Day Sixty-Two…
~~*****~~
Vincent's expression returned to normal when he looked at Jane.
"May I bring my niece the next time we share another meal?" Vincent asked her expectantly.
Jane didn't respond right away. She wondered why Vincent was trying to involve his niece.
"Or perhaps you hate kids?" Vincent assessed her expression since Jane didn't say a word.
"No, I don't. Sure, you can bring her anytime."
"Are you going to leave now?" Vincent looked like he didn't want her to leave just yet.
Jane was supposed to stay longer. But Nathan suddenly showed up. She didn't want him to misunderstand this meet-up. She knew him. He tends to overthink and doubt her.
'I don't want Nate to get the wrong idea.' Jane thought to herself. Besides, she already built rapport with Vincent in just a short period. Surprisingly, he was the one who initiated to have bonded together with his niece.
"I'll go now. Let's meet again next time." Jane finally said goodbye to Vincent.
"Okay. I think I won't be able to stop you from leaving. Thanks for coming today, Jane." Vincent extended his right hand for a handshake.
Jane stared at his hand for a moment, before accepting it. Vincent squeezed her hand and glanced at her meaningfully. She didn't like the way he looked at her with that smile.
Jane pulled out her hand and decided to leave. When she stepped out of the booth, she immediately looked for Nathan and Aiden. She would drop by for a few minutes before heading to Stephen's place.
"Booth 330," Jane mumbled, recalling Aiden's statement a while ago.
She looked around and realized that there was no such thing as Booth 330. The booth number was only up to 325.
Jane wondered if she misheard it. "Where are they?"
Not able to find them, Jane picked up her phone. She dialed Nathan's number.
Meanwhile, inside Aiden's booth, Nathan was sitting with a dark expression on his face. He was staring at his phone when it suddenly rang. Because of Nathan's presence, Aiden canceled his lunch date today.
"Bro, who is calling? Are you planning to answer that?" Aiden took a peek at his phone.
Jane was calling him but Nathan just let his phone ring. He frowned. "Why is she calling me now?"
"Why don't you answer so that you will know the answer?" Aiden responded.
Nathan glared at him. But Aiden just smiled and motioned for Nathan to answer his phone. He finally pressed the answer call button and stood up. He stepped out of the booth to answer Jane's call. He didn't want Aiden to overhear their conversation.
"Hmm?" Nathan just hummed.
"Now, I can see you!" Jane said, making Nathan confuse. He looked around only to see Jane standing a few meters away from him. She had been looking for them. She spotted Nathan as soon as he stepped out of Aiden's booth.
Jane smiled at him and waved her hand. She ended the call and walked towards him. Nathan maintained his aloof and indifferent expression as he waited for her.
When Jane reached his spot, she immediately checked their booth number. It was 314, very far from 303. So Jane looked at him suspiciously and said, "Are you sure you mistook our booth as your booth?"
"Cough! Cough!" Nathan's expression cracked and he cleared his throat, looking away to hide his embarrassment. Jane found out that he and Aiden lied about the booth.
"Did you see me coming here, right?" Jane interrogated Nathan. "You and Aiden intentionally barged into my booth to find out who is the person I am meeting today?" Jane was able to catch on immediately to their motives.
Nathan didn't want to admit it. "No. I came here to meet Aiden."
Jane eyed him suspiciously. She didn't completely believe him. "The guy a while ago is Vincent… Can't you recognize him? He is Helena's boyfriend."
Nathan frowned when he heard that. He had no interest in Helena, including the person related to her.
"Then why are you meeting him?" Nathan asked her in disbelief.
"I'll tell you in the right place. Not here." Jane said as she looked around.
Nathan cocked his eyebrow. He couldn't wait. He was dying to know why she met that guy.
"Anyway. I came here to tell you. You don't have to worry. You shouldn't feel jealous too." Jane blurted out with a straight face.
"Cough! Cough!" Nathan choked on her last remarks. "What? Who told you that I'm jealous?" He asked her exasperatedly.
Jane's lips curled up in a taunting smile and replied, "You. I can see your grumpy mood. I thought you were jealous." Jane started teasing Nathan again.
Nathan didn't know if he should get mad at her or not. But even before he could reply, Jane spoke again. "Okay. Since you are not jealous, then we are good. I have to go now. Send my regards to Aiden. Next time. Don't barge into someone else's booth. It's rude." Jane patted his shoulder and smiled again before turning around. She checked her phone and Stephen was already waiting for her.
Nathan could only frown as he watched her back absentmindedly. He hadn't redeemed himself yet. Jane assumed he was jealous! Of course not! He wasn't jealous! But then again, part of him was questioning his own self. He should have waited for her outside. Why did she have to barge in after being provoked by Aiden's words?
Jane was leaving again and he had to follow her right after. "I should let her leave first, otherwise, she will notice that I'm tailing her." Nathan thought to himself.
Aiden came out of his booth to check on Nathan. "Hey, Nate. How is it? What did she tell you?"
"Nothing. You don't need to go," Nathan coldly responded. He was about to leave when Aiden stopped him.
"Hey, where are you going? I canceled my lunch date. I thought you were going to accompany me here!" Aiden put on his pitiful face.
Nathan sighed deeply and said, "Don't waste your time dating women. You haven't learned your lesson, Aiden. When are you going to grow up? No wonder Cherry rejected your proposal. I guess, you haven't reached the criteria or her standard for a serious relationship." Nathan lectured Aiden.
Aiden: "..."
Aiden was at a loss for words. Nathan's words hit him so hard. And he felt like he deserved to be rejected by Cherry. "So it's my fault for not taking a relationship seriously." Aiden lowered his head, feeling guilty and embarrassed about himself.
Nathan just held his friend's shoulder and said, "Go home and reflect. Don't waste your time here. This won't help in forgetting her. Are you giving up already? You only experience one rejection. Is that all you can give?" Nathan seemed to challenge him. But in truth, he just was sending him off because he still had something to do. If Aiden kept on asking him to accompany him then, he would miss tailing Jane.
"Alright. Think about what I said to you. I have to go now." Nathan didn't waste any more time. Jane was already on the move. He checked his tracking app and Jane already rode a taxi, leaving the place.
Aiden looked at Nathan, thinking about his last remarks. "Yeah. Nathan is right. I shouldn't do this. I must change for the better. I should stop bothering women. I should be serious now." He finally realized his mistake. And because of Cherry, he wanted to change and improve himself for the better.
Meanwhile, Nathan was about to leave the restaurant when he bumped into Vincent on the first floor. They exchanged glances with one another. Nathan was about to walk past him but Vincent blocked his path. Nathan was in a hurry to follow Jane so he was displeased when Vincent interfered.
"Have we met before?" Vincent was the first one who initiated the conversation.
"No," Nathan coldly responded.
"Then let me introduce myself to you. You seem interested in me. You even barged into my booth," Vincent said mockingly.
"I'm not interested," Nathan nonchalantly said. He planned on ignoring the man but Vincent was persistent.
"If you are not interested in me, then… you are interested in the woman with me a while ago?" Vincent asked him directly, lifting his eyebrow. There was a meaningful look in his eyes as he asked Nathan.
Nathan's eyebrows were drawn together, feeling a little bit annoyed. "It's none of your business. So make a way. Don't bother me." Nathan pushed him aside. He didn't want to waste his time on this man.
Vincent let out a sarcastic laugh and said, "You are arrogant. No woman can tolerate a guy like you."
Nathan's expression darkened further when he heard that. He was being provoked by Vincent. Nathan turned to face him. "I didn't ask for your opinion. Does your girlfriend know that you ate lunch with another woman behind her back? I know her. Do you want me to inform her?"
Vincent was rendered speechless when he heard that. So Nathan knew he was connected to Helena. A worry flashed on his face. Helena shouldn't find out that he met Jane today.
Seeing Vincent's reaction, Nathan sneered at him. This guy finally shut his mouth. "Now, if you may excuse me…" Nathan pushed him again to the side and stepped forward with a triumphant smile on his face.
Vincent could only clench his fists and gnashed his teeth while watching Nathan. 'Just you wait, Nathan Sparks. I will certainly erase that smile on your face. You will suffer miserably over and over again."
Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on free(w)ebnov(e)l.𝒄𝒐𝙢