Claim
Chapter 15
Whether in large corporations or small businesses, the year–end rush was pure chaos. Though Stella was just a receptionist, the number of visiters she had to handle had more than doubled.
She’d been working there for over two weeks, and none of the suspicions she and Max had harbored had come true. Aside from the occasional ache in her feet from standing too long, the job was much easier than her last one.
The receptionist who altemated shifts with stella wasn’t much older. When she heard about Stella’s pre–employment concerns, she burst
out laughing.
“You’ve got quite the imagination! Do you have any idea how many wealthy, gorgeous socialites are dying to marry Mr. Forsyth? I’d be thrilled if he so much as Jooked my way!!!
Stella forced an awkward smile, realizing how ridiculous ber fears had been.
Arthur typically breezed past the front desk, hardly spacing it a glance throughout the day. The most “out of line” thing he’d ever done was ask the receptionist to have someone bring his takeout upstairs
stella had once wondered what a CEO like him might order, but his meals were always surprisingly small–smaller even than what she and her coworker, who was always on a diet, would eat. On some days, she doubted he ate anything at all.
This time, as Arthur walked by and noticed the two young women whispering, he did something unusual. His expression softened, and a slight smile spread across his face.
stella quickly shut her mouth and stood up to greet him. “HI, Arthur.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted it. She was so used to addressing him that way when talking to Max that it had slipped out without thinking!
But Arthur didn’t seen bothered.
Hemely nodded and asked, “settling in okay?“.
“Everything’s fine,” she replied.
Anthur smiled briefly before turning and striding away.
Stella cupped her hands around her face and sighed. “Mr. Forsyth is so good–looking and gentle. But he’s too thin. Is he on a diet?”
The senior receptionist gave her an amused look “Mr. Forsyth’s never had much of an appetite. You can admire him all you want, just don’t fall for him.” The words hit Stella like a jolt.
She shook her head and said finnly, “Yeah, no way. I really need to cut back on those romance novels.”
For a brief moment, Arthur’s thoughts drifted to Cindy and Winter back in college, when the two would snuggle together, whispering like little animals.
It was a memory he’d do anything to relive, but he couldn’t. There were no second chances in life.
That day, Arthur wore a formal suit for his meeting with a hospital about potential collaboration. The cold made goosebumps rise along his neck and arms, yet he kept the car’s heater off
The cold reminded him of how he’d shot Cindy out just as cruelly, leaving her standing in forleston’s winter, dressed so thinly. It was his se
self–imposed punishment. Joseph Emery, the deputy director, came out to greet him personally. They’d worked together before when Arthur was with Forsyth Group on medical equipment deals.
But now, Joseph had a look of apology on his face. “Arthur, it’s not that we don’t want to move forward with the drug research. It’s about your father… “Mr. Page said that?” Arthur asked.
His shoulders still camed the dampness from the snow that had melted by the indoor heating. He nodded, standing tall.
“That’s fine, Mr. Emery I’ll wait here. Could you see if Mr. Page is available to meet with me?” he asked.
Joseph sigled “Your a decent guy. How did things with your family end up like this?”
He looked at Arthur, still damp from the melted snow, and his heart softened. After calling Rowan Page in the director’s office, he turned to Arthur “Wait her for now. Mr. Page says he’s tied up at the moment.”
Arthur agreed, standing deadly outside the offer, his back straight as a board, even though his shoes were drenched from the snow outside, Joseph, caught up in his own tasks, had done what he could and returned to work
Suddenly, a small figure bumped into Arthur’s legs. He glanced down and saw a little glad with a strawberry hair tie
Dazed from the collision, she rubbed her forehead but didn’t cry. Instead, she tilted her head up and stared at him.
Was that Sylvane’s niece?
Arthur karw Sylvan had once worked as a doctor at this hospital, but why had he brought his niece here? Where was Sylvan now?
Questions flooded his mind, but his priority was getting the little girl back to safety. He crouched down to her level, locking eyes with her Celeste studied him warily, and when he extended a hand, she stepped back, scrunching her nose. “You’re the bad guy Uncle Sylvan told me about.” “How did you end up here all alone?” Arthur asked.
lost. His eyes moved to the small,
Her kids always speak their minds, so he didn’t let her words bother lalu. What worried him more was that she might be lo slightly smudged name tag on her chest.
umes candy?”
“Not Cine That’s my mom’s name. I’m Celeste!” Celeste said, her voice rising.
Arthur felt as though his chest had been hit with a sledgehammer, the air knocked out of him.
He grabbed her tiny arm and demanded, “What’s your mom’s name?
“Cindy,” Celeste replied, her eyes wide with fear. “Mister, you’re hurting me,
Arthur’s vision swam as Sylvan shoved him aside in a fit of rage.
Scooping Celeste into his arms, Sylvan shot a furious glare at the man lying on the floor. “What the hell is wrong with you, Arthur?”
Arthur hardly registered how disheveled he looked. Driven by something beyond himself, he scrambled to his feet and stepped forward, his gaze tbord on Celeste, nted with desperate hope.
“Tell me what’s your mom’s name?
At just four and a half years old, Celeste broke into terrified tears. She clung to Sylvan’s neck and tumed her face away, unwilling to look at Arthur.
When Arthur moved forward again, Sylvan drove his fist into his face.
“Get the bell away!” Sylvan roared, staring down at Arthur, who lay on the ground, his posture like a lion ready to defend its own
“Who the hell do you think you’re fooling with this act, Arthur? You’re the one who drove Cindy to suicide, and now you’re losing it here? If you’re sick, go get yourself yourself checked out. I swear, the next time I see you, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”
