Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"May I join?"

The question, without further ado, just came out of the sweet mouth of a woman whose presence still left a surprise on Helena and Aaron's faces. Without waiting for an answer, the woman immediately sat down next to Aaron. Yes, next to Aaron so Helena could clearly see who the person that arbitrarily interfered with her quality time with her husband.

Wanted to guess who? Yes, that was right. That woman was Beatrice, the person who the past few days had ruined her peace of mind and heart. Just look at her behavior at the moment. Beatrice shamelessly sat down beside her husband, even before being invited. That was rude, wasn't it?

"Hello, Mrs. Houston."

Only when their eyes met that Beatrice greet her as if her presence had just been noticed. Really, it was a fearless attitude. More desperate than the last time they met.

Helena threw her body back and let the back of the chair keep her back straight against the woman with big guts. Beatrice had made her point clear. In front of Aaron too. Beatrice indirectly had also challenged her. And Helena didn't want to pretend that she didn't notice anymore. The woman's wish was simple. Separating her and Aaron and breaking their marriage bond.

Okay. Beatrice herself had cornered Helena to react like that. She shouldn't blame Helena if the result would definitely disappoint her. Helena wouldn't give up so easily. She would defend Aaron at all costs and ensure her husband was not seduced by his secretary.

"Good afternoon, Beatrice. What business are you doing here?" Helena asked sharply with eyes that were no less sharp directed at Beatrice.

Aaron's mind seemed to be brought back to nostalgia when he heard the sharp tone in her voice. Just like when they were in the cold war. Her way of speaking clearly showed her displeasure. And as he turned to Helena, the smile on her face didn't even look sincere and full of rejection.

He swallowed his saliva with difficulty. He didn't need to be a genius to put it all together and stated that he was in trouble.

"I'd like to join you and Mr. Houston for lunch."

His brows furrowed and knitted into one. He was pretty surprised and couldn't believe his secretary's statement. Beatrice was educated, so she should know which boundaries should not be crossed.

Ah, but at the moment, his wife's was more important than anything. He didn't want to take his eyes off her and recorded every expression she showed. The aura of hostility was felt and... jealousy? His last thought inevitably brought relief to his chest. Helena obviously still loved him. Of course. She wouldn't marry him if her love were disappeared.

"What's the reason?"

The question that seemed unexpected by Beatrice managed to bring a frown to her forehead.

"Give me a reason to let you join us," Helena repeated by emphasizing the meaning of her words, which Beatrice seemed to find difficult to grasp. Oh, sure, it was just nonsense. She never and would not care about the woman's reasoning because the result would be the same no matter what Beatrice said. She would kick her out.

Beatrice looked a little nervous. Her eyes twitched nervously. Perhaps, looking for the most plausible reason so that she could be accepted. What else?

"I don't have any friends to have lunch with. And I happened to see Mr. Houston. So-"

"So you need a friend to eat with?" cut Helena fast. She didn't bother waiting for Beatrice to finish her sentence. What for? After all, she had no interest in listening, especially granting it.

Helena looked into Beatrice's eyes. Those brown beads looked doubtful still didn't hesitate to challenge her. Then, with a nod, Beatrice gave in response.

Helena tilted her head. One of her eyebrows raised. A friend for lunch? It just so happened that someone could do it. "Wait for a moment." She made an orderly request. Then she took her phone from the table and scrolled through it until she found a name on her contact list. She glanced briefly at Beatrice before her finger pressed the call button that would connect her to the person.

"Hello." Rachel's greeting was heard from the other side.

That was right. Rachel, her assistant who should still be in this high-rise building, was the person she was calling. "Hello. Have you guys finished your lunch yet?" she asked to the point. She dared to guess. It must confuse Rachel to get a phone call, especially with a rushed intonation.

"We just started eating. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just someone here needs some friends to eat with." Helena deliberately took a pause in her words. Her eyes turned back to Beatrice to confirm who the person she was talking about was. And Helena could see Beatrice's face, which turned stiff. "Can she join you guys?" she continued.

"Sure. Tell her to come here. We're still in the same place."

Suddenly, a smile broke on Helena's lips. The big smile that she was no more hiding made it clear to the two people in front of her, especially Beatrice. She actually didn't like to overreact like that. She was not an expressive person. But, to expel Beatrice from her sight, she would change her personality. "Okay. Thank you very much."

"You're welcome. Don't forget to let me know when you're done."

"Okay."

And their call was cut off.

Helena changed her sitting position. She leaned forward and let her chin rest on her hands. "Did you hear that? My friend was kind enough to let you join them," she said while looking at Beatrice triumphantly.

Beatrice's forehead wrinkled as if to show her protest. "But, I don't know your friends."

Right? It was impossible for Beatrice to just accept her proposal. The world would be at peace if women like Beatrice gave up and admitted her loss on the first try. "You guys can get acquainted. Don't we also not know each other? You're not my friend or my husband's friend. You're only his secretary."

Her answer clearly struck Beatrice. Helena could see the look on the secretary's face, which had turned pale after hearing her words. It must remind the woman of her status. As if it wasn't complete, Helena wanted to show off a little of her intimacy with Aaron right in front of Beatrice's eyes.

"Honey, do you want Beatrice to have lunch with us?" she asked Aaron with a fake sweet smile. Her hand gripped her husband's finger to further convince the act.

If Aaron could be honest, he wanted to laugh because he was amused by his wife's apparent behavior that forced herself not to explode. However, to keep her ego, he improvised. He took her hand in his, then brought it to his lips. "No. I just want to be alone with my wife," he replied after landing a light kiss on her fingers. "You'd better find another place or call your friends for lunch." He glanced briefly at Beatrice as he said that, then returned his gaze to his wife.

Not long after, Beatrice rose from her seat. "I'm leaving. I'm sorry for interrupting Mr. and Mrs. Houston's time." She said stubbornly.

Beatrice had already shown her back and was getting ready to leave when Helena said one last time. "You shouldn't have sat down right away. So you don't have to feel embarrassed when no one accepted you here."