Chapter 172

[ 488 words ]

Jeremy had left.

Tabitha walked in, “Boss, did Mr. Patel lose something? Looks like he’s trying to pull a fast one on you, doesn’t it?”

It seemed to Tabitha that everyone was out to scam Stella these days.

Stella retorted, “You think everyone’s like Cloudia, huh?”

Tabitha was silent. She was just worried about her boss and that was all.

Their studio had been open for almost two years, and they had never seen so many visitors before.

Cloudia was carried out just yesterday, and today, Jeremy claimed he lost something here. This made Tabitha wonder if everyone was out to get her boss. Stella clarified, “He actually lost a ring, and by the looks of it, it’s worth close to one million.”

Tabitha choked.

Really?

Wasn’t this just a scam targeting their boss?

Someone lost something worth millions in her boss’s office, and if that was not a scam, Tabitha wouldn’t believe it.

“I bet he’s trying to scam you, boss. Don’t think of people too innocently.”

Stella countered, “And you shouldn’t think so poorly of people, or you might end up without a boyfriend.”

Tabitha was speechless. Was her concern really misplaced?

Who visited someone and “accidentally” lost something worth millions? That had to be intentional.

Stella uttered, “Alright, make me a coffee, will you?”

Scam or no scam, it didn’t matter to Stella. She wasn’t an easy target. After all, she wasn’t scamming anyone herself.

Last night, Ronald had given her quite the headache with his drunken antics, and she was still feeling a bit woozy. Tabitha nodded and left.

As Stella was left alone, her phone buzzed.

It was Ronald.

Stella answered, “Hey, Ronald.”

“Jeremy left?”

His voice was deep and carried an intimidating seriousness.

Stella confirmed, “Yes.”

If he hadn’t left, who knew what Ronald would have done?

Ronald inquired, “His bracelet?”

“I returned it,” Stella was quick to respond.

Fortunately, she had returned it. Judging by Ronald’s tone, if she hadn’t, she would’ve been in deep trouble. Ronald said, “What did I tell you before?”

“That I can’t accept gifts from men, and I didn’t,” Stella whispered, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance. Feeling Ronald’s sternness, she quickly added, “I really didn’t accept it.”

Ronald softened, “Alright, good girl.”

Stella was exasperated.

“Good girl”, was that term really appropriate for her now?

“Can I never accept gifts from men? I’m all grown up now.”

This question had an undertone of testing the waters.

Although Ronald wasn’t seeing anyone else, Stella had grown up. And then there was last night…

Thinking about it made Stella’s cheeks flush with warmth.

Ronald might not remember anything, but Stella wanted to test what his plans for her were. There was silence on the line.

Stella’s heart was racing.

After about five seconds, Ronald asked, “How do you feel about accepting gifts from men, Star?” “Huh? I haven’t accepted any!”

Honest to God, during her years in Portis City, she had never accepted a gift from any man.

Ronald pressed, “Not even from me?”

Stella hesitated, “Um?”

Ronald asked, “How does it feel?”

Stella was speechless.

The question was so unexpected, Stella couldn’t even begin to process a response.

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