Chapter 55
“I’m really looking forward to it p>
Lisette gave a little smirk, her eyes glinting in a way that made Grace’s heart skip a beat-definitely not in a good way.
Something felt… off.
Grace’s expression darkened instantly. Her eyes locked onto Lisette’s retreating figure, and she gripped Lennox’s hand a bit tighter, her voice carrying a barely noticeable tremble. “Lennox, I’ve got a bad feeling. Lisette’s definitely up to something p>
Lennox frowned.
Yeah, he could feel the tension too. Lisette’s hostility wasn’t exactly subtle.
What he couldn’t wrap his head around was why Lisette always seemed to have it out for Grace. Strangely enough, she never took any direct jabs at him-her barbs were always verbal, never crossed the line into real action.
After thinking it through, he figured there was only one explanation: maybe she still cared.
He reassured her softly, “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone hurt you p>
Grace gave a half-hearted smile but didn’t respond.
The Veridia branch of Hastings Group stood like a titan in the heart of the most expensive business district in town, its name shining on the towering steel structure.
Hastings’ logo was hard to miss-anyone standing even blocks away could instantly recognize it.
Lisette pulled up in her sleek Aston Martin, parked right at the front steps. She stepped out, flipped her hair back over her shoulder, and walked up to the building with light, easy steps.
Ding.
A notification buzzed on her phone-sounded like an email.
She ignored it for the moment and walked through the lobby.
It was 4:10 PM. Tobias had been clocking out right on the dot at five lately. With about fifty minutes to spare, she figured there was no need to give him a heads-up. Her eyes scanned the lobby like a curious cat before she strolled over to the window-side couch and plopped down, pulling out her phone.
It was an email, from none other than the world-renowned pianist, Mr. Philip Clemens. He invited her to the Veridia Club before February 1st for a piano summit and even requested to perform alongside her.
“Huh p>
Lisette blinked in surprise.
“Wait… he’s basically the best pianist alive, right? If I’m remembering right p>
“Didn’t he step back from public life two years ago for health reasons? Declined every single invite since then. And now suddenly wants to jam with me p>
She clicked her tongue. “Wow. Scammers these days aren’t even trying to be smart. Like, at least do some homework first p>
Without missing a beat, she hit the report button.
Reason: Huge scammer trying to trick innocent girls.
Zero hesitation, no second-guessing.
She then idly scrolled through Twitter for a bit, until a loud commotion caught her attention.
Lisette looked up-
Not far off, two security guards were dragging a woman toward the exit. The woman was putting up a fight, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Let go of me! I said let go! I’m a guest of Mr. Hastings – how dare you treat me like this p>
Oho, a “guest” of the Hastings CEO?
Now that sounded interesting.
Lisette watched with mild amusement.
The woman was decked out in head-to-toe luxury brands, her look flashy to say the least.
Hmm… decent face, but her proportions were kinda off, short legs especially. Although, it looked like she knew that too-the sky-high heels probably added a solid ten centimeters.
Lisette rested her chin on her hand, gave her a passing score. “So that’s Tobias’ type these days p>
The scene drew a small crowd. Some onlookers began whispering.
“Wait, what? I swear I just saw her being escorted upstairs by the CEO’s assistant-and she even took the private elevator p>
“Yeah, that elevator’s not for just anyone. Must be some kind of mix-up going on here p>
“Yeah, must be a misunderstanding p>
“But seriously, I’ve seen that woman hanging around a bunch of times. She’s here almost every day waiting for Mr. Hastings. Heard she’s some rich heiress from a big company p>
“Big company? Pffft, you think it compares to Hastings Group p>
“Just watch, it’s probably some scandal brewing p>
While everyone whispered behind their hands, the woman was still throwing a fit. “Let go of me! Are you deaf? I said let go p>
The two security guards stayed stern-faced, still dragging her outside.
She clearly wasn’t the patient type. After all that yelling and still being held like a sack of potatoes, she snapped-swung her purse at one guard’s head and raked her red manicured nails across the other’s face.
With that wild energy, she finally broke free!
Click-clacking her heels, she ran a short distance toward Lisette, her eyes wary as she turned back to glare at the two guards.
“Are you insane? I told you, Mr. Hastings personally invited me! And you still had the nerve to lay a finger on me. Wait till I see him-I’m getting you both fired p>
“Ungrateful nobodies p>
She gritted her teeth, clearly pissed these guards had dared manhandle her.
Meanwhile, the poor security duo stood there, scratched up and probably with a headache, but still explained patiently, “Ma’am, we’re just following orders. Mr. Jameson instructed us, and we can’t go against him p>
Others around nodded, mumbling, “Exactly. Everyone knows that among the whole company, Mr. Hastings trusts Elliot the most. His word basically equals Mr. Hastings’s p>
“Elliot? Please.” The woman scoffed, “He’s just Mr. Hastings’s pet. A lapdog, nothing more p>
“I was invited by the boss himself. If that guy thinks he can treat me like this, he clearly doesn’t want to keep his job p>
“Seriously, are you both that stupid? Who do you think runs Hastings Group-Mr. Hastings or some assistant? Use your heads p>
She wasn’t actually counting on calming them down. It was more about bluffing hard so they wouldn’t toss her out right then and there.
The guards looked at each other, clearly unsure what to do now.
Watching how things had hit a deadlock, and hearing a few people whisper about the woman’s previous “special treatment,” Lisette figured… as Mrs. Hastings, maybe she should at least try not to make the guest feel completely disgraced in public.
Though what on earth set Elliot off today? Tossing out someone Mr. Hastings invited himself?
Eh… maybe guys have their moments too, like emotional flare-ups or whatever.
“Alright, take a breath,” Lisette stood and spoke calmly to the woman. “They’re just following orders. No matter how much you yell, they can’t make decisions here. It’ll be easier if you go straight to the source p>
A voice piped up behind her, and the woman whipped around.
Bathed in the soft light from the windows, stood a stunner-not overly made up, but still a head-turner. Lisette wore a slim beige dress that hugged her figure just right, showing off a tiny waist, long legs, and curves in all the right places. Even as a fellow woman, she kind of took your breath away.
But the awe vanished fast, replaced by a scowl. The woman snapped, “The elevators in Hastings Group need a keycard, okay? I don’t work here. If I could reach Mr. Hastings myself, I wouldn’t have spent days waiting around like this p>
Humiliation brewed into irritation, and she narrowed her eyes. “You’re not just standing there enjoying my misery, are you p>
Lisette: p>
Yep, classic case of biting the hand that helps.
But Lisette wasn’t in the mood to argue. She coolly pulled out her phone and called Elliot. “I’m down in the lobby. Come down for a sec p>