SWNOVELS Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“Kale is delicious too. It’s crunchy and sweet. You should try it sometime, Mrs. Foley. You should also develop good lifestyle habits and have a regular sleep schedule. It’s best not to stay up late.” Mike advised.
He was aware of Stella’s work in design and her habit of burning the midnight oil while working on drafts. Stella was pleasantly surprised by Mike’s attention to detail and couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t expect you to have a caring side behind your rugged exterior. Your girlfriend must be so lucky!”
“Mrs. Foley, please spare me the teasing. I’m single, Mike replied with a grin.
“Wait, you’re se You’re handsome, over six feet tall, and with a good salary as an executive assistant.
How’s it that you don’t have a girlfriend?”
Mike wanted to joke about how Brian’s busy schedule left him no time for dating. However, before he could say so, Brian shot him a stern look, ‘Mikel”
Mike quickly turned back. “Yes, Mr. Foley?”
Brian glared at them both from the back seat. “Quiet, I need to rest.”
“Okay,” Mike complied, not daring to say more.
With that, Brian closed his eyes.
Stella couldn’t help but think he was such a strange person. She muttered, “Being your subordinate is exhausting; you’re like a dictator who doesn’t allow anyone to chat during work.”
Brian suddenly opened his eyes and gave her a death stare. “That’s because you’re always talking.
nonsense.
“How am I talking nonsense?” she retorted.
“You’re always prying into other people’s privacy. Don’t you think that’s rude?” he grunted.
Stella was taken aback. “I’m just having a conversation, okay?”
Mike wanted to intervene but decided it was best to remain silent when he saw Brian’s Intimidating gaze.
Brian scoffed and said, “You’re constantly asking about the person’s salary and whether he has a girlfriend. You even praised him for being thoughtful? Isn’t that just fishing for information?”
Stella was surprised Brian even knew what it meant to fish for information. She sneered, “If we’re talking about prying, no one beats the person by your side.
Since witnessing Jessica’s tactics last night, Stella no longer had a good impression of her.
“Hah! Are you jealous?” Brian’s gaze intensified.
Stella chuckled. “You’re overthinking it. You’re really full of yourself.”
Brian’s face darkened, and he fell silent. The atmosphere grew tense once again.
Mike sighed inwardly. He wanted to lighten the mood between Brian and Stella, but things only grew more strained. He drove on, feeling despondent.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Foley residence. Stella pushed open the car door to get out, but unexpectedly, Brian grabbed her arm.
Caught off guard by his sudden actions, Stella stumbled backward and bumped into his firm chest. Her nose stung from the impact and she reached up to touch it.
“Brian Foley, what are you doing?” Stella said with displeasure.
“Hold on.” Brian pulled a box from the backseat and opened it; there was a dazzling pink diamond necklace inside.
Stella, with her designer’s eye, immediately recognized its value. “Why are you giving me this?”
“As the CEO’s wife, you need to make an impression at family dinners. Otherwise, people might get the wrong idea about us,” Brian remarked casually.
Stella was speechless. So, it was all for his image. She took a deep breath and waited for him to put it on
her.
Brian delicately handled the necklace. His long fingers brushed against her neck, sending tingles down
her spine.
Stella squirmed uncomfortably and curled her fingers. Are you
done
ne yet?”
“Hold still.” His fingers struggling to secure the clasp amidst her movement.
Stella felt her heart flutter as Brian constantly grazed her skin. “Hurry up!”
“Stop moving.” He commanded. She kept fidgeting, making it difficult for him to fasten the necklace.
Stella reluctantly stood still.
Frustrated, Brian turned her around to face him and fastened the necklace from the front..
When Stella looked up, she saw Brian’s handsome face. With his impeccable dressing, he exuded an air of regal authority.
Unable to maintain eye contact, Stella lowered her long lashes.
“Stop moving,” he commanded. She kept fidgeting, making it difficult for him to fasten the necklace.
Stella reluctantly stood still.
Frustrated, Brian turned her around to face him and fastened the necklace himself.
When Stella looked up, she saw Brian’s handsome face. With his impeccable dressing, he exuded an air of regal authority.
Unable to maintain eye contact, Stella lowered her long lashes.
Brian studied Stella for a moment when he noticed her nervousness. Her cheeks were flushed, and she stood in his arms like a beautiful porcelain doll
“When we go in, just do as I say.” Brian instructed firmly.
Stella looked up at him, her eyes glistening. “If I do as you say, you won’t go after Yelena, right?”
“That’s right.”
Hearing Brian’s response, Stella smiled.
As they strolled toward the gate, a teacup hurtled toward them and crashed at Brian’s feet.
“You rascal! You’re not one of the Foleys! I’ve never allowed Jessica Xenos to be part of the Foleys. Why are you still involved with her? Go and deal with her immediately!”
Stella quivered in fear as she caught sight of the figures seated in the living room. It was Alfred and Sharon.
Alfred, leaning on his cane, had angrily thrown the teacup at Brian. At eighty years old, he was still robust and energetic.
Seeing Stella terrified, Alfred gave her a reassuring glance. “Stella, head over there. I’m not scolding you.”
“Grandpa,” Stella said obediently.
“Step aside. I’ll help you to teach this shameless scumbag a lesson!”
Stella struggled to contain her amusement, she didn’t expect Alfred to use the term “shameless scumbag. *However, she became uneasy when she noticed Sharon shooting her a stern glare. Hence, she lowered her head and stepped aside.
Alfred hurled another teacup at Brian’s feet. Unfazed, he calmly entered and sat next to Alfred.
“Grandpa, I haven’t done anything wrong. Who’s been spreading lies to you again?”
Brian’s uncle, Keith Foley, who loved to tattle on Brian, was likely behind this. Despite being physically: strong, Alfred suffered from high blood pressure.
Brian was worried about the old man’s health, so he tried to calm him down.
Alfred snorted. “I may be old, but I’m not blind. I keep up with the news, and all these scandals have made headlines.”
“Those are just rumors from the paparazzi. Take yesterday’s news, for example; it was actually me and Stella in the car,” Brian explained, stealing a glance at Stella.
Upon hearing herself mentioned, Stella quickly nodded and affirmed, “Yes, Grandpa, it was me in the car yesterday.”
Alfred was taken aback, his expression filled with disbelief. “Really?”
“Yes, Grandpa,” Stella said earnestly.
Feeling greatly surprised, Alfred couldn’t help but cough. “You’re already married. Why can’t you discuss matters at home? Why must it be in the car?”
Stella knew Alfred had misunderstood. She blushed and explained, “Grandpa, you’ve got it all wrong! The paparazzi were taking random photos.
“Brian was afraid that I’d be recognized, and he didn’t want our privacy invaded, so he had me hide under the seat. We weren’t doing anything in the car.”
Especially not that. Stella could feel her cheeks burning under Sharon’s scrutinizing gaze.