Chapter 99 Eating Alone
“Hello, Miss, do you have a reservation?”
The waiter asked, standing at the door.
Lexie gestured twice and the waiter looked confused as she looked towards the restaurant, trying to find Alan’s figure.
“Lexie, here!”Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
A clear voice came from a window seat.
Lydia waved towards Lexie from afar, in a silver dress, long hair draped over her shoulders, smiling.
Lexie’s heart stuttered and she subconsciously clutched her handbag.
The table was by the window and the lights of the city centre were on.
[Why are you here?]
“Alan went to call, over there,” Lydia pointed towards the outside of the terrace.
Across the floor-to-ceiling window, the long figure stood with his back to the dining room, talking into the phone.
Lexie had a complicated look on her face.
“What do you want to eat, Lexie? We’ve just ordered some, have a look.”
The menu was pushed from across.
Lexie had only just taken a glance at it, Lydia said, “Why don’t you have this? I think this is quite good, and that dessert, I have just ordered one, do you want one too?”
Lexie froze for a moment and simply stopped watching, returning the menu back to the table, [You order it.]
“You don’t mind if I eat with you, do you?”
Lexie pulled the corner of her mouth, [No, I am here to talk about business matters].
“Actually, today was supposed to be a dinner for the two of you, but when I got off work I asked if I could come, and Alan agreed to bring me along.”
Lexie’s eyes contracted and she clearly felt a hint of oppression.
“A business marriage like yours is actually a business matter in itself, right? There’s no feeling about it.”
[What are you trying to say?]
“Don’t get me wrong, I have no interest in the status of Mrs. Howard, you don’t have to worry about me being a threat in any way, but I won’t leave Alan, not in this lifetime.”
“I’ve known him for ten years.”
Lexie’s nails pinched into her palm at once.
Ten years, Alan had actually known her for ten years.
How old was Lydia ten years ago?
[What’s your relationship with him?]
Lydia suddenly smiled, her gaze crossing over her shoulder, “Finished with the phone call? I just finished ordering food with Lexie.”
Alan’s silhouette was reflected in the glass window.
He walked past Lexie, without any hesitation, and naturally settled down next to Lydia, Lexie looked like an outsider by comparison.
“What was the conversation about, why are you so happy?”
“Just now Lexie asked what our relationship is, and you came before I had a chance to answer.”
As the words fell, Alan frowned at Lexie, “How come I didn’t think you were so curious before?”
Lexie froze.
“Lexie was just casually asking, why are you so serious? It’s weirdly scary.”
Alan’s face eased, he uttered, “How’s it going with Mitchell Group?”
Lexie glanced at Lydia.
Alan looked faint, “Lydia is not an outsider, you can just say it.”
Hearing these words, Lexie’s heart was suddenly sour.
But Lydia smiled, “I’m not interested in your business affairs at all, I’m going to the washroom, you guys talk.”
Lexie handed the information to Alan.
[As you expected, Mitchell Pharmaceutical Group is in financial crisis, fell out with the Seas Group, and now urgently needs a capital injection. Peter told me to ask you for help, in exchange, I asked to see the original account book, and have now seen part of it].
“Mitchell Group’s financial situation is much worse than I expected.”
[What do you plan to do?]
Alan closed the document, his face cold, “Didn’t Peter want me to help him out? Then let’s do as he wishes and help him.”
Lexie was stunned.
Alan’s words made Lexie’s heart skip a beat.
It was entirely conceivable that if Peter heard such news, he would be so furious that he might not be able to fail to catch his breath and pass out.
[Do we really have to do this? What if he flips out?]
“Would he dare?” Alan’s tone was light, “If he falls out with the Seas Group, the one backing he had and only had is gone, and if the industry knows he doesn’t get along well with the Seas Group, what can he do now?”
From the time Edith stole the information, he put his plan into action, everything was a trap set by Alan for Peter.
Lexie shuddered at his scheming heart.
The sound of a piano suddenly came from the recital stand in the middle of the restaurant and attracted the attention of the crowd.
When Lexie looked up, she saw Lydia sitting in front of a white grand piano, her ten fingers dancing.
The Canto was played with great skill and fluency, with strong and magnificent emotions, and the chasing melodies in the music seemed to speak of endless longing and chasing.
After the song, the restaurant applauded.
The circle of children gathered around the piano immediately applauded, “You are awesome, play another one.”
Lydia smiled brightly as the tune changed under her hand and the cheerful tune flowed out, a Christmas serenade inexplicably harmonious even on a summer evening.
Lexie suddenly saw across, and found that when Alan looked at Lydia, gentleness was in his dark eyes, a calm look she had never seen before.
Lydia returned from playing the piano, “Have you finished talking? I’m starving, can we eat?”
Alan handed her a tissue to wipe her hands.
Seeing this scene, Lexie’s throat burst with bitterness.
[Then I’ll leave first.]
“What?” Lydia looked inquiringly at Alan.
Alan frowned and asked, “Why in such a hurry to leave? You have something to do?”
[Yes, I have to go back and read the books and prepare work for tomorrow, and I have to go back and prepare the information as you said, so you guys eat.]
“Too busy to even eat?”
[I’ll eat at home.]
Lexie had already stood up with her bag, just waiting for Alan to say something.
Alan was silent for two seconds, and then said, “Go then.”
Lexie nodded and turned to leave.
“Why has Lexie left?” Lydia stood up.
“Don’t mind her,” Alan’s face was inexplicably tinged with a few sulks, and his inky pupils were sunken.
Looking at Alan’s sullen look, the smile on Lydia’s face faded, “You actually care about her, don’t you?”
“Where do you see it from?”
“It’s visible.”
Alan frowned, avoiding the topic, and said, “I thought you didn’t want to play the piano anymore?”
Lydia grew up on the piano and was exceptionally talented. Originally, her best future was to go abroad for further studies, but she was unwilling to do so and concealed from Alan that she had taken an entrance exam to a university in J City, throwing a tantrum and saying that she never wanted to play the piano again.
It had been a long time.
“I want to play it again,” Lydia glanced at her hands, “I’ll play sometimes, it’s not bad to stay in J City as a piano teacher in the future.”
“But staying in J City will bury your talent.”
“I don’t think so, I think …”
Lydia wanted to say something else, but noticing that Alan looked distracted, she clenched her hand.
Never mind.