Chapter 59 Divorce Agreement
Stella was ashamed, and she was on the verge of tears. “Um, I didn’t expect the conversation to go around quickly.”
“Is that so? Of course it’ll go around quickly. You’re not that far from me,” he answered.
Dammit. There’s no end to this. Stella found the situation to be problematic. She wanted to leave the place that was making her head hurt.
When he noticed she was looking shy and awkward, he said, “She’s not my girlfriend.”
She replied, “Does that have anything to do with me?” She then left the office, but on the way back, she inexplicably cheered up.
When she just came back to the office, Kevin came to her in a hurry. “Well, you seem capricious today, Stella, but no time for a chat. Get prepared.”
When she asked what they were preparing for, Kevin said the client from America had come for an on-site visit, and she would be welcoming them. The news surprised her, since she didn’t expect them to come so soon after accepting Miles’ invite.
She was getting nervous though. Since she was the one who went on the trip with Miles, she had the duty to welcome them. Luckily, some of her design department colleagues went with her, and the administrative department was responsible for the itinerary. Everyone was working hard so they could penetrate the American market, since they just lost a big client a few days ago.
Kevin asked Stella and Lisa to welcome the clients, and that night, the three of them were the welcoming committee. Miles wasn’t there though, and Stella wondered why. Maybe he doesn’t need to take part in this personally.
Since they knew Stella, the Americans kept asking her questions and gave her toasts. Stella wasn’t a good drinker, and she got drunk after two glasses of beer. Someone then mentioned Miles, but Stella didn’t know who. Maybe it’s the Americans.
“I heard Grant is famous for being strict and unforgiving of his employees. He’s a bona fide capitalist who doesn’t respect the people who work for him.” Everyone let loose after a few glasses of wine.
Kevin was about to say something when Stella interrupted. “Not at all. Our President Grant is a gentleman. A very gentle one, if I might add. Of course he can be unforgiving at times.”
Even though she was drunk, she knew she couldn’t tell them when he was unforgiving. She was talking in Mandarin, so Lisa translated it for her, and the clients nodded.
The Americans asked again, “I heard Grant’s girlfriend is a North, and their relationship is an arranged one. Are they an item now?” Even Americans would tend to be gossipy once they got drunk.
Kevin was about to say it was Miles’ secret, and they didn’t know, but Stella interjected, “No, she’s not his girlfriend.” She was obviously drunk.
Kevin frowned at Stella. She’s drunk alright. Everyone loses their image once they get drunk. Stella’s mostly a proper lady.
They had a good chat, and once they arranged the Americans’ accommodation, the trio went back home. Kevin asked Lisa to take Stella home, and Stella slept the whole way, oblivious of what happened around her. She couldn’t even recognize her house when she came home, nor could she take her keys out.
Lisa noticed someone standing outside Stella’s house, and it was Miles. Miles frowned when he saw how drunk Stella was. After Lisa handed Stella to him, Stella reflexively held his arm, leaning against him, her eyes closed.
“Tell me about the negotiation,” Miles told Lisa.
Lisa told him everything, emphasizing on what Stella told them, then she said goodbye. “I’ll be leaving now, President Grant.”
Miles held Stella, who was about to fall. “You may leave.” Then he patted Stella’s face. “Get the keys and open the door.”
“No way.” She gripped his arm. “This is not my home. It’s Zane’s. I wouldn’t even stay here if not for Lizbeth. Sit with me.” She sat on the doorstep, still wobbly and still grabbing Miles’ arm. Her eyes were still closed.
Miles obliged. The sky was gorgeous that night though. “So you see me that way, huh?” he said gently, looking up at the stars. “When have I been unforgiving? And to whom?”
“In the bed. To me,” she grumbled.
That melted his heart. He might be the president of Miles Conglomerate, but almost nobody tried to understand him, nor had they ever tried to. All they did was spread rumors about him, and all they saw was his cold, calculative side. Only the woman beside him had ever walked into his heart and saw his true self.
She even said that Yvonne wasn’t his girlfriend. If she already knows, then why is she running? Not bad though. At least she defended me in front of those guys. He lifted her chin, but she swatted his hand away in disgust. “If you’re not getting the door open, are you planning to sleep on the streets?” he asked.
Stella was in a drunken stupor, not knowing what was happening. Subsequently, Miles took the keys out of her handbag and took her to her bed. By instinct, Stella wrapped her arms around his neck. “Don’t go.”
Her actions took him back to the first time they met each other again six months ago. She wrapped her arms around his neck back then, too, looking drunkenly sexy like how she was now.
Tonight, he didn’t leave, nor did they do anything, and Stella slept soundly.
She woke up groggily on the next day, staring into his eyes. She reflexively frowned as she attempted to recall what happened the night before. She vaguely recalled Lisa, then Miles. Oh man. I’m still using his arm as a pillow. He’s still sleeping. She turned around quietly, facing him with her back.
But his voice then sounded from behind. “You’re awake?”
A short while later, she grunted. Stella thought about it for a long time before finally saying, “President Grant, since you know how I feel about you, I have a request. Whatever you want with me will have to wait until after the divorce. I’m really pressured now by the depravity of it all.”
“Your feelings about me?” There was a drawl in his voice as he spoke from behind. “What kind of feelings?”
“I—” She was vexed. You know it! Don’t play dumb.
“The feelings of wanting me?” he asked.
Her face turned scarlet. She bit her lip and nodded.
“How do you want me? In the bed, or in your heart? What’s your plan?”
The barrage of questions stopped her from answering. She was hurt when Yvonne confronted her back then, and she reacted in reflex, thus spoke without much thought. Flicking her hair, she got up from the bed. “I’m trying to get a divorce with Zane. I can’t wait for eight months. It’s going to be a nightmare.”
Since Yvonne already knows, then I have nothing to fear. I don’t need this mansion. I have to get out of his house even if I get nothing. The moment she got up, someone knocked on the door, much to her panic. It couldn’t be Lizbeth, could it? Miles is still in the bed.
She gave Miles a worried look, but he replied calmly, “Open the door.” When she went to ask who the person was, he said he was the courier, and Stella opened the door. She tried to think of the things she bought recently, but nothing came to mind. I bought nothing. Is this a mistake?
After she opened the door, the courier handed her a document and asked her to sign it. When she took it, she was shocked, for it was a divorce agreement. The document flummoxed her. It had been a long while since she wanted to get a divorce, and she thought it’d be a lot of trouble, but she didn’t expect it to come so suddenly. According to the agreement, the mansion and properties would go to her after the divorce. They’d get divorced immediately, and she was required in Murdough.
Stella wanted to ask Lizbeth about it, but she was too ashamed to. At this time, Miles had gotten up and saw the agreement she was holding, but he said nothing. Stella stared at him. “Do you know why this is happening?”
“His cash flow broke, and the company’s bankrupt. His family’s dragged into it, so he chose to go through with the divorce to give you his assets so it wouldn’t be counted as bankruptcy estate. Also, he knows you’ll give these back to him eventually.” Miles changed into his suit as he spoke.
Stella frowned. She didn’t want the mansion. Even though it was counted as shared property because he bought it after the marriage, she felt guilty taking it because she contributed nothing to the family. Miles knew exactly what she was thinking though, for he could see through her.
Then she remembered the time her father told her to ask Miles to get his money back. Back then, she knew pulling funds out would put Zane’s company in trouble. She knew nothing about managing a business, but she knew that much.
Staring at him, she asked, “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? You can see ten steps ahead. It’s impossible you don’t know what will happen to Zane’s company if my father took his stakes out.”
Stella thought he agreed for the sake of Yvonne when her father went to threaten him. However, she realized that wasn’t the case. She was being short-sighted. His real goal was to get Zane bankrupt. At the end of the day, it was for the sake of her.
