Julian said calmly, “I’m on my way now. As for why I’m showing up, come up with a reasonable explanation.”
Before Veronica could say anything else, he had already hung up. Veronica had always believed she understood Julian quite well.
Julian rarely smiled, and he was incredibly calculating when it came to business. Yet he had always kept his distance from women.
In his world, there seemed to be only two things that mattered: work and making money.
Yet now he had suddenly taken an interest in Quinn.
What exactly is he planning?
To make matters worse, he had just handed the problem to her and expected her to come up with a convincing explanation.
How am I supposed to explain this to Quinn?
When Veronica returned to the private room, Lucy waved her over.
“Hey, Veronica! Come try this, it’s really good!”
Veronica sat down with a smile and chatted with them for a moment while quietly trying to figure out how to bring it up.
But she was afraid Julian might arrive any minute.
Finally, she gathered her courage.
“Quinn,” she said carefully, “there’s something I should tell you. Julian is coming here in a little while.”
Quinn froze for a moment.
Lucy looked surprised too. “Seven’s coming here? That’s weird. What’s he doing here? Does he actually have time for something like this?”
In everyone’s eyes, Julian was the kind of man who lived buried in work.
He never wasted time on things that didn’t matter.
“He suddenly needed to talk to me about something,” Veronica explained. “I didn’t really have a choice. I told him I was already having lunch with you guys, and he said he’d come over.”
Quinn lowered her gaze and stayed quiet.
That day, Julian had come to see her in person and explained what had happened. Whatever the circumstances were, he had been the one who pulled her out of Maddox’s hands.
If Julian hadn’t arrived when he did, Maddox might have crossed a line she could never undo.
In the end, there was no denying it.
Julian had saved her.
But every time Quinn thought about him, she could not stop remembering that intense kiss that had left her legs weak.
A strange swirl of emotions churned inside her. She did not want to see Julian, and she had no idea what kind of attitude she should even take toward him.
Lucy glanced at her and spoke up right away. “Since my cousin needs to talk to you about something, we should probably give you two some space. Quinn, want to head out?”
That was exactly what Quinn wanted.
“Sure. We won’t keep you from talking business, Veronica.”
Veronica instantly felt a headache coming on.
If Julian showed up and everyone had already left, how was she supposed to explain that?
Because she knew very well that Julian was definitely not coming here for her.
His real target was Quinn.
If she didn’t manage to keep Quinn here today, there was no telling what he might do next.
Veronica hurried to say, “I already told him you two were here too. He said it was perfect and that he could meet you as well. Quinn, do you mind?”
Quinn stayed quiet.
Admitting she minded felt awkward. Her silence said enough.
Lucy immediately stepped in when she saw that. “Veronica, Quinn doesn’t want to see him. Honestly, he really picked the worst timing. This is just going to be awkward…”
Before she could finish, Veronica shot her a sharp look.
“What’s so awkward about it? However you two met, you met. That’s fate. Besides, you and Quinn are good friends. What’s wrong with letting Quinn meet Julian?”
Lucy was about to argue again when Quinn spoke.
She gently tugged Lucy’s sleeve. “It’s fine.”
She did not want to make things difficult for Veronica, and she definitely did not want Lucy’s relationship with her cousin affected because of her.
She gave a small smile. “Come to think of it, I should thank Mr. Sterling anyway. When he gets here, I’ll thank him in person.”
Lucy frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Quinn nodded. “I’m fine. Besides, you’ll be here, right?”
Veronica laughed. “Why are you two acting like you’re preparing for battle? Lucy, he’s your cousin, not some kind of monster.”
Lucy sighed. “He might be my cousin, but to Quinn he’s basically a stranger.”
While the three of them were talking, movement came from the doorway.
Someone knocked twice, then the door opened. A bodyguard pushed the door open and stepped aside.
Julian’s tall figure appeared at the entrance of the private dining room.
All three of them looked over at the same time.
Julian was still dressed in a black suit and trousers, with a black cashmere coat draped over his arm.
The tall, handsome man stood there with an air that made him stand out from everyone else in the room.
Combined with the cold elegance he carried, it was no wonder so many wealthy socialites in Lakeshore City were obsessed with him, talked about him constantly, and could not seem to get enough of him.
Lucy greeted him first. “Hey, you’re here.”
Julian’s gaze moved quietly away from Quinn as he gave a small nod. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
The moment the door had opened, his eyes had landed directly on Quinn. Veronica was experienced enough to notice the subtle tension immediately.
Quinn, being the person involved, could not possibly miss the presence of his gaze.
Only Lucy remained completely unaware.
Normally she both adored and respected Julian. She liked him a lot, but she was also genuinely intimidated by him.
Since Veronica was the oldest among them, she spoke up.
“Of course not. Come in. I’ll have them bring a few more dishes.”
Julian walked over and took a seat. He slipped off his suit jacket and loosened his cufflinks. His long fingers moved with an effortless elegance that gave him a slightly roguish charm.
Quinn quickly looked away, lowering her eyes. She lifted her cup and took a sip, pretending to focus on the drink.
Since Veronica had already said they needed to discuss something, she started talking about a work matter to keep things from feeling suspicious.
Lucy and Quinn sat on the other side of the table. Worried Quinn might feel uncomfortable, Lucy leaned closer and started chatting quietly about the things she had seen while traveling for work the past few days.
The lazy Susan in the center of the table turned slightly before stopping.
Quinn glanced up.
One of her favorite dishes had stopped right in front of her.
Lucy nudged the lazy Susan slightly, turning the dish toward Quinn. “Quinn, have some more. Isn’t this your favorite?”
Almost instinctively, Quinn glanced in Julian’s direction.
The moment she looked up, she found him already watching her.
Startled, she quickly looked away.
Julian calmly withdrew his strong fingers from the rotating tray and took a sip of coffee as if nothing had happened.
Not long after that, Veronica stood up and stepped outside to answer a phone call. It was about work.
After hanging up, she noticed a message from Julian. He had texted her.
“Find an excuse to get Lucy out of the room.”
So he wants to be alone with Quinn?
Veronica felt a headache coming on again.
It was obvious that Quinn did not have a good impression of Julian. If anything, she seemed to be avoiding him.
But Julian’s attitude…
Veronica did not say anything out loud, but she still trusted his character.
Actually, Quinn’s instincts were not wrong. No matter what, Veronica would always stand on Julian’s side.
As long as Julian was not doing anything illegal or unethical.
In fact, Veronica thought it might be good if the two of them had an honest conversation about what happened before. Once everything was cleared up, things would not feel awkward in the future.
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.