Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 151

Chapter 151

The receptionist wasn’t authorized to contact the CEO directly; all calls were routed through the executive

assistant’s office.

A moment later, the receptionist hung up. “You can wait over there. Someone is coming down to meet you.”

“Thanks,” Erica nodded, about to lead Stella to the small sofa in the waiting area when the main elevator doors chimed open.

Ding!

Sean Leach emerged, a man with a slender build in a black suit.

His eyes, sharp and unsettling behind silver–rimmed glasses, immediately found Stella. A smug, insincere smile played on his lips.

“Ms. Spencer,” he said, his voice oily.

Stella turned and found Sean right in her face. His gaze was as intense as ever, but instead of feeling the usual pressure, she felt an urge to laugh.

Sean’s expression darkened. “What’s so funny?”

He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about Stella had changed. She used to be like a mouse cornered by a cat whenever she saw him. Now, not only did she dare to laugh at him, but the mocking glint in her bright eyes was completely undisguised.

Stella chuckled for a moment before answering. “I used to think your stare was unsettling.”

Sean was almost pleased. ‘Maybe I’ll go a little easier on her later,‘ he thought.

“But now I realize,” she continued, “it’s not your stare that’s horrifying–it’s the disgusting crust you have in the corner of your eye that you haven’t bothered to wipe off.”

Sean froze, his pupils dilating in disbelief. He was so stunned he forgot to even touch his face.

“What did you just say?” He couldn’t believe those words had come from Stella’s mouth.

Could the meek, compliant ‘Mrs. Lloyd‘ he knew really have such a sharp tongue?

Before Stella could reply, Erica, who had been listening and sizing up the situation, jumped in. “Dude, not only are you a slob, but you’re hard of hearing too?

“Didn’t you hear her? She said you’re disgustingly horrifying.

“What, you didn’t catch it the first time? Want me to say it again for you?”

Realizing what was about to happen, Sean’s eyes widened in panic. “Don’t-”

“Mr. Leach, your crusty, unwashed eyes are disgustingly horrifying!”

Erica’s voice boomed, echoing throughout the entire lobby.

The echo lingered, long and clear.

Every employee in the vicinity stopped in their tracks. After a moment of dead silence, every gaze in the building locked onto Sean, who looked like he’d been turned to stone.

The silence was deafening.

Though no one said a word, the rapid blinking of their eyes made it clear they were enjoying the drama.

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Sean’s composure finally shattered, and he yelled at Erica, completely losing his cool.

Erica looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “But isn’t it the truth?”

The fact that it was true only made it worse.

Furious, Sean ignored her and glared at Stella. “Ms. Spencer, I don’t care what games you’re playing, but Mr. Lloyd is in a meeting and has no time for you. You’d better take this lunatic and get out of here.”

The instant he finished speaking, Stella took several steps back, offering a silent prayer for him.

Sean saw her retreat and a small smile began to form on his lips, but it was wiped away by a sudden, vicious slap.

Crack!

The sound was almost as loud as Erica’s shout.

Half of Sean’s face went numb, and his ears were ringing.

He saw Erica’s mouth moving, but he couldn’t hear a single word.

“What are you mumbling about? And how dare you hit-”

People tend to raise their voices when they can’t hear.

His sudden shout, combined with the dazed way he was shaking his head, was, to Erica, a clear provocation.

As a connoisseur of slapping jerks, Erica didn’t hesitate to deliver another.

Within moments, Sean’s face was swollen and red, his eyes were nearly puffed shut, and his lips were so puffy he was drooling.

Just as Erica, a stickler for round numbers, was about to go for one more, Stella rushed forward and pulled her back. “Erica, stop! You’re going to kill him.”

Her words were a lifeline to Sean.

He looked at Stella with gratitude. “Thank you,” he mumbled.

Stella couldn’t help but laugh. He was thanking her after getting slapped.

The chaos didn’t last long. Ernest, having finished his meeting and been informed of the situation, arrived, bringing the farce to an end.

Inside the CEO’s office, Ernest glanced at the barely recognizable Sean before his gaze settled on Stella, who was sitting across from him. His voice was as cool and detached as ever. “If you have a problem with the settlement, you could have just said so. There was no need to cause a scene.”

Stella was past the point of even finding him ridiculous.

When she looked at him now, she felt nothing but the calm indifference one feels for a stranger.

“You’re overthinking it,” she said calmly. “I came because I’ve signed the agreement. We can go to city hall now and file the papers.”

Ernest clearly hadn’t expected this. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

He paused. “You have no objections?”

“What objections would you like me to have?” Stella countered.

“Regarding Irene…”

Before he could finish, Stella cut him off. “There’s no need. We’ll stick to what the agreement says.”

“…Alright.”

Ernest pulled his gaze away from her. The dark turbulence in his eyes was masked by the bright sunlight streaming through the floor–to–ceiling windows, unnoticed by anyone.

‘She’s not even fighting for Irene… What’s going through her head?‘

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of fingers tapping on the desk broke the silence.

Ernest looked up and met a pair of extremely impatient eyes. For a fleeting moment, the way the light outlined her features overlapped with his memory of the eyes that used to look at him with endless warmth and anticipation.

“We’ve said what needs to be said. Shouldn’t we get going? The people at city hall don’t have all day to wait for you,” Stella said, tired of wasting time with him.

“Let’s go.”

Shaking off the memory, Ernest stood and walked out of the office.

Stella and Erica hurried to follow, but then they paused.

The man walking ahead of them seemed to remember something. He turned back to Sean, who was standing there looking like a child who had done something wrong. Ernest’s voice was devoid of emotion, but anyone could hear his displeasure.

“You’re hurt. Go home and rest. Don’t come in for a few days.”