In the storeroom, next to the first restaurant on the ground floor of the Grand MC hotel."Remember Wandy! If you tell anyone I'll fire you!"Mary's voice threatened a woman in front of her. Wandy, a thirty-nine-year-old assistant, stood shakingly in front of the small desk. Mary was sitting behind it.Wandy was Mary's helper. She was responsible for purchasing goods and ingredients and knew the bills in detail. Wandy was so scared of Mary. She had witnessed the previous assistant got sacked after the woman argued with Mary.The restaurants were doing great and popular among guests and high-end travelers. A lot of goods and ingredients were purchased every day. Wandy knew there was a loophole if anyone wanted to cheat money from this process. Especially, if a fraud person had power in hands and looked after the purchase lists herself. No one called to check because it was a big hotel and they made a lot of profits already.Mary was the most powerful person in her office. And the perso
Leo was hardly able to focus on his work. This morning, he did not even want to come to the office. He just wanted to be with Stella. But he had an important meeting and it was near the end of the year, therefore, his work schedule was very busy. He missed her so much right now. He decided to ring her, again.Stella's phone was ringing. She picked it up and this time she did not look at the screen as she could guess who it was. He rang her almost every hour since the morning as soon as he arrived at his office. And now it was the afternoon. "Is there anything else you forgot to say? Why are you calling me every hour like this? Aren't you working at all?"Stella asked straight away to the man who kept calling her."Did I tell you that don't lift heavy things? "He asked her instead of answering her questions.She had to shake her head. Perhaps, it was because last night she complained to him about the delaying of her period? He probably worried that she might be allergic to the medica
In the car on the way back to the penthouse.Leo was thinking hard about Stella's situation. He was pretty sure his baby was coming. His face lit up with a big smile, excited with the imagination himself holding his baby in his arms. But when thinking about what he had hidden from Stella, he felt terrified in his guts."What should I do, James? My head is breaking into pieces because I have to think so fucking hard to find the ways. Or should I just confess to her and hand her a golf club, she might just give me one or two swings to get over with."The boss said with a worried voice. James looked at him from the mirror as he was driving."Um, just like you said before, boss, that to check to make sure first. Then if she is pregnant, you can confess. After that, it depends on her whether to hit your head with the golf club or put a bullet in your chest next. "James gave the boss advice with a straight face. Leonard glanced at his man. His suggestion did not help him feel better."I al
After Leonard had gone up to the penthouse. Stella received information from Wandy as she asked the woman to do. When Mary purchased ingredients and products for the restaurants. Wandy had made copies of original receipts and bills she actually paid for everything.Stella compared the two reports, one was from Mary and one was from Wandy. She saw what she expected to see. The difference between numbers in the lists. Stella had gathered all the evidence and reported it to Chase immediately. Chase then furthered the report to Michael.After that Mary was called to Chase's office immediately."That isn't true! You are incriminating me, Stella!"Mary's angry voice rang in the room with Michael Duncan sitting on the large sofa and listening quietly."We are here, not to waste time, Mary. All the evidence we have here has indicated clearly of your fraud. Can you explain why your numbers and the actual expense bills are not matched? "Stella spoke in her cool and calm voice. She and Mary wer
After cuddling and clinging together for a while. Stella held his happy face with her two hands and looked into his beautiful deep blue eyes. Then she gradually recalled the reaction of the man since the morning when he kept ringing her all day, telling her not to lift heavy things. And he asked for her urine. "And what made you think I am pregnant?"Stella asked out of her curiosity when she had a chance. Why on earth did Leonard suspect that she was pregnant? Should it be her, the first person to catch what happened with her own body?Leonard stopped smiling immediately. He stared back into her eyes and did not blink. Trying to keep his face still and serious. He had learned that if he dodged or skipping eye contact or blinking rapidly, she would know that he lied to her."I dreamed."He said with a straight face. Stella raised her eyebrow up."Yeah? Really?"He nodded again as a confirmation."Yes, really."He confirmed once again."About what?""I dreamed about a tiger cub. A ti
The next day, Leo took Stella to the doctor at his friend's private hospital but he chose a female doctor for her. His doctor friend shook his head for Leonard's attitude but let him do whatever he wished. The doctor apologized to Stella. She forgave him as she knew it was Leonard who forced the doctor and the doctor was a good friend and powerless enough to let Leonard ordered him.Stella was not a person who held anger and hate in her heart too long because she took the Buddha's teaching seriously about not to feed her soul with the negative feelings and learned to let go easily. Life was too short to play with time. She wanted to make the best out of it and especially, now she was not only one but having her baby inside her belly. She would make sure she gave her best to her baby. So anger was no good to plant in the baby's pure soul.Two weeks later, Stella was two months pregnant. After telling her about her pregnancy and confessing all sins, the father-to-be was very crazy about
Stella changed from her work clothes to a white T-shirt and a pair of dark shorts at knee length. Then she went to join Jacqueline in the kitchen. They started to cook.It had gone five o'clock when she heard the penthouse door opened and closed."Why didn't you wait for me? Who allowed you to come up alone?!. If the elevator got stuck or if you fall... "The vociferous voice came before the man himself. Stella turned to smile at Jacqueline who was laughing to hear his son shouting like a mad man.Leonard walked into the penthouse. Ben and James had gone to their rooms to rest, leaving the boss to stay with the family alone.Leo popped into the kitchen and saw his mother and Stella were cooking. His handsome face lighted up with a smile and walked to his mother. He kissed her on the cheeks."Hello, mother. So happy to see you here. I missed you. How was your journey?"He said and hugged his mother tightly."Everything was good. Do you want anything to drink?"The mother was the mother
When Stella and Leo had finished showering, they came out and went back to the kitchen. They were sneaking at the door. Leo saw his mother stirring vegetables in the pan. The aroma spread throughout the room. His father was stood leaning on the counter behind her and watching.Stella did not hear any dialogue between Leo's father and mother. The used dirty equipment and pots and bowls sat on the counter had not been washed yet. She was thinking quickly then she pulled Leo's arm back to the living room."What is it? Or do you want another round? I don't mind that. Let's get back to the bedroom."The lustful man said with sparkling eyes, only thought of hot stuff under the belly button!"No, don't be silly. Listen to me carefully."Stella whispered and looked back to the kitchen direction. Making Leo shut up and follow her eyesight."I am always listening. Just tell me."Leo whispered back, took the opportunity to hug her from behind and put his chin on her shoulder, his ears were up re