The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 83

The woman exuded an air of authority. She crossed her left leg over her right, leaned back in her chair, and offered a faint smile.

“Stone Group certainly has a strong reputation.”

At that, Rebecca’s eyes lit up.

“Ms. Laurier, hearing you say that is such a relief.”

The woman lowered her gaze. “It’s just that your design proposal needs a few revisions. Necessary ones, of course. I hope you don’t think I’m being difficult.”

“Not at all! Please, if you could point out the specific areas, we’ll get right on them.”

As she spoke, Rebecca pulled out her phone, eager to exchange contact information.

The woman agreed, which sent Rebecca into a state of near ecstasy.

“I’ll send you the notes shortly. Once you’ve made the changes, everything should be fine.”

Rebecca was so overjoyed she could barely contain her grin. She exchanged a look with Zebulon, then pulled a thick, weighted paper bag from her purse. It was obvious what was inside.

“Ms. Laurier, a small token of our appreciation. You must accept it.”

The woman immediately pushed it away. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly. If anyone found out, my job would be on the line.”

“We won’t tell a soul,” Rebecca insisted. “Besides, it’s not for anything improper. We just want to be friends.”

Zebulon, trying to maintain the composure of the Stone Group heir, added casually, “It’s just a small gesture, nothing to make a fuss about. Please, Ms. Laurier, accept it.”

The woman feigned reluctance, but after a few more enthusiastic pushes from Rebecca, she finally took the bag and swiftly tucked it into her purse.

“You two are certainly the kind of friends worth having,” she said, raising her glass. “Here’s to our successful collaboration.”

Rebecca quickly raised her own glass. Zebulon, ever the dignified heir, lifted his a moment later, leaning in to clink their glasses before taking a sip.

After the woman left for her room, Rebecca grabbed Zebulon’s arm, giddy with excitement.

“From the way she was talking, our proposal is as good as approved! This project is ours!”

Zebulon let out a relieved breath. “Well, with the heir of Stone Group making a personal appearance, she had to give me some face.”

The mention of divorce should have made her angry, but now it just seemed comical.

She was laughing at the Sullivan family, and at herself for being fooled by such a pack of idiots.

“You know perfectly well we’re not divorced,” Zebulon roared, striding over to her. “That makes you my wife!”

“Do you have our marriage certificate with you?”

“What?”

“What if… our certificate is a fake?” Penelope asked, her gaze darkening.

“That’s absurd! How could a marriage certificate be fake?”

Penelope laughed. What was truly absurd was how Zebulon could say that with a straight face.

“Penelope,” Rebecca chimed in, “you’ve been trying to hold the KINY Group project over our heads, but as you can see, we’ve gotten along wonderfully with the new person in charge. You’re completely irrelevant now.”

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