Dumped Then Claimed By A Billionaire (Nerissa and Owen) novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Chapter 91

No one could imagine just how shocked Zeke was right now.

That was Mr. Stratford, the man at the very top of the financial world.

He was the one who could turn Cilowesad upside down whenever he wanted.

But now,

he was actually eating at a street stall.

Zeke couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘Is Mr. Stratford really this low-key?’ he thought, still in shock.

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Hearing Zeke, Luke chuckled. “You must be seeing things. Uncle Lennox? No way. He’s a total germaphobe. He wouldn’t be caught dead eating street food.”

Summer was the season when flies and mosquitoes were everywhere.

And Lennox was a total germaphobe.

For a germaphobe like him, eating at a street stall in the summer was like a scene straight out of a disaster movie.

Besides,

Lennox was stubborn as hell. If he didn’t want to do something, no one could make him budge.

Let alone street food.

Lennox wouldn’t even walk into a place that wasn’t at least five stars.

So, Zeke must have been mistaken.

“I’m not seeing things, I swear!” Zeke’s eyes were glued to Lennox. “Drive slower, turn your head and look. You’ll see Mr. Stratford for yourself! And there’s a girl with him!”

Her back was to Zeke, so he couldn’t see her face at all.

Even without seeing her face, he could tell from her poise and aura that she must be stunning

She had this untouchable, almost regal vibe, like she was on a whole other level

Zeke was secretly awestruck.

Classic Mr. Stratford, Zeke thought, full of admiration.

‘Man, he really knows how to pick girls!

Luke couldn’t help but laugh out loud “Come on! Even if I begge Uncle Lennox, he’d never go for street food What kind of girl could possibly boss lum around enough to get him to do that?

Untie Lennox is such a hardcore straight guy There’s no way had ever grab a bite with a gul, Luke thought, shaking his

head

Especially at a street stall!

Anyone with half a brain knows that’s never gonna happen

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Seeing that Luke still didn’t believe him, Zeke got desperate. “I swear I’m not seeing things! Can you just stop the car? Please. just pull over and see for yourself! That’s really Mr. Stratford!”

If Luke wasn’t behind the wheel, Zeke would’ve yanked his head around to make him look that way.

Zeke was about to lose his mind.

‘Is there anyone on earth more stubborn than Luke?’ he grumbled to himself.

Luke was still totally unfazed. “Seriously, you have no idea what Uncle Lennox is like. He’s basically a fallen angel, way out of everyone’s league. You think he’d ever fall for someone like that? There’s no way he’d take a girl to eat street food. It’s never gonna happen!”

“Just stop the car, will you? Let’s go check it out together!” Zeke was so mad that he could’ve smacked Luke upside the head.

“There’s really no need to make such a fuss!” Luke said, still driving. “Besides, Uncle Lennox is meeting up with some big shot today. If they’re eating out, it’ll be at a Michelin-starred place, not some street stall.”

Street stalls just weren’t their style, not for two big shots like them.

As he spoke, Luke didn’t slow down at all. Instead, he hit the gas, speeding up even more.

Zeke was dumbfounded. He whipped out his phone, ready to snap a pic and prove it to Luke. But before he could even hit the shutter, they were already at the next intersection.

“Why are you speeding up? I was just about to snap a picture! That was really Mr. Stratford, I swear on my life!” Zeke sounded dramatic, desperate to be believed.

‘Heavens!’

‘Just this once, can’t you trust me?’

‘I know what I saw. I swear!’

Zeke was on the verge of tears.

He felt so wronged.

“Honestly, you really need to get your eyes checked,” Luke said, shaking his head. “Even I, his nephew, can’t get him to eat street food with me. You really think some girl he barely knows could drag him to a street stall?”

“What if that girl is Mr. Stratford’s crush, the one he’s always secretly loved?” Zeke blurted out, still trying to convince Luke.

‘If it’s his crush, of course sharing some street barbecue with her would be way more important than hanging out with his nephew, Zeke thought, feeling a pang of jealousy.

“The girl he’s always secretly loved, huh?”

As soon as Luke heard that, he burst out laughing even harder.

‘What a joke!’ Ivy snickered to herself, barely able to contain her laughter.

‘Uncle Lennox? The idea of him having a crush? Not a chance!’ ke scoffed to himself.

“I bet Uncle Lennox doesn’t even know what a crush is,” Luke sai casing off the gas as they got close to their destination. “Everyone has a crush, the one that got away, but not Uncle Lenox His heart’s been sealed up for years.

Zeke rolled his eyes. “You sound so sure. What are you, living in de Mr. Stratford’s head or something?”

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“Nope, Luke said, shaking his head.

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Zeke shot back. Then how do you know he doesn’t have a crush You didn’t see the way Mr. Stratford smiled at that girl. He was so gentle!

Even from a distance, Zeke could clearly make out Lennox’s smik.

If he hadn’t witnessed it himself. Zeke would’ve never believed it The man who was always cold actually had a soft, almost tender smile on his face.

He was so gentle when he smiled.

But it wasn’t strange anyway..

‘As they say, there’s always someone out there who can keep you in check.

Looked like Mr. Stratford finally met his match.

Who is that girl, anyway? Zeke wondered, his curiosity burning.

‘She must have some serious charm to have that kind of effect on him!”

*Smile? Zeke, come on, stop kidding yourself. Uncle Lennox barely cracks a grin for me. What makes you think he’d ever smile at a girl? Seriously, what’s gotten into you tonight? You haven’t even started drinking and you’re already talking nonsense!” Luke said, shaking his head.

And it was some seriously off-the-wall nonsense.

By the end, Luke gave Zeke a puzzled look, like he was trying to figure out what was up with him.

Zeke was so speechless. “Seriously, I saw Mr. Stratford sharing street barbecue with that girl, and he was actually grinning at her, and it was kind of sweet! If he’s never smiled at you like that maybe it just means you’re not as important to him as she

is!”

Luke didn’t like hearing that at all.

“You think I’m not important to Uncle Lennox? No way! You have no idea how much he’s done for me. He used to hate opera, said all that noise gave him a headache, so he’d only listen to modern pop music. But after I told him it’s a national treasure and our generation needs to keep it alive, now his phone is packed with opera tracks!”

More importantly, every time Lennox got in the car, he’d put on opera right away. He didn’t just listen. Sometimes he’d even sing along a little.

The more Luke thought about it, the more moved he felt.

Sure, it might seem like a small thing, but for a hard-headed big hot like Lennox, it was honestly a huge deal

To Uncle Lennox, I’m more important than anyone

No one could ever take his place!

Zeke said, deadpan, “Wow, talk about self-obsessed. What if Mr. Stratford started listening to opera for someone else, not because of you?”

Luke scoffed, “Who else could it possibly be? You! Please

Zeke squinted. What if it’s his crush who’s into opera? You know how it goes, when a man talls for someone, he ends up loving everything about her, even her hobbies. I’m telling you people will do any thing for the one they love, no matter

what”

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From Zeke’s perspective, all these things Lennox was doing were classic signs of a man in love.

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Luke burst out laughing even harder. “Zeke, with an imagination like yours, you should be writing novels instead of doing business! Seriously, business is really holding you back! I told you. Uncle Lennox is a die-hard bachelor, and he’s never getting married, you know? You really think a man like that wou start loving opera just because a girl likes it?”

Hearing Luke, Zeke narrowed his eyes, turned to him, and said. You ever think Mr. Stratford might actually be a low-key flirt? Guys like that always act all tough and say they’re sworn bachelors, but deep down, they’re total softies. For all you know, he could be making moves on someone right now, and you’re just completely in the dark.”

Zeke’s theory might sound reasonable enough, but to Luke, it was just crazy talk.

“Chasing after a girl? That’s even less likely! I’ve known Uncle Lennox my whole life, and I’ve never seen him make a move on anyone,” Luke said, rolling his eyes.

Ms. Jamison was a total knockout, seriously.

But Lennox wasn’t even interested in her.

He was the kind of guy who wouldn’t even remember a girl’s birthday, let alone go out of his way to chase after one.

‘No way!’

‘Not a chance in hell!’ Luke thought, shaking his head.

Zeke fired back, “Just because he never went after anyone before doesn’t mean he isn’t now. I’m telling you, I know what I saw, that was Mr. Stratford, no question!”

“Honestly, I’d sooner believe that was my own dad than Uncle Lennox. Zeke, come on, you really need to get your eyes checked,” Luke said, shaking his head.

Meanwhile,

Ethan was in his office, buried in paperwork.

He suddenly had a strange feeling.

Ethan looked up, a little puzzled. “Is someone thinking about me right now?”

Could it be Riley?’ he wondered, a little hopeful.

With that thought, Ethan quickly pulled out his phone and made a call. “Hey, Riley!”

Meanwhile,

Luke kept telling Zeke he should get his eyes checked, and Zeke was getting really fed up. Suddenly, an idea popped into Zeke’s mind He turned to Luke and said, “Luke, wanna make a ”

“What kind of bet? Luke asked, raising his eyebrows

Zeke narrowed his eyes “If I’m right about what I saw tonight, then when Mr. Stratford gets married you have to walk into his wedding in a cute pink dress, and a wig, too!”

Deal” Luke agreed instantly, not even hesitating

After all Lennox was a die-hard bachelor

Luke was sure that day would never come

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Zeke whipped out his phone and hit record. “Say it again

Luke just grinned and repeated himself, no hesitation.

Zeke saved the recording right away.

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Nerissa and Lennox were already sitting at the table, digging in

Noticing Lennox was only picking at the greens, Nerissa grinned and teased. “Hey, don’t just stick to the veggies! The beef here are seriously next level. If you wrap them up in lettuce, it’s even better. Watch, let me show you how it’s done.”

With that, Nerissa grabbed a lettuce leaf, wrapped some beef up and popped it into her mouth in one go.

Lennox watched a bit doubtful. Is that really any good? he wondered, skeptical

Even though Lennox still had his doubts.

he followed Nerissa’s lead, grabbed a lettuce leaf, wrapped some beef in it just like she did and took a bite.

The crisp lettuce totally cut through the greasy beef. With every bite. he got that fresh crunch first, then the spicy, smoky flavor of the grilled meat. The combo was just amazing, so many layers.

Lennox stared at her. totally amazed eyes widened Wow. Nerissa you really know your way around food”

You bet! Good food is the one thing you should never pass up in life, Nerissa said with a grin. Trust me. I know a ton of hole-in-the-wall places that serve the best eats!”

Lennox blinked totally thrown of

Did I just hear that right? he wondered, thinking he must be imagining things

“Hole-in-the-what?” he asked still confused.

“Hole-in-the-wall places! You know, those little places that might not look like fancy, but the food is always amazing Havent you ever tried one?” Nerissa asked her eyes full of curiosity.

Lennox nodded eagerly. Yeah, of course I’ve tried them! Just never had one that was actually mind-blowing”

Next time. I’ll take you to one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall places Nerissa said with a grin

“Yeah. I’d like that.’ Lennox said, giving a slight nod with a genuine smile.

They kept chatting and snacking, totally lost in the moment. Before they knew it, it was already past one in the morning

Nerissa’s phone buzzed with a bunch of WhatsApp messages from Hunter

Lennox pedaled Nerissa over to the cafe parking lot on his bike witched to his car and drove her home hanself

Would you believe it?

Just as Lennox was pedaling Nerissa toward the cafe parking loteke, sitting shotgun, caught sight of them again. This time. he practically shrieked “Oh my god Oh my god! It’s Mr. Stratford Luke. I just saw him again. He’s actually giving a gut a nide on his bike! Is this a date or what?!

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