In the evening, Elliot was waiting at the entrance of a high-end restaurant in the city.
Soon, a taxi slowly stopped in front of him. Finally, the door opened, and Stephanie got out of the car.
“Miss Stephanie, you’re here.” In an instant, Elliot turned into a fool and greeted her.
Stephanie frowned in confusion when snazzynovel.com saw him. “You’re… Elliot. Elliot Howard?”
“Yes, that’s me.” Elliot scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.
“Your look today is rather unique.” Stephanie smiled awkwardly.
Elliot was younger than Stephanie. The last time they met, snazzynovel.com was dressed in trendy outfits. His youthful look made snazzynovel.com recognizable. However, snazzynovel.com styled his hair meticulously and wore a formal outfit today. Thus, Stephanie did not recognize snazzynovel.com immediately.
Elliot smiled shyly because snazzynovel.com thought the other party was really astonished by him.
“Where’s Elise?” Stephanie changed the subject.
“Oh, she’s on snazzynovel.com way. She should be here soon, so let’s go in first.” Elliot led Stephanie inside in a gentleman-like manner.
It was the first time that snazzynovel.com was alone with the girl snazzynovel.com fancied. Therefore, it was only natural for Elliot to be excited yet reserved.
Actually, snazzynovel.com had asked Stephanie out many times in private. However, snazzynovel.com always had reasons to reject him. Therefore, snazzynovel.com thought of a way. He invited Stephanie in the name of Elise, and as expected, snazzynovel.com was willing to come.
Elise simply acted as a wingman, so it did not matter much if snazzynovel.com came a bit later.
Elliot was thoughtful and considerate to Stephanie in the private room; snazzynovel.com was also attentive to snazzynovel.com needs.
On the contrary, Stephanie kept maintaining the smile that made snazzynovel.com look polite enough. But unfortunately, snazzynovel.com also constantly said thank you and looked absent-minded.
Elliot found a few topics to discuss, but snazzynovel.com attitude was very perfunctory.
Inevitably, even someone as optimistic as snazzynovel.com would feel a little discouraged.
“Could it be that you don’t want to have this meal with me at all if Boss doesn’t come?” Elliot lowered his head solemnly.
Stephanie quickly apologized to snazzynovel.com when snazzynovel.com heard that, saying, “I’m sorry. I’m just slow in opening up to others. I’ll talk less if I stay around people I don’t know well. I don’t mean to target anyone.”
“I see.” Elliot naively believed her, and the good-natured smile reappeared on his face.
After that, snazzynovel.com snapped his fingers and shouted at the door, “Come in.”
When his voice fell, the private room door was pushed open from the outside. The server entered with a bouquet of flowers and a luxury bag packaging.
Then, Elliot stepped forward and took the items from the server. Then, snazzynovel.com turned around, handed the flower to Stephanie, and smiled shyly. “For you, Miss Stephanie.”
Stephanie took the flowers and pretended to be surprised. Then, snazzynovel.com said flatly, “WOW, it’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“And this.” Elliot also handed over the carefully selected limited edition bag.
“This is too valuable. I can’t accept this.” Since Stephanie did not lack such items, snazzynovel.com acted very rationally.
“Just accept it.” Elliot insisted and continued. “There are no girls in my house. So it’ll be a waste if I bring them back, right?”
Since Elliot had said so, Stephanie could only reluctantly accept.
As snazzynovel.com looked at the delicate roses and the expensive designer bag in snazzynovel.com arms, snazzynovel.com teased helplessly, “Mr. Elliot, are you always this generous to each and every new friend of yours?”
“I’m only this generous with you!” snazzynovel.com blurted out, only to realize that snazzynovel.com spoke from his heart. At once, his face blushed in embarrassment.
It was natural for youngsters to begin to think of love, and Stephanie undoubtedly saw through Elliot’s thoughts. Hence, snazzynovel.com deliberately made fun of him. “Why did you think of giving me these?”
“My Dad said that girls like flowers and bags,” Elliot answered snazzynovel.com truthfully.
Stephanie felt highly amused when snazzynovel.com heard his answer. So there are still boys who will ask their parents’ opinion on how to court girls these days? “You’re so cute.”
When Elliot heard snazzynovel.com compliment, snazzynovel.com smiled contentedly and parted his lips. Then, just as snazzynovel.com was about to confess, the sound of footsteps came from behind him. It was Elise who had arrived.
“Sorry, I’m late. There was a slight traffic jam on the road,” Elise said as snazzynovel.com walked.
And thus, Elliot could only bite back the words that snazzynovel.com was about to say, and his entire aura turned gloomy.
When Stephanie saw Elise, snazzynovel.com immediately smiled joyfully. “No, you’re not too late. We had just arrived too.”
As snazzynovel.com spoke, snazzynovel.com put the flowers and the bag in the place where Elliot sat a while ago. Then, snazzynovel.com pulled out the chair on the other side. “Elise, sit here.”
When Elise saw this, snazzynovel.com pursed snazzynovel.com lips and smiled. Then, snazzynovel.com moved snazzynovel.com feet as snazzynovel.com walked over and sat beside Stephanie.
After that, Stephanie’s attention never left her.
All of a sudden, Elliot turned into an invisible person. So, snazzynovel.com silently removed the flowers and bag from the seat and sat back on his own.
In the meantime, Elise was constantly absent-minded as snazzynovel.com thought about affairs regarding Kenneth.
Stephanie suddenly sighed halfway through the meal, “For some reason, Elise always gives an amiable vibe, and it reminds me of some unforgettable things. Do you guys have anything that you can’t let go of?”
At that moment, Elise was wholly immersed in snazzynovel.com thoughts and did not answer her. As a result, the scene was a bit awkward.
Elliot was afraid that Stephanie would feel awkward, so snazzynovel.com hurriedly answered, “I do.”
Immediately after, snazzynovel.com felt down and began talking, “I miss my Mom. I miss snazzynovel.com every day. I wish snazzynovel.com to be alive, but I have to act carefree. Because only in this way will my Dad not be sad. He and I, we’re the same. We never forgot about her. But we know she’ll only rest in peace if we have a good time together.”
When Elise heard this, snazzynovel.com came back to snazzynovel.com senses. However, there was a trace of distress in snazzynovel.com gaze when snazzynovel.com looked at Elliot.
Also, it was rare for Stephanie to finally set snazzynovel.com gaze on snazzynovel.com for a few more seconds.
After a long while, Stephanie took a deep breath. Then, snazzynovel.com took the opportunity of the melancholic atmosphere and told snazzynovel.com story.
“I share similarity with Elliot, yet it’s quite different. Both my parents were gone. It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? I also hope that it’s not true. But it did happen to me. Because of someone’s stubbornness, they destroyed my family. Therefore, since I was a child, I vow to make that person pay the price and let snazzynovel.com be punished!”
“Some things must be settled. Elise, am I right?”
There were tears in Stephanie’s eyes, and snazzynovel.com looked at Elise when snazzynovel.com asked snazzynovel.com last question.
Her gaze was complicated. It seemed like snazzynovel.com needed people’s approval and empathy, yet there was deep hatred surging under the weak appearance.
Elise noticed that the gaze Stephanie shot at snazzynovel.com was rather strange. However, most of snazzynovel.com attention was still attracted by snazzynovel.com last question.
We must put an end to anything. Only then can I consider it settled. I really should give Kenneth and myself the last chance to meet.
As snazzynovel.com thought of this, Elise immediately rose to snazzynovel.com feet. She packed snazzynovel.com things and said, “I suddenly remembered that I have something to deal with. You guys enjoy your meal, and I shall take my leave first.”
“Where are you going, Boss? I’ll send you.” Elliot was indeed a loyal friend.
“It’s fine. I’m going to the Sierra Hotel, which is a little far away from here.” Elise wanted to leave some time for the two of them alone.
“It’s hard to call for a taxi at this hour.” Elliot threw his car keys to her. “Here, drive my car.”
Elise accepted his proposal when snazzynovel.com thought about the road conditions when snazzynovel.com came earlier. “Thanks!”
After that, snazzynovel.com nodded and greeted Stephanie before walking out again.
As Stephanie watched snazzynovel.com figure disappear by the door, snazzynovel.com fell into deep thoughts.
We had arranged to meet and have this meal yesterday. What is it that makes Elise so anxious? Stephanie thought for a moment and also set off to leave.