Eliana instinctively looked toward the voice and saw Dorothy, her college classmate and once rival in love. She couldn’t help sighing at how small the
world was.
Dorothy came from a wealthy business family. To pursue Luke, she’d bought him his dream motorcycle, spending at least hundreds of thousands of dollars. The story had even shocked the entire grade, yet Luke hadn’t spared her a second glance, making Dorothy the grade’s laughingstock.
Not long ago, Dorothy had even deliberately mentioned Eliana in the chat group, mocking her for being dumped by Luke. Eliana hadn’t expected they’d
meet so soon.
The young man beside Dorothy asked, “Dorothy, who is she?”
“She’s my college classmate. Let’s go, darling. I’ll introduce you and show her something,” Dorothy said, linking arms with the man and stepping up to
Eliana.
“This is my boyfriend, Aiden York. He graduated from Novaria with a master’s degree a year ago and now works at Russell Group.”
Eliana was surprised. “He works at Russell Group?”
Thinking Eliana was intimidated, Dorothy preened. “Yes, it’s a global top 100 company, a dream for countless talents. Ordinary people can never get in.”
Then Dorothy asked, “By the way, didn’t you say you have a new boyfriend? What does he do?”
Eliana thought, ‘He’s your boyfriend’s boss, actually.‘
“Anyway, after all these years, you’re still as shabby as ever. Did the security even admit you into this store in clothes from Temu? Are you here for a job interview?” Dorothy laughed exaggeratedly.
Eliana said coolly, “I’m here to shop.”
Dorothy scoffed. “Well, tell me what you bought.”
“Dorothy, don’t waste time on her,” her boyfriend interjected, sounding as if he feared being contaminated by Eliana’s poverty. “People like her have no
social value.”
Just then, Felix walked over. “Who are you saying has no social value?”
Aiden asked instinctively, “Who are you?”
Felix sneered. “You don’t even recognize me? How did you get in here?”
“We made a reservation a month ago. Who are you?” Dorothy dismissed Felix, assuming he was just a young staffer or at most a manager.
Felix snapped his fingers, and the store manager immediately approached. “Mr. Yates, how may I help you?”
Dorothy scoffed. “These days, anyone with a little money can pretend to be a boss.”
The manager wiped cold sweat from his forehead and said to Dorothy, “This guest, according to you, is the owner of Vellum Glow.”
“What?” Dorothy’s eyes widened in shock. “He’s your boss?”
The manager nodded. “Yes, Mr. Yates recently took over.”
Dorothy nervously licked her lips and turned to Felix. “Mr. Yates, we’re sorry we didn’t know you were the boss, right, darling?”
But Aiden, priding himself on being an educated man, didn’t show fear or flattery like Dorothy.
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Chapter 97
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Felix tugged at his tie and glared at the manager. “Do we how accept reservations from any random people?”
The manager knew Felix was using him to mock Dorothy and Aiden, so he played along. “I’m sorry, Mr. Yates. We’ll conduct longer background checks on clients and filter them more strictly in the future.”
Hearing they might be blacklisted, Dorothy panicked.
It had taken her a month to pass Vellum Glow’s client screening. Being excluded now would mean being turned away if she ever came with friends. That was a huge embarrassment.
Dorothy rushed to apologize. “Mr. Yates, I don’t know what I did wrong, but I can apologize!”
Felix said, “You’re not apologizing to me. Apologize to Ms. Burke.”
Dorothy blurted out, “Based on what?”
Felix narrowed his eyes. “You’re both clients. You have no right to belittle her.”
Dorothy protested uneasily, “We’re college classmates! It was just a joke! Besides, she didn’t buy anything, so I was just asking-”
“How do you know she didn’t buy anything?” Felix gently lifted Eliana’s left hand to show Dorothy the diamond ring. “This is what she bought.”
The ring was small but clearly bore the Vellum Glow logo. Dorothy’s expression turned as sour as if she’d swallowed a fly.
Felix casually urged, “Better apologize quickly, or you’ll get more than just being removed from our client list.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Theodore standing in the shadows. If Theodore intervened, these two might die of fright.
Dorothy wondered, ‘Is Eliana’s new boyfriend Felix?‘
Meeting Eliana’s calm gaze, Dorothy shuddered and mumbled reluctantly, “Sorry, Ellie. I shouldn’t have said those things.”
“What about you?” Felix turned to Aiden.
Aiden pushed his glasses and said to Dorothy, “Dorothy, let’s break up.” Then he walked away.
Felix laughed. “What a fool.”
“Aiden!” Dorothy froze for two seconds, then chased after him in a panic.
The store manager asked, “Mr. Yates, what should I do with them?”
Felix said nonchalantly, “Add them to the permanent blacklist.”
Eliana said, “Thank you, Mr. Yates.”
Felix asked curiously, “Why didn’t you tell them you’re Theodore’s
Eliana said coolly, “We’re in a secret marriage. It’s not convenient to disclose.”
Felix looked back at Theodore in the shadows, suddenly feeling sorry for him.
On the way to the Therapy Center, Theodore received a message from Felix.
Felix: [That guy’s name is Aiden York. He just joined Russell Group this year.]
Theodore narrowed his eyes and forwarded the message to Stanley with an added note. Theodore: [Fire him.]
14:43 Fri, 13 Jun G MW.
Chapter 97
“Here we are,” Eliana said, looking at the Therapy Center before them. “It’s full of teachers and children. Please try not to look so serious if you can.”
Since they’d met, Theodore had smiled only a handful of times. Eliana worried he might scare the sensitive children.
