Chapter 218
Zoe went into her apartment and found that Mia hadn’t slept. She was waiting for her stepdaughter to come home. She was dumbfounded when she heard Sherry was having a period.
“I didn’t know dogs get periods!”
Zoe tore up the diaper bag and put one on Sherry. It fit well! Sherry probably felt much better after putting on the diaper. It proceeded to eat some food and drink some water before falling asleep on her chest.
The lights were turned off but she found it hard to sleep. It wasn’t until midnight that she dozed off.
Two days later, she brought Ella along to check out the location Rosemary recommended. It has everything she was looking for. With Rosemary’s help, she made a lunch appointment with Clayton, who owned Skyline Galleria.
Rosemary said to her, “Clayton took his wife’s last name in order to marry her and he’s a proud man. Watch your steps and don’t trigger him. He’s very flexible and easy to talk to, aside from that.”
That gave Zoe a peace of mind. She thanked Rosemary.
She had every intention of getting this location and she wanted to show it. Not only did she make a lunch reservation at the best clubhouse, but she also increased her offer by five percent higher than the market price. Clayton was delighted with what she did.
He was about to take her offer when he saw Ella, who was pouring a cup of tea for him.
He recognized her. She was a model who slept with Leslie for years and got dumped when he got engaged. His fiancee even made her deaf.
That was how he liked his ladies, damaged and broken. It was harder to contain his desires when he saw her at such close distance.
After a few drinks, he started to take advantage of Ella. Needless to say, she was having none of it and started to subtly reject him. That threw a wet blanket over his mood.
So, he put everything on the table, “I’ll sign the contract if Ella sleeps with me for one night! It’s not just that. I’ll even waive your rental for a year!”
Ella would’ve slapped him right then and there, but she stayed her hand for the sake of the location. “I’m not a prostitute!”
Chuckling darkly, he looked at her hearing aid and mocked her. “Not a prostitute? Leslie must’ve used your pussy countless times! You should be grateful that I’m willing to have sex with you! Otherwise, who in their right mind would want someone like you?”
Ella was still trying to contain her anger, but Zoe threw the coffee in
his face, “Dream on!”
At first, Clayton was stunned. Then, he was filled with anger when he said, “Do you still want the location? You used to rely on your husband. Don’t you think it’s too late for you to be playing tough lady
now?”
She stood in front of Ella and sneered, “Aren’t you relying on your wife now? How do you figure you’re better than me?”
Clayton was greatly humiliated by what she said.
Zoe led Ella out of the clubhouse.
+25 B
Ella looked at the neon lights that seemingly filled the sky and fell silent for a long time. She was upset about what happened, but she felt very guilty.
“I thought about it and I don’t think I should work with you, Zoe! My history will always hold me back and there was no way for me to escape its grasp. Not only will it hound me, but it’ll hinder you as well! Given your connection to Rosemary, you would’ve gotten the location if I hadn’t been around.”
Tears began welling up in her eyes. After all this time, she still
couldn’t move on from Leslie.
Zoe said, “It isn’t your fault that that happened! If anything, Leslie was the one at fault. His fiancee was at fault! You’re a victim. Why should you carry the burden? Moreover, which one do you think is more important to me? Is it you or the location?
“I can always find another location but I don’t want to do it without you. We promised we’d share the glory. We said we’d always be there for each other! It hurts, but we can’t run away from it.
“It’s fine if you want to hole up in your home for the rest of your life because of your history with Leslie! I won’t force you to do anything. I’ll even support you for the rest of your life!
“However, do you really want to live in Leslie’s shadow for the rest of your life?
“Do you want to let people keep thinking you’re nothing more than Leslie’s lover on the side?”
That brought tears to Ella’s eyes, “No! I don’t want that, Zoe!”
Zoe teared up as well, “Very well! Stay strong, Ella. Holing up doesn’t do anything. Staying weak doesn’t fix anything as well. We’re
disrespecting ourselves if we stay weak!”
Zoe told Rosemary everything.
She was shocked and dismayed “Never had I thought he’d be such a monster! I completely misjudged him! I’ll recommend other locations to you, Zoe. There’s something out there that’ll suit your purpose.”
Rosemary felt guilty over what happened. She even offered to send some gifts to Zoe as a way of apology.
She’d hate it if Zoe kept a distance from her over this. So, she picked up some gifts and ordered the servants to send them to Ella’s place. It just so happened that Terrence came home at that moment. He saw what was happening, leaned on the couch, and asked her, “Are you close with Zoe recently? Mason and her are divorced. What’s the point of all this?”
She proceeded to send the servants away.
Standing in front of the mirror, she straightened up herself and met her husband’s gaze from the reflection. She smiled faintly.
“Zoe is a tough young lady! All she needs is a place where she can shine! Moreover, they might be divorced, but Mason still loves her. There’s a good chance they might get back together. It’s easy to treat someone nice when they’re successful, but a true bond is formed if you offer up help and support to someone who is in need!”
+35 MCHRIS
