Chapter 14 Would you do me the honor of joining me for a meal?_1

The Harrell clan's company, top floor.

President's office.

Evelyn Smith stood outside the door, gently knocking.

"Come in."

With permission, she pushed the door open and almost simultaneously, her face broke into a smile, and her voice involuntarily softened a bit.

"Leo, it's already evening and you're still so busy, should I keep you company for dinner?"

Her voice was tender and pleasant to the ear.

Leo Harrell instinctively wanted to refuse, but the moment he thought of who she was, that little girl who had kept him company in his youth, the words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

He rubbed his brow, closed his laptop, "Where do you want to eat?"

As he spoke, Evelyn moved behind him, her delicate fingers placed on his temples, gently pressing, "You shouldn't overwork yourself, your health is important."

Her massaging technique was quite good; it only took a few minutes for Leo to feel his whole body relax.

The room was silent.

A few minutes later, he opened his eyes, grasped her hands, and stood up, "Let's go then, what would you like to eat?"

Evelyn leaned into his embrace, coquettishly retorting, "It's me accompanying you to eat, so shouldn't I be asking you what you want to eat?"

This delicate and charming little woman's demeanor instantly lifted his spirits.

Leo Harrell looked at her, "How about Japanese food?"

Evelyn thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

While waiting for the elevator, Evelyn added, "I know a Japanese place on Sunny City Road that's really good, let's go there."

Leo Harrell didn't give it too much thought, just nodded in assent.

Meanwhile, Sophia Cloud left work promptly at six in the afternoon, her first thought was to go back to the hospital to be with Arthur.

But just as she stepped out of her office, Christopher Lewis's phone call came through.

After she answered, his voice came through with a hint of mirth, "Finished with work? I've made a reservation at the Japanese restaurant across from the company, would you honor me with your company for dinner?"

Since he had already made the reservation, Sophia couldn't refuse, and instinctively tried to say something, but found she couldn't speak a word.

Before she could respond, she heard a "click" from Christopher hanging up the phone; in less than a minute, she received a text message.

[Miss Cloud, I was presumptuous just now. Let me ask again, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?]

Seeing this, Sophia felt a warmth in her heart; he knew she couldn't speak, so he accommodated her in this manner.

Her nose tingled slightly with sourness; it had been so long since anyone had cared so much for her.

Her fingertips tapped on the phone's keyboard, and she finally replied with a yes.

Down at the company entrance, Christopher Lewis was standing at the door, dressed in a white shirt that made him look even more sunny and handsome.

Sophia walked over, smiled at him, not knowing what to say.

Christopher made a welcoming gesture, "Let's go."

The pair walked side by side to the Japanese restaurant across the street, a simple road crossing away.

The city lights had just come on, and the entire city was quite beautiful.

Once at the Japanese restaurant and after ordering their meals, Christopher nodded and smiled at her, his voice crisp, "Regarding this afternoon, I heard from Scarlet what happened. It was a lack of consideration on my part, and I hope you are not upset."

Sophia paused, it took her a little while to realize the main purpose of this meal was for him to apologize.

She quickly shook her head, then dipped her fingertips in some water and wrote on the table.

——It's all right, I should be the one thanking you.

Christopher silently read her words and then smiled again, "How many times must you say thank you, really?"

From an initial expression of gratitude for the medical bills, to this morning's thanks to Leo Harrell, and now this thank you, it has almost become a catchphrase.

Sophia Cloud smiled a bit sheepishly because, apart from saying thanks, she couldn't think of any other way to express herself.

Just as they were steeped in silence, her phone suddenly rang, breaking the quiet.

She glanced at it and saw a text message from the bar owner.

[It's already time to start work, Sophia Cloud, where are you? Don't you want to work anymore?]

She immediately realized what she had almost forgotten: she hadn't quit her job at the bar, where she had planned to go later that night.

Now it seemed she could only resign via text message.

Her tone was very sincere and apologetic: [I'm so sorry, but I can't come to work anymore. May I resign?]

The boss replied quickly, basically saying that if she resigned now, he could not settle her wages for the past few days.

Sophia Cloud didn't mind. Working for two days had brought her lots of trouble, not to mention constantly running into Leo Harrell. Besides, Arthur's medical bills had already been paid in full, and there was plenty left over; she wasn't in any immediate need of money.

So she agreed to the boss's terms.

Seeing this, Christopher Lewis couldn't help but ask with concern, "What's wrong?"

She shook her head and held out her phone to him, making it clear at a glance.

Lunch was served, and Christopher Lewis asked again, "How are you adapting this afternoon at work? Any thoughts?"

She shook her head again.

Apart from being wrongly accused, everything else was fine, but the staff thereafter treated her with great respect.

She guessed that Christopher Lewis probably had something to do with it.

Halfway through the meal, Christopher Lewis suddenly stood up and pulled out a tissue.

Sophia Cloud didn't understand and just looked at him with wide eyes.

He gently wiped the corner of her mouth with the tissue in his hand, saying softly, "You've got something on your face."

Suddenly, her face turned bright red, and she felt uneasy all over.

It was the first time a man other than Leo Harrell had touched her like this.

Her cheeks flushed, she was just about to make a gesture of thanks but Christopher Lewis preempted her, raising his eyebrows slightly, "I really don't want to hear the word 'thanks' again."

Sophia Cloud had to let it go and felt even more embarrassed.

As the meal neared its end, Sophia Cloud took a tissue from her bag and gestured toward the restroom.

Christopher Lewis understood and nodded.

Holding the tissue, she walked leisurely towards the restroom. The corridor leading there was very quiet, only occasionally disturbed by the passage of a waiter, with no other abnormalities.

In places devoid of people, she often felt most relaxed.

Just a step away from the restroom, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly; before she knew it, she was pushed against the wall by a man.

As she looked up, she found Leo Harrell's angry face right before her eyes. She was slightly taken aback but quickly tried to push him away, forcefully shoving at his body.

Leo Harrell sneered as he gripped her chin a little harder, "Sophia Cloud, I underestimated you!"

"So you've hooked up with Christopher Lewis and even got a job at his company?"

Sophia Cloud turned pale; her strength was no match for his, and she couldn't push him away, only managing to produce a "mmm mmm" sound from her throat to voice her dissatisfaction.

Her voice was whiny, very much like that of someone being bullied and angered.

To Leo Harrell's ears, however, it took on a completely different implication.

"Did you seduce with your body this time too? Hmm?"

"In his bed, did you also cry out with that hoarse voice of yours?"