Returning with Triple Treasures: My CEO Husband Is Obsessed novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30 Unspoken Gestures

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The words had just left Isabella’s lips when Linda’s eyes shifted to a point behind her, widening slightly. “Xavier…”

He was standing right there, just a few feet away. It was impossible to tell how long he had been listening.

A flicker of nervousness shot through Isabella. Had he heard everything she just said?

But then, so what if he had? Why should she still care about Xavier’s opinion?

“What are you two discussing?” Xavier asked. Though the question was directed at Linda, his sharp gaze remained fixed on Isabella.

Linda recovered quickly. “Oh, I ordered quite a feast for lunch. I was just inviting Ms. Carter to join us.”

It seemed he hadn’t heard the earlier exchange after all.

Unsettled by the intensity of his stare, Isabella spoke up hastily, “No, thank you. I already have plans to meet a friend for lunch.”

“Stop.”

Before she could take a step, Xavier’s voice halted her.

“There’s a new company policy. Employees are not permitted to leave for social lunches during the break.”

“Since when does that policy exist?” Isabella stared at him in disbelief. She had worked at Moore Group for three years and had never heard of such a rule!

“Effective now,” Xavier stated flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument. He looked utterly self–assured, as if announcing a standard corporate memo.

Isabella was left speechless. “Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll just order delivery then.”

Fuming, she marched back to her desk and pulled out her phone to scroll through delivery

apps.

Twenty minutes later, the meal Linda ordered arrived.

She carried the bags into Xavier’s private office. The rich, savory aroma of seafood drifted out,

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making Isabella’s mouth water involuntarily.

She had to admit, she loved a good seafood spread.

But it felt a bit much to order such an elaborate meal just for herself at the office.

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Besides, didn’t Linda know him better than that? Xavier hated mess and disliked seafood intensely.

At past company dinners, he always avoided anything with shells. The only times he’d eaten it were when Isabella had peeled the shrimp or cracked the crab legs for him first.

Whatever. It was none of her business. If he wanted to eat food he hated with his precious first love, that was his problem.

“Xavier, lunch is ready.”

Linda closed the office door and began unpacking eight generous containers onto the small dining table.

“It’s from that new trendy place downtown. The line is always around the block. Luckily, I know the head chef, so he managed to put this together for me last minute.”

But Xavier stood distractedly by the floor–to–ceiling window, his attention fixed on Isabella outside.

She was slumped at her desk, listlessly scrolling through her phone, clearly waiting for her delivery.

Noticing his gaze, Linda’s expression tightened briefly before she forced a pleasant smile. “It seems Isabella really didn’t want to join us.”

“She likes seafood,” Xavier said abruptly.

Linda’s smile stiffened. After a beat, she offered, “Well… I ordered plenty. I could take some out to her.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Xavier replied, his voice calm, his eyes still on Isabella. “I’m not hungry. Eat what you want and leave when you’re finished.”

Tears instantly welled up in Linda’s eyes. “You asked me to order seafood because of her, didn’t you?”

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Chapter 30 Unspoken Gestures

He had never acted like this before.

Ever since Isabella returned, he could barely look at her.

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When Xavier had called her earlier to order the seafood, she’d thought it was for them, a lunch

date…

Now it was obvious he was just using her to get a reaction from Isabella.

Xavier shot her a cool glance but didn’t answer her question. “Your father mentioned he found some leads on the Carter family’s heiress?”

Sensing his darkening mood, Linda swallowed her emotions, not daring to press further. “Yes. Dad knows how important securing the Carter investment is to you, so he’s been making inquiries. He said if you come to the house for dinner tomorrow night, he can-

“I don’t respond to threats,” Xavier cut her off coldly.

Ray Allen had long hoped to arrange a match between Linda and Xavier, constantly inventing reasons to invite him over.

Xavier had always ignored the invitations, and Linda was usually left to smooth things over. This time, however, Ray had gone over her head, texting Xavier directly with the Carter family information as bait to secure his attendance at tomorrow’s dinner.

“My father didn’t mean it as a threat, he’s just… overly enthusiastic. If you’d prefer not to come, I can speak to him and get the information for you myself…” Linda backtracked hastily.

Just then, Isabella’s phone rang outside. She stepped away from her desk but returned moments later looking annoyed, holding a takeout bag. She walked straight to Xavier’s office door and knocked.

Slightly flustered, Linda opened the door. “Ms. Carter? Is something wrong?”

Isabella held out the bag with clear irritation. “This drink delivery is for Xavier.”

She’d initially thought it was her own lunch order. Had Xavier used her contact information to place the order on purpose? It felt like he was treating her as his personal assistant.

“Bring it in,” Xavier’s voice instructed from inside the office, just as Linda was hesitating.

With great reluctance, Isabella entered and placed the bag squarely on Xavier’s desk.