Chapter 251 Does Mr. Lawrence Fancy Me?
After providing the hotel's address to the taxi driver, Isabella tried not to overlook the sudden pain in her lower abdomen. It wasn't a good day to work; she needed to rest.
Gazing out the window, she gently massaged her stomach with soothing motions. Upon reaching her destination, Isabella paid for the ride with a quick scan of her phone and got out.
Unbeknownst to her, a car that had been following her slowly drove away only after she entered the hotel. In the back seat, Sebastian sat with a stern expression.
Upon his return to the branch office, the first thing Sebastian encountered was a burst of laughter from the receptionists playfully chatting in the lobby.
He silently made his way upstairs to the executive floor, an area known for diligent employees, though not lacking those who indulged in idle banter over cups of tea. Sebastian chuckled to himself. He had been out of the loop, for the Lawrence Group branch office was surprisingly leisurely.
"Mr. Lawrence, you're here?" Olivia Parker emerged from CEO Sawyer's office with flushed cheeks upon seeing Sebastian.
Sebastian kept his distance, "Is CEO Sawyer in?"
"Yes, yes, he's... I mean, CEO Sawyer is here," Olivia couldn't take her eyes off Sebastian, especially noticing a bite mark on his neck, which made her legs go weak.
A flicker of disgust passed through Sebastian's eyes as he walked past Olivia and opened the door to CEO Sawyer's office.
Seeing Sebastian, CEO Sawyer quickly shifted from his lofty demeanor, turned off his phone, snuffed out his cigarette, and stood up respectfully, "Mr. Lawrence, you've arrived. Why didn't you say so in advance? I would have sent someone to pick you up."
Sebastian spoke indifferently, "Step out, will you?"
CEO Sawyer, taken aback, hesitated, "...Yes?"
Sebastian's gaze was sharp as a sword, "Is there a problem?"
"...Yes," CEO Sawyer, mustering up courage, walked out of the office, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Sebastian approached the desk and began scrutinizing a few documents, his brows furrowing more with each page he turned. Errors in judgment, the books not balancing, and numerous issues came to light. He let out a cold laugh.
‘Thomas Sawyer Steps Out’
Thomas Sawyer stepped out of his office, and his nieces, Olivia Parker and Isabella Thompson approached him with concern. "Uncle, why are you..." she began, but he quickly interrupted her.
"Quiet," Thomas spoke in a hushed tone, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked forward.
Isabella followed him closely. They reached Isabella's office, and she immediately asked, "Uncle, why did you leave Mr. Lawrence alone in the office? And why do you look so pale?"
‘Tension in the Office’
Pacing back and forth, Thomas said, "I've tampered with the company's accounts. Those documents are right on the desk. Mr. Lawrence is bound to see them."
Isabella gasped, alarmed. "What are we going to do? If Mr. Lawrence takes action against you, we're finished."
Tightening his fists, Thomas fixed his gaze on Isabella's face. Isabella, feeling self-conscious, asked, "Is there something on my face?"
"I know you fancy Mr. Lawrence," Thomas said. "What do you say if your uncle sets you up for something favorable?"
Realization dawned on Isabella, and a sparkle appeared in her eyes. After a moment, she looked down, "But would Mr. Lawrence ever be interested in me?"
Unraveling the Past
With a scoff, Thomas shared his intel, "I had someone tail Mr. Lawrence last night. He went to a hotel with an assistant named Wallace, and it seems their relationship is quite special. Surely, he's not one to reject the company of women."
Isabella remembered the marks she saw on Sebastian's neck and connected the dots. "So that's how it is! No wonder that little assistant hesitated to talk about Mr. Lawrence when I asked her yesterday. How dare she, just an assistant, dare think she's suitable!"
Thomas recalled Isabella's aloof demeanor at the airport, and an intriguing idea came to mind.
A Cunning Plan
He placed a reassuring hand on Isabella's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. You just need to seize the opportunity to have Mr. Lawrence wrapped around your finger. Then, once I’m his in-law, he wouldn't dare touch me. And our branch office... well, it will still be ours."
And as for that assistant... Planting a mole in headquarters would be a piece of cake from then on. With this thought, Thomas no longer felt panicked.
Over the following four days, Sebastian didn't reach out to Thomas Sawyer, acting as if he'd seen nothing at all.
Thomas Sawyer felt a rollercoaster of emotions, his heart hanging in the air. Although Sebastian was about to leave, and there wouldn't be any trouble, Thomas's heart remained uneasy, the weight of his thoughts was unshakable.
Four days later.
A few minutes before closing time, after finishing up the branch office's affairs, Thomas Sawyer suggested to Sebastian that they should have a team-building event to show appreciation for the employees' hard work lately - a bonfire dinner.
Sebastian casually agreed, "You handle it."
"Certainly, Mr. Lawrence," Thomas Sawyer responded with a smile. "Rest assured, I'll get the job done."
Isabella was somewhat surprised. She guessed that Sebastian was here for layoffs, but even now, there was no move. The ability of their branch CEO Sawyer was disappointing even to her, and yet Sebastian held back from firing him.
Perhaps Sebastian didn’t find anything critical? Frowning briefly, Isabella's expression cleared up after a few seconds.
Lately, she had maintained a cold and distant demeanor toward Sebastian, with him playing his role as the lofty president and her as the lowly assistant, and thus there were no conflicts.
She didn't want to trouble herself, lest Sebastian think she had ulterior motives.
"Mr. Lawrence," Isabella said, "I don't think the team-building event is suitable for me, so I won't attend."
"You're coming too," Sebastian said, grabbing his coat without turning back, and walking off.
Isabella, fed up, silently cursed him as a tyrant. For the sake of her baby, she swallowed her anger and followed Sebastian.
Back at the hotel, Isabella did as she had the previous evenings - she quickly washed up and curled up on the sofa to avoid any contact with Sebastian.
When Sebastian finished exercising and returned to the bedroom, she finally sat up and opened her messages to vent to Brittany.
Brittany reacted with a crying-laughing emoji.
[It is a bit pitiable.]
Isabella replied.
[Well, you're not being annoyed by a jerk lately, but that doesn't mean you should laugh at me. Oh, I'm so miserable.]
After a while, Brittany sent her a long message.
[Isabella, I think I might understand what your dilemma is. It would be better if I hadn't guessed, because once I did, I can't possibly convince you to escape this marriage. If I can't even persuade myself; how could I persuade you?]
Isabella stared at the message that Brittany had sent on the screen, a wave of sadness washing over her.
‘Making Friends as Adults’
Isabella forced a wry smile as she mulled over Brittany’s words, understanding at once why Brittany had become Joshua's lover. Joshua must have coerced Brittany, using her parents as leverage, just as Sebastian had used the threat of her grandmother to manipulate her. She couldn't help but think they truly embodied the saying, "Misery loves company."
Isabella confidently sent that message through, offering hope to Brittany and to herself as well.
[With certainty, things will get better!]
To lighten the stiff atmosphere, she followed up with a barrage of cute emoticons.
In her New York penthouse, Brittany curled up in bed, saving each of Isabella’s emoticons with a subtle smile playing on her lips. Suddenly, she felt the warmth of a body press against her—the unmistakable presence of Joshua. His voice brushed her ear, "Who are you chatting with that's made you so happy?"
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