Noah Sterling’s brow furrowed slightly before he asked, "Why?"
"Because the longer this drags on, the more can go wrong, of course," Sherry Walsh explained, resting her chin on one hand. "My father is incredibly sharp. If we keep this up any longer, he’s bound to find out."
"It is strange, though. Your father’s been in the legal world for so many years. He’s seen all sorts of people. I’m surprised a lie like yours actually fooled him."
Noah Sterling was also puzzled.
The legal profession, whether you’re a litigator or a transactional lawyer, is all about dealing with people.
Sherry Walsh’s father was a veteran in the field with a sharp eye. Logically, he shouldn’t have fallen for such a clumsy lie.
Especially since their acting wasn’t even that good.
"That’s only because I’ve never once lied to them my entire life!"
Sherry Walsh said defiantly, her chin held high.
Noah Sterling chuckled. "I didn’t realize your family was on such good terms."
"Of course we are!" Sherry Walsh readily admitted. "This farewell dinner is my treat. I’ll go back and tell my dad we broke up, and then I can finally get a good night’s sleep."
"So, I should thank you for that?"
"No need to be so formal. You’re a top lawyer; you’re not going to miss the money for one al."
Sherry Walsh didn’t believe in beating around the bush with Noah Sterling.
She made her request and offered her thanks in one go.
Noah Sterling watched her, not answering imdiately.
"Oh, right. We can talk about this stuff after dinner. Let’s eat first."
Sherry Walsh stood up from her chair and pointed toward the door. "I’m going to go mix so dipping sauce."
She headed out the door.
Noah Sterling had no intention of staying in the private room by himself, either.
It was Saturday, so the hot pot restaurant was packed. The tables in the main dining area were nearly all occupied.
Four people were crowded around the sauce bar closest to their private room, blocking it completely.
The two of them waited for the station to clear up a bit before getting to work on their own sauces.
Sherry Walsh finished first. She had only taken a few steps down the aisle when she saw a familiar figure.
"Well now..."
Sherry Walsh backed up and returned to the sauce bar.
"What is it?"
Noah Sterling was also about to head back.
"See? I told you it was fate with you and your old fla. You run into her everywhere."
Sherry Walsh’s hands were full, so she just gestured with her chin in Jane Jenkins’s direction.
Noah Sterling followed her gaze.
Jane Jenkins was standing in the middle of the aisle next to a server, who seed to be helping her look for soone.
Just as the two of them were looking at Jane Jenkins, she looked over at them.
Jane Jenkins turned, said sothing to the server with a smile, and then walked toward them.
Or more precisely, toward Noah Sterling.
"Noah, my friend just told they saw you at this restaurant. I actually had sothing I wanted to talk to you about, so I ca to find you."
As Jane Jenkins spoke, her eyes were fixed completely on Noah Sterling.
It was as if she hadn’t even noticed Sherry Walsh standing beside him.
Sherry Walsh had no desire to be a third wheel, so she turned to leave...
But with a quick reflex, the man grabbed her arm. "We’ll go back together."
"You two go ahead. It looks like you have things to discuss, and it would be awkward for to be here."
’I haven’t even had a bite of food anyway,’ Sherry Walsh thought. ’They can have the private room.’
The server from earlier ca over and offered to take their sauce bowls back to the private room.
Still holding onto Sherry Walsh, Noah Sterling replied to Jane Jenkins, "I already said everything I needed to say. I don’t think there’s anything left for us to talk about."
He then looked at Sherry Walsh. "Co on, let’s go back."
Sherry Walsh didn’t move.
’She knew, deep down, that she wasn’t the type of woman most n preferred.’
’Headstrong, assertive, unwilling to back down, and, above all, always had to win an argunt.’
’Once, during a trial, the presiding judge was clearly biased, constantly interrupting her. She ended up chewing him out right there in the courtroom.’
’Her father had to step in and smooth things over afterward.’
’That was why she was certain Noah Sterling could never like her.’
’And as for her...’
’She couldn’t be sure she would always dislike Noah Sterling.’
Her earlier comnt about "the longer this drags on" had carried a hint of this aning as well.
When Noah Sterling saw that Sherry Walsh wasn’t moving, he asked, "What’s wrong? Do you two have sothing to talk about?"
"We don’t. I just think it’s pretty ungentlemanly of you to leave Miss Jenkins hanging here after she ca all this way to find you."
Sherry Walsh normally wouldn’t speak up for Jane Jenkins.
Unless it was to her advantage.
Noah Sterling’s frown deepened.
As the three of them stood there in an awkward standoff...
"You’re... Noah Sterling, aren’t you?"
A voice piped up from nearby.
All three of them turned to look.
A slightly heavyset man in casual clothes had appeared from sowhere.
"You’re... Kent Phelps?"
It was Jane Jenkins who spoke first.
The heavyset man was indeed Kent Phelps.
He then turned to Jane Jenkins, staring at her face for a long mont, opening and closing his mouth a few tis without saying anything.
He didn’t seem to recognize her.
"It’s , Jane Jenkins."
Jane Jenkins tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a pretty smile on her face.
She had co specifically to see Noah Sterling today, and her makeup was exquisite. She wore an elegant, simple slip dress, its two thin straps resting on her shoulders, revealing their smooth curve and a collarbone that stood out with every breath.
"Oh, you’re Jane Jenkins! You’ve changed so much, I didn’t recognize you for a second," Kent Phelps said, the realization dawning on him. "But that makes sense. Who else would be with Noah Sterling but you?"
Sherry Walsh had never paid much attention to Noah Sterling and Jane Jenkins’s shared past before.
Now she understood.
They were high school classmates.
Jane Jenkins just smiled faintly, not at all embarrassed.
When she had first started college, an upperclassman had talked her into getting so minor costic work done, and she had beco a bit obsessed with it.
It was only normal that her high school classmates didn’t recognize her.
Kent Phelps then asked Noah Sterling, "So, you guys are here for dinner?"
It was an obvious question.
Noah finally answered, "Yeah, I’m here having dinner with my girlfriend. We’re planning to catch a movie later."
As he spoke, he naturally stood right beside Sherry Walsh.
His hand, which had been gripping her arm monts ago, had let go, but he remained standing by her side.
It was obvious who the "girlfriend" was.
It was just that the two won had completely different styles.
Jane Jenkins, with her long hair and long dress, looked soft and gentle.
Sherry Walsh, on the other hand, appeared to be wearing no makeup and was dressed in casual clothes.
Sherry Walsh was also a bit taller.
Even in her three-inch heels, Jane Jenkins was only about the sa height as her.
Kent Phelps seed to realize he had said the wrong thing. He gave an awkward laugh. "Well, uh, I won’t disturb you two then. I’m here with my kid, so I’ll get back to my table."
He pointed to a nearby table.
Noah Sterling glanced over.
A woman and a little boy, who looked to be at least elentary school-aged, were sitting at the table.
Noah Sterling had only intended to be polite, but upon seeing them, he couldn’t help but ask, "Your son is that old already?"
"Yeah, my wife and I were college classmates. She got pregnant right after we graduated, and since I hadn’t found a good job yet, we decided to have the baby first."
Kent Phelps sounded a bit sheepish as he said it. "Not like you guys, all successful in your careers. I had to focus on my family first."
"That’s great," Noah Sterling said.
"Getting married right after graduation... how nice," Jane Jenkins said, her eyes on Noah Sterling, her words heavy with implication.
Sensing the subtle shift in the atmosphere, Kent Phelps quickly made his excuses and left.
After he left, Sherry Walsh couldn’t stand it any longer. "Forget it. If you have sothing to say, say it in the private room. It’s too awkward standing here with everyone watching."
Noah Sterling said deliberately, "Alright. Whatever you say, babe."
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