Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 150

“Okay,” Stella nodded, pulling Erica along.

Jeremy walked beside them. “Stella, did you two sort everything out?”

Stella hesitated.

Today was supposed to be a serious, formal affair between her and Ernest, but Erica and Michael ended up being the main event. If slaps counted as negotiation, then she supposed they’d sorted it out.

Before Stella could figure out what to say, Erica puffed out her chest proudly. “With me there, what’s to worry about? I had it handled in two seconds flat.”

Jeremy noticed Stella’s strange expression and figured there was more to the story. As long as the outcome was good, the details didn’t matter.

‘Who cares about my feelings?‘ Michael thought to himself.

A short while later, they were all seated around a coffee table in the conference room. The lawyer Stella had hired to check for loopholes was Mr. Warren, the same one who had bailed her out during the “murder–for- hire” incident.

He was also known as the undefeated star of Lumière’s legal department.

“Ms. Spencer,” Mr. Warren said, pushing up his silver–rimmed glasses, his expression serious. “This divorce agreement, including the asset division, is completely sound.”

Just as Stella was about to nod her thanks, he added a “but.”

“But the stock transfer portion definitely carries some risk.”

“Which stocks?” Stella asked.

Mr. Warren explained, “Shares belonging to the Lloyd Group and its subsidiaries, among others.”

All told, it was a staggering, almost terrifying sum.

The risks Stella would have to assume were proportionally large.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” The word ‘no‘ wasn’t in Erica’s vocabulary when it came to freebies. “He’s offering, so you take it. Worst case, you sell them off as soon as you get them.”

“No,” Jeremy disagreed. “You’ve finally cut ties with them. Accepting these stocks would just drag you back in.”

“Then transfer the shares to me,” Erica said, a lightbulb going off in her head. “I’m not afraid of getting tangled up with them. My dad can deal with it.”

She turned to Stella, a foxy grin on her face. “Once the dividends come in, I’ll just transfer the money to you.”

Jeremy stared at her, impressed.

:

What an unusual way of thinking. ‘Is she… a business genius?‘

Erica, feeling his stare, shot him a playful warning glare. “Jeremy, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but that look is a little intense.”

A faint smile played on Jeremy’s lips. “I just realized you’re a genius.”

You flatter me,” Erica said, beaming.

“Stella, I think Erica’s idea is good,” Jeremy said, not only agreeing but taking it a step further with an even more malicious plan. “But there’s no need to involve your father, Erica. You could sell all those shares to Ernest’s biggest competitor.”

Even if the number of shares wasn’t huge, it would be enough to cause trouble and really piss Ernest off.

It wouldn’t kill him, but it would definitely be a thorn in his side.

Stella couldn’t help but laugh.

She’d never realized how devious they both were.

“Alright, you two,” Stella said, calming them down as she explained her own thoughts. “I don’t plan on taking any of it-”

Before she could finish, Erica exploded. “What? You’re not taking it? Why the hell not?”

She knew what Stella had been through over the years.

The compensation in the agreement was nothing. In her opinion, even giving Stella the entire Lloyd Group wouldn’t be enough.

That hit a nerve, completely changing Stella’s mind.

Who would be so clueless as to stop her…

“I don’t care who she is. No one sees the CEO without an appointment,” the receptionist stated, unyielding.

Huh?

Erica was floored.

Wait.

It clicked for Erica. She turned to Stella, asking uncertainly, “All these years, they don’t even know who you are?”

She knew Stella wasn’t exactly cherished by the Lloyds, but she hadn’t imagined it was this bad.

The CEO’s wife, and not even the company’s employees recognized her. It was laughable.

“Mhm,” Stella replied, her smile genuine. It wasn’t an act; she truly didn’t care about the past anymore.

Whether they recognized her or not was irrelevant. She had decided to leave, and nothing here had anything to do with her anymore.

“You!”

Stella might not care, but Erica was furious enough for the both of them and felt like shaking her friend. “This place is the worst. Why didn’t you ever tell me this was happening?”

If Erica had known, the entire Lloyd Group would have known Stella’s name long ago.

“It’s okay,” Stella soothed. “It’s all in the past. It doesn’t bother me now. The most important thing is to look forward.”

“Fine, fine, whatever you say.” Erica knew she couldn’t win. She turned back to the receptionist. “We don’t have an appointment, but you can call Ernest Lloyd right now. When he hears it’s us, he’ll let you send us up.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

Seeing how confident she was, the receptionist dubiously picked up the desk phone and dialed the executive assistant’s office.