Reba nced up, and her eyes collided with his.
10 vouchers
She knew nothing was going on between her and Stephen, yet for some reason, with Jeffrey staring at her like that, it felt like pins and needles on her skin.
Jeffrey set his helmet down on the car, then strode over with confident, powerful steps.
Even in the darkness, his deep eyes were so intense that Reba instinctively wanted to back away, but he just stared her down from afar.
She didn’t flinch or turn away.
“You’re here,” Stephen greeted him like it was just another night.
Jeffrey took one look at how close Stephen and Reba were standing.
Reba instinctively stepped aside, putting some space between them. Then she realized what she’d done, and a hint of embarrassment shed across her face.
‘Seriously, what am I freaking out for? I didn’t do anything wrong,‘ she scolded herself.
“Where’s Stanley?” Jeffrey asked Stephen in a cold, distant tone, without ncing at Reba. “What did you do to him?”
“So you’re here for him?” Stephen teased, a yful smirk on his lips.
Jeffrey just ignored the question. “None of your business.”
“He’s upstairs with my secretary, probably just finishing up,” Stephen said as he casually adjusted his sses, looking every bit the easygoing gentleman. “Want toe up with me?”
Jeffrey nced at Reba. “We’re not close enough yet to walk up together. So, I’ll pass.”
“Then I’ll go up first,” Stephen replied gently, not bothering with any drama. “Take your time and chat with Reba.”
“Talking with her so sweetly? Aren’t you afraid your girlfriend will get jealous?” Jeffrey said tly, knowing full well he was poking at Stephen on purpose. “Heard you two were bickering the other day.”
“Just a little spat. Haven’t you and Reba ever had one?” Stephen replied, unfazed.
Jeffrey lifted his gaze at him. “So, you admit it?”
Stephen hesitated for a moment.
‘Damn, walked right into his trap,’ Stephen thought, his eyes darkening.
“It’s not a big deal, but it’s not exactly nothing, either,” Jeffrey said coolly. “If someone wanted to stir the pot,
do you think Reba wouldn’t assume you showed up just for her?”
“I really dide here for her,” Stephen shot back, locking eyes with him.
Vouchers
“Keep that line for when you’re alone with her,” Jeffrey replied, his gaze icy and unblinking. “See if she still wants anything to do with you after she finds out, even with how sketchy your rtionship already is.”
Stephen’s gentle gaze suddenly sharpened, a subtle edge creeping into his voice. “What exactly do you know?”
But Jeffrey didn’t bother to answer; he just grabbed Reba and strode off.
This time, Reba didn’t struggle at all. She let him pull her over to the far side of the garden.
He kept going for a minute or two before finally stopping. His deep eyes locked on her, and he almost said something, but in the end, the words just stuck in his throat.
He knew Reba would never try to get close to Stephen on her own.
He knew Stephen treated her so sweetly and stood so close to her, all just to get a rise out of him. It was all on purpose.
He also knew she would never trust Stephen.
But even so, the moment he realized Stephen really showed up for her, a tiny flicker of fear still crept in.
They stood there like two statues, neither making a move. Reba wanted to say something several times, but the words got stuck in her throat each time.
‘What’s the point? We’re basically about to sign the divorce papers,‘ she reminded herself, suddenly feeling the distance between them.
“So, what did Stephen say to you?” Jeffrey broke the silence, his voice steady and almost intimidating.
“Not much,” Reba answered, instinctively pulling back a little. “He just asked me to have dinner in a private room, and then, right in front of everyone, he announced he’d be on my side.”
Jeffrey’s brow furrowed a little. ‘What’s Stephen trying to pull now?‘ he thought.
“I know he’s got his own motives. I didn’t take it to heart,” Reba added quickly, hoping to keep things calm between them.
As for those photos Stephen showed her and the stuff he told her, Reba kept it all under wraps.
It was not just because she didn’t want drama, but because she knew how much Jeffrey hated anyone glimpsing his softer side. She didn’t n on saying a word about it, ever.
Stephen clearly had his agenda, trying to use her as a weapon to get under Jeffrey’s skin–hurting him a second time, right where it hurt most.
Jeffrey was always so guarded, putting up walls and never letting anyone see what he was really feeling–and Reba knew she’d never be the one to rip those old wounds open.
He had been good to her.
She wanted to protect his past, too. That was the least she could do for him.
He didn’t want anybody’s sympathy or their pity.
Jeffrey caught the look on Reba’s face and, seeing she was upset, asked, “That’s all?”
“That’s all,” Reba said, meeting his eyes without hesitation.
Seeing that Reba didn’t want to say any more, Jeffrey didn’t press her.
He just warned her, “Stephen can’t be trusted. Whatever he tells you, whatever he does for you–it’s all just to serve his own agenda.”
Reba stayed quiet. She knew it.
They fell into silence again.
Reba almost opened her mouth to ask if Jeffrey was the one who brought Yannie and the others here, but stopped herself.
With everything going the way it was, the answer didn’t matter anymore.
Either way, their rtionship was basically over.
“Mr. Jeffrey Hanson,” Stephen’s secretary walked over with a polite nod. “Mr. Stephen Hanson wants you upstairs. He’s got something to talk to you about.”
Jeffrey’s gaze darkened as he gave Reba onest look, then strode off without another word.
Good thing–he had business to settle with Stephen anyway.
Once they were gone, Reba finally let out a breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding.
Reba didn’t head back inside right away. Too much had happened tonight, and she needed a minute to process it all.
Plus, she had toe up with some excuse to exin everything to the office; if she didn’t, all her hard work would be drowned out by gossip.
*****
Ten minutester, Reba finally got her act together and headed inside. She’d barely taken a seat when her coworkers flocked around, ready to spill the tea.
“Reba, who would’ve guessed you were hiding so much from us?”
“Heiress undercover as an office worker? This is wild.”
“So, what did the big boss Stephen want with you just now?”
14 voucher
The room exploded with questions; nobody cared about the actual story, they were just here for the gossip.
Reba forced herself to stay calm, relieved that Jeffrey hade in through the VIP entrance, or the rumor mill would’ve gone totally wild.
“Reba, who are you really?” Lisa pressed, her curiosity practically written all over her face. “Come on, give us the scoop.”
“Yeah, spill it,” the others echoed.
“I’m nobody special,” Reba said, and it was the truth; right now, she was just Reba.
“Come on, don’t be like that,” Derek chimed in, clearly frustrated after trying every way to get the scoop. “If you’re really a nobody, then why are Ms. Barton and Stephen hanging around you?”
“So what, just because Mr. Smithes looking for you, does that make you secretly a big deal?” Reba shot back.
Ross rolled his eyes. “Please, that’s totally different.”
“Honestly, I kinda wish I had some secret identity,” Rebaughed, going with the raw truth.
“That way, I wouldn’t be crammed on the subway every morning, struggling to get up when I’m barely awake, or always worrying about my boss yelling at me,” she added.
Lisa and the rest looked at each other, a little stumped.
‘She’s got a point,‘ someone muttered inwardly.
“Everyone knows how insane the subway is during morning rush hour,” Reba continued. “Believe me, living life doesn’t mean signing up for some hell–level quest.”
“No point wasting your breath on them,” E chimed in, resting her chin on her hand. “If they’re going to believe you, they will no matter what.
“And if they’ve already decided not to, you could talk till you’re blue in the face; they’ll just think you’re making stuff up.”
The room went dead silent.
After that, nobody dared bring up the subject again.
Reba finally breathed easy as the room quieted down. With nothing else to do, Reba found herself ncing up at the upper floors.
‘What are Stephen and Jeffrey talking about up there?‘ she wondered.