The man?
When it finally dawned on me which man she was referring to, I pursed my lips and hesitated for a brief moment before I answered her question, “What about it?”
Tessa was fiddling with her hands as she spoke, “I believe in letting go of grievances among people. I can get over whatever had happened between us in Venria. But you have to remember that you owe me one.”
I was a little bewildered by her statement but chose to remain silent.
“Now that we’re all back to our home country and are going to remain friends, it’s not in anyone’s benefit if our relationship remains as strained as it is. Since we hang out with the same group of people and are bound to gather every so often, we might as well set aside our differences and spend time as real friends.”
I looked at her with my eyebrow raised, still puzzled by her sudden change of mind.
She misinterpreted my silence as disagreement and retorted, “There’s no need to be arrogant, it’s fine by me if you wish to carry on like this.”
I thought for another moment and sighed. “Tessa, I think sometimes you’re trapped in your own pre- conceptions. I don’t see you as an enemy and I never have.”
“Great! That means we’re friends!” she exclaimed while holding out her hand. “Give me your phone.”
She took over my phone and did a few maneuvers before handing it back to me. “I’ve saved my phone number and added my WhatsApp to your phone. Let’s stay in touch.”
Honestly, I was still a little befuddled. But since she was the one to extend an olive branch, there was no reason to shoot her down.
I nodded and kept my phone.
At that moment, I felt a warm glare in my direction. I lifted my head and met with Anthony’s clear, dark eyes.
Was that a coincidence? Probably not so much, given we were dining in the same building.
Anthony seemed like he was here for business purposes. He was standing mere meters away, talking to a few middle-aged men.
The men followed the direction of his gaze and turned to me all at once when Anthony stopped short in their conversation.
They all appeared to be people of prominent status. Their stares started to make me feel uncomfortable and so I shifted my gaze from Anthony and looked elsewhere, pretending that we didn’t know each other.
Tessa, on the other hand, was visibly more excited than just moments earlier. “You guys really know each other?”
“Just barely,” I uttered, thinking we should probably head back.
“Regardless, we should just go say hi!” Tessa was almost pulling on me.
I wanted to gently push her away, but she was stockier and stronger than I was, making it difficult for me to pry open her firm grip around my arm.
As Tessa almost lifted me off the seat, I pushed her away with all my might in desperation. She then stumbled and fell onto the ground, causing the air to fill with momentary awkwardness.
She looked at me in resentment. “What are you doing, Sienna?”
“I’m sorry, Tessa. I didn’t mean to,” I said apologetically, equally taken aback.
Just then, Anthony and his group of friends were already making their way toward us.
Probably because Tessa was in his way, Anthony shot a quick glance at Joseph, who helped Tessa up from the ground.
Out of politeness, Anthony asked, “Miss, are you alright?”
Looks of grimace instantly disappeared from Tessa’s face as she stood up and replied softly, “Thank you. Sienna and I were just talking about you. She said you guys are pretty close.”
I frowned. When have I said that?
There were glistens in Anthony’s eyes as they fell on me. His voice was low and reserved as he spoke, “Have you eaten?”
I nodded at the common pleasantry. The way the group of men who continued to fix their gazes at me, however, was making me uneasy again.
A middle-aged, plump man who stood behind Anthony seemed to have picked up some cues as he spoke eagerly, “Well, looks like you’re a good friend of Mr. Featherstone’s. What’s your name, Miss? You should join us for karaoke.”
It seemed like he had mistaken me for someone who might have a thing for Anthony.
I smiled faintly while shaking my head. “That’s okay. I actually got to go. You guys should go ahead without me.”
As I was about to leave, Tessa grabbed onto me, scanned the few people, and said, “It’s not every day that we bumped into someone we know. Since Mr. Watson has extended his invitation to us, it’ll be rude for us to say no.”
This is Derek Watson?
My brows furrowed a little as I studied the portly man.
It would seem that Anthony had come to A City for business indeed.
A self-satisfied grin appeared on the man’s face upon hearing Tessa’s flattery. It was one to indicate words well said.
Anthony looked at me with his brows slightly raised to indicate his disapproval of Derek’s comment earlier.
After spending so many years together, I knew him too well. Before he could respond, I chimed in with Tessa, “Ah, it’s Mr. Watson. Please forgive me. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Derek let out a loud chuckle. He was so pleased with himself as though nothing else matters.
He then extended his hand to pull me inside their private room. My instinct was to avoid his hand, but Tessa had walled up my only escape route.
My senses were overcome with disgusts; my whole being was against the idea of being led into a room by a gross, fleshy man.
As my fight or flight response was about to lean toward the latter, I was pulled into a familiar, strong arm.
Standing firmly next to me, Anthony said in his commanding voice, “Let’s move.”
Everyone was startled and Derek’s hand was frozen awkwardly in the air before he quickly withdrew it and let out an uncomfortable smile. “Haha, Mr. Featherstone is efficient as always. Let’s go.”
As we walked away, I could not help but notice half of my body was enclosed by Anthony, the sight was more than suggestive to any outsider.
I tried to rub my arm from Tessa’s excessive force just now when Anthony’s deep voice rang softly, “What’s the matter?”
Shaking my head, I simply said, “It’s nothing.”
Tessa was walking next to Joseph. Her chilly vision landed on me and Anthony.
If I didn’t know why Tessa changed her mind and decided to befriend me earlier. Now it was clear as day to me.
With someone like Anthony, even the most esteemed socialite will surrender herself in his charms, let alone a commoner like Tessa. Besides, in her mind, despite her mediocre look and stubby build, she possesses the highest of self-esteem, not unlike those characterized by classic narcissistic personality. In her feel-good world, it’d probably take someone like Anthony to qualify for her matching prerequisites.
Inside the private room, a few of them ordered some alcoholic drinks and started to loosen up.
Before long, a few escorts arrived to keep the men company.
Joseph was a married man and had always steered clear of such regards. Anthony, on the other hand, pulled me over to sit next to him.
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.
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