Eugene raised his glass first and offered a toast. Right after that, James turned to Serena with a broad grin.
“Ms. Steele, I really must toast you, our beautiful lawyer, properly.”
Serena was no rookie. Being teased about her looks was the most common kind of social banter at dinners like this.
She lifted her glass without hesitation. “Mr. Anderson, I should be the one to toast you.”
She took a large sip in one smooth motion. Her straightforward manner clearly pleased James.
“Ha! Mr. Beaumont, Ms. Steele on your team is quite a talent.”
The corner of Eugene’s mouth twitched. “Well, Ms. Steele really is talented professionally. Mr. Anderson, don’t let her age fool you. She’s already the most capable young lawyer on our team.”
Serena had forgotten to take any antacids beforehand. Her stomach churned violently. She forced a smile anyway.
“That’s only because my boss gave me the opportunity and trusted me.”
“Come on.” Another middle-aged man from the investment department stood up. “So young and impressive. I have to have a drink with you, Ms. Steele.”
With no way out, Serena stood up again and raised her glass.
Just then, Daniel noticed a number flashing on his phone screen. His expression tightened.
He lifted a hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
Serena froze, the glass still in her hand.
Whose call could be important enough to stop everything?
The man beside Daniel leaned over to take a look, and his face changed slightly as well.
“Hello. Yes, we’re having dinner with Beaumont Legal. That’s right, at Midnight Society. Are you coming?”
Daniel shot to his feet. “You’re already at the entrance? I’ll come get you!”
After hanging up, Daniel gave Eugene a meaningful look. Beaumont Legal really was unbelievably lucky. Their CEO just happened to show up tonight.
“Mr. Beaumont, I’ll step out to pick someone up.”
Eugene’s heart skipped. From Daniel’s tone, this was clearly someone very important.
“Of course, Mr. Hart. I’ll go with you.”
Serena sat back down uneasily. Who could it be?
It couldn’t be Nathan or Sebastian, could it?
She quickly dismissed the thought.
Nathan had said just yesterday that he was taking her out to dinner today. He probably didn’t have any engagements.
As for Sebastian, that was even more impossible.
An event at this level wasn’t something Sebastian would bother with.
“Shawn, I’m going to the restroom,” Serena said softly.
Shawn leaned closer. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Serena shook her head. “I just drank too fast. My stomach hurts a bit.”
After excusing herself to the people from Levine Group, Serena stepped out.
Not long after she left, Sebastian walked in, flanked by Daniel and Eugene.
His sharp eyes swept across the room, his brow lifting slightly.
Where is she?
The Levine Group executives stood up at once and greeted him in unison. “Mr. Levine!”
Shawn looked stunned. He had seen this man’s photo in magazines before. His voice trembled as he followed suit.
“Mr. Levine!”
Good heavens. The real, living Sebastian Levine. Just seeing him tonight made the whole evening worthwhile.
Daniel tried to offer Sebastian the seat of honor, but Sebastian waved him off casually.
“I’ll sit here. Is this seat taken?”
Sebastian pointed to the spot that just happened to be Serena’s.
Daniel froze for a moment. “Uh… got it!”
“Did Ms. Steele go to the restroom? Once she’s back, she can sit next to Mr. Yonge,” Daniel added, arranging the seating.
With that, Serena ended up separated from Sebastian by exactly one person-Shawn.
Sebastian’s eyes flickered ever so slightly, betraying nothing. “That’s unnecessary,” he said.
He pointed at Shawn. “Move over a seat. Leave this spot for the one who went to the restroom.”
Daniel’s heart skipped a beat.
He had deliberately arranged the seats earlier, knowing Sebastian kept his distance from women and preferred people to give him space.
What was going on now?
Two seconds later, it clicked. Sebastian had probably only heard her surname, so he didn’t even realize Serena was a woman.
Daniel could only hope Serena would be tactful and not do anything to irritate Sebastian.
…
Serena dug a pill out of her bag, swallowed it down with water, and then asked the waiter for a cup of hot water, drinking a long gulp before she finally calmed down.
But when she pushed the door open, she froze.
Why was the one person she never expected to see here sitting right in her seat?
Eugene glanced at his stunned protege. “Serena, don’t just stand there-come on in and sit.”
Sit where?
Serena stared at the only empty chair, lost in thought.
Her mind raced. The only open spot was right next to Sebastian.
Sebastian’s lips curved ever so slightly. “Ms. Steele, aren’t you going to sit?”
He lifted his brows just a fraction at Serena, then lightly tugged at his lips, his tone deceptively casual.
But his casual, effortless demeanor made her mind go completely blank, and she froze in place.
Shawn, unaware of the tension between them, assumed she was just as flustered as he was by the presence of a “big shot.”
He stood and gently took her wrist. “Come on, don’t just stand there. Sit down.”
When he returned to his seat, he caught Sebastian’s gaze-loaded with meaning-and felt a jolt in his chest.
He quickly looked away, defeated.
Finally, Serena snapped out of it.
Everyone was staring at her with curious expressions. She pressed her lips together and gave an embarrassed laugh. “Sorry. I was just too surprised to see Mr. Levine.”
Sebastian’s long fingers tapped lightly on the table, intrigued by the unfamiliar name that had passed her lips.
But back-and-forth like this didn’t escape Daniel from Levine Group.
He chuckled. “Ms. Steele, do you know Mr. Levine?”
Serena stiffened like a startled cat and shook her head vigorously. “No, no! I could never know Mr. Levine!”
The moment she spoke, the atmosphere in the room grew even more delicate.
Sebastian’s eyes darkened slightly. He leaned back casually in his chair, his posture relaxed. “Hmm. That’s right. Ms. Steele couldn’t possibly know me.”
Daniel felt a flicker of doubt.
Had he been mistaken?
Judging by Sebastian’s demeanor, the two of them didn’t look like they knew each other.
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