Chapter 23

Isabella couldn't help but notice just how much stronger guys were compared to girls.

The next morning, she woke up feeling like she'd been taken apart and put back together wrong. Everything hurt, especially her waist, which felt like it had been snapped in half and then glued back together with no strength left.

She had zero energy, just lying there in bed, too lazy to even move a finger.

Meanwhile, Michael was bouncing with energy. After his morning run and shower,even his hair seemed full of life.

Michael was already dressed. Seeing Isabella awake, he said, "Isabella, I gotta head out for a bit to take care of some stuff. I told your company you might take the day off if you're not feeling well. Last night must've been rough on you."

Thinking about everything that had happened in that bed the night before,Isabella felt too embarrassed to face Michael.

She closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

But her fluttering eyelashes gave her away.

Michael chuckled and planted a kiss on her forehead. "If you still wanna go to work,let Robert drive you."

At the Johnson Group headquarters.

Jeremy ran into Michael in the elevator early in the morning. "Michael,you seem in a good mnood today?"

"When am I ever in a bad mood?" Michael shot back.

"Come on, you just broke up, and your girlfriend cheated on you. Shouldn't you be mad or at least upset?" Jeremy looked at Michael,puzzled.Michael was definitely not your average guy.

"Are you spying on me?" Michael squinted. "Do you have a death wish or something?"

Jeremy raised his hands in surrender. "It was Qiana, Ms. Johnson, who asked me to find out about your breakup. I asked you,but you wouldn't say anything, so I had to go to Stella."

"Nosy much?" Michael tossed the remark at Jeremy and walked out of the elevator without looking back.

Michael usually took over Jeremy's vice president's office,but this time,he didn't even glance at it and headed straight to his office.

Jeremy knew he'd ticked Michael off again.

No way he was getting any info from Michael now; he'd have to hope Stella would spill something useful.

Jeremy went through a lot to track down Stella.

He'd met with her yesterday.

At first, Stella wouldn't say a word, no matter how much Jeremy threatened or bribed her.

But for Jeremy, as the vice president of the Johnson Group, dealing with someone like Stella was a piece of cake.

Sure enough, after a bit of intimidation, Stella spilled the beans.

Jeremy found out it was Stella who had cheated and that Michael had been dumped by her.

The more Jeremy thought about it, the angrier he got. Michael was such a great guy, yet Stella had the nerve to hurt him like that.

He decided to find someone to teach Stella a lesson, but to his shock, no one would take the job.

Michael had already smoothed things over, ordering everyone not to mess with Stella.

It seemed less like Stella had cheated and more like Michael had wronged Stella.

Jeremy shook his head and sighed inwardly, 'Michael must be completely in love with Stella to dosomething so unbelievable.'

Thinking about all the stuff hé'd dug up yesterday and Michael's recent weird behavior, Jeremy sat at his desk, staring at his untouched coffee,feeling pretty bummed out.

He figured Michael's odd behavior had to be because he was super hurt and couldn't even tell if he was happy or not.

The best way to get over a heartbreak? Start a new relationship.

Jeremy quickly called Qiana to talk about setting up a blind date for Michael.

As soon as he hung up, he couldn't wait to find Michael.

In the president's office.

Michael was talking branch office stuff with Vaughn.

“Michael, I'm throwing a friends' gathering this Saturday.You should come!" Jeremy said,looking hopeful.

"Not happening!" Michael shot back without even thinking.

“I'm free, I'll go," Vaughn chimed in.

Jeremy shot him a look that said, 'What's the point of you going?'

"I checked your schedule for Saturday. You've got nothing. How can you not be free?" Jeremy pressed.

"Do I have to report my plans to you?” Michael chuckled, lounging in his chair like a lazy big cat.

“You just broke up. What personal plans could you have?” Jeremy pushed.

Michael glared at him, and Jeremy quickly changed his tone, “If you don't go, the gathering's pointless. Everyone wants to see you."

“I said I'm not going, and that's final,” Michael firmly refused.

Vaughn could see what Jeremy was up to. It was clear he'd set up the gathering just for Michael, probably for a blind date.

He shook his head and sighed inwardly, 'Jeremy's wasting his time. Can't he see? Michael's in a surprisingly good mood right now. Normally.Jeremy would've been thrówn out by now. But look at Michael,lounging there like a well-fed cat basking in the sun. He's satisfied both mentally and physically.'

“Come on,” Jeremy thought of the task Qiana had given him and kept pushing.

Michael said, “Really can't. Normally, I'd go if I could. But this weekend, I really can't. I have a date,”

Jeremy sensed something was off.

Michael couldn't let some bad woman mess up his life,so after leaving Michael's office, Jeremy went to find his assistant, Aaron. "Aaron, has Michael been close to any female friends recently?"

“Mr.Johnson told me not to say." Even though Michael usually bossed him around, Aaron couldn't betray him.

Thinking of the affectionate scenes between Michael and Isabella,and recalling the surprising things Michael had said on the phone last night.Aaron felt that the secrets in his heart were growing more numerous by the day.

"I'm doing this for Michael's good." Jeremy was relentless, still hoping to get some useful info from Aaron. “Besides, it's not me who wants to know;it's Ms. Johnson. She's Michael's sister. She wouldn't harm him,right?”

Aaron still refused, “Sorry, Mr. Wright, I'm Mr. Johnson's assistant and only accountable for his directives."

“You're just like Jerry, not too bright." Jeremy had to admit, MichaeI was good at picking loyal people.

Jeremy felt deeply guilty for failingthe blind date plan Qiana had given him.

With that thought in mind, he hurried back to the office and called Qiana.He needed to discuss their next steps.

(J