Chapter 2 He's Giving Her to Someone Else

When Seth left his office that night, Isabella rose from her seat. At that moment, the secretaries around her exchanged sympathetic glances, well aware of her situation. Once inside the car, he closed his eyes to rest but then spoke up unexpectedly. "Human Resources mentioned that you requested your employment contract two days ago." Her heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and replied, "I couldn't recall the exact date I started working and wanted to check when I'll be eligible to change my permanent residence." He opened his eyes and looked at her side profile with a slight smile. "I thought you disliked Shaffer Group and were planning to leave." "You're flattering me. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be your secretary." Isabella flattered Seth calmly, but her mind was racing. Although he didn't say anything, her heart continued to race. She had contemplated resigning because he had become increasingly demanding, and leaving Shaffer Group would bring her closer to her desired life. Five years ago, she had dreamt of marrying him, but she had long since awakened from that dream. "Mr. Shaffer, we're here." Isabella's thoughts were still in turmoil as they pulled up at the Basilicus Hotel. At that moment, the hotel staff, led by the manager, awaited Seth's arrival with utmost respect. She composed her thoughts and followed behind Seth. When they reached the top floor, they were greeted by a breathtaking view of a river at night through a massive floor-to-ceiling window. Once the elevator doors opened, a strong scent of perfume filled the air. A blonde man in his forties approached Seth and wanted to hug him. However, Seth was unafraid to displease anyone and tactfully moved aside, causing Louis to bump into Isabella. The man's eyes lit up as he grabbed Isabella's hand. "Shaffer, this woman you brought with you looks divine." Once those words fell, his hand moved up her arm. She gritted her teeth and tried to suppress her disgust but didn't retreat. Behind her, Seth frowned slightly, then continued walking inside as though he didn't see her there. In no time, Louis became bolder and directly embraced her. Despite her smile, she searched for an opportunity to escape but found none. She even glanced at Seth multiple times, but he remained impassive, occasionally indulging in the flattery of an accompanying executive. When everyone had taken their seats, Louis, still holding Isabella, turned to Seth and tentatively inquired, "Shaffer, how much would it take for you to part with this secretary of yours?" An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as the executives all glanced warily at Seth, afraid he would get angry. At the same time, she held onto the chair's armrest, and her back unconsciously tensed up. "Her?" Seth raised a brow as he gave Isabella an intriguing glance. Then, he casually mentioned, "She's been with me for five years, so she probably wouldn't agree to a small amount." Once those words were spoken, everyone understood what he meant. They knew no powerful man could maintain a five-year relationship with the same woman, so Seth must have grown weary of her. Listening to the repulsive laughter and wanton flattery, Isabella took a deep breath. She met Seth's calm eyes while enduring Louis' approach to kiss her ear. She moved aside, dodging Louis' kiss. However, Seth, seated across from her, raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Keller, a toast." She smiled and placed the red wine glass beside Louis' lips. "Thank you for liking me." The others were in an uproar, and Louis was overjoyed. Finishing the wine with help from the beautiful woman, he said, "Babe, you're such a sweetheart." Sensing the burning gaze coming from opposite her, Isabella smiled even brighter. She refilled Louis' glass and placed it beside Louis' lips. "Have another glass." Along with the encouragement from the men around him, Louis was influenced by his desire and agreed. Then, with a tilt of her hand, she accidentally spilled half the glass of wine onto his chest. "Oh, no! I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to…" She frantically apologized, her panicked demeanor resembling that of a trapped animal. However, Louis wasn't angry and grabbed her hand. "Don't be afraid, babe. It's just a shirt. We can just get changed inside the lounge." Initially, Isabella's plan was to give him something to do. She didn't expect the scum would plan to head straight into the lounge. She knew accompanying him to the lounge implied an intimate encounter, so she was slightly flustered and subconsciously looked across the table. "What's the matter? Do you still need to ask your boss for permission?" Louis grabbed Isabella's chin and glanced mischievously at Seth. Meanwhile, Seth arrogantly leaned against the chair and didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he picked up his wine glass and took a sip. "Since you stained his clothes, you should clean it up." His tone was monotonous and unwavering, causing Isabella to clench her teeth in frustration. Before she could gauge Seth's expression, Louis held her by the waist and pulled her up from the seat. Surrounded by men, they all looked at her mockingly, and none intended to speak up for her. Feeling devastated, she could not stop Louis from leading her away.