The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

“Hey, it’s been several minutes since they’ve left. Why are you still like this?” Jessamyn asked Whitney with a tight

smile, suppressing her dissatisfaction.

Her hands were clenched in her pockets.

Whitney snapped back to reality and turned to face Jessamyn.

Her work day as a waitress was not over yet, so she nodded politely to Jessamyn and asked, “Ms. Cloud, is there

anything I can help you with?”

“Must I have a reason to speak to you? You stole my fiancé, and you’re still acting so high and mighty?”

“As I recall, Mr. Newton said you two are only meeting for the first time today and are not at the point of

engagement yet, right? Besides, Ms. Cloud, you saw with your own eyes that it was Mr. Newton who wanted to take

me aside just now, not the other way round,” countered Whitney with reason.

Jessamyn gave Whitney an irritated look and glared at her wordlessly.

“If there’s nothing I can help you with, then I’ll get back to work,” said Whitney, excusing herself.

She was determined to finish her last day and notify the hotel manager of her resignation later.

After all, she had only worked for three days, and if the hotel refused to pay her, she could live with that. Nothing

could spoil her joy. After all, she was going on a date with Charles the next day.

As she spun around to leave, Jessamyn stopped her and asked calmly, “You don’t look like you’re from Chanaea.

Are you here from another country to work?”

“That’s a personal question. It doesn’t concern you, Ms. Cloud.”

“I’m just asking out of concern.” Jessamyn moved closer to Whitney and continued in a hushed tone, “You must be

struggling financially. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be working as a waitress so far away from home. I heard you’re

going on a date with Charles. He’s from a powerful family. Do you know the rules of dating him?”

“What rules?” Whitney asked, puzzled.

Do the upper-class elites in this country have specific dating rules?

With a knowing look, Jessamyn laid a hand on Whitney’s shoulder.

“On your first official date, Charles will surely bring you a gift. Whatever it may be, it won’t be cheap. Similarly, you

should prepare a gift for him, but suitable gifts for men often cost hundreds of thousands or even millions. Are you

sure you can afford it?”

Whitney stared at the ground.

I can’t afford that for sure!

She had been living in Chanaea for four years. She had worked at the oceanarium before this, and her salary had

been decent. However, Salinsburgh was an expensive city, home to the uber-rich.

Her last month’s salary had just been enough for her rent and living expenses, and she had no savings.

Besides, she had resigned from the oceanarium a few days ago but had not yet received her final salary.

She had enough trouble paying the next month’s rent without having to worry about buying an extravagant gift

worth over a hundred thousand just for a date.

“If you want to date Charles, you should know these things,” Jessamyn concluded.

Whitney fell silent, not knowing what to say.

She was just a simple girl from the mountain village of Tayhaven. There was a noticeable difference between

herself and an upper-class socialite like Jessamyn, who grew up in glamorous social circles.

Even just standing beside Jessamyn, Whitney could see that she lacked the elegant demeanor of a refined young

lady born into wealth.

The two women appraised each other silently.

Whitney had a distinct exotic charm with her flaxen hair, emerald eyes, and creamy white skin. The black apron

tied around her waist only served to accentuate her slender figure and delicate waist.

Beneath her skirt, her shapely legs stretched on endlessly. Her body was well-proportioned, but most striking of all

was her taller-than-average height.

Even in her towering high heels, Jessamyn only managed to match Whitney’s height.

She judged the other woman to be around one hundred and seventy-five centimeters tall.

Jessamyn burned with envy.

Apart from appearing a little uncomfortable and out of place, Whitney’s appearance was no less impressive than

hers.

Is this why Charles chose her over me? But besides her pretty face, how can her family status and educational

background compare with mine?

Jessamyn felt robbed. Ever since she was a child, she had always been pampered, always given whatever she

wanted. She could not bear the thought of losing to Whitney, and she felt an intense impulse to destroy this

beautiful doll-like woman standing in front of her.

After some thought, she made her decision.

“Well, I’m a nice girl, and I love helping those in need. Since you’ll be going on that date tomorrow, I’ll offer you a

job that’ll pay you well and quickly.”

Whitney’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ms. Cloud, would you really be so kind?”

Jessamyn did not bother to reply. She pulled out a business card from her tiny, designer bag and handed it to

Whitney.

“The manager’s name and number are on the card. Once you finish your shift here, you can head over and check

out the place around nine o’clock at night. If you have any questions, you can just call and ask. Just mention my

name, and they’ll set you up for some fast money,” Jessamyn explained.

Whitney took the card from her and studied it hesitantly.

The establishment seemed to be a high-end bar.

Whitney could imagine that such a place would be frequented by powerful, rich men, and there was surely shady

business happening there.

She handed the card back to Jessamyn and said, “Thank you, but I don’t think I’ll take this job. I’ll find another way

to get a gift for Charles for our date. Still, I appreciate your offer.”

Jessamyn pushed the card back into Whitney’s hand. “I know what you’re thinking, but there’s nothing illegal going

on in this place. It’s legit. At most, you’ll have to sing a few songs and maybe dance a few sexy routines. If you

make the patrons happy, they might leave you a big tip.”

“Really?”

Jessamyn scoffed. “Of course! Anyway, the decision is yours. I can’t force you to take the job anyway. Just keep the

card. If you don’t want it, you can throw it away. I never take something back once I’ve given it away.”

Then, she brushed past Whitney and walked out of the hotel, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

Whitney watched her disappearing figure as she thought about the offer.

“What are you doing over there? I’m not paying you to just stand around, you know!”

The manager’s voice reprimanding the other waiters interrupted Whitney’s train of thought.

She quickly tucked the card into her pocket and went back to work. She still had several hours to think it over.

Charles was in the car with Zendaya. They were on their way to the Newton residence. He pulled out his phone and

dialed Cedrick’s number.

Cedrick was busy with work and was not at the hospital with his son.

Gwendolyn, on the other hand, had delegated her work at Harris Group to her assistant and taken the day off to be

with Benedict for his treatment. However, she was still working remotely from the hospital.

Charles immediately told the driver to change his course. He decided to take Zendaya to the hospital to keep

Benedict company.

When they arrived at the hospital, Benedict’s ward door was ajar.

Charles gently pushed the door and opened it wider.

Benedict was alone in the ward, sitting quietly on the bed while awaiting the completion of the infusion.

Gwendolyn was on a business call in the next room, having been sent away from the ward by Benedict.

Charles buried his feelings of pity and guilt deep within his blue eyes. He gently placed Zendaya on the ground and

crouched down to her eye level.

“Zendy, go and keep your brother company. Don’t leave him alone with his thoughts. I have to go now, but I’ll come

by Harrick Villa tomorrow to take you to school, okay?”

Zendaya wrapped her little hands around his arms, refusing to let him leave.