CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: HE WANTS IT

Silas switched topics so quickly that Stella’s mind stalled for a moment, struggling to keep up.

After seven or eight seconds, Stella tightened her grip on her phone and asked, "Does President Sutton mean what he says?"

Silas stretched his long legs slightly, "Stella, I’m not so desperate that I need to cling to just one woman."

Stella took a breath, "Then what’s with President Sutton’s recent erratic behavior?"

Silas teased, "Stella, you slept with me for no reason and then avoided me like I’m toxic. If you were me, what would you think?"

Stella suddenly understood and had a moment of enlightenment.

So that’s how it is.

For someone as proud as Silas, who has immense influence in Veridia, being taken advantage of by a minor character like her and then being brushed off as if it didn’t matter must feel quite unsettling.

Understanding this, the weight on Stella’s mind unexpectedly lightened, "Sorry."

Stella’s simple ’sorry’ successfully amused Silas.

A few seconds later, Silas asked in a deep voice, "What time tonight?"

Stella blushed at his words, "Eleven o’clock?"

Silas said, "Alright."

To turn a rendezvous into something akin to a casual meet-up is something only Stella and Silas could pull off in all of Veridia.

After the call ended, Stella closed her phone and sat on the sofa, ruffling her own hair in a frenzy.

Annoyed.

After messing up her hair, Stella suddenly realized that the fault was hers. Although this back-and-forth was a bit awkward, solving it was better than not solving it.

She wanted to establish herself in Veridia and knew she couldn’t afford to offend the powerful.

Stella didn’t mind that she gave her first time to someone she didn’t like. What’s done is done; there’s no point in worrying over it.

Instead of lamenting her lost innocence, it was better to be strong and live well.

She flew to Oakhaven this morning, attended a meeting in the morning, and took a nap in her room at noon.

Waking up, she instinctively reached for her phone by the bedside to check the time. There were two messages from Sue Woods on the screen.

"I’m shooting an advertisement under the blazing sun, the models are under umbrellas, and I’m enjoying a sunbath."

"Stella, do humans really need to work?"

Seeing Sue’s messages, Stella’s lips curved into a smile. She replied: Work is like a marriage in the old times, even if you’re unhappy, you have to stick with it.

After Stella’s message was sent, Sue replied instantly: That metaphor is brilliant!!

Stella: Did you get a heatstroke?

Sue: Almost, want to bring me some mung bean soup?

Stella replied: Can’t, I’m in Oakhaven.

Sue asked: What are you doing in Oakhaven?

Stella: Being a worker bee.

The two of them chatted briefly, finally ending with Stella promising to bring back Oakhaven specialties for Sue.

Stella got up, drank a glass of water, and glanced at the time — 5 PM.

There were six hours left until eleven.

Six hours that felt like an eternity.

Even though Stella kept reassuring herself that it was no big deal, she still couldn’t help but feel nervous.

After all, she was not experienced in this.

To relieve her stress, Stella left the hotel after finishing her glass of water, wandering around the nearby area.

She strolled into a quaint, ancient-looking Chinatown and picked up a few small gifts from a shop.

After browsing the street, she grabbed a bowl of rice noodles to eat.

After wandering around, it was 8:40 PM.

Toting her purchased trinkets back to the hotel, Stella saw Silas and Forrest Keller waiting by the elevator as she crossed the lobby.

Thinking of what’s going to happen tonight, Stella instinctively stopped in her tracks.

Just as she pondered whether to go over or not, Forrest was the first to spot her and greeted her politely, "Manager Grant."

Now, she had no choice but to go over.

Stella resumed her steps, feigning calmness, "Assistant Keller."

After speaking to Forrest, Stella nodded to Silas, "Hello, President Sutton."

Silas had his hands in his pockets, looking down at her with cool eyes and a straight face, "What did Manager Grant buy?"

Stella lifted the items in her hand slightly, "Just some trinkets."

Silas, "For someone?"

Stella admitted, "Yes."

Silas probed further, "A boyfriend?"

Stella’s smile stiffened but she said nothing.

Just as the conversation hit a deadlock, the elevator doors conveniently opened.

Silas strode into the elevator, with Stella and Forrest following closely behind.

Forrest stood to the side of the elevator control panel and pressed the appropriate floor button, while Stella stood behind him, holding the gifts behind her back.

First floor, second floor, third floor...

Stella looked up at the elevator display as she counted silently, suddenly feeling a scratch on the palm of her hand, which was holding the gifts behind her.

Her hands trembled slightly, and before she could turn around, Silas leaned close and whispered in her ear, "I’ll take the gifts."