Chapter 492

"Are you alright?" The woman frowned slightly, her tone probing.

"I'm fine." Stella Valentine took a sip of coffee, her gaze lingering on the delicate earrings the woman wore. "I just didn't expect you to be so interested in oriental-inspired jewelry. William seems more inclined toward British styles."

A sweet smile curved the woman's lips. "Love is about compromise. He's willing to explore oriental culture for me—even collaborating with your company. That's what matters."

"He must care deeply for you," Stella replied politely.

A blush tinted the woman's cheeks. "Sorry I'm late. I hope I didn't disrupt your meeting."

"Not at all." Stella assumed she was here for the design discussion. "We just signed the contract. The sketches haven't started yet."

The woman's eyes brightened. "Perfect. Men lack an eye for detail, especially with cross-cultural designs. I worried he might have overlooked something."

Stella's smile faded slightly. "William strikes me as quite astute. I doubt he'd make such mistakes."

"You'd be surprised." The woman chuckled meaningfully. "British men don't understand our saying—'Even heroes fall for beauty.' Don't you agree?"

The implication finally clicked.

This wasn't about jewelry. It was a territorial claim.

Irritation simmered in Stella's chest. Since when did business meetings involve entertaining clients' girlfriends?

"Could I see the design direction?" the woman pressed.

Suppressing her annoyance, Stella nodded. "Of course."

The woman flipped through the documents with feigned interest. "Balancing oriental elements with European tastes is crucial."

"Indeed." Stella's tone turned icy.

Abruptly, the woman shifted topics. "I felt a connection with you the moment we met. William can be... impulsive. If he's done anything inappropriate, I apologize on his behalf. He treats everyone that way—nothing personal."

"We only met today," Stella said bluntly. "His assistant handled all prior communications."

The woman sipped her tea gracefully. "Of course. William always maintains boundaries."

The air grew thick with tension. Stella stirred her coffee, willing the conversation to end.

"Oh," the woman added suddenly, "our anniversary is coming up. Any gift suggestions?"

Stella shook her head. "I barely know William. I can't advise you."

"Right." The woman sighed. "Some girls misinterpret his kindness."

Stella nearly laughed. "Maybe he should wear a wedding band? Our company designs excellent couples' rings."

It was the politest jab she could muster.

The woman's smile stiffened. She signaled for the check. "So many misunderstandings today. This coffee is on me."

Stella didn't argue. As she reached for her phone, she froze—over a dozen missed calls from Penny Anderson.

Her stomach dropped. She was about to call back when the phone rang again.

"Stella!" Penny's voice trembled. "The kindergarten said a woman picked up the kids! Where are you?"