Novel Storm
Chapter 91
Estrella regained her composure and sat down with a smile, “Mr. Jason, you sure can hold your liquor.”
Jason followed suit, sitting down while wincing and taking a sharp breath.
Catching his expression, Estrella looked at him with a glance full of disdain, thinking to herself. “If you can’t handle your drinks, why put on a show? Who are you trying to impress?”
Her contemptuous look didn’t go unnoticed, and Jason gritted his teeth, “Not even offering me a bite to eat?”
Logan, catching the awkwardness, chimed in with a grin, “Estrella, Mr. Jason went hard on the drinks. Why don’t you serve him some veggies?”
With everyone watching, Estrella couldn’t exactly refuse, so she begrudgingly forked a few green beans onto Jason’s plate.
As the alcohol started to loosen tongues around the table, the conversation picked up again. Jason was half-listening to the chatter, his attention mostly fixed on Estrella.
Serene, seated next to Drew, hadn’t taken her eyes off Jason and Estrella the entire time. She knew Jason was into Estrella. He had intentionally downed that drink earlier, deliberately stirring up suspicion about their relationship to ward off potential suitors.
Having known Jason for years, she’d never seen him give anyone this much attention, not even Holly. Serene envied that Estrella could marry Jason, and Jason also cared about
her.
Post-dinner, Estrella nonchalantly ate the peanuts, eavesdropping on the banter, when suddenly she felt a hand on her thigh under the table.
She turned to look at the person on her right, watching him chat away as if nothing were amiss. However, his left hand was causing mischief under the table. Her face soured, and with a flick, she snapped a nut shell onto the table in front of him.
Jason looked at the shell that had flown over, his fingers deliberately brushing against her under the table as he leaned in and whispered cheekily, “Aren’t you usually quite bold and fiery?”
Without waiting for her response, his hand moved further.
Estrella, expressionless while eating the nuts, thought to herself, no wonder he had pulled his chair closer earlier, so he had this in mind all along.
When Jason’s hand ventured beneath her skirt Estrella’s high-heeled foot came down hard on his. If she had known about tonight’s dinner and Jason’s sleazy moves, she would never have worn a skirt. Now she realized he’d taken advantage of the situation.
11:33
Jason inhaled sharply from the pain but his hand lingered, sliding towards her inner thigh, “Estrella, you dare claim you’re single in my presence?”
Estrella’s hand clamped down on his wrist, “Then stand up and tell everyone that I’m your
wife.”
His hand remained in place and Estrella, tired of pushing him away, grabbed him where it would hurt most. The next moment, Jason turned pale.
Estrella, still scrolling through her phone, acted as if nothing was happening. When Jason glared at her, she merely raised an eyebrow in challenge.
Not far from them, Serene had been watching the whole time. Although she hadn’t seen exactly what they were doing, she had a hunch they were locked in a subtle battle.
Jason only showed such expressions and smiles when he was with Estrella.
Unconcerned with Serene’s forlorn look, Estrella casually remarked, “Your little mistress.
seems upset.”
Jason’s expression darkened, “Why should I care about her being upset?” He then reiterated, “I’ve told you countless times, she and I are nothing.”
Estrella retorted, “Funny how you’re always so quick to explain yourself.”
“Would you stop being jealous if I didn’t?” Jason’s fair face was flushed with a hint of drunkenness, his aristocratic nose still supporting his stylish gold-rimmed glasses – handsome, arrogant, and a bit rogue.
Estrella wasn’t fond of that line, shoving an unshelled walnut into his mouth, “You are not important enough to make me jealous.”
“Can’t you
‘t you shell it before feeding me?” At Jason’s outburst, the rest of the table turned to them to see him spitting out an unshelled walnut, which sent everyone into fits of laughter.
“Mr. Jason, you do know walnuts need to be shelled, right?”
“Yeah, Mr. Jason.” Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
“Mr. Jason, we heard you were dining here, and we’d like to offer a toast.” Just then, the private room door burst open. The lead attorney from Future Vision Law Firm arrived with two colleagues, one of whom was a young and attractive female lawyer.
When she entered and saw Estrella sitting next to Jason, her smile froze on her face. Aa an old hand at social and business gatherings, she could tell at a glance that Jason and Estrella were flirting under the radar. No wonder Estrella had snagged Nelson International so quickly; she must have some slick moves up her sleeve.
“Mr. Jason.” Despite her disapproval of Estrella, the woman greeted Jason with a smile.
11:34
As the lawyers approached with glasses in hand, Jason gave Drew a look quickly refilled his glass.
and Drew
After exchanging pleasantries, the female lawyer from Future Vision turned her attention back to Estrella, noticing her seated comfortably by Jason’s side with his arm. suggestively over her chair. The woman felt a twinge of discomfort. So she addressed Estrella, “Nelson International has been working with Future Vision for three you, Ms. Estrella, managed to pry it away just a year after joining. You must possess. some remarkable talent.”
years, and
With that insinuation, the glances towards Estrella became more probing. They had already been curious when Jason had pulled her chair closer.
With the woman turning the conversation towards her, Estrella looked up and replied coolly, “It’s simple. I’m just more skilled than you.”
When this group of people first came in, Estrella could tell they were up to no good. Their predatory eyes were set on poaching Nelson International. And when Estrella signed the legal representation for Nelson International, Future Vision didn’t hesitate to discredit her behind her back.
In the cutthroat world of business, a woman’s reputation often hung by a thread, vulnerable to vicious rumors. Still, when whispers suggested she was cozying up to Jason, Estrella couldn’t help but wear a smirk of amusement.
“Future Vision has been around for years, while Justice Guardians LLP is barely cutting its first teeth. Ms. Estrella, you seem too confident-perhaps you got some hidden talents? Otherwise, how on earth would you score the seat of honor tonight?” The barbed words were like a match to tinder in the room buzzing with corporate sharks.
The insinuation was clear, and the unspoken belief that Jason would leap to Estrella’s defense was laughable. Estrella was a woman, indeed, but so was her adversary-anything Estrella possessed, she believed she had in spades.
With a sharp snap, Estrella tossed the nuts onto the table. Rising to her feet with calculated ease, Estrella slipped her hands into the pockets of her chic pencil skirt. “So, Rachel, you’re implying I’ve bent the rules, and hooked up with Jason to get ahead?” Her tone was laced with defiance and a hint of mockery.
“Yeah.” Estrella retorted unabashedly. “I’ve played the game, and hooked up with him. But, darling, if you’re green with envy, that’s on you, not me.”
She gave Rachel a once-over, her gaze sharp and dismissive. “But let’s be real, Mr. Jason wouldn’t give you a second glance.” Estrella pivoted towards the man in question, her eyes playfully challenging. “Right, Mr. Jason?”