Chapter Fourteen: A Pleasure To Meet You
Ella’s POV
Did he really ask me to be his girlfriend?
The idea was so absurd that I nearly laughed out loud as I walked. A girlfriend?
Was he serious, or was it just another one of his twisted jokes?
It felt like the biggest joke I’d heard today, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper behind his proposal.
Something else soon caught my attention once I was outside. Parked downstairs was a luxury car, sleek and polished to a mirror–like shine. Standing next to it was the woman I had seen earlier, the one who had shamelessly asked Keith if he was interested in a threesome. I hadn’t expected to see her again, and my curiosity piqued as she looked at me with a confident, almost knowing smile.
She sauntered over to me, seeing me from afar, her heels clicking against the pavement. It was in a rhythm that matched her steady, self- assured gait. She was tall, with an elegant poise that suggested she was used to commanding attention. “Ella, right?” she said, her voice smooth and unhurried. “I’m Vera Wisley, Keith’s mother’s secretary- and now, his assistant. It was just a joke when I mentioned the threesome earlier. I hope you don’t mind.”
Chapter Fourteen: A Please
Meet You
I nodded, trying to gauge the truth behind her words. Her expression was difficult to read–there was a hint of mischief in her eyes, but also a cool professionalism that made me question whether she was really joking or if there was more to her than she was letting on. “No, I don’t mind,” I said cautiously, unsure of what else to say. The situation was already bizarre enough.
Vera’s smile widened, but there was something almost predatory in the way she looked at me. “Good,” she said. Then subtly, she raised her phone, showing me the screen. “Keith just texted me,” she explained, holding the phone out so I could see. “He asked me to take you back.”
I leaned in to glance at the screen, and sure enough, there was a message from Keith on the chat page, instructing Vera to give me a ride. It was strange to see his name pop up like that, so soon after our conversation upstairs. I hesitated for a moment, considering whether or not I should accept the offer. After a brief internal debate, I decided there was no harm in getting a ride home.
I opened the door and slid into the front passenger seat. The leather upholstery was soft and cool against my skin, and the faint scent of luxury car interiors filled the air–expensive.
Vera started the car and pulled away from the curb. She glanced over at me, her eyes flickering with curiosity. “So, how many times did you and Keith do it last night?” she asked, her tone casual, as if she were inquiring about the weather.
I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden shift to such a personal topic. “Excuse me?” I replied, trying to mask my discomfort.
Chapter Fourteen A
“I’m not sure that’s something I should be discussing with you.”
Vera chuckled, the sound low and throaty. “Oh, come on, don’t be shy. It’s not like it’s a secret,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “I was just curious, Keith usually only does it once, but you were with him for over four hours. That’s impressive.”
A flush of heat crept up my neck at her words. It wasn’t something I wanted to discuss–especially not with a woman I barely knew, and certainly not in such a cavalier manner. “Once,” I answered shortly, hoping to end the conversation quickly.
Vera seemed a bit disappointed by my answer, her lips curving downward in a small pout. “Hmm, only once? I would have thought he’ d go for more, considering how long you stayed.”
I kept my mouth shut, unwilling to divulge any more details even if we did not only once. What we had done was private, and I wasn’t about to share it with someone who seemed more interested in gossip than anything else.
After a moment of silence, Vera’s gaze shifted to my neck, where she zeroed in on the mark Keith had left there. “That’s quite the hickey,” she remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice. “I have to say, you’re different from the others.”
I frowned, puzzled by her comment. Different how? I wondered. But I didn’t ask, partly because I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, and partly because I doubted Vera would give me a straight answer anyway.
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Vera didn’t seem to notice–or care–that I wasn’t engaging in the conversation as much as she was. She continued talking, her words lowing effortlessly as she shifted from one topic to another. I found myself amazed by her enthusiasm and larger–than–life personality. She was clearly someone who thrived on social interactions, and it showed in the way she kept the conversation going, even when I offered little
in return.
“Don’t underestimate Keith.” Vera said at one point, her tone taking on a more serious edge. “He’s a natural leader, you know. He’s got this presence about him that people are drawn to—whether they realize it or not.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say. There was some truth to her words, but I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of discussing Keith in such glowing terms—especially given the complicated nature of our relationship.
“What about you, Ella?” Vera continued, shifting gears once again. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a Ph.D. in bioengineering,” I replied, my voice steady despite the sudden change in topic. It wasn’t a subject I was used to discussing in casual conversation, but Vera seemed genuinely interested.
Her eyes widened in admiration. “A Ph.D., huh? That’s impressive. I’ve always admired people who dedicate themselves to research and scientific work. It takes a lot of intelligence and perseverance.”
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Chapter Fourteen: A Pleasure To Meet You
I offered a polite smile, appreciating the compliment but unsure of how to respond. “Thank you,” I said simply, not wanting to delve too deeply into my professional life with someone I barely knew.
Vera nodded thoughtfully, her gaze drifting out the window for a moment before she spoke again. “No wonder Keith has recently started sponsoring similar projects.”
At first, I didn’t quite understand what she meant, but her words lingered in my mind, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. It wasn’t until the next day at work that the pieces finally fell into place.
***
The morning started like any other, with the usual routine of meetings, lab work, and discussions with my colleagues. Then, I was going over some data with Ken, one of my closest colleagues–and a self-
proclaimed gossip–he mentioned something that made me stop in my
tracks.
“You’ll never guess what happened, Ella,” Ken said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Our project finally got sponsored! Can you believe it? After all those funding issues, we’re finally in the clear!”
My heart skipped a beat as I processed his words. “Sponsored? By who?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Ken shrugged, his expression turning dreamy. “Some rich investor. I don’t know all the details, but I’m hoping he’s handsome–and maybe
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Chapter Fourteen A Pleasure To Meet You
even gay. That way, I could try my luck.” He winked at me playfully.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at his enthusiasm. “You never change, do you?” I teased, feeling a bit lighter. “You know, you should probably focus on your work instead of daydreaming about a future sugar daddy.”
Ken pouted dramatically, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Oh, please, Ella. You’re just jealous that I’ve got my priorities straight. Speaking of which, how’s Dorian doing? I’m sure he’s just as charming as ever.”
I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a smile. “He’s fine, Ken. But let’s focus on this new sponsor, shall we? I’m curious to see who it is.”
Ken adjusted himself the minute he saw Manager Mike appear, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. “Ella, can I have a word?” he asked, his tone professional and urgent.
I nodded, following him into his office with a sense of unease growing in the pit of my stomach. There was something in those words today that set me on edge. Perhaps I was over thinking things too.
Once inside, Mike gestured for me to take a seat. “I wanted to introduce you to our new sponsor,” he said, his voice measured. “He’s been very generous in supporting our project, and I think you’ll find his involvement quite beneficial.”
I nodded, my heart pounding as I wondered who this mysterious
Chapter Fourteen: A Pleasure To Meet You
sponsor could be. Mike opened the door to the adjoining conference room and my breath caught in my throat.
Standing there, dressed in a tailored suit and business glasses to matel was Keith. His blue eyes locked onto mine the moment our eyes met.
“Ella,” Keith said, his voice smooth and composed, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you,”
