She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 799

Dominic stood tall, practically glowing with arrogance. Yet, Preston remained completely motionless behind Melanie's chair.

"Did you not hear me? I told you to get out!" Dominic snapped, his temper flaring as he met Preston's gaze.

Preston was taller, and the way he looked down at Dominic felt like a predator observing prey. A sudden, involuntary shiver ran down Dominic's spine.

"Who do you think you are, playing tough when you're just an assistant?" Dominic muttered under his breath.

Preston's lips curved into a faint, icy smile. "You said it yourself, Mr. Hale. I am an assistant. But I am *Ms. Royce's* assistant. The only person in this room with the authority to dismiss me is her."

Dominic instantly snapped his attention to Melanie, raising an expectant brow.

Melanie smiled sweetly, tilting her head back to look at Preston. "You can stay."

"Melanie—Ms. Royce," Dominic sputtered, stepping forward in protest. "We are about to discuss a multi-million dollar business proposition. It is completely inappropriate to have an assistant eavesdropping on this."

He had meticulously selected this venue for a romantic, private reunion. He wasn't about to let Preston Whitmore crash his date.

"I don't hire people I can't trust," Melanie replied smoothly, her tone turning sharp. "If he works for me, there's nothing about my business he isn't cleared to hear. Besides..."

She looked Dominic up and down, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes. "Preston isn't just my assistant. He's also my bodyguard."

Dominic froze. "Are you seriously implying I set a trap for you?"

"Whether it's a trap or not depends entirely on why you dragged me out here."

The sudden shift to strictly business left Dominic momentarily speechless. He swallowed the words he actually wanted to say. He desperately wished she would drop the cold, professional act. They had been married for four years, after all.

"I—you—"

While Dominic struggled to find his words, Preston calmly took the seat beside Melanie, completely ignoring the daggers Dominic was glaring at him.

Dominic's jaw clenched so hard a muscle feathered in his cheek. This was supposed to be *their* moment. Why was this glorified bag-handler ruining everything?

Suddenly, a twisted smirk crossed Dominic's face.

"Actually, it's fine if Assistant Whitmore joins us. These ingredients are incredibly rare. I'm sure you haven't seen a meal like this in ages. Consider it a workplace perk from Ms. Royce."

Dripping with condescension, Dominic pointed a silver spoon at the centerpiece stew.