She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 40

Naomi was just about to press for The Bibliophile's whereabouts when her phone rang.

The Mokshalia headquarters had urgently summoned her back.

Naomi hesitated, but ultimately hurried off with her assistant.

She decided to wait until her next trip to Alpha City. She would absolutely reunite with her guardian angel then.

…

Jolie escorted them down to the parking garage.

As Naomi got into the luxury SUV, Jolie stood in the night air, leaning in. "I look forward to your next visit to Alpha City, Ms. Zeller. We can discuss a more in-depth partnership then."

Naomi offered a reserved nod, revealing nothing to Jolie.

Once she had a moment to breathe, she would ask Mr. Judson for The Bibliophile's contact information. Then, she could finally reconnect with her beloved “sister.”

The black SUV slowly pulled away.

Jolie waited until it disappeared from sight before returning to the venue.

She ran into Luther in the hallway.

He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, smoking.

The night was deathly quiet.

Dressed entirely in black.

Even from behind, he cut a striking, impossibly elegant figure.

Having pulled off such a massive success, Jolie was in incredibly high spirits. Unable to suppress her adoration, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, murmuring with deep affection, "I'm so happy, Luther."

Luther looked down at her fingers.

"Jolie!"

"Are you going to push me away again?"

"I'm just so happy."

"Let me just hold you like this... please?"

"I've never felt like this before, so close to you. You supported me at my event... I could feel that Harrell and the others looked at me differently. They've accepted my place by your side. I'm far more suited for you than Hilda is... aren't I? Don't worry. If she fails at putting together your grandmother's banquet, I won't just stand by. I'll take over and handle it perfectly. It'll be just as successful as tonight."

…

Her voice was husky.

Deliberately seductive.

It was undeniably tempting.

Luther moved to pry her fingers away. They were in public, and it was entirely inappropriate.

Just then, a voice rang out nearby.

"Luther."

He froze. Following the sound, he was shocked to see Hilda.

Hilda wasn't alone.

She was holding Annie's hand.

She had just left his parents' house when Clark called, explaining that the car had broken down and asking if she could pick Luther up. Since she was nearby, she brought Annie along, never expecting to walk in on such a scene.

Annie stared wide-eyed at Jolie.

Tilting her little head up, she asked her mother—

"Is she an auntie, or a new mommy?"

—The atmosphere grew incredibly tense.

Jolie's pretty face flushed beet red.

Suddenly, Colin's gaze turned highly suspicious.

Making matters worse, Annie was incredibly friendly. She flashed a sweet smile and chirped—

"Hello, sir!"

Colin was a refined, highly attractive middle-aged tycoon, but even he couldn't withstand such a sweet, squishy little creature smiling at him. If this was truly Soren's kid, with such a beautiful granddaughter and lovely daughter-in-law, he figured he wouldn't mind going to war with the Sanfords.

Upon meeting Annie for the first time.

Colin slipped a multi-million-dollar watch off his wrist.

And shoved it into her tiny hands.

Naturally, Hilda tried to refuse.

But Colin forced it on them.

When he looked at Hilda again, his gaze was even more complex. He couldn't say much with Luther standing right there, but he mentally plotted to arrange a secret DNA test. If the kid was Soren's, she needed to be brought back into the Sutton family.

They got into the car.

As Luther fastened his seatbelt, he couldn't help but ask Hilda in the back seat, "Do you know Mr. Sutton?"

Hilda shook her head.

Luther figured he was overthinking it. Colin was probably just being polite.

He started the engine, only for Annie to bring up the earlier question. "Daddy, was she an auntie, or a new mommy?"

Gripping the steering wheel, Luther smiled faintly.

"She's Daddy's employee."

—A statement that carried a distinct hint of ambiguity.

Though, only for Jolie.