Chapter 282 - Two Distinct Factors

Just a few blocks away from the apartment where Reuben stayed was the building where Lina Yang worked.

"Noona, can we speak in private for a moment?" Stephen asked while gazing into her eyes with sparkles oozing out of his own.

Lina and the others had just left the VP's office when Stephen had made this request to his Noona.

The young woman at the center of the glittering eyes could not bring herself to say no to her puppy.

Therefore, ignoring the signs which Benji was shooting at her which she had long noticed from the corner of her eyes, she nodded her head in agreement.

The moment she gave a positive response, Benji scoffed out loud enough for everyone to hear.

'What!? He just did such a huge favor for me and you want me to push my cute little puppy away!?' She glared at the assistant who was being stubborn as a bull today.

The boss and assistant spent a few seconds glaring at each other before Benji snorted and turned away.

Watching the large back of the man as he left in a huff, the others soon followed.

They had completed their task which was to implicate Lina from the rumors and they had done just that.

Now they had to get back to their departments to complete their work for the day so that they might leave the office on time.

Leon and Anthony Shen waited for the elevator to come up as Benji had ridden downstairs in it.

Kirk had stayed back in Wade's office so now the only people on this floor were the secretaries who were minding their business and Lina with Steph.

"Can we speak in my workspace?" He suggested which was once again accepted by his Noona.

Lina then smiled and gestured that they take the elevator with the other two men.

Just as Steph and Lina arrived at the elevator doors, the metallic door opened and the four of them stepped inside.

The marketing department was on the 22nd floor whereas the clothing department where Steph worked was on the 18th floor.

As they descended, Leon glanced at the woman's reflection in the mirror then at the phone she held tight in her hands.

'He does realize that the walls are metallic and I can see that curious look on his face.' Lina sneered at the detective incarnate who needed to know about everything.

Steph was also watching the phone in her hand however, Lina was so fixed on glaring at Leon that she had failed to notice his gaze.

Soon the 22nd floor arrived and Lina rolled her eyes as she pocketed the phone right before Leon could leave the metallic chamber.

This action made the nosy assistant to glower at this woman as he stepped onto his floor.

Lina caught a glimpse of the silent atmosphere as the doors were once again closed.

Within a few seconds, they reached Steph's floor and the younger man guided her towards his room as though this was her first time here.

When Lina caught sight of Vivian as she sat at her desk, twirling a strand of her hair around a pencil while gazing at a fashion magazine, she smiled and then followed her puppy.

'Maybe she isn't all that bad as I had thought her to be.' She speculated as Vivian had helped a lot which helped in the success of this plan.

Stephen held the door open and waited for his Noona to enter the room after which he followed her and then locked the door from the inside.

'This place brings back memories!' She exclaimed as she took her seat on the couch.

The first time that she had come here was when she had first arrived at Obsidia and the second time was when she had requested Steph to make a dress for the LY auction that she attended with Wade.

Stephen Jin chuckled when he noticed the look of excitement flashing on her face as though she was a child and everything she was seeing was new and fascinating.

Hearing his chuckle, Lina snapped out of her daze and focused her attention on this man who sat opposite her.

"Yes, Steph. What was it that you wished to speak to me about?" She inquired while leaning forward.

She tilted her head when she saw the sudden conflicted look on his face.

'What's wrong?' She wondered as she waited for him to open up at his own pace without urging him to hurry up.

The young man took a while to compose his emotions before he finally looked into her eyes with determination and a tinge of curiosity.

"Do you really like Mr. Ming?" He polled while clenching his jaw and his fists.

Ever since he had heard her acknowledgment of their relationship, he could not help but feel unease about it.

'Why does Noona like that stone-faced guy? He will not be able to keep her happy!' He cried out in his heart yet feared to make his thoughts known to her.

'What kind of a direct question is this!? Why do all the guys I know have zero subtlety in their words!?' She grumbled as her cheeks burned a bright red.

The deep blush that appeared on her face was enough proof for him to realize that she liked that man.

"But there are so many women who like him! Noona is just another in that long list!" He muttered as he bit his lower lip.

Lina was surprised to hear these words yet her answer would be the same no matter who asked it.

"That may be true as I am one in that long list of women who like Ruby." She spoke up with confidence and a smile which almost made Steph swoon.

"However, I am the only one in the list of women he likes and that is what matters to me." She declared while winking at the astounded kid.

Steph's astonishment was based on two distinct factors.

One factor was that the person who had sent and received a text from him Noona earlier with the caller ID {Ruby <3} was none other than his newfound nemesis Reuben Ming.

The second and most annoying factor was that his Noona was now slipping out of his fingers as that greedy man would snatch her away from him if things went on at this pace.

While Steph was lost in his thoughts about how he should try to save his Noona from the clutches of that vicious man, Lina's eyes were scanning the room lazily.

However, a certain object placed by the window had caught her attention.

'Is that what I think that is!?' She narrowed her eyes as she tried to make out whether the object was the same or something else.

"Steph?" She called out to him, successfully waking him up from his daze.

Steph turned in the direction that she had been gawking and felt like smacking his forehead when he noticed what had caught her eye.

"When did you start smoking?" She interrogated as she arose from her seat which made Steph follow her actions as he too rose from his seat.