Chapter 50: A Red Rose
I saw Lucas collapse right in front of me. Panic surged up from the bottom of my heart, and I shouted for James and Alfred, then for Adrian and Cole.
My mind was in complete chaos. I couldn't even remember what I was yelling until Roger showed up and said Lucas just had a common cold and fever.
"Just a cold?" I was a bit slow to react. "Then why did he pass out?"
"Overwork and lack of rest." Roger shrugged. "Don't worry, he's not going to die."
Roger wanted to know how I dealt with Barry, but I wasn't in the mood to deal with him. I waved him off.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. If I sent Lucas to the hospital, rumors would be flying everywhere within an hour.
Annoyed, I had Alfred and the others move Lucas to my lounge. After getting Lucas settled, I returned to my office and kept Alfred behind to ask him some questions.
"Where has Lucas been staying lately?" I asked.
"At the company." Alfred scratched his head. "I have a single room in the staff dorm, but Mr. Valeri doesn't stay in the dorm. He sleeps directly in his office."
It sounded pretty pitiful, but Lucas's office also had a lounge with a bed, sofa, bathroom, and kitchenette. The conditions were better than most high-end studio apartments.
I gently rubbed my temples with my index finger. "He has so many houses. Why does he have to sleep at the company?"
Alfred hesitated. I glanced up at him. "What do you want to say?"
"That lounge was decorated by you. It looks a lot like the master bedroom in the original villa."
"You just reminded me," I laughed coldly. "One of these days I'm going to have that lounge torn down!"
"Mrs. Valeri!" Alfred was terrified. Even though he was tall and built like a brown bear, he looked at me timidly, begging for mercy. "Mr. Valeri will kill me."
I asked irritably, "Has he been eating his meals on time lately?"
"No. Mr. Valeri always says he's not hungry, has no appetite, or takes one or two bites and stops eating." Alfred said quietly, "Mr. Valeri probably wants to eat food you've cooked more."
I couldn't stop myself from laughing coldly. "He was the one who wanted the divorce, and now he's the one who can't let go!"
"Mrs. Valeri, Amelia has come to see Mr. Valeri many times, but Mr. Valeri hasn't seen her. Mr. Valeri is actually very troubled."
"His troubles are all his own doing." I stood up expressionlessly. "You take care of him. When he wakes up, tell him that if he doesn't want to eat, he can starve. If he gets sick or dies, it's what he deserves. He's the master of Northern District, but he's not my master, Isabella's!"
I grabbed my handbag and walked out. Alfred anxiously caught up with me. "Mrs. Valeri, where are you going? Aren't you staying?"
"I'm very busy."
After leaving the office, I stood in the elevator thinking about where to go next.
Hotels never lack rooms. I could easily find an empty room for Lucas. Why did my head get foggy, and did I give up my own lounge?
I stamped my feet in frustration and went to the lab on the 98th floor that Gale had specially built for me.
I put on my white coat and threw myself into research, forgetting my troubles and the time. By the time I came out of the lab, it was already dark outside.
I hesitated for several minutes before casually passing by my office.
The lights were off, the door was locked, and no one was inside. Lucas had already left.
That night, I didn't go back to the villa. I stayed directly in my exclusive suite at the hotel.
The next morning, when I went downstairs, the elevator passed the 88th floor, and Lucas walked in. I looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I stayed in room 8808 last night." Lucas looked in good spirits and smiled at me. "I booked a room at the hotel for a month. This is the spare key card for you."
"I don't want it." I turned my face away, thinking that Lucas was annoying when he was sick, and even more annoying when he got better!
The trade show wouldn't start for another day, but guests were arriving one after another, and the number exceeded my imagination.
The hotel was bustling, and all the staff were hurrying around.
Many important guests wanted to see me. After one morning, my throat was exhausted and hoarse. I also pulled Jonas in to receive guests.
Around four in the afternoon, I finally had some free time. I made a pot of coffee and drank it slowly. Jonas and Lucas sat across from me.
If I had my way, I'd prefer some quiet time alone for a while.
But these two suddenly seemed to be competing with each other, hovering around me.
Jonas rested his chin on his left hand, smiling at me. "Bella, how did I get such good judgment? If I hadn't signed a contract with you in advance, it definitely wouldn't be my turn to work with you!"
"You do have good judgment," I said without modesty.
Lucas pressed his lips together, tilted his head back to finish his coffee, and handed me the cup. "Another one."
"Bella, you're really amazing. You won over Roger and dealt with Barry. Who did you learn your medical skills from?" Jonas continued to praise me.
"From teachers at school."
"Then you're really a genius." Jonas looked at me with eyes full of admiration. "Beautiful, and with a good personality too."
Lucas picked up the teapot and filled Jonas's cup with coffee. "Drink more coffee, talk less!"
Jonas glanced at him. "I heard you're homeless now? You're the Kingpin of the North. How did you end up like this?"
Lucas sneered. "I'm not like you, with several women and several homes, sleeping with one until you're tired of her and then switching to another."
Jonas said, "You don't have many women, but does Bella want to pay attention to you?"
Lucas said, "Even if she doesn't pay attention to me, she won't fall for you!"
Jonas said, "Bella and I are now close business partners, making money together. What do you know?"
I couldn't stand these two in front of me. "So annoying! If you want to fight, go outside!"
The two immediately quieted down, just competing silently with their eyes.
The next morning, the trade show held a grand opening ceremony, and the ten-day trade show began!
I got myself a good spot and displayed Doyle's manuscript in a theft-proof display case, while also displaying various sample medicines I had prepared according to the formulas in the manuscript.
Originally, Roger was supposed to be my "key product," but unexpectedly, people were more interested in the manuscript.
Whether it was copies of the manuscript or my sky-high-priced sample medicines, passing customers bought them like souvenirs, as if not buying something to take home meant their trip was wasted!
I had to temporarily adjust prices and limit purchases, so I wouldn't become the first booth to sell out on the first morning of the trade show.
The huge customer flow made Jonas see huge wealth. He made a big show of sending me a truckload of flowers to express his joy.
Lucas, stimulated by something again, sent me flowers, truck after truck.
That evening I still stayed at the hotel. Before going to bed, Lucas came.
I didn't want to deal with him, but he kept ringing the doorbell and wouldn't leave until he saw me.
I opened the door irritably. "I'm very tired! What do you want!"
Lucas squeezed in and asked me, "Did you like today's flowers?"
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
In the afternoon, my brothers also insisted on sending me flowers. I heard that all the flower shops in Starstream City had been emptied out, and all the flowers in the city were now at Platinum Haven Hotel!
Naturally I was happy to receive flowers, but there were so many I didn't know how to deal with them.
The trade show was almost turning into a flower expo. My office was surrounded by a sea of flowers, and the flowers that couldn't fit were placed in the hotel lobby, ballroom, and restaurant. Walking around the hotel, you could smell flowers everywhere.
I pulled back my wandering thoughts, nodded, and said I liked them, hoping he would leave quickly after hearing the answer he wanted.
The perfunctory answer made Lucas a bit disappointed. He pressed his lips together and extended his left hand that had been behind his back.
I yawned, and through my tears I saw a bright red rose. My mouth hung half open, and I forgot to close it.
Lucas chuckled softly, placed the rose in my hand, kissed my forehead, "Sleep well, good night."