Chapter 304
Stella answered the phone. “Mr. Connolly.”
“I’ve managed to get an invitation to the auction,” Neville’s deep, low voice came through. “Star, are you sure you want to go through with this?”
“I’m sure,” Stella replied.
“Alright then,” Neville said. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night.”
“Thank you, Mr. Connolly.”
He gave a lazy laugh. “It’s no trouble at all.”
Later that evening, Marvin came home. Stella chatted with him for a bit, and then hung up.
Abby, unable to contain her curiosity, asked, “Star, are you really going to an auction?”
Stella nodded. “Yeah. I’ve never been to one before—I figured it’d be interesting to see what it’s all about.”
Abby’s eyes lit up. “Oh, take me with you! Please, Star? I’ve never been to an auction either!”
Stella smiled. “Don’t worry, I already got an invitation for you.”
Abby threw her arms around Stella in excitement. “I knew you were the best!” After a few mishaps, the two of them finally managed to check into their hotel. But in the middle of the night, someone knocked on their door.
The hotel manager stood outside, looking apologetic.
“I’m terribly sorry, ladies, but this room was actually reserved for someone else. The front desk clerk is new and made a mistake-she accidentally gave you the wrong room.”
“We’ve already started the checkout process for you, so if you could please gather your things as soon as possible…”
Abby, still half-asleep, stared in disbelief. “Are you serious? It’s the middle of the night and you’re telling us you messed up-now you want us to leave?”
The manager tried to placate her. “We’ll, of course, refund you and pay double for your trouble-“
Abby’s temper flared. “Who cares about your double refund? Where are we supposed to go at this hour? Why can’t you just put the other guests in a different room?”
The manager looked helpless. “I’m afraid the hotel is completely booked tonight. I hope you understand.”
“Understand? Are you kidding me?” Abby was about to storm over and argue when Stella gently pulled her back.
“Let it go, Abby.”
“But-!”
Stella’s lips curled into a cold, knowing smile.
“This was deliberate. There’s no point arguing-they aren’t going to listen.” Abby knew she was right. Someone was targeting them. Still, the injustice stung. Stella glanced at the manager, then turned to Abby. “Let’s just get our things and leave. Better we take our stuff ourselves than let them throw it out.”
The manager gave a sheepish, awkward smile when Stella met his gaze. He had, in fact, received instructions from higher up: if the two women didn’t cooperate, they were to toss their belongings out.
Elsewhere, Jasper could barely contain his delight as he recounted Stella’s predicament.
“Rachel, you have no idea how pathetic Stella looked last night. She couldn’t even go home; then she got thrown out of her hotel serves her right! I could watch her suffer all day!”
“And just wait-once Haynes finishes setting things up and freezes her accounts, she won’t even have money for food!”
The eviction and the asset freezes? All Jasper’s handiwork.
Rachel grinned, pleased for the first time in days.
Haynes wouldn’t normally resort to such underhanded tactics, but he hadn’t stopped Jasper either. Stella’s recent behavior had finally pushed Haynes over the edge-he wasn’t going to indulge her anymore.
After savoring Stella and Abby’s misfortune, Jasper turned to Rachel with a fawning smile. “Oh, by the way, there’s an auction tonight. Didn’t you say Stella stole your necklace last time?”