After a moment’s thought, Whitney replied, “How about we try Sunrise Bites? We missed out last time.”
A nervous laugh escaped her lips.
Klein offered a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “Sounds good. Let’s head there.”
As they drove, Whitney longed to ask Klein just how much he had overheard during that call.
Yet, lacking the courage, she opted for silence, retreating into her thoughts like a turtle hiding in its shell.
Once they arrived at the restaurant, they found themselves in the same private room as before, and Klein ordered the same soup. Whitney sat there, her mind racing, still puzzled as to why Klein had invited her out tonight.
In an attempt to break the silence, she asked, “Did they inform James about the engagement being called off?”
Klein took his time pouring her a glass of water. “Haven’t heard anything. I’ve been out of the house these past few days.”
His eyes were deep and dark, holding an intensity that made her heart race. “Do you want me to talk to him for you?”
Whitney shook her head firmly. “No, that’s alright.”
*What’s the point of him saying anything?* she thought. If anyone needed to deliver the news to James, it should be Carter himself.
“Alright, then. Did your dad agree to the engagement being called off?” Klein inquired.
Whitney smirked sarcastically. “Whether he agrees or not doesn’t matter. I’ve already informed him.”
She had made her position clear to both sides. If they chose to act as if nothing had changed, they would only embarrass themselves later.
A small smile crept onto Klein’s lips. “Yeah, I get that.”
They continued their dinner, the earlier call lingering unspoken in the air between them.
Whitney feigned ignorance about the entire incident. When their meal concluded, she hailed a cab and headed home alone.
Meanwhile, Klein casually dialed Calvin Malone’s number.
“Hello, Mr. Harris,” Calvin answered, sounding a bit bewildered. He had no clue what Klein wanted at this hour.
Calvin had just finished a business dinner and was still feeling the effects of the drinks.
“So, have you chosen a law firm for that merger yet?” Klein asked, his tone businesslike.
Calvin immediately straightened up. “We were leaning towards PrimeBridge Law Firm, but the two partners provided us with different quotes. We’re still deciding which offer is best.”
“Calvin, since when do we concern ourselves with price when selecting a law firm?” Klein’s voice was cool and cutting.
A chill ran down Calvin’s spine, cold sweat forming despite him sitting securely in his car. “Mr. Harris…”
“Think it over. I want your final choice on my desk by tomorrow,” Klein instructed, ending the call abruptly, the line going dead with a sharp click.
Calvin was left in a whirl of confusion, trying to comprehend how his boss had gotten wind of the situation.
*It’s clear Mr. Harris has his sights set on Ivan as his preferred choice,* Calvin thought, piecing things together.
Suddenly, he recalled the dinner that night.
*I knew it. The way Mr. Harris left with Ms. Moore that night… There’s definitely something brewing between them,* Calvin mused.
Meanwhile, Carter stared at the calendar, deep in thought, before showing up at Whitney’s doorstep, laden with millions worth of jewelry.
He pressed the doorbell repeatedly, but no one answered.
Having already blocked him on WhatsApp, he was left with no choice but to call her.
The phone rang incessantly, but all he received was the cold, robotic voicemail message.
*Did she block my number too?* Carter wondered, his heart sinking.
Finally, just as Whitney descended the stairs, Carter caught sight of her.
“Whitney,” he called out, desperation lacing his voice.
Whitney had just finished a long day of overtime and hadn’t eaten yet, so she had stepped out to grab some food.
She adored the cuisine from that restaurant, but the moment she spotted Carter, even the delicious aromas in the air seemed to sour.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you worried about ending up with hemorrhoids?” Whitney snapped, her irritation bubbling to the surface.
She couldn’t resist adding with a smirk, “And impotence too.”
Calvin ended the call, his mind swirling with thoughts about Klein’s rather peculiar behavior.
Mr. Harris himself, taking the time to come and sign what was essentially a minor contract? It was quite telling of how much he valued the PrimeBridge Law Firm. Surely, even a prestigious law firm wouldn’t warrant such attention from a high-ranking executive like Mr. Harris, would it?
Unless, Calvin mused, there’s someone within the firm that he holds in high regard. This sudden revelation made him feel as if he had stumbled upon a significant secret, one that could change everything.
Klein had been single for thirty-three years, his life devoid of any scandal, whether at home or abroad. Whispers floated around that he might remain alone for the rest of his days.
Yet, Klein lived life on his own terms, seemingly unfazed by the opinions of others.
Most of the Secretariat Office staff were men, which added another layer of intrigue to Klein’s solitary existence.
His self-discipline was nothing short of remarkable. There were times when Calvin questioned whether Klein would ever find someone special to share his life with.
But just a few days earlier, Klein had surprised everyone by offering to drive a woman home.
In fact, Klein had raised his voice at Calvin late one night, all because of the law firm where this woman worked.
Calvin, ever perceptive, sensed that Klein felt something different for her.
With a rhythmic tapping of his index finger against the desk, Calvin decided to call Ivan.
After Ivan hung up, he was left with a sense of confusion.
Calvin had specifically instructed the team to bring Whitney along today to sign the contract. Even if Calvin hadn’t mentioned it, Ivan had already planned on bringing her.
Yet, Calvin’s explicit instruction only deepened Ivan’s suspicions.
A frown creased Ivan’s brow as he thought, I’ve heard that Calvin is married!
In the car, an awkward silence enveloped the two.
Whitney found herself preoccupied with worries about what she would say if she encountered Klein later.
Ivan, on the other hand, was carefully considering how to approach the situation, preparing to guide his most admired subordinate back from what he perceived as a misguided path.
“Boss,” Whitney broke the silence, her voice tentative.
“Whitney,” Ivan responded, his tone slightly surprised.
They both spoke simultaneously, “55 vou chers.”
Whitney blinked, taken aback. “Well, you go first, Boss.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Ivan’s mouth. “Whitney, you mentioned before that you broke up with your boyfriend, right?”
“Yeah,” Whitney replied, her expression growing serious.
He cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. “Do you mind if I ask why?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.