Anne and Audrey arrived at an upscale restaurant. A waiter led them to a quiet corner table. Anne and Audrey slipped into their seats, finally finding a mont to breathe.
After a few minutes of casual conversation and scanning the nu, Audrey finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind.
"So... when is the wedding?" She tried to change Anne’s mood.
"Not planned yet. The family has just accepted us. It depends on Augustine now."
Audrey grinned. "He is such a cool guy. Supportive, calm."
Anne nodded, her lips curving into a soft, thoughtful smile. "He really is."
Audrey reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand. "I’m glad you found real love this ti, Anne. Augustine is worlds apart from that scumbag Denis."
Her face twisted with lingering anger. "Honestly, Denis doesn’t deserve a woman like you. Let him rot with soone like Tania—they are made for each other." Then, lowering her voice with a conspiratorial glint in her eyes, she leaned in. "I think Tania might be cheating on him."
Anne blinked, stunned. She had already seen Tania with a man. She wondered if Audrey had also caught Tania with another man. "What are you talking about?" she asked, feigning surprise.
"I’m not completely sure," Audrey said, shrugging. "But I’ve seen her coming into the hotel lately specifically to et one of our VIP guests."
She pulled her phone from her bag, tapping quickly before turning the screen toward Anne. "Look. This guy is a film director. He ca to our hotel a few days ago for a shoot. Tania t him more than once, always very secretively."
Anne stared at the photo on the screen—a man in sunglasses and a sharp, tailored suit, standing near the hotel lobby. Her curiosity piqued, a mix of suspicion and intrigue flared in her eyes.
"Tania spent the whole day in his room," Audrey added. "Sothing is up. I don’t trust that woman. And if she is playing gas behind Denis’s back... maybe karma is finally on its way."
Anne rely raised an eyebrow. "Maybe she was just begging for a role in his film," she said dryly. "Honestly, I don’t care who she ets or what she does. My focus is on myself and Augustine now."
Audrey watched her, admiration lighting up her face. She had expected Anne to use this information to get back at Tania, but Anne just let it go.
"Anne, you are brave. Really. Most people stay bitter, stuck in the past. But you’ve let go."
Anne gave a wistful smile. "I used to think I had to please others to find happiness. But I’ve realized sothing — if you are broken inside, you can’t heal anyone else. Now, I choose myself. I choose peace."
Audrey’s eyes softened, touched. "Wow. The way you’ve changed... I can see it, Anne. You are glowing."
But their calm mont was shattered as a voice, sharp and condescending, sliced through the air.
"Anne, enjoying yourself here instead of working?" a woman sneered.
Both Anne and Audrey turned toward the source. Anne’s smile vanished.
gan stood there, arms crossed, her expression smug and superior. "I suppose since Augustine hasn’t shown up at the office, you think you’ve got a free pass to slack off."
Anne’s face tightened, her body going still as ice laced through her veins.
Before she could reply, Audrey snapped, "Who are you to order her? Is it a problem if she takes leave? She is Augustine’s..."
"Audrey," Anne interrupted sharply before Audrey could utter the next word. "Don’t..."
"Anne, she is..." Audrey couldn’t believe Anne was stopping her from retaliation.
"I’ve got this," Anne cut her off, giving her a reassuring nod. Turning her gaze to gan, she said calmly, "Yes, I have taken a day off, and my boss is aware of it. He granted the leave. Is there any problem?"
gan seethed silently. She was expecting Anne to fire up, not this composed response.
"By the way, what are you doing here?" Anne asked back. "Have you taken a day off too?"
"I am not a slacker like you," gan sneered. "I am here to dine."
Her words were aid at humiliating Anne and making her angry. But instead, Anne smirked sarcastically.
"Really?" Anne scoffed. "I thought you were here to fight ."
Audrey couldn’t control her laughter. She imdiately pressed her hand over her lips, but suppressed laughter had already spilled out of her throat.
gan felt humiliated. "You..." She held out a finger to retaliate, but a voice ca from behind, interrupting her.
"gan! I’ve been waiting at the private booth. And here you are."
A man in a sharply tailored black suit approached them with smooth strides. His presence carried quiet authority.
His eyes flicked over Audrey and Anne with curiosity. "Are they your friends?" he asked, his gaze lingering on Anne a little too long.
gan quickly masked any trace of the earlier tension with a bright smile. "Yes," she said smoothly. "This is Anne — my colleague — and her friend, Audrey."
Nathan gave a short nod and offered his hand toward Anne. "Nice to et you. I’m Nathan, gan’s brother." His attitude was friendly, but there was an odd intensity in the way he looked at her, almost like he was searching for sothing in her.
Anne felt uneasy under his scrutinizing gaze. She hesitated for a heartbeat before taking his hand.
gan tugged at his arm and pulled his hand back. "Nathan, I’m starving. Let’s go eat."
"Of course," he said easily, then turned back to Anne and Audrey. "You two should join us."
The offer was unexpected. Anne and Audrey exchanged puzzled looks, seemingly unwilling.
"That’s kind of you," Anne replied politely. "But we are fine here. We don’t want to intrude."
gan clenched her jaw in silence, barely hiding the irritation bubbling beneath her. Why did Nathan have to invite Anne? What was it about her that made n instantly drawn to her?
It stung, and the sting only deepened as Nathan continued the conversation.
"You won’t be a bother," Nathan said. "You are gan’s friends, and that makes you welco. Isn’t that right, gan?"
gan’s lips stretched into a forced smile. She had no choice. "Of course. Anne, co along. Don’t hesitate."
"I..." Anne was still hesitant.
"Co on, Anne," Audrey jumped in with an almost mischievous grin. "How can you refuse when gan is being so gracious?"
Anne shot her friend a sharp look, but Audrey, unfazed, latched onto her arm and steered her forward. "We are happy to join," she declared brightly.
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