"George, you shouldn't treat Krishna this way." Stella reprimands George. It makes him unhappy, and I don't feel good about where this argument goes.
"It's okay, Stella, thank you." I interfered before the tension worsened. I squeezed a smile to show I was okay. Then I looked at Rowan to persuade him. "You don't need to feel bothered about me. I could order my food."
Rowan was about to speak; however, before the words escaped his mouth, his brother had yelled already.
"Enough acting pitiful!" George blurted out, and his gaze darted to me, and all I could do was clench the cutlery in my hands.
"What's wrong with you? Did I owe you something?" This guy is too much already, and I would no longer remain idle and tolerate his hostility toward me.
And yes, I got my courage when Stella and Rowan stood up for me, overlooking the fact that the guy fumed in exasperation.
"You…"
"George, would you stop now? It's on me... Krishna can order anything she likes to eat. It will be my say." Stella cut him off immediately.
George wanted to throw another insult at me, but how could he counter Stella? She was dear to his heart; hence, I know he would not quarrel with her, and I feel even worse. This guy would hate me even more.
"Fine! Whatever." George was unhappy that Stella and Rowan took my side and argued with him. He got up from his dining chair and picked up the glass of champagne.
"Where are you going?" Stella asked George. "You haven't finished eating yet."
"I've lost my appetite," George replied before he exited the VIP room.
"This is my fault." I took the blame before either Stella or Rowan recovered from the shock after that crazy guy acted immaturely. "I'm sorry if I ruined your meal."
"Of course not." Stella regained her senses first. She shook her head and patted my hand. She gave me a comforting smile before her attention shifted to Rowan and asked him, "What happened to your brother? Why is he acting immature now? It has been a long time since I've seen him like that…."
Rowan flashed a meaningful look in my direction before he replied Stella. "Don't worry. George is just under pressure recently. He is dealing with more issues in his newly established company. Then the Association, and his..."
Rowan trailed the last word, and it intrigues me. I look at Stella.
"Oh, I see…." Stella simply nodded, which surprised me how she instantly believed it.
Seeing her innocence, my conscience could not endure the guilt in my heart. I could imagine how she would feel devastated after she learned her husband had an affair.
By now, Stella would start wondering why the surrounding people acted differently.
George behaves like that because of Florian, whereas Stella is blind to everything happening around her.
She knew nothing that George was deliberately punishing and torturing me in front of her.
He deliberately does everything to take revenge on behalf of Stella. However, Crazy George is taking out his anger on the wrong person, me.
Anyway, there's something that caught my attention.
After Rowan mentioned the word Association, I suddenly thought about the guy I met in the elevator. I wonder if George was concerned about me encountering that man because of this so-called Association. Whereas, to me, it sounds illegal.
I was diving into my world when Stella held my hand. She said, "Please, don't mind George's terrible mood. Okay? He only behaved like this every time he was too under pressure, and the work was already too stressful. But one day, he will realize that it is wrong for him to treat his girlfriend poorly."
I don't know if it was only me or if I was just the one who felt uncomfortable every time Stella addressed me as George's girlfriend because I think it is one of the reasons he is losing his temper around me.
I'm too confused that Stella insists I was George's girlfriend when he had denied it many times.
Is Stella intentionally saying it aloud for a reason?
It was apparent how that guy hated me to the core every time someone linked him to me.
'No. Stella must have believed that George and I had a secret relationship because of this difference in our status.'
I want to convince myself, as I don't believe Stella is a two-faced b**ch. My gaze lingered on her innocent face before telling her, "I'm fine. Don't worry."
I pursed my lips with a smile. In the end, I could not reject Stella's coaxing. But in the back of my head, I am cursing that crazy guy.
'Tsk. Is he fit to be a company president to lose his temper like this?' I would love to make this comment, but I did not express my thoughts.
Still, a boss should have a rational mind to deal with any company problem instead of losing one's temper instantly.
Unfortunately, several bosses cared less about their employees. Only a few great bosses there were in this world.
"I'll go find George. Maybe I can persuade him to come back." After I pondered for a short while, I decided to follow the guy to talk to him privately. So I told them my plan.
"Allow me to go, Krishna. I'm afraid that he will continue throwing a tantrum. So, please… I apologize on behalf of my brother."
To make everything go well, I let Rowan talk to his crazy brother. I watched his receding back swallow by the door.
~
GEORGE'S POV
Until now, I was in disbelief after I received a report from Dillion. I gave him a crucial task, and the result of his investigation shocked me.
"Meet me in Persephone Restaurant." I texted Dillion after calling the manager to arrange another private room.
After the arrangement, I entered the room and strode straight to the floor-ceiling window. I need to calm down.
While gradually sipping champagne in my glass and contemplating something, my phone kept ringing inside my coat, but I ignored it.
I know the caller was either Rowan or Stella.
However, I don't want to see anyone while I am perplexed and lost.
I hurled a long breath when my phone kept chirping inside my pocket. When it didn't stop, I pulled out the gadget in a timid manner.
Indeed, Rowan sent me several messages asking for my location. He also called me nonstop until a knock on the door.
"I know you were in there!" Rowan shouted behind the door, and I could no longer hide from him. I don't need to guess that he ordered someone to hack into the restaurant's surveillance camera to find out where I went.
Supposedly I would get angry at him, but my little brother passed my test.
That's true!
I stubbornly ignored his calls for a reason. I wanted to test his actions when I was missing.
"Come in." I opened the door and let Rowan enter the room. "Now speak."
I urged him after the two of us sat across from each other. He pursed his lips before he opened his mouth.
"George… I know you hate Krishna because she is our cousin's lover. But could you not display it in front of Stella?"
Listening to Rowan's pleas, I could not stop frowning and twitching my lips, showing my displeasure at his statement.
However, he was oblivious to the entire picture. To be precise, I have suspicions—a reason I hated Krishna even more.
Thinking about it, I could not control my emotion and spat out, "She's dirty, and I would not pretend to be nice to her!"
"Okay! Then what exactly are you planning? Why don't we reveal the truth to Stella right here, right now? Should I call Florian as well to come over?" Rowan challenged me.
My pupils were constricted due to his behavior. How dare he test my authority? It was true I gave him the freedom to speak his mind and act on his own. Yet, I am unhappy with his suggestion, which is not the solution I have in mind.
"It isn't the perfect time yet."
"Then when?"
Rowan seemed unhappy with every decision I have made recently. He kept arguing with me when in the past, he only needed to nod his head and follow my order blindly.
'What made him change?' I wondered.
"Alright. Just go back. I am meeting with Dillion. He had an important report for me, so I want you and Stella to return to the hotel without me."
"What about Krishna?"
Rowan's question caused me to be in a trance. 'What about her? What should I do about her?'
The information I learned earlier surely flabbergasted me. At the same time, it even made me annoyed.
"Let Florian pick her up. I want to gather more evidence that he has a lover." I said.
Rowan stared at me for a long moment. I know he could not believe that I was using lousy ideas.
"All right. I will escort Stella back to the hotel after the meal."
Rowan rose from the sofa. I let out a long breath when he left the room.
Not long after, the door opened again. Dillion entered the room. I gestured my hand and offered the sofa that was emptied by Rowan ten minutes ago.
"Spill it now."
I don't want to beat around the bush. I want to hear his full report this instant.
"Is she the girl I shared a fateful night before?"