Too Good for You The Ex-Wife You Lost novel Chapter 15

"Mr. Stiles, Mr. Sheppard, Mr. Titan, welcome to our company's anniversary gala."

Lola abruptly shoved past Noelle and forced her to stumble a few steps back. Brad quickly reached out to steady Noelle, but Lola acted as if nothing had happened.

She casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, straightened her posture to show off her figure, and gestured toward Clifford as she addressed the guests. "This is Mr. Fuller, CEO of Thunderscape Group. Both of us are so grateful you all could join us today."

Carefully avoiding mentioning her identity as a secretary, she presented herself unmistakably as Clifford's wife.

Noelle could only snicker inwardly. Lola stealing the spotlight on such an occasion was nothing short of foolish.

Sure enough, Brad turned to Clifford with a meaningful look and clapped him on the shoulder. "A beautiful partner indeed, Mr. Fuller. You're a lucky man."

All the business partners knew Noelle was his wife. Lola's blatant provocation obviously showed she was trying to take Noelle's place. Clifford's tolerance in allowing another woman to provoke his wife spoke volumes about his questionable character as a husband.

Clifford's face flushed red with embarrassment as he suddenly saw Lola's cheap tricks as utterly crass and unbecoming. Lola, however, mistook Brad's comment for a genuine compliment and offered a shy smile, completely missing the underlying scorn.

She stood in stark contrast to Noelle, who remained poised and unshaken.

"You've misunderstood, Mr. Stiles. Ms. Perez is my new secretary. She's young and still learning her manners."

Then, he ordered Lola coldly, "Ms. Perez. Escort our guests inside. The event is about to begin."

Lola looked hurt but knew better than to argue in front of everyone. So, she had no choice but to follow his orders and lead the group away.

Once they were out of earshot, Clifford walked up to Noelle, his voice a low, threatening growl. "What game are you playing?"

Why had every important guest ignored him and focused solely on her?

Noelle met his gaze with languid indifference. "They accepted my partnership request and agreed to work with Thunderscape Group because of me. Similarly, they're here today at the anniversary gala because of me."

A faint, mocking smile tugged at her lips. "You didn't actually think they came for you, did you?"

Following their stares, he turned to the giant screen behind him, and his blood ran cold.

Displayed on the giant screen were intimate pictures of him and Lola, and worse were screenshots of messages Lola had sent to Noelle.

Lola: "See, old hag? He loves me, not you. You're just the free housekeeper he hired, only worthy of working your ass out for him."

Lola: "Your husband isn't working overtime tonight. He's shopping with me. It's something you've never experienced, huh?"

Lola: "We're both women, but look at you. You work yourself to the bone for nothing, while he worries if I even sigh too heavily. Maybe you're just born unlucky to have found yourself a man who doesn't love you."

Clifford's mind went blank as if a sudden eruption in his head sent his ears ringing. His first thought was that Lola had orchestrated this in a desperate act to gain official status.

Just as he turned around and was going to berate her, Noelle's clear voice rang through the speakers of the ballroom as she talked into the microphone.