Chapter 78
It was that familiar number again. Layla answered the call and asked, “What do you want?”
“I’m waiting for you at the comer ahead, Stephen replied
Layla went on to ask, “You’re really here?”
Stephen answered, “I even brought the marriage certificate.”
Layla gritted her teeth. “Fine, wait there.”
She returned to the meeting room, grabbed her bag, and stood up. “I won’t be staying for lunch.”
Benson stood up and teased, “Layla, where are you going? Are you sneaking away for a solo feast?”
Layla swung her bag in his direction. “I’m having lunch with my husband. Do I need to bring you along? Or should I skip it, and you two can go instead?” Everyone in the room looked shocked. “Layla, you’re married?”
Layla tossed what others thought was a high–end designer bag over her shoulder. “Yes, I’m married.”
And with that, she walked out of the sales department.
As she stepped outside, the warm spring sunldssed her skin, and the garden in front of the sales department was alive with blooming flowers.
Layla plucked a flower as she passed by.
Dressed in her professional attire, Layla walled for about five minutes before spotting a familiar car.
she opened the door and slid into the passenger seat “Hand over the marriage certificate. I’ll keep it safe”
Stephen didn’t bother tuming off the engine. As soon as Layla got in, he shifted gears and drove off. “I’ve already reserved a table at the restaurant. I’ll pick you up here for lunch tomorrow as well.”
Back at the sales department, Benson was swarmed by curious colleagues the moment Layla left for lunch. “Which executive at Aetheris Group is Layla married to?” “Is she really married, or is someone just keeping her? It she’s married, why is she still working in real estate?”
“Have you ever met her husband?
for Layla to come back and askher yourselves?” someone pressed.
Benson was bombarded with a barrage of questions. He replied, “Why don’t you walt for Layla “You’ve been working with her for so long, and you don’t know her situation?”
Benson thought for a moment before answering, “All I know is that her husband seems wealthy, but sometimes she doesn’t act like she’s rich. She once gave me a tie from her husband that cost a few thousand dollars. But there was also a time when she didn’t want to fill up her car because the gas was too expensive, so she drove it home and asked her family to do it. I really don’t know what’s going on with her.”
“Could Tiffany’s gossip about her actually be true?” someone speculated.
Just then, Sally walked over and stood next to the gossiping n backs!”
group. “Remember one of the rule
the rules from our meeting? No gossiping about colleagues behind their
The room fell silent. Some were clearly displeased and showed their disrespect toward Sally, while others were determined to follow her lead.
Benson felt out of place. He picked up his lunch box and quietly left the group of women to join the male colleagues for lunch. Downtown at Rosette Restaurant, Stephensaid, “I’ve heard that the food here is pretty good, Let’s give it a try.”
