She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 80

By the time Luther finally dug his way out of his mountain of work, it was almost New Year's Eve.

Aegis Group.

The top-floor CEO suite.

Luther closed the final folder on his desk and looked up at Lori. "Is there anything else urgent that needs my attention?"

Lori collected the signed documents, a smile on her face.

"That's all for today."

"Happy New Year, Mr. Sanford."

That was when Luther finally remembered tomorrow was New Year's Day.

He capped his gold pen, his tone unusually warm. "You've worked hard lately. Take a few days off to get some proper rest. Take this gift card and buy yourself something nice—there's a million loaded on it."

A million?

Lori knew exactly what this was.

It was a reward for a job well done.

She took the card with a nod. "Thank you, Mr. Sanford."

Luther gave a slight nod, gesturing for her to leave.

Just as the heavy oak door clicked shut behind her, Luther's phone buzzed on the desk.

He glanced at the screen—it was Yorick Lynn.

Yorick's family was primarily in real estate, often swooping in to pick up projects that Luther passed on. In their elite circle, everyone basically orbited around Luther. Anytime there was a shift in the market, checking in with Luther was the golden rule. Yorick was hosting a gathering tonight, specifically aiming to secure a massive development project in the West District.

Luther hesitated for a second.

Yorick instantly caught on. "Just bring Hilda along."

Hilda was practically royalty in their circle now.

He absolutely could not afford to disrespect her anymore.

And Yorick knew where to draw the line. If Hilda was attending as the official wife, they couldn't hire any female entertainment for the evening. That would be a massive insult to her. Because of this, the guest list was strictly limited to men bringing their wives or serious girlfriends—absolutely no casual flings or escorts allowed.

Luther let out a low chuckle, tacitly agreeing.

Yorick could tell Luther was in a great mood.

He had a lingering suspicion that Luther was actually starting to fall for Hilda.

Or at the very least, he genuinely enjoyed building a life with her.

When a man was this happy, it usually meant he was very satisfied in bed.

Honestly, things were never that complicated.

"But Mrs. Sanford, it's freezing outside."

He pulled a heavy overcoat from the closet.

He draped it over her shoulders, and they both looked at their reflection in the mirror.

The masculine cut of the coat contrasted sharply with her delicate beauty.

—And yet, it looked surprisingly stunning.

Luther buttoned it up for her, securing every last button all the way to her collar.

Her gorgeous figure was for his eyes only; no one else needed a preview. Hilda was utterly speechless. She had only planned on bringing a cashmere scarf. The underground garage was heated, and the private club had valet parking right at the door. There was virtually zero chance of her catching a chill.

But she didn't say a word.

She wasn't the type who liked to show off anyway.

And she certainly wasn't going to pick a fight with Luther over something so trivial.

On the way to the club, perhaps bored by the heavy traffic, Luther struck up a rare, casual conversation. "What have you been up to lately? You're always leaving early and coming back late. Didn't you say you found a side project? Did you invest in a storefront at the Indigo Tower? Do you need any capital?"

Honestly, Luther had been acting like a flawless husband lately.

Showering her with money, satisfying her in bed, and actually keeping her company.

But Hilda knew the truth. He didn't love her—he was just playing house.