My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 377

His expression darkened, but he leaned back in his seat, forcing himself not to interrupt.

“Yes, I know,” Riyana continued. “I just arrived at the location. Yes, I’ll check that.”

She hung up the call and put the phone back into her bag.

“I thought we were here for Lily’s birthday,” Jabco said slowly. He had understood enough from the conversation. She wasn’t here just for dinner.

She looked at him with open irritation.

“Why?” she shot back. “Are you disappointed that we can’t immediately go and wish your very, very important friend?”

Her words were sharp, dripping with sarcasm.

“Riyana,” Jabco said, his patience thinning, “this is getting out of hand. Mind your words.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I don’t need your concern,” she replied. “I have a few things to handle here. It just happens to be the same location.”

She opened the door slightly.

“There’s still time before meeting Lily. I’m going to have a small meeting.”

She glanced at him briefly.

“If you’re that desperate, you can call her and meet her first.”

Then, without hesitation, she added, “I have to go now. Open the door.”

Jabco’s face darkened further, but he unlocked the door.

Riyana stepped out.

She bent down slightly, leaning toward him through the open door, her eyes challenging.

“I’ll call you after I finish,” she said. “But if you think I’ll disturb you, I won’t.”

She paused, then added lightly, “You can say that now if you want.”

Jabco clenched his teeth.

Riyana straightened up, scoffed, and slammed the car door shut.

Inside the car, Jabco’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. His jaw ached from clenching too hard.

This woman.

She knew exactly how to drive him crazy.

He watched her walk toward the restaurant, her back straight, her steps confident. When she disappeared inside, only then did it hit him.

He had no idea where she was going.

“Damn it,” he muttered.

He quickly got out of the car and followed her inside.

The lobby was busy. He scanned the area just in time to see Riyana step into an elevator.

“Riyana!” he called.

Too late.

The elevator doors closed right in front of him.

He stopped and stared at the closed doors, breathing heavily.

After a second, he took out his phone and called her. His eyes stayed fixed on the elevator display.

She didn’t answer until the last ring.

“Riyana,” he said immediately. “Which floor are you on?”

“You don’t need to know,” she replied coolly. “I told you I’ll call you after I finish my work.”

There was a brief pause.

“I’ve arrived,” she added.

Then the call ended.

Jabco stared at his phone in disbelief.

She hung up on him.

She paused briefly.

“Mr. Rome, I don’t think I’m a good choice. I’ve just started my work. I don’t have much experience.”

On the outside, she looked composed.

Inside, she was already annoyed.

Just seeing him irritated her.

She remembered the first time they met. It was a week ago at Lennox’s house. He was Lennox’s friend, introduced casually. At first, she hadn’t thought much of it.

But the moment his eyes landed on her, she felt it.

The way he looked at her. The way his smile lingered too long.

After that day, flowers started arriving at the gallery. Every few days. Then this morning necklace gift came.

And now, even her professor had told her that Neon Rome specifically requested her as his sister’s instructor.

It was too much.

She knew she had to stop this before it went any further.

That was why she asked Jabco to stop the car. If Jabco had come with her, he would have exploded the moment he saw Neon. She didn’t want that.

She just wanted to end this cleanly.

“Yes,” Neon replied smoothly, a faint smile playing on his lips, “and experience doesn’t really matter.”

He leaned back slightly, confident.

“You’re good with Lennox. That alone tells me you’re more than capable. I’m sure you can teach my sister very well too.”

That smile again.

The one that made Riyana want to sigh in frustration.

“Mr. Rome...” she started.

“Neon,” he interrupted immediately. “Please, call me Neon.”