Oops I Banged the CEO novel Chapter 129

Yvonne finished speaking and watched as Crystal’s face darkened in an instant.

She offered a soft, almost innocent smile, as if her cutting remark just now had been nothing but a harmless joke.

After all, if someone’s trying to make things difficult for you, there’s no need to keep playing nice just for appearances’ sake.

“Yvonne, what’s your problem? Who are you trying to disgust?” Crystal’s voice rose sharply, her anger barely contained.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Tina chimed in, completely unfazed by Crystal’s temper.

The tension in the air was palpable. Others at the table quickly tried to smooth things over.

“Come on, it’s a reunion. Let’s all keep it friendly—it’s our homeroom teacher’s birthday, after all. You two gorgeous ladies, let’s not spoil the mood.”

“Yeah, really. Let’s all sit down and wait for dinner.”

A couple of classmates known for their knack for lightening the atmosphere immediately joined in, making a fuss and brushing off the conflict as if nothing had happened.

“I doubt the teacher will make it tonight. I’ve already dropped off my gift, so I won’t keep you all from enjoying yourselves,” Yvonne said, placing her present with the others. She ignored everyone’s attempts to get her to stay and prepared to leave.

Yolanda nudged Crystal, giving her a pointed look.

Though Crystal was still visibly annoyed, she caught on quickly. “Yvonne, I was out of line just now. I really do wish you well. Let me apologize with the first toast.” Without hesitation, she picked up a glass of wine that a waiter had just poured and knocked it back in one go.

There’s always something off when people act out of character.

Yvonne was about to leave, but Yolanda stopped her, smiling reassuringly. “Come on, we’re all old friends here. Everyone’s doing well, and we want the same for you. The teacher’s still at the hospital having his blood pressure checked, so let’s just eat first.”

As she spoke, Yolanda gently but firmly guided Yvonne back into her chair.

Yvonne didn’t protest, taking the opportunity to sit back down and biding her time for a better moment to slip away.

“Cedric, sit next to Yvonne. You two were desk mates back in the day,” Yolanda announced, pulling Cedric over and seating him beside Yvonne.

Yvonne glanced at her former seatmate. She remembered him as quiet and withdrawn; they’d barely spoken a handful of times in a whole year, only exchanging a few words about homework.

If she weren’t curious about what role he played in Xenia’s team, Yvonne probably wouldn’t have shown up tonight.

After all these years, he still seemed as reserved as ever, dressed simply. But the Rolex on his wrist, worth nearly sixty grand, told her that Xenia’s company certainly valued him.

She remembered seeing that exact model in a boutique when she’d been shopping for a gift for Marico.

“So, Cedric, what do you do for work these days?” Yvonne asked.

“I…uh…do some tech development,” Cedric replied, visibly tense, eyes fixed on his wine glass as if it might offer him an escape.

“Hmm? I can’t accept your gift—it wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m married, and my husband would be upset if he knew I was accepting gifts from another man.” Yvonne didn’t take the box, and was blunt about her reasons.

“It’s just a thank-you. Back in school, when I had a fever during exams, you bought me cold medicine. If it weren’t for your kindness, I would’ve failed,” Cedric said, voice tight with emotion when she refused. He looked genuinely upset.

Yvonne paused, trying to remember. “Oh, right, I remember now. I always kept some medicine in my bag. It was nothing, really, don’t think twice about it.”

She spoke softly, and just then, the elevator arrived. She prepared to step inside.

Down the hall, outside a private dining room, Xenia was making a phone call when she spotted the scene.

At that moment, Xenia realized with a jolt—the woman who’d argued with her at the Rolex boutique had been Yvonne. And the watch she’d bought seemed to be the very one on Cedric’s wrist.

Xenia’s lips curled into a cold smile, as if she’d just uncovered a juicy secret.

Once inside the elevator, Yvonne finally let out a sigh of relief. The whole encounter had left her on edge. Cedric was as awkward as she remembered, but who knew a single cold tablet could stick in someone’s mind for so long?

Little did she know, that bit of kindness would save her from disaster tonight.

When Yvonne stepped out of the elevator, Yolanda’s men followed close behind. Checking the photo on their phones, they spotted a woman up ahead, on the phone—her back to them, hair and outfit nearly identical to Yvonne’s.

“That’s her. Go!” The man in a mask nodded, convinced the woman was their target. The two of them hurried after Xenia.