Chapter 32: Throw a Party to Celebrate for Catherine!
Catherine watched Philip swipe his card with practiced ease and felt a bit of a headache coming on.
Oh well, thinking that part of this hundred million dollars would end up in Charles's pocket, she didn't feel so bad about Philip spending all that money on her.
She'd just give Charles's mall a better deal next time!
While Philip was settling the bill, Catherine said quietly, "Go arrange for people to watch Oliver, and station some people near Elodie's grave. Don't let anyone damage her tomb."
She was always worried Oliver might do something disrespectful to Elodie.
"Got it. You're bringing your own brother here to boost sales! I knew there had to be someone important behind that request to close the store early for a private shopping session!"
Catherine fell silent.
Philip signed with a flourish and waved at Catherine. "Catherine, let's go upstairs and have dinner with Charles!"
"Okay."
Having bought Catherine a whole bunch of clothes, Philip was in an excellent mood as he led Catherine to the sky restaurant where Charles had taken Catherine to dinner last time.
Inside the restaurant, Charles had already prepared the dishes. Dressed in a sharp suit, he stood by a table covered with fresh flowers and pulled out a chair for Catherine like a gentleman.
"Thank you, Charles."
Charles clapped his hands, and servers filed in one after another, placing appetizers before Catherine.
"Catherine, try these. They're new dishes my restaurant developed."
The desserts before her were exquisitely crafted, each made into a cute little shape that made your mouth water just looking at them.
Catherine took a bite with the pure gold spoon and praised, "Delicious. You added some lemon juice, right? The aftertaste isn't heavy at all."
"This dessert is a bit off though. The cocoa powder ratio kind of masks the cake's own flavor."
Charles nodded and beckoned the head chef over.
Chef Jacks, wearing his chef's hat, was particularly unhappy that someone was criticizing his desserts.
These people couldn't even appreciate how amazing his desserts were!
He heard that the person criticizing his desserts was the Windsor family's daughter who just came home, some girl from the countryside. What would she know about desserts?!
As soon as Jacks followed the server out, he saw Catherine sitting at the table, dining elegantly.
Jacks was completely shocked!
Wasn't this the talented young woman who had given him cooking advice in Françaisia?
Thanks to her guidance, he'd won the championship at the international culinary competition!
Thinking about Catherine's earlier comments on those desserts, Jacks felt his face burning with shame!
Catherine saw Jacks and clearly hadn't expected Charles's pastry chef to be him.
"I'm so sorry, I'll definitely practice my cooking skills more. That dessert's recipe was flawed - it sullied your refined palate!"
Charles said coolly, "Take them away. Catherine said this cheesecake is good, so keep that one. Don't serve the other desserts."
"Yes!"
Jacks wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, bowed to Catherine, then left with the pile of failed cakes.
How embarrassing!
The restaurant manager came running in and stopped before Charles.
"Mr. Charles Windsor, there are some police officers here. They say they need to see Ms. Catherine Windsor about something."
Charles and Philip both looked over, their brows furrowing slightly as they looked at the manager with serious, tense expressions.
"Looking for Catherine? Did they say what it's about?"
"No, they just said Ms. Windsor should know."
Charles frowned. "Could it be about the kidnapping? But why didn't they contact us? I was the one who reported it to the police, and Philip is Catherine's lawyer. Why are the police going directly to Catherine?"
Catherine understood.
So that's why Celeste and Clara got arrested - Charles had reported it to the police.
"I don't know either. Let the police in."
Charles and Philip exchanged glances, and Charles instructed the manager, "Let the police in."
Three detectives in international police uniforms strode in from outside and stood before Catherine. Two officers flanked her as they opened the documents in their hands.
[Thank you, concerned citizen Catherine. The International Police Alliance salutes you!]
The three officers addressed Catherine: "Thank you for your outstanding contributions to Operation D! We salute you!"
Catherine fell silent.
She'd told them many times she didn't need these thank-you certificates. What was she supposed to do with this thing anyway? She had nowhere to put it!
"Don't send these next time. I don't have room at home."
She'd received one before when she was at the Smith family, and Celeste had scolded Catherine, telling her not to bring home such worthless things.
Charles immediately stood up, his face wearing an elegant, warm smile.
"Catherine's just joking. We have plenty of room at home. Thank you so much!"
Philip stepped forward, took the certificate, and smiled even more happily than when he won a case!
"Thank you for making the special trip. Catherine didn't participate in any dangerous operations, did she?"
In his understanding, anything that warranted the international police personally delivering a certificate must be a relatively dangerous operation.
Since the document didn't specify what operation it was, it must be highly classified!
More than the certificate, they cared about Catherine's safety.
Catherine quickly spoke up: "No, I just happened to run into some suspicious-looking people at a bar last time. I thought something was off, so I called the police."
Charles reached out and shook hands with the lead officer, his authority evident: "Let me see you out."
"Please don't trouble yourself. We need to return to duty right after delivering this!"
After seeing off the police, Charles realized his forehead was covered in cold sweat!
"Catherine, are you sure you didn't do anything dangerous? Although I'm proud of you for getting this certificate, our family doesn't need these things, and we don't need you, a young woman, putting yourself out there. Your safety is always the most important thing!"
Thinking about how Catherine had encountered danger at the bar last time, Charles was terrified in retrospect!
He should have just kept Catherine by his side the whole time!
Catherine quickly explained: "Charles, I didn't do anything dangerous. I just made a phone call to report something."
Charles and Philip breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at the large certificate, Charles was already planning where to hang it!
Philip: "No, no, hang it in my office!"
Catherine fell silent.
People who came to Philip's office were billionaires and important government officials, plus many internationally famous figures. If they saw this thing, she'd be so embarrassed.
"Let's take it home first. Catherine is so amazing - we need to throw a party to celebrate!"
Catherine fell silent again.
This was the least significant thing she'd ever received. When she'd personally participated in international rescue operations before, she'd even received an honorary medal from the United Nations. If she brought everything out, wouldn't the Windsor family basically worship her?
Seeing Charles and Philip's excited faces, Catherine quietly swallowed her words.
Whatever. Once they found a place to hang it, she'd just quietly take it down later!