At the same time, Lilia and Alex's picture was being talked about in an online forum.
[User8273]: "So Lilia Pangestu's boyfriend is Alex Vander, the owner of the Van brand?"
[User6842]: "No wonder she can be the opening model for Milan Fashion Week! Her boyfriend owns the brand!"
[User1331]: "So the success is due to connection???"
[User9224]: "But the two of them are great together!"
[User5672] "@ User1060, Deputy Chairman, why didn't you join in on this topic? Where are you going?"
If Merry found out that this topic was hotly discussed, she would definitely join in soon. But unfortunately she was sitting on the sofa with Chris while accompanying the man drinking tea.
*****
Meanwhile, Kenny received news about the hot topic while he was busy with the job Jean left behind. He was so startled that he jumped from his seat and spilled his coffee. Fortunately, Kenny managed to save the laptop and other important documents from the copy.
But after Kenny's panic subsided, he stared at the phone screen with a frown. This topic was a great misunderstanding!
When Kenny got up from his chair to tell Jean, Tom emerged from the toilet. Kenny saw his boss's icy cold expression and decided that he would take care of this first before reporting it to Jean. Kenny didn't dare come close to Jean when he was in that bad mood.
Kenny refocused on his cell phone and sent out the instructions to his subordinates, "Delete the photo and discussion board ASAP!"
On the other side of the cafe, Tom immediately stopped walking when he saw that the person he was most afraid of was sitting at their table. He'd driven to run away from there, but Tom had learned from experience that it would only make Jean even more angry.
"Why did you stop?" The icy voice was directed at Tom, "Do you think of stupid ideas like trying to escape?"
Tom straightened his back automatically, "No sir! I didn't think of that!" His answer sounded like a soldier's.
"Then, hurry over here. Don't waste my time any longer." Jean tapped his finger on the table.
"Yes, sir!" Tom forced his feet to move. He walked unsteadily, like a criminal about to be executed. He sat across from Jean as he prepared himself to accept his punishment.
Jean took a sip of the espresso the waitress had just brought before placing it on the table. Then he gave Tom an intimidating look.
"Tell me, what have you done today?" Jean asked coldly.
His aura was so threatening that Lilia who was sitting next to him jumped too. Jean reached under the table and squeezed her hand gently to calm her down.
"Bro, I admit that this is my fault!" Tom didn't explain the commotion, but apologized right away. He lowered his head with an expression full of regret.
Alex drank his hot chocolate before adding proudly, "I told you that only Jean can manage this guy!"
Tom casted an irritated look at Alex. His gaze seemed to be screaming, 'Our friendship ends here!'
Jean tapped on the table again and Tom immediately returned his gaze to the floor. The man could feel the temperature around him plummeting due to Jean's anger.
"Where did you learn to hit a woman? Didn't your parents not educate you well?" Jean asked in a deep threatening voice, "I think you need to be re-educated so you don't repeat stupid acts like today again!"
Tom began to break out in cold sweat at the threat. His figure looked sad like a child who was scolded by his parents.
Vivi felt uneasy when she saw Tom being scolded like that. That man was annoying and a troublesome maker, but he didn't deserve to be treated this badly, right?
Vivi cleared her throat and was about to open her mouth, but Tom spoke first.
"Bro, even though I was wrong, you can't just blame me. This woman also doused me with coffee! My favorite clothes turned brown and couldn't be saved! So it was only natural that I lost control a little and…" Tom continued to defend himself with fire.
Vivi closed her mouth again in annoyance. She must be crazy feeling sorry for a selfless man like this! Vivi was tempted to mention about the time Tom pushed Lilia as revenge, but she held back. She was not that bad of a person.
But Tom said, "…Then her date ran hurriedly after seeing this woman's brutality! So it's not my fault that her blind date failed today! I'm sure no man wants to be with a brutal woman like…!"
Vivi got up from her chair and pounded the table while glaring at Tom, "Hey! What the hell are you talking about?! It's obvious that my date is ruined because of you! Don't carelessly blame others!" She rebuked him, "Besides, you raising your hands on me can't be justified by your reasons!"
"What did you say?!" Tom stood up too and glared back at Vivi, "You ruined your date yourself! I saved that poor guy from you! And if you didn't splash me with coffee, I wouldn't try to hit you!"
"Should I just keep quiet when you ruin my date?! You really are such an embarrassing guy! You even pushed Lilia down when she tried to stop you! Don't you have any guilt?!" Vivi continued to speak with raging anger without realizing that she had made a mistake.
"It wasn't on purpose!" Nor was Tom aware of the dangers arising from his quarrel, "And I'm sorry too— ugh?!"
Tom's voice caught in his throat as he felt Jean's heavy killing air.
"Oh? Why did you stop?" Jean asked calmly.
The man rested his elbows on the table and braided his fingers.
"I want to hear more about this incident. It seems like nobody mentioned this to me before." Jean smiled broadly, but everyone just shuddered at that smile.
For the next thirty minutes, Jean lectured Tom to death while continuing to emit his murderous aura so that he would remember his 'lecture' this time. After Jean finally let Tom go, his best friend looked like he was lifeless.
"So? What's your answer?" Jean asked in a menacing voice.
"Sir, yes sir!" Tom straightened straight up like a well-trained soldier, "I'll never touch Sicily Lilia again no matter what, sir!"
"Very nice." Jean nodded in satisfaction.
"Jean… aren't you a little too much?" Lilia spoke up because she felt sorry for Tom.
On the other hand, Alex's shoulders were shaking from trying to suppress laughter. His expression looked very satisfied.
"No." Jean replied short, "Lilia, if something like this happens again, tell me immediately. Even if the culprit is my best friend or my assistant, I will punish them."
Alex immediately stopped laughing, while Kenny, who was on the other side of the cafe, was shaking too.
"Hmm… alright." Lilia smiled faintly. She knew Jean wouldn't accept an answer other than 'Yes' this time.
"Then, how about your compensation to Miss Vivi?" Jean turned back to Tom.
"Ah… um… about that…" Tom glanced at Vivi with an annoyed look. Even though he was truly sorry for pushing Lilia, he still had a grudge against that woman, "Since I ruined her date, I'll arrange another blind date for her. What do you think?"
Vivi looked at Tom with suspicion. She couldn't believe this man's promise! What if Tom gave her an ugly or very poor partner?!
"No need ..."
"Agreed."
Vivi was about to refuse, but Jean agreed to the offer.
"I'll make sure you do it right, so don't mess around."
Jean's warning made Vivi feel a little calm.
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