Ariel Smith
Upon assisting the domestic assistants in arranging the breakfast table, Leilani returned to their room and discovered that Nelson was not lounging on the bed as usual.
She surmised that he would already be dressing for work, and cautiously approached the dressing room to confirm her suspicion. As she peered inside, she found Nelson standing in front of the full-length mirror, attempting to knot his tie.
Nelson grumbled in annoyance and shifted his gaze to the drawer of ties, in search of a suitable one for his attire.
“Do you need my help?” Leilani inquired, making her presence known as she entered the room.
Nelson was taken aback by her sudden appearance, but nonetheless stepped aside to allow her to access the drawer.
Leilani’s eyes roamed over the array of ties before she settled on a burgundy one and retrieved it.
“This would complement your navy blue suit,” she remarked, handing it to him.
“Thank you,” Nelson muttered, discarding the previous tie and beginning to knot the one Leilani had chosen for him.
A soft smile graced Leilani’s lips as she neatly returned the discarded tie to its place in the drawer, their gazes meeting in the reflection of the mirror.
Recalling how she had eagerly embraced Nelson last night after he had promised to take care of Ethan’s school expenses, a faint blush rose in Leilani’s cheeks.
It was quite mortifying when Nelson had pulled away first, leaving her feeling rather foolish.
Shaking off the memory, Leilani moved closer to Nelson with a determined expression on her face, indicating that she had something to say.
“What is it?” Nelson inquired, still focused on his tie.
After a moment’s hesitation, Leilani finally spoke up, “It concerns our agreement, sir.”
Nelson paused in his tying and turned to face her. “What is the matter?”
“With the contract marriage nearing its end next month, I can’t help but wonder what excuse you’ll give to Mom,” Leilani spoke in a hushed tone.
Nelson’s face displayed disbelief upon hearing their deal was reaching completion in just three short months.
“Seriously? Already?” he thought to himself, trying to maintain a cool demeanor.
“I’ll have to come up with a credible reason for our divorce,” Nelson explained, trying not to show the impact of this sudden realization.
Leilani nodded, but she couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling she had about leaving the household next month.
Seeing that she had nothing more to say, Nelson walked out of the room to retrieve his briefcase from the bed.
Before he could leave, Leilani spoke up behind him, “I’m going to visit my brother later. What should I tell Mom about my whereabouts?”
Nelson thought for a moment before shrugging, “You can tell her the truth.”
Leilani disagreed, “No, sir. I don’t want to.”
“Then you can say you’re coming to see me at the office,” Nelson suggested, their eyes locking once again for some reason.
“Goodbye,” Nelson bid as he broke his gaze and left the room.
At Nelson Corporation, the bustling lobby came to a standstill when a stunning woman dressed in a black dress with an impressive design walked in. The dress diverged at the waist and hips, revealing her fair back and exuding an alluring aura.
Leading a little boy by her side, she strode confidently towards the receptionist and without a greeting, announced, “I need to speak with the General Boss, I mean the CEO, of this organization.”
The young lady was taken aback by the woman’s abrupt demeanor.
She had interacted with various individuals, but this particular woman was exceedingly impolite and distinct from anyone else she had come across.
Nonetheless, as a receptionist, she needed to maintain her composure and not take offense.
Therefore, she responded with a friendly smile, “Apologies, ma’am. Have you previously made an appointment with him?”
“No, I haven’t. Just call him and inform him that Ariel Smith is here,” the woman retorted brusquely.
The receptionist nodded in understanding and picked up the phone to inform her superior.
However, as she glanced at the woman’s child, she couldn’t help but give him a warm smile as he was incredibly adorable.
“Hello, Mr. Herbert. Miss Ariel Smith is here and would like to see Mr. Carter right away,” she relayed to her boss before ending the call.
“Please take a seat while we wait for a response from his assistant,” the receptionist politely gestured the woman.
Ariel Smith was initially hesitant, but eventually, she rolled her eyes, tucked her red hair behind her ear, and made her way to the designated waiting area.
Meanwhile, Herbert had gone to his boss’s office to inform him of the unexpected guest’s arrival. “Mr. Carter,” he greeted calmly upon reaching his desk.
Nelson, who had been in a poor mood since the morning when Leilani reminded him that their deal was coming to an end next month, briefly glanced at his assistant before returning his attention to the computer screen.
However, he couldn’t focus on his work as he was preoccupied with his thoughts.
“The receptionist notified me that you have a visitor, Sir,” Herbert informed, also sensing his boss’s somber demeanor.
“I don’t recall having any appointments scheduled for today,” Nelson replied with disinterest.
“That is correct, Mr. Carter. It’s someone I’ve never heard of before. It could be a potential client, referral, or an acquaintance,”
As Nelson’s eyes bore into him, Herbert fell silent, his explanation dying on his tongue.
Upon second thought, Nelson’s gaze seemed to brighten, perhaps thinking that their visitor was Leilani.
They had agreed for her to lie about coming to his office this morning. But then, Herbert’s words echoed in Nelson’s mind – he had never heard of the person before.
“What name did you say?” Nelson inquired, his curiosity piqued.
“Ariel Smith, sir,” Herbert replied, and Nelson’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Slowly, he stood to his feet, his expression still one of shock.
“What did you just say?” he repeated, his demeanor suggesting that he knew the person in question.
“Her name is Ariel Smith. Would you like to meet her?” Herbert offered, hoping to alleviate his boss’s bewilderment.
Nelson’s chest heaved in a slow rhythm, his nostrils flaring while his teeth ground together behind sealed lips.
Without uttering a word, he got out of his desk and stormed out of his office.Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.