CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: A CLEVER SCHEME BACKFIRES

Looking at the three words ’Playing God’ that Ben Lawson sent on the screen, Silas Sutton squinted.

After a while, he picked up his phone and replied to Ben Lawson: Get lost.

Ben Lawson: ??

Silas Sutton: Watch your mouth.

Ben Lawson: I can watch my mouth, but can you watch your legs? Mr. Sutton, heed my advice, being a mistress leads nowhere.

Ben Lawson felt his message was well-intentioned, but half a day went by without a reply from Silas Sutton.

Ben Lawson hesitated, stared at the phone screen for a moment, and typed a question mark in their chat: ?

Notification: [Message sent but refused by the other party.]

The next day.

When Stella Grant woke up, Silas Sutton was nowhere to be found.

Stella Grant got out of bed, looked around but couldn’t find her clothes, and finally set her eyes on Silas Sutton’s shirt.

Silas Sutton was six-foot-two, she was just over five-foot-seven.

The shirt wasn’t excessively long on her, but at least it covered what needed to be covered.

Stella Grant buttoned up the shirt, walked to the mirror for a quick check, ensured everything was fine, and stepped out of the bedroom.

The moment the door opened, Silas Sutton’s cold voice and the stares of several Rhodes Group executives struck simultaneously.

"Just replace the planning team; don’t waste my time."

"If changing the team doesn’t work, then this business deal is off."

Silas Sutton sat with his back to Stella Grant, legs crossed, his expression icy.

The Rhodes execs stood trembling before him; upon hearing the door, they raised their eyes to Stella Grant, evident surprise in their gaze.

Stella Grant met their gaze, hand clenched at her side, involuntarily drawing a quick breath.

In this situation, even if she had a hundred mouths, she couldn’t explain.

The first to notice the executives’ odd reaction was Forrest Keller.

Forrest Keller followed their line of sight back, paused, surprised yet unsurprised, leaned towards Silas Sutton’s ear, "President Sutton, Manager Grant."

At this, Silas Sutton turned his head, furrowed his brows at Stella’s attire, his tone a bit dark, "Go back."

Stella Grant looked at him for about seven or eight seconds before leaving the room under everyone’s gaze.

As the door slammed shut, Silas Sutton pressed his tongue against his molar, raised a hand to scratch his brow.

In a flash, the room was as silent as death.

The Rhodes executives dared not breathe deeply nor claim they saw nothing.

After a full three minutes, Silas Sutton spoke coldly, "You have one week to submit the new proposal to me."

This timeframe is already quite generous.

Everyone present understood why Silas was being lenient.

The executives nodded gratefully, the main project lead wiped cold sweat from his forehead, saying, "President Sutton, rest assured, we are not gossipers."

Silas Sutton said nothing, straightening his long legs, buttoning his shirt as he walked to the bedroom.

Forrest Keller understood, gestured ’please’ to the executives.

The execs awkwardly smiled, and their quick departure matched drawing a sword.

Meanwhile, back in her room, Stella Grant leaned against the door, breathing deeply, her cheeks flushed.

From childhood till now, she always followed the rules; the first time she deviated, everyone knew.

Indeed, one should not commit wrongdoings.

Once done, don’t expect to cover it up.

Papers can’t contain fire; the ancients were sincere.

Stella Grant pursed her lips, thinking, and the phone buzzed in her hand.

Stella Grant looked down; it was a message from Silas Sutton: Pure accident, I will handle it.

After reading, Stella did not reply, gripping the phone tighter.

Stella prided herself on not caring too much about others’ opinions, but this matter... was genuinely unsettling.

Especially considering Rhodes people thought she was Flynn Shepherd’s fiancée.

The more she thought, the more troubled she became, clearly a dead end with no solution.

For the following week, Silas Sutton seemed to vanish, never appearing again.

With the proposal undecided, Stella Grant spent her time remotely handling company affairs while staying at the hotel.

Sue Woods’s neighbor, Faith Ford, invited her to a few meals, subtly probing for Silas Sutton’s personal matters.

Once, while eating western cuisine, Faith Ford asked again, and Stella Grant put down her fork, wiping her mouth, "Mr. Ford, I genuinely don’t know President Sutton well."

Faith Ford smiled, squinting at her, "Really?"

Stella Grant honestly replied, "I know Mr. Ford has heard some things; they’re true but purely accidental."

Faith Ford didn’t expect such bluntness from Stella, her smile froze, then deepened, "Manager Grant, don’t overthink, I just feel we get along, so I gossip."

Stella Grant smiled lightly, called the waiter to settle the bill, "I’m full, Mr. Ford enjoy your meal."

Having said this, Stella paid and stood to leave.

As Stella left, Faith tossed her knife and fork aside, crossed her arms, eyes full of contempt saying, "What arrogance, if not under Silas Sutton’s protection, you couldn’t sit in that position."