Novel Square
Chapter 7
After boarding the sleek black limousine, Curtis settled into the plush leather seat, crossing his legs casually and elegantly. The extended cabin was spacious and comfortable, providing ample room to maintain a polite distance, a buffer zone of social decorum between them.
The air was thick with tension.
Leanne couldn’t be sure if Curtis and his mother had broached the topic of divorce in the study. After sitting silently for a moment, she turned her head and asked, “Did your mom say anything to you?”
While glancing sideways, Curtis’ eyes were indifferent. “Say what?”
It appeared the subject hadn’t come up.
Leanne fiddled with her fingertips, hesitating for a few seconds before she spoke again, “In a month, it will be…”
Her attempt at conversation was interrupted by Curtis’ phone ringing. He slowly diverted his gaze from Leanne and answered the call.
Whoever was on the other end, Curtis kept his responses brief, his eyes shifting to gaze out the window, his profile etched with a detached coolness.
After he hung up, he instructed the driver to pull over.
Once the car stopped, Leanne heard his detached voice. “Get out. I have a business to attend to. Another car will pick you up later.”
Leanne couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you off to this late?”
At her inquiry, Curtis lifted his eyelids, his gaze sliding over her cheek with ambiguous intent, and a cold smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“You’re too nosy, Mrs. Richardson.” he sneered
The words hit Leanne like ice water, dousing her with a bone-chilling coldness.
Her fingers curled involuntarily as she silently opened the door and stepped out mid-journey.
The Bentley drove off, leaving Leanne alone in the sporadic glow of streetlights, their yellow beams tall and distant. The night was all in darkness.
She was far from downtown, with no shops in sight, the night wind rustling through the treetops.
Leanne had forgotten her scarf, and the cold air crept down her neck and seeped into her bones through the gaps in her sweater. She halled a ride on her phone app and left.
11:13
7
When she arrived home, Laura was there. She dutifully offered her house slippers and glanced behind her “Mrs. Richardson, didn’t Mr. Curtis come back with you?”
“Mm.” Leanne switched footwear and was about to head upstairs but then remembered something. She took Laura to the room where the cats were kept, instructing her to care Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
for them.
The house was full of cat paraphernalia, an automatic feeder, a litter box, and something that resembled a small tree.
Laura looked around surprisingly before commenting, “You’re keeping so many cats. Mr. Curtis is not gonna be happy about this..”
“Just ensure the door is closed so the cats don’t get out,” Leanne said dismissively. “If he’s displeased, then so be it. You can’t keep a grown man happy all the time.”
She used to be so agreeable. Laura wondered if Leanne was still holding a grudge over last time, so she wisely kept her mouth shut.
Curtis didn’t return home that night nor for the following days.
Had it not been for the frequent updates about him on various media outlets, Leanne might have wondered if he had met with some misfortune.
Curtis’ return to the country quickly sent ripples through the financial sector. Everyone was speculating about the intentions of this Bullion Boulevard upstart.
[ElitePinnacle’s Grand Return Shakes up Domestic Banking Scene]
[Insider Scoop! Maddox to Step Down from Vector Vista Bank Presidency, Mr. Curtis’ Low-key Return Sparks Battle for Inheritance?]
Even the young healthcare professionals in Leanne’s department were gossiping over lunch.
“He’s so handsome and accomplished, I just can’t, oh, total heartthrob!”
chance! He’s b
Sandra interrupted, “As if you’d have a married for ages.”
“Seriously? Married that young?”
“Absolutely! I’ve seen them. He’s more dashing in person than in pictures. The wedding was a grand event. Haven’t you
heard?”
ליווי