Chapter 74

Chapter 74:
The bold message read, “I’m in my room. Bring me something to eat.” Stella blinked in disbelief, wondering if she had misread it. But no—she double-checked the contact. It really was from William.
Was he seriously expecting her to play room service? Did something happen to his legs or hands? Couldn’t he grab his own food?
They were just colleagues. It wasn’t like she owed him anything. She wasn’t his assistant, let alone his maid. And besides, hadn’t she seen a plate of food in front of him during dinner? Hadn’t he eaten already?
The more she thought about it, the less sense it made.
She was tempted to ignore the message entirely, but after lying in bed for a while, she couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at her.
William was her direct superior at the research institute. If she ticked him off, what if he held it against her?
He did seem like someone who held grudges. They’d already had a few awkward run-ins, and he clearly hadn’t forgotten, especially that embarrassing shower incident…
Just thinking about it made Stella shiver. With a sigh, she reluctantly climbed out of bed.
Whatever. She wasn’t going to stoop to his level. Delivering food wasn’t a big deal. Twenty minutes tops, and she’d be back under the covers.
When Laura came out from the bathroom with damp hair, she noticed Stella slipping on a coat and getting ready to leave. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Stella? It’s late—where are you going?”
“I’m just a little hungry,” Stella said casually. “Heading to the cafeteria to see if there’s anything left.”
Without waiting for a response, she opened the door and stepped out. Laura watched the door close behind her, feeling a bit puzzled. Stella never ate this late.
Maybe she really was hungrier than usual today.
Your adventure awaits at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․c〇m
Shrugging it off, Laura went back to her reading.
Meanwhile, Stella walked straight to the cafeteria. Luckily, they kept a few late-night snacks on hand. The options weren’t impressive, but it was enough to satisfy a grown man’s appetite.
With a tray of noodles and some sides in hand, she made her way toward Room 305.
Once she reached the door, she knocked softly.
William was already inside when he heard the knock and quickly got up. After messaging Stella, he’d been sitting on the sofa, still wearing the same robe she’d seen him in last time.
There was a mirror near the entrance, and as he walked over, he paused to check his reflection. He adjusted his collar slightly, making it look effortlessly relaxed, then casually opened the door. The door swung open, and William’s tall frame came into view. Stella’s eyes darted up, caught a glimpse, then instantly looked away.
Seriously? Why was he opening the door like that—half-dressed and showing off his chest?
“Here’s your food,” she said quickly, holding the tray out to him. She wasn’t planning to step inside and made sure to keep her eyes fixed on the tray.
It might’ve been quiet now, but who could say if someone would step out of his room? Therefore, she wasn’t going to take any chances, especially not with Nathalia having confronted her earlier that day. The last thing she needed was to be caught at William’s door.
William let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by how she avoided looking at him. While accepting the food, he teased, “What’s got you flustered? It’s not like you haven’t seen it before. You were pretty fearless last time, weren’t you?”
Her cheeks heated up in embarrassment. This man really didn’t let things go. He remembered everything!
Taking a quick step back, she said, “Okay, you’ve got your food. I’ll get going now.”
She turned to leave, but before she could take another step, William caught her wrist from behind.
“What’s the hurry?” he said smoothly. “Stay with me.”
Her heart gave a sudden jolt. What exactly was he trying to do now?
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