novelxo Chapter 132
Chapter 132
After a while, there was a knock on the door, and the server entered with a bottle of red wine.
“Ms. Yates, this wine is a gift from Mr. Perkins. He said it pairs perfectly with seafood and hopes you
enjoy it.”
Brian’s face darkened at the news.
Unaware of Brian’s reaction, Stella asked the server, “How much does this bottle of wine cost?”
“The wine is 1800 dollars,” the server replied.
Stella hesitated. She couldn’t accept such an extravagant gift. Since divorcing Brian, she had no car, place of her own, and was barely making ends meet.
She took the bottle and directed the server, ‘Take me to his private room.”
Stella was determined to return the wine to Yoel.
Exiting the room, she failed to notice Brian’s brooding expression.
Knocking on Yoel’s door, she found him engaged in conversation with a few men. A cake on the table
bore the words “Yoel Perkins“.
It turned out that today was Yoel’s birthday.
Stella froze, then asked Yoel, “Mr. Perkins, is today your birthday?”
Yoel nodded with a grin. “Yeah, it is. What brings you here?”
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“It’s about this bottle of wine,” she began hesitantly. You know, money’s tight for me right now, and I’m
afraid I can’t accept such an expensive gift, so….?
She awkwardly scratched her head. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was your birthday and didn’t come with a gift.”
“No problem,” Yoel replied warmly. “I gave you the wine because you’re my business partner now. token of appreciation, nothing more.”
His reassurance only deepened Stella’s sense of guilt. She rifled through her bag and found a quartz pendant she had acquired with her mother–in–law. One had been gifted to Brian, and she had kept the
other.
It’s a
“Mr. Perkins,” Stella said earnestly, extending the pendant toward him, “if you don’t mind, I’d like to give you this quartz pendant. It’s for protection and peace, something to carry with you on your travels.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” Yoel said warmly. He fastened the pendant around his neck with a smile.
Stella felt a twinge of awkwardness.
The quartz pendant wasn’t expensive. It was just a 40 dollar trinket she had picked up at a local shop for good luck.
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She had given one to Brian previously, but he never seemed to take to it, perhaps thinking it too cheap. Seeing Yoel wear it immediately caught her off guard.
After presenting the gift, Stella exited Yoel’s private room. He insisted she take the wine back and personally escorted her to the door of her own room.
Inside the private room, Brian’s face was tense. Seeing Stella and Yoel return together, he demanded. sharply, “Bill, please!”
The server stationed at the door greeted them with a smile, “Good evening, Sir. Ready to settle the bill?”
“Yes,” Brian responded curtly and handed over a black card.
The server took the card to the nearby checkout counter, which was conveniently positioned just outside
the room.
Stella stepped into the room and glanced over the laden table. “Are we leaving already? There’s still so
much food left.”
“We’re done,” Brian retorted coolly, shooting her a sharp look. Sticking around meant enduring their flirtation, which grated on him. He swiftly exited the room, passing Yoel, who nodded at him in acknowledgment.
“Mr. Foley.”
Brian’s eyes caught sight of something on Yoel’s neck. There, hanging from a chain, was a quartz pendant -exactly like the one Stella had given him before.
Brian’s face turned even colder. “Mr. Perkins, that quartz pendant looks nice. Where did you get it?”
“Stella gave it to me,” Yoel said, deliberately using her first name in front of Brian.
Brian’s expression grew icier. He gave Stella a hard look before heading downstairs.
Stella, bewildered, watched Brian leave. She quickly waved goodbye to Yoel and ran down the stairs.
Yoel stood there with a smile, glancing at the quartz pendant around his neck, then let out a cold laugh. His eyes were filled with mockery.
- CL. 133