He Thought I’d Compromise Chapter 04

“I thought you’d refuse like you usually do. The dress is beautiful.”

Bennett leaned over to fasten my seat belt for me, sounding a little surprised.

In the past, whenever he wanted me to attend an event with him, I usually refused to avoid trouble.

After all, we were not only hiding from people at the company. We were hiding from everyone outside it too.

Paparazzi had once followed Bennett for an entire year, trying to dig up something on him.

In the photos they managed to take, Bennett was either at work, at the stables, skiing, or out on a yacht.

Once or twice, I had appeared in the frame.

But before the tabloids could publish anything, Bennett had everything handled. When he wanted to keep something hidden, he could do it perfectly.

I looked at the road ahead. His hand was wrapped around mine, and though I moved slightly, I still did not pull away.

My dress matched his suit. Maybe this was the last time Bennett and I would ever look like we belonged together.

When we arrived, I realized the event that night was a wedding dinner. The hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the glittering Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River.

It was probably for one of Bennett’s close friends. Otherwise, there was no way he would have shown up in person.

A few people came over to greet him in warm, familiar tones. When they saw me, their eyes lit up.

“She’s gorgeous. She could have won Miss New York. Is she your girlfriend?”

Before Bennett could speak, I answered first, polite but distant. “You’ve misunderstood. I work at Kingsley. Mr. Lancaster’s assistant had something come up today, so I’m filling in for her.”

Bennett said nothing. He only turned and gave me a long, searching look.

During the second half of the dinner, no one gossiped about my relationship with Bennett again.

When the bride began tossing the bouquet, people pushed me forward to fill out the group.

Seeing the bouquet about to fly into my arms, I instinctively dodged. Someone beside me reacted quickly and snatched it away.

After I steadied myself, I looked toward the stage. The faint smile that had been on Bennett’s face slowly faded when he saw what happened.

“Why didn’t you catch it?” Bennett suddenly asked after the dinner ended.

I froze for a second before remembering the bouquet the bride had thrown.

“If I caught the bouquet, I’d be the next one to get married.” I looked at him and asked, “If I had caught it, wouldn’t that mean I was pressuring you into marriage?”

Bennett probably had not expected me to be so direct. He turned his face slightly and started the car.

Amid the low hum of the engine, he deflected it with effortless calm. “Newlyweds bring good luck. Catching the bouquet would have been a good sign, that’s all.”

I turned to look out the window, my palm clenched so tightly that it hurt.

Even I wanted to laugh at myself. After everything had reached this point, I still could not stop myself from testing him.

But in the end, the result was always the same.

After that day, Bennett suddenly left on a business trip.

Several days later, he sent a few messages to my phone.

They were photos of several luxury necklaces, and he asked which one I liked.

I did not reply, so he made the decision on his own.

Bennett: [If you can’t choose, then take them all.]

Two days later, before he had even returned, the necklaces were delivered to my apartment.

Over the years, Bennett had given me apartments and cars. Whenever he saw luxury goods, he would almost always buy me a few pieces.

Kingsley’s salary and benefits were already generous. At the end of last year, my bonus and performance payout came to nearly ninety months of salary.

No luxury item would have looked out of place on me, but I had barely used most of the things Bennett had given me over the years.

News of my resignation slowly spread through the company. Many people felt it was a shame, and many people talked.

When Bennett came back, what he saw was the copied email and the last day I had set.

When Ms. Parker came to call me, she specifically warned me that Mr. Lancaster did not look happy.

I thought he had every reason to be angry. Professionally and personally, I probably should not have handled it so coldly and formally.

Across from Bennett’s office rose the glass towers of Midtown Manhattan. I had been to his office many times, mostly for work reports and rarely for personal reasons.

His brows were drawn tight, and his tone was hard. “Don’t tell me this is some kind of prank email. I can’t think of a single reason for you to resign.”

At the company, whether other people were around or not, he always spoke to me in this distant tone. It was nothing like how he was in private.

“It isn’t a prank. I’m grateful to Kingsley for the training and opportunities over the past few years, but people move on when better opportunities come along. Resigning doesn’t need some dramatic reason,” I said just as formally.

He pushed his office chair back and said bluntly, “Given your skills and experience, Kingsley is the best choice for you. You won’t find anything better if you leave.”

I did not blame him for being so direct. He had met me too early, back when I was still too young.

In his mind, I was probably still the girl who would panic and cry over sending an email to the wrong person.

He stared at me closely. As sharp as he was, he quickly realized something.

“You’re using your resignation to threaten me?” He sat down, and the tension in his body eased. “Stella, this is not a wise choice.”

I shook my head. “I’ve always remembered something you told me, Mr. Lancaster.”

“My future should never be held back by anything. Not by a man, and not by love.”

“So I’m not resigning to threaten you. I’m resigning because I truly have somewhere better to go.”

“Also, our relationship was a real relationship. I think I should say this to you properly.”

“Bennett, I’ve decided to break up with you.”