Chapter 123: Not an ordinary messenger

They arrived at the L×L building a few minutes ahead of schedule.

However, before they entered, Tom stopped Bree by the side of the car. Stephen continued a few steps ahead, already pulling out his phone and checking through, giving them a thin pocket of privacy.

"I need to send you on an errand. It’s a personal one, mind you." Tom said to Bree.

Bree’s eyes were already at alert. "Alright, sir. At your service." she said sharply.

Tom held her gaze as he began explaining the shape of the errand; "So, there is a woman I disappointed yesterday. She won’t pick my calls. I want you to go to her and not leave until she agrees to take my call."

He expected resistance. Definitely a frown first followed by a complaint about being pulled off schedule. He expected that but still wanted to try anyway.

Instead of what he had expected, Bree’s expression brightened with interest.

"Who is she? And where do I find her?" she asked simply, sounding very ready to run the errand.

"Stella Marchetti."

That made Bree blink once. Then she nodded, already adjusting her posture. "I know her."

"I’ll send the address," Tom said. "Use whatever tactics work in that head of yours. I need her to take the call." His voice lowered slightly as he added;"I miss her already, and she’s shut me out."

Bree’s mouth curved into a small smile. "Don’t worry. I know what to do."

"If you pull it off, I’ll compensate you."

"Then I’ll pull it off." Bree said with utmost confidence. She returned the car keys to his hand, used two fingers to rearrange her already arranged fringe and stepped back.

"I’ll find my way."

She left with the same confidence she had carried all morning, already shifting from driver to problem-solver before she reached the curb. Tom watched her go for a second, then joined Stephen and headed into the building.

~~~~~~~~~

The L×L meeting room was sophisticated in every sense. And to Tom, the room was arranged to welcome him in a grand style. He couldn’t believe a meeting room could be arranged like this for every ordinary meeting.

The CEO rose as they entered, offered a firm handshake, and took Tom in with the assessing look of a man who had already decided the face and body in front of him could sell.

Pleasantries were brief.

Stephen handled what followed with smoothness. He introduced his client, then got served the contract pages. He turned the pages carefully and clauses were marked. Two unfavorable lines were challenged and revised before the pen ever reached Tom’s hand. The shooting schedule was laid out next: campaign dates, studio blocks, fitting windows, and public appearance obligations tied to the first release wave. Payment terms followed, and they were heavy enough.

They were going to pay 30,000usd per month with a 150,000usd first campaign package.

Then came the rest of the benefits, item by item.

Tom would receive a full premium wardrobe cycle under the brand’s styling team. Private fitness and body-maintenance support for campaign season. Priority placement in L×L’s flagship campaign line rather than side promotional work. Image management through the company’s media unit for the duration of the contract. A driver on shoot days. And performance bonuses tied to campaign reach after launch. On top of the monthly pay, it was a structure designed not only to use him, but to build him.

Everything had Tom smiling inwardly. However he let Stephen read through the terms carefully as he wanted to, even though he had decided in his mind he was accepting this.

The contract also carried a one-year revision clause. At the end of the term, both sides would review whether to retain him, renegotiate, or release him.

After Stephen was satisfied with what he was reading, he gave Tom the nod to sign.

Tom signed.

Afterward, the CEO smiled with more warmth and suggested brunch. The formal part of the morning closed in success.

At the table where difference delicacies were laid, Tom went through the meal slowly as part of his attention remained elsewhere, fixed on a phone that had not yet delivered what he needed from Bree.

~~~~~~~~~~

Across the city, Stella was nearly ready for her own signing with Bold You when her housekeeper appeared at the bedroom doorway.

"There’s a woman asking for you, ma’am."

Stella frowned lightly, as she wasn’t expecting anybody by that time. "Who?"

"She didn’t give a familiar name. She’s at the door."

That alone was strange. Stella’s home address was not public decoration. Only a narrow circle was supposed to know how to find her there. She put on the earring she was about to wear, checked her reflection once more, and went out.

At the door stood a woman she had never seen before, half-hidden behind a very large bouquet that covered half of her body and holding a set of coffee in the other hand with a surprising balance.

Stella caught whiff of the coffee’s smell... It was her favourite. She furrowed her brows.

"Yes?" Stella asked.

Bree lowered the flowers just enough for her face to show, wearing a polite smile.

"Good morning, Ms. Marchetti. I came because my employer hasn’t been in a good state of mind since yesterday. Because of you." she said and Stella’s eyes sharpened.

Bree continued before the silence could harden. "If you don’t reconcile with him, I’ll have to remain here and run errands for you instead."

The line was absurd enough to catch attention, and confident enough not to sound like a joke from a nervous girl. Stella studied her more carefully now, a wild guess already forming on who her employer could be.

"And who is your employer?" she asked nevertheless.

"Tom Harlow."

Stella’s brows furrowed deeper.

Bree shifted the bouquet aside and set it down, and for the first time Stella got a full look at her.

Bree was wearing a fitted cream blouse tucked into a high-waist black pencil skirt that stopped just below the knee. The blouse clung enough to show the heavy round shape of her breasts, and the skirt hugged her hips and backside so tightly that there was no guessing her figure. She had a very small waist, wide hips, and a thick, full backside that stretched out the skirt so much.

Even her posture made it more obvious. She stood like a woman who knew exactly how she looked and saw no reason to hide it.

Then Bree pushed forward the coffee, still completely at ease.

"I can run any errand, I’m thorough." she said.

Stella’s mouth opened in soft awe.

Interest glinted in her eyes. The approach was strange, forward, and completely unintimidated by who she was. In a morning full of people handling her carefully, this woman had walked up to her private door with coffee, flowers, and the nerve to install herself as a consequence, all while looking like that.

Stella looked at her again, openly checking her out, and the corner of her composure changed shape.

Tom had not sent an ordinary messenger...