthe? Who’s this girl?‘
As Sean tried to disengage, Lucy held him tighter. “Sean! If my cousin Xanthe hadn’t told me she saw you having dinner alone with another girl, I wouldn’t have known. Didn’t you vow to keep me in the loop?”
Now Sean understood. He thought, ‘This girl who shows up out of nowhere is Xanthe’s cousin!
‘Xanthe didn’t want to come, so she sent her cousin to handle it?
Sean felt suffocated and frustrated.
Bella noticed Sean wasn’t defending himself and instead looked upset, so different from the confident guy she used to have
a crush on.
“Sean, I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person. If I had known you had someone, I wouldn’t have come.” Disappointed beyond measure, Bella grabbed a glass of water and threw it in Sean’s face before leaving in anger.
Lucy was taken aback. “Wow, throwing water like that is so rude. She sympathetically picked up a napkin to wipe Sean’s face. “Are you alright, Mr. Reynolds?”
Sean gently pushed her aside, withdrawing his arm. “I’m fine.” He stood up, maintaining a polite distance. “Ms. Sullivan…”
“My name is Lucy Sullivan. You can call me Lucy, Mr. Reynolds, said Lucy.
“Ms. Sullivan, thank you for your help today,” Sean said, taking out his phone. He transferred 1,500 dollars dollars to Lucy. “This is your payment.”
Lucy thought, ‘I just said a few words, and Sean gave me 1,500 dollars? What if I become his girlfriend or even his wife?‘ Lucy’s smile was hard to contain, and the greed in her eyes grew more intense.
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Lucy said, “It’s my pleasure. Mr. Reynolds, you’re Xanthe’s friend, so you’re my friend too. Xanthe didn’t want to come, so I’m helping out, it’s really no big deal.”
+5
In the whole conversation, Sean only caught one piece of information. He thought, ‘Xanthe didn’t want to come? How dare she!‘
Sean gave a cold smile. “It’s okay, Ms. Sullivan. You won’t be bothered like this again.”
Lucy saw the anger on his handsome face as he said this, and she felt hesitant. She wondered, ‘When he mentioned Ms. Sullivan, did he mean me or Xanthe?‘
Sean no longer looked at her. “The dishes on the table are untouched. If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat. I’ve already settled the bill.” With that, he walked straight out.
Lucy couldn’t bear to miss this chance, so she quickly caught up. “Mr. Reynolds, I…”
As soon as they exited the restaurant, two men in black blocked their path. “Mr. Reynolds, Ms. Sullivan, please come with
us.”
