Chapter 280
By the evening. I noticed it started to snow outside, so I decided to stretch my legs a bit. Just as I was about to head out, I saw Neils car pull up. But it wasn’t him who got out, but his assistant, Felo
Felix jogged into the villa, and instinctively, I peeked out of my door to see that he had headed upstairs. He looked surprised to see me but quickly regained his composure. He gave me a nod before rushing up to the third floor.
I followed him up and watched as he went into Neil’s study
Neil’s study was a strictly private place. I’d only gone in when he was there.
The door to the study had a facial recognition lock. If it failed three times, it would trigger an alarm.
Felix came out of the study pretty quickly, with a document in hand. He nodded at me again before quickly leaving
After he left, I somehow found myself standing at the study door.
I wondered if Neil had looked into my dad and Oscar Morse and left any clues in his study.
“Beep!”
The lock beeped, indicating a facial recognition failure. I jumped, quickly stepping away to avoid triggering it again.
Back in my room, my heart was pounding. I felt like a thief. After all, the information in the study was critical and confidential.
The more nervous I was, the more I wanted to find what I was looking for in the study If I could find it, I’d leave Sterling Estates immediately
Neil didn’t come back all night, but I got a call from Stella Wallace, “Rena, you okay after last night?”
“Was it you who told Neil where I was?” I was a bit angry. ‘Stella, did you betray me?”
“I didn’t! It was that dummy, Mitch Hebert, who told Neil I wanted to find you, but my babysitter called me and said my daughter wouldn’t stop crying, so I had to go home.” Stella pleaded, “Rena, don’t be mad! I’ve given Mitch a piece of my mind. I’ll buy you more bags and more clothes! Whatever you like, I’ll get it for you!”
I sighed helplessly I knew Stella wouldn’t betray me.
Forget it. Just be wary of Mitch. He’s Neil’s spy” I warned Stella.
“I’ll give him a piece of my mind” Stella said, abruptly changing the subject, “Did you hear? Barbara’s pregnant. Silas has invited us over. You coming?”
Barbara was pregnant? I was surprised but happy for her.
So much had happened recently that i didn’t have time for daily girl talk like before.
I agreed, “Sure, when?”
“Day after tomorrow. I’ll text you their address.”
“Okay,” I said, then drifted off to sleep.
It was the most relaxed night I’d had since returning to Sterling Estates, probably because Neil wasn’t around.
The next day. I got up early, had breakfast, and went to work. I had a small business summit to attend.
Around 9:30 in the morning, my assistant and I arrived at the venue. The entrepreneurs attending the summit were all big shots from Rosemont.
“Ms. Finch, long time no see” Gloria was already there. She came over to greet me with a smile.
I didn’t see Bonnie Tueley I wondered where she was.
I looked at Gloria’s outstretched hand, smiled, and shook it, “Long time no see.”
Clona let go of my hand. She patted her collar lightly, elegantly, and casually saying, “Who knew Ms. Finch was so capable? You’ve managed all the difficulties left by your mother on your own. You even have time to attend today’s summit. I’m impressed.”
Her words sounded like praise but were dripping with sarcasm.
“Ms Gloria, you flatter me. I’ve been learning from my parents since I was little, so I’ve picked up quite a few business skills,” I flicked my hair back, bearing. “You didn’t think I was like you, did you?”
“What do you mean? Glona’s eyes turned cold
isn’t your background common knowledge? I feigned surprise, “Sorry, I can speak softer”
Gloria’s ex husband was a nobody. Their two daughters had just grown up when he suddenly disappeared and was never heard from again.
Not long after Karina’s incident, Gloria went abroad, leaving Kate Aaron in the country
She treated her two daughters very differently
All in all, Gloria’s marriage to the vice president of Harmony Enterprises showed she had some skills, but it didn’t change her past or her marriages
“You don’t have to be sarcastic. If you were in my shoes, you might not have achieved what I have Gloria seemed very confident in her abilities and methods. She replied calmly
Lid what have you achieved?” I pretended to think, then had a sudden realization, “Oh, I get it. Your achievement is that you used your late daughter to elander Neil and me, used her unborn child to provoke Neil, and forced him to cooperate with Star Glow Enterprises, right?”
Gloria’s face immediately turned into an angry mask. If it werent for the other people present, she might have killed me on the spot.
Her reaction was satisfying. Since she purposely tried to upset me, I decided to return the favor.
After saying my piece, I turned around and found my seat. That was my second business summit. The first one was about three years ago, when I attended with Neil. Back then, my goal was to witness his love at first-sight for Bonnie.
As I settled in, I finally got a look at Bonnie. She was dressed to the nines today, looking every bit the career woman. Confidence oozed from her, but her smile stiffened as she caught sight of me.
The seating arrangement today was kind of funny. Bonnie’s spot was just to my left. Once she confirmed her seat, she plonked down next to me.
“Mr. Whitmores in the house!” someone bellowed from across the room. All eyes swiveled in that direction.
Neil always managed to steal the spotlight at those kinds of events. Whether it was his status or his looks, he had the knack to turn all heads.
Dressed in a simple yet snazzy black suit, the gold buttons on his cuffs twinkled under the lights as he moved. Standing close to 6’3″, with a body to die for, he looked like a professional model who just happened to be wearing a suit.
