Chapter 164 Eavesdrop
“Well? Wasn’t I amazing?”
Derek made his way to Renee, his eyes practically pleading for recognition. The sight amused Dolores, who stood nearby, watching with interest.
“Mr. Garza, I have to admit, that was quite impressive indeed,” said Renee.
She decided not to call out the fact that the two women totally trashed him before Dolores revealed his identity.
“You must be Ms. Carter, right? I’ve heard plenty about you. Everyone says you’re just as stunning in person,” said Dolores.
“Hello.” Renee acknowledged her with a polite nod.
“I’m Dolores Perez, by the way. Derek and I are as close as siblings–not by blood, but something even stronger. We grew up together, but to be clear, we’re just friends. Nothing more.”
She made sure to clarify, likely to avoid any misunderstandings.
“I’m Renee, which you’ve already known.”
The two exchanged a firm handshake. With Derek and Dolores by her side,
Renee found herself drawing more attention than she had intended. She had hoped to stay under the radar, but now all eyes were on her.
“Mr. Doyle is here!”
“Mr. Doyle!”
“Mr. Doyle!”
The moment Shaun stepped in, the entire room shifted. Excitement buzzed through the crowd. As the banquet’s host, he was someone people wanted
to impress.
Yet, instead of mingling with the guests, Shaun walked straight toward Derek.
“Mr. Garza? Nice to meet you.”
There was no mistaking it. The Garza name carried serious weight.
“Mr. Doyle, you should tend to your guests. My friends and I are just here to enjoy the evening,” said Derek, keeping his tone casual.
Shaun’s gaze shifted to Renee when Derek mentioned his friends. His eyes studied her carefully.
“Ms. Carter, hi.”
“Hello, Mr. Doyle.”
“It’s a shame, Ms. Carter. My nephew couldn’t make it today. You two could have had the chance to catch up.”
Renee understood immediately–he was talking about Marvin.
There was something pointed in his tone. It wasn’t just a casual remark. He was subtly alluding to the rumors about her and Marvin, making his disapproval clear.
“Your nephew?” Derek stepped closer, resting a hand on Renee’s shoulder. The gesture spoke louder than words, silently telling everyone there was more between them than just friendship.
“Renee, since when did you know Mr. Doyle’s nephew?”
A composed smile touched Renee’s lips.
“We’ve only met a handful of times. That’s all,” she said, her tone smooth
and unbothered.
Shaun nodded. “That makes sense. It’s easy for young people to form friendships even after just a few meetings.”
The banquet carried on, bright lights reflecting off polished floors as conversations flowed. But Renee’s attention drifted when she noticed Shaun slipping out of the hall with his secretary. His expression was
unreadable.
Without drawing attention to herself, she quietly followed.
He took the elevator to the sixth floor. The next one took too long to arrive,
so Renee opted for the stairs. Her heels made it difficult, so she slipped
them off, carrying them in her hand as she climbed barefoot.
Reaching the sixth floor in one go, she hesitated. The hallway stretched before her, lined with identical doors. She had no way of knowing which
one Shaun had entered.
The situation felt strangely familiar. Last time she had Marvin’s help, but
now she was on her own.
She moved carefully, her bare feet making no sound against the carpeted floor. Pressing close to each door, she listened, hoping for some clue.
The soundproofing was poor. At the third door, voices murmured from inside. She leaned in, trying to make out if it was Shaun. Just as her ear touched the door, it creaked open.
She froze.
Peering inside, she let out a quiet breath of relief. A partition stood between her and the occupants, shielding her from view. The voices came from behind it, and from the intimate sounds, whoever was inside was far too occupied to notice the door had opened.
It wasn’t Shaun. Renee had no interest in lingering where she wasn’t wanted, especially not in a situation like this. Turning to leave, she barely
had time to react before the elevator chimed.
Someone was coming up.
