bChapter /bb416 /b

    bChapter /bb416 /b

    bWesley /bhesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I do need your help. A friend of mine just spotted her with her date at Harvest bza/bb, /bbbut /bhe didn catch which restaurant they went to. Could you maybe ask her for me?”

    Jessica nodded. “No problem.”

    maybe you could rmend the ce to me?]

    Sana. [Hey, where are you having dinner tonight? Is the food any good? If so,

    Jessica readily agreed, then casually pulled out her phone ca Sana’s reply came right away. [It’s really good, Jessi. Want to join na.

    Jessica immediately forwarded the location to Wesley, then replied

    time.]

    Sana: [Alright. Let’s grab a bite together next time you’re free.]

    you first.] Then, a location share promptly followed.

    Nah,

    I’m

    Seeing Sana’s sweet reply, Jessica felt a pang of guilt and thought to herself, ‘Sorry,

    bit

    tired today and not really up for going out. Maybe another

    eally owe you one for this.

    “Thanks a lot.” Wesley, unable to hide his excitement after getting the location, thanked Jessica and rushed out without another word.

    Watching his retreating figure, Jessica sighed inwardly, thinking about the tangled mess between him and Sana. ‘How the tables have turned,‘ she

    mused.

    With the session now a bust, Jessica really wasn’t in the mood to dine alone. She got up, ready to leave.

    They didn’t sit long enough to order anything anyway. But just as she stood up to leave, she saw Brian stride in through the entrance, looking sharp in his tailored suit.

    “Fancy meeting you here, Jessi. Are you dining alone too?” Brian made himself right at home, sliding into the seat across from her and immediately scanning the QR code to order.

    “Perfect timing. I haven’t had dinner either. Mind if I join you?” he chirped, ordering a whole spread of dishes, with every single one of them being her

    favorites.

    Only the heavens knew how ecstatic Brian had been when Wesley texted him saying he had to leave early. Jessica narrowed her eyes, sizing him up. “Coincidence? Please. Brian, you’re following me again, aren’t you?”

    Then her gaze drifted to the Porsche slowly pulling away outside. She thought, ‘Are they actually working together? Otherwise, how else could Brian show up right on cue?‘

    “No, Jessi, it really is just a coincidence. I just wrapped up a deal across the street. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the contract I just signed,” Brian said, already reaching for the documents in his briefcase.

    “No, don’t show me. I’m not interested.” Jessica tly refused without a second thought. She had left Atkinson Group long agob, /bso she actually couldn’t look at their documents now due to confidentiality reasons.

    Brian asked with a hopeful smile, “So, does this mean you believe me now?”

    Seeing she didn’t answer, Brian didn’t push, He simply leaned in with a gentle smile. “What do you feel like eating?”

    Jessica shot him a murderous re, thinking, ‘He’s gone this far to prove it bto /bollime. What can I do other than believe him?‘ /li/ol

    “There are definitely empty tables here. You can sit somewhere else,” she snapped. She didn’t care where he sat as long as he stayed baway /bbfrom /bher

    table.

    Brian nced around the restaurant at her words. It was perfect for him, as every table was upied. Now, he had bthe /bperfect excuse to bstay /bbright /bbwhere /bhe was. Seeing this, Jessica grew even more annoyed.

    10:32 Sat, 2 bAug /b

    bChapter /b416

    b“/bbWhat /bba /bbstupid /bcoincidenceb, /bbJessica /bthought sarcastically. ‘But then bagain/b, there bare /bso bmany /bcoincidences. bThis /bbhas /bto be bhis /bscheme, but least

    It.

    Meanwhile, across from her, Brian was already preparing his cutlery. When he noticed her watching, he gently pushed a steaming ss of milk in a justs ordered toward her.

    He was so impossibly considerate that Jessica didn’t even have an excuse to get mad. ept his presence.

    In the end, she could only swallow her annoyance and bgrudgingly /b

    ‘It’s just a meal anyway, and it’s not like it’s the first time we’ve had dinner together. I’ll just leave right after, Jessica thought. Grudgingly, conveniently ignoring the option of simply getting up and leaving right then.

    Brian sensed her reluctant eptance, and it made him even happier. ‘Dr. Finch’s advice really worked, he thought in satisfaction. Meanwhileb, /bbthe /bvery same doctor Brian had just praised was currently speeding toward the mall.