Chapter 295
“I met up with Russel that time because I had some serious stuff to dish out with him. It wasn’t some hush-hush date or nothing” If Neil wasn’t going to come home and hear me out, then I was gonna lay it all out right here.
From the look of it, Neil wasn’t buying any of it. His eyes didn’t hold a shred of warmth. The affection and tenderness he showed just days ago had now gone up and vanished.
Just then, the two ladies who were pouring his drinks chimed in. They seemed to not know Neil, let alone me. They must have pegged me as some pest bugging Neil and started to mock me, ‘Got the nerve to beg for forgiveness after stepping out? That’s low!”
“You better scram. Don’t spoil our drinking.” The other lady shooed me away with
annoyance.
I couldn’t care less about what they were yapping. I was just waiting for Neil’s response. No matter what, I had to make him believe me cause I couldn’t handle the mess with my dad and Oscar on my own.
Sometimes, just dealing with the company’s affairs left me running around like a headless chicken, let alone situations that demanded some smooth talking.
Neil seemed to be nodding along with the two ladies. He didn’t respond to me at all. Instead, he told me to beat it, “You can leave. If you want to move out of Sterling Estates, I won’t stop you.”
That comment was a gut punch. I was about to explain further when Neil’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, then at me, and asked, “You still here?”
“I’m not going unless you come home with me.” I retorted defiantly.
“Well then, keep hanging around. Neil answered, picked up the call, exchanged a few words, and hung up, then went back
to his drink.
I took a sip from my glass and waited patiently.
What I didn’t see coming was the call Neil got was from Bonnie. Seeing her in front of me, I shot Neil a puzzled look.
Bonnie didn’t expect me to be here either. Her smile froze as she asked, “Neil, why is she here?”
“None of your business. You drink now?” Neil answered indifferently
Bonnie used to say she couldn’t drink because of her heart condition, but now she had started to attend some social events with Gloria, so sometimes she had no choice but to drink.
Bonnie was overjoyed to see that Neil didn’t hold her responsible for the events of the day. He even answered her call and was willing to have a drink with her.
She promptly found a place to sit and turned towards the women who were dressed in revealing clothing. She then exclaimed with excitement., “Neil, can you send them away?”
“You don’t like them?” Neil’s lips curled into a smile. It was a facade of tenderness, but it was enough to move hearts.
“I don’t. I… I’m kinda jealous.” Bonnie bit her lip tightly as if it took all her courage to spill those words.
The two drink companions exchanged glances, their faces filled with resentment. Bonnie was ruining their business.
However, Neil was very accommodating to Bonnie tonight. Without any hesitation, he sent the two ladies by his side away.
The drink companions had no choice but to get up and leave.
Neil patted the spot next to him lightly and said, “Come, sit here,”
Bonnie didn’t hesitate and sat next to Neil. Initially, she seemed a bit uncertain, sitting up straight, but Neil gently put his arm around her shoulder. His affectionate gesture made her even happier.
I knew Neil was putting on this show for me, but Bonnie was oblivious. Her joy and pride were genuine.
“Neil, what about her? Is she not leaving?” Bonnie pointed at me. Clearly, she thought I was just like the other two ladies and shouldn’t be around Nell.
“If you don’t like her, you can send her away.” Neil answered calmly.
Bonnie’s eyes lit up as if she got the green light, but she hesitated, seemingly Intimidated by me.
Chapter 295
1 looked at her calmly until she finally spoke, “Irene, can I have some alone time with Neil?”
Her eyes were sincere.
“I’m waiting for Neil.” I stayed put, my voice indifferent.
“He’s not going home tonight.” Bonnie leaned her head on Neil’s shoulder, a blush on her face, “He’ll probably be with me.”
Neil remained silent, just sipping his drink. He occasionally glanced at me as if to gauge my reaction.
So he was tacitly agreeing with Bonnie? Planning to spend the night with her?
“Neil, it’s your call.” I didn’t bother with Bonnie anymore, leaving it up to Neil, I shouldn’t care about his choice, but because I needed his help right now, my emotions were on a roller coaster.
Neil was tapping his fingers lightly on Bonnie’s shoulder. They looked like a real couple, and I seemed like the third wheel trying to wreck their relationship.
I stared into his eyes, awaiting his answer.
After a while, Neil looked at me calmly. In the dim light, his eyes were a bit blurry, and I couldn’t make out his gaze.
“You should go.”
Those words clearly showed his stance. He didn’t trust me, nor did he want to give me a chance to explain.
Bonnie looked astonished when she heard his answer, which I found rather amusing.
Then she started to rush me again, “Irene, you better go. Don’t make Neil mad.”
“Fine, I’m leaving,” I picked up my bag, feeling a chill in my heart.
I took a deep breath and laid my last card on the table, “Neil, I’ll be moving out first thing tomorrow, and I won’t be coming
back.”
Neil’s eyebrows furrowed, a crack in his icy expression.
“Irene, you don’t need to threaten him. You saw what happened today. Do you think you still have the right to threaten him?” Bonnie snapped.
I didn’t say a word. Just quietly picked up my bag and walked out. I was betting with myself that Neil didn’t really want me to leave, that he would come back and hear me out.
When I got outside the club, it was snowing heavily. It seemed like the biggest snowfall of the winter. In just an hour, the ground under the neon lights was covered in white.
I glanced back at the club entrance, then drove back to Sterling Estates alone.
When I got back to Sterling Estates, I made a point to check the time. It was already 2 in the morning. If Neil didn’t show up before dawn, am I really gonna pack up and leave?
I just sat there in the living room, thinking about everything that went down today.
