Chapter 157 Nora Ordered a Wedding Ring for Steven
"Want to have sex?" Steven's laughter came through the phone, carrying a wicked quality.
Nora felt herself actually getting hot, her breathing slowing down. She lowered her voice and said, "I'm hanging up now, not talking to you anymore."
She might have been turned on - her voice became soft and sweet.
Steven chuckled, about to say something when the call was disconnected.
Steven fell silent.
He called again, but she wouldn't pick up. Nora was afraid that if he kept teasing her like this, she wouldn't be able to focus on shopping.
Steven laughed helplessly.
When Nora returned to the jewelry store, Olivia noticed her face was unusually flushed and asked, "You took a phone call, and your face gets this red?"
Being called out by Olivia made Nora even more embarrassed. "No, maybe it's just hot in the mall."
Nora sat down, and a store clerk brought her a glass of water.
Nora downed half the glass but still felt really hot.
All Steven's fault! That jerk was getting bolder!
"Nora, here are a few I thought looked pretty good. Take a look." Olivia showed Nora the ones she liked.
Nora looked them over - they were all nice. Olivia had good taste.
She picked out the one she liked best.
Steven didn't like complicated things, so Nora chose a simple design.
"This one." Nora handed the ring to the clerk.
The clerk smiled, "Miss, this one is eight thousand dollars; we can give you a 12% discount."
Nora thought it was a bit expensive.
If it were for herself, she definitely wouldn't buy such an expensive platinum diamond ring.
But if she bought a gold ring that held its value, Steven definitely wouldn't be happy - he would never wear a gold ring.
After thinking for a few seconds, Nora took out the credit card Steven had given her to keep.
Anyway, Steven had told her to use his card freely - he wouldn't think she was being a gold digger..
Thinking about this made her heart feel sweet. "This one then, but you might need to adjust the ring size for me."
"Okay, Miss. What's your husband's finger size?"
Nora pulled out a small string from her bag. "This is my husband's ring finger measurement. Just make it slightly bigger."
"Alright." The clerk took it and worked on the computer, then said to Nora, "Miss, this ring style is out of stock locally. If you want it, we'll need to have it made and shipped from elsewhere, which will take a few days. Is that okay?"
"That's fine." Nora wasn't in a rush.
"Okay then, Miss. Keep this receipt safe. We'll notify you when the ring arrives for pickup."
"Okay." Nora thought about how, when she came to pick up the ring, she could arrange a romantic candlelit dinner with Steven and then give it to him - he'd definitely be happy.
"Is this a surprise for Steven?" Olivia asked her.
Nora smiled, "Yes, a wedding ring for Steven. His family gave me several pieces of jewelry, but I haven't bought him anything." Plus, she owed Steven a gift.
"That's sweet," Olivia said. "He'll love it."
"Yes." Nora glanced at her watch and pulled out a coupon from her bag. "Olivia, it's almost six. Let's go find this Japanese restaurant."
The coupon was one Steven had given her at the hospital. She'd looked it up before leaving - the restaurant was right near here.
"Okay, where is it?"
Nora checked the address on the coupon. "Seems pretty close."
"Let's walk." Olivia linked arms with Nora.
The two left the mall and, after a two-minute walk, found the prominent Japanese restaurant.
Nora had thought coupons were usually for pretty ordinary places.
She didn't expect the restaurant in front of her to be huge, upscale, and elegant.
"Hello, can I use this coupon to eat here today?" Nora showed the coupon to the staff.
She actually felt a bit embarrassed using a free coupon at such a high-end place.
The staff member looked at it, eyes widening. "Please wait a moment!"
The staff member ran to get the manager, who then came running out nervously, as if afraid of being too slow, and said super politely, "Hello!"
"Hi." Seeing a bunch of servers come out, all so enthusiastic and polite, Nora's face grew more awkward.
Eating a free meal with this many people around was really kind of embarrassing.
"Please follow me, ladies." The manager ushered them in.
"So enthusiastic, it's awkward," Nora whispered to Olivia.
Olivia nodded. "I feel awkward too."
The two followed the staff, and while walking through the corridor, they ran into Alton, who was there for dinner.
He was with some friends, walking at the front of the group in a white shirt and black dress pants.
"Mr. Bridges." Nora greeted him.
Alton saw them, his gaze landing on Olivia. She wore a chiffon blouse, looking gentle and elegant - a sweet and charming woman.
Alton's eyes deepened. He said a few words to his friends and broke away from the group to come over.
"You're eating here too?" Alton asked.
"Yes," Olivia answered. "Mr. Bridges, you too?"
"Yes." Alton smiled, his features striking. He looked good when he smiled.
But Olivia looked away. For some reason, she felt Alton's gaze on her was strange, and she instinctively avoided it.
"Ladies, the private room is this way," the staff member up ahead urged.
"Coming." Nora responded and said to Alton, "Mr. Bridges, thanks for what you did with Willow before. Why don't we have dinner together tonight?"
To thank him properly.
Alton nodded slightly. "Sure, I happen to have time."
Olivia had no objection. She needed to thank Alton anyway.
Tomorrow at Apex Technologies Corporation, she'd be getting her money, and then she'd pay back all the lawyer and medical fees she owed Alton in one go.
"This way, please." The staff led the three of them to a private room.
Nora showed the coupon to the staff. "Hi, I wanted to ask - is the set meal on this coupon enough for 4 people?"
If not, she'd order more.
Without hesitation, the staff nodded. "Yes! Plenty!"
Nora thought the staff member was acting kind of weird, too.
Alton glanced at the coupon. "What's that?"
"A coupon Steven gave me." Nora showed it to Alton. "He said his company gave it out; it's free."
The staff member listening nearby was internally speechless!
For four people, a meal would easily cost over 4,000 dollars.
But Steven had deposited money here, so his woman could order whatever she wanted. As long as she brought the coupon, she could eat as much as she liked!
Alton looked at the coupon and couldn't help laughing.
Was Steven really getting into this? Playing poor to the point of making coupons?
Nora texted Steven the restaurant address: [Steven, we're eating at this place, using the coupon you gave me.]
Nora sent him a photo of the coupon.
Steven glanced at it - it was the Japanese restaurant near York Development Group. He and his team sometimes had client meetings there over meals.
Last time he'd printed coupons for Nora, they were all for places he'd eaten and thought were good, wanting her to try them without any burden.
Otherwise, that penny-pinching woman would just guard her wallet and refuse to eat out.
Nora: [Can't believe one coupon is enough for 4 people, such a good deal!]
Steven frowned: [Four people? Who else?]
Nora: [We ran into Mr. Bridges at the restaurant. We haven't thanked him for the Willow thing yet, so I invited him to have dinner with us.]
Steven checked the time and asked James, "Do I have anything else later?"
James checked his notes. "Nope."
Pretty relaxed day today.
Hearing he had nothing, Steven grabbed his car keys and left. "I'm heading out. You can leave early today, no need to follow."
"Okay." James was thrilled.
Soon, Steven was almost there, in a good mood. He sent Nora a message.
Steven: [Almost at the restaurant.]
Nora was drinking water when she saw the message. Her eyes lit up, and she told the two at the table, "Steven's almost here. I'm going out to meet him."
She was afraid Steven might get lost, so she wanted to wait for him at the entrance.
Olivia thought Nora had really changed since falling in love - she was especially cute now.
She turned and ran out.
Only Olivia and Alton remained in the private room, the atmosphere oddly awkward.
"Have you decided about the divorce?" Alton took a sip of sake, his expression neutral as he asked.
Olivia nodded. "I'm certain. I'm not going back."
Hearing this, Alton felt a bit better. Though he was quite interested in Olivia, he wouldn't cross any lines while she was still married.
"Nora's pretty cute." Alton made small talk.
Olivia also felt awkward. She looked up at him, accidentally making eye contact. The atmosphere between them became extremely uncomfortable.
Suddenly, a figure burst into the private room.
A slap landed on Olivia's face.
"Bitch! No wonder you're out all the time and never come home - turns out you're hooking up with another man!"
Willie glared at Olivia coldly and viciously.
The slap was full force. Olivia's head buzzed from the impact, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
She turned to glare at Willie, hatred burning in her eyes.
Behind Willie, Hazel stood in the doorway, watching her with schadenfreude.
Out on a date with a third party, and she dared to hit him?
Olivia's lips curled coldly as she slapped him right back, hard.
"You dare hit me?" Willie hadn't expected Olivia to hit him. His face darkened, and he reached to grab Olivia's hair.
The pain Olivia anticipated never came.
Because Alton had grabbed Willie's hand.
His face was calm but full of murderous intent. "Mr. Reed, I must remind you that domestic violence is a criminal offense."
Alton didn't seem to be using much force, but Willie's face went pale.
"Let go of me!" Willie's face was ashen as he glared at Olivia. "You hook up with men and then gang up on me with him?"
Blood trickled from the corner of Olivia's mouth - not scary, but strangely alluring. "I'm hooking up with men? Willie, it's your own filthy mind thinking that. Don't assume everyone's as disgusting as you!"
She walked over and kicked Willie in the leg.
Willie grimaced in pain.
"Willie!" Hazel at the door couldn't take it anymore. She called out weakly and was about to rush over.
Just then, Nora returned with Steven. Seeing Hazel, Nora immediately grabbed her hair, not letting her get near Olivia.
This pair of adulterers and adulteresses is not only sneaking around on dates but now playing the victim!
Nora yanked Hazel's hair tight and dragged her out of the private room.
Steven turned and called to a staff member, "Get the manager to clear these people out."