He Never Noticed Me Until I Loved Someone Else novel Chapter 61

Stella Quinn stared blankly up through her tears. A stylishly dressed man stood before her in the pouring rain.

He wasn't holding an umbrella, just wearing a casual hoodie, and his face bore a suppressed, almost apologetic smile.

Seeing Stella looking at him, he offered a gentle explanation.

"I don't mean to laugh, I promise. But animals are naturally territorial about their food. You can't blame the kitten for hissing at you when you try to touch it while it's eating."

He couldn't help but chuckle softly at the end.

The little stray cat had already bolted the moment the man approached, leaving only a scattering of cracker crumbs on the wet pavement.

Stella hadn't expected anyone to witness her moment of foolishness.

She wiped her tears in embarrassment. "I wasn't crying because..."

Never mind. Why bother explaining herself to a stranger?

Spotting an empty cab idling by the curb just ahead, she ignored him. Hugging her laptop bag to her chest, she dashed through the rain toward the car.

By the time Sebastian Huxley arrived at the private dining room, a pleasant smile still lingered on his lips.

"What are you grinning about all by yourself, Seb?" Julian Jenson asked suspiciously.

Jarrod Fuller cast a brief glance his way.

Sebastian pulled out a chair and sat down, savoring the memory. "I just saw a beautiful woman on the street get bullied to tears by a tiny stray kitten."

Julian looked intrigued. "What kind of beauty could catch the eye of a top-tier fashion designer who literally swims in gorgeous women all day? Did you get her number? Why didn't you bring her up for dinner?"

Jarrod's brow arched slightly. Unbidden, a memory flashed through his mind—Stella's unusual, drunken antics that night at Skyview Lofts.

"What kind of nickname is 'Jar-Jar'?" Jarrod asked out of nowhere.

Sebastian had stepped out to take a phone call and missed the pivot in conversation.

Julian blinked. "It's baby talk. Kids sometimes mangle names like that when they're trying to act cute. Did someone call you that? A woman?"

His curiosity piqued, Julian leaned across the table. "Who is it, Jarrod? Come on! Did you actually let another woman get close to you besides Chloe?"

Jarrod pushed Julian's head away in annoyance. Ignoring the question, he asked, "Do I look like a toddler to you? Or an old man?"

"Two possibilities," Julian said knowingly. "One, she's flirting with you. Two, you always look so serious you come across as a grumpy old geezer."