Chapter 045 "You're Too Skinny; It's All Bones"

In the blink of an eye, it was 8 PM.

Adelina lifted her head from the couch and saw Langston still intently staring at his computer screen, showing no intent of leaving work.

Her stomach was growling miserably, and because she was notified about the overtime at the last minute, she had to cancel her planned piano rehearsal for the evening at the Moonlight Club. The chances of catching their live jazz sessions were probably slipping away.

Her stomach growled yet again.

This time she couldn't ignore it. Setting the notebook and materials aside, she stood up and cautiously approached Langston.

"Mr. Moore... Are you hungry? Would you like something to-go from the cafeteria?"

The 44th-floor cafeteria generally stayed open until 10 p.m. to accommodate those who worked late.

Langston glanced up at her for the first time and casually checked his watch. "No need, I've already ordered delivery. It should be here any minute."

True to his word, there was a knock at the door.

Gail, another late worker's voice came through. "Mr. Moore, your delivery is here."

"Let them in," Langston said, finally releasing his grip from the mouse and showing signs of pausing his work.

The door swung open, but it wasn't Gail who entered. Instead, there stood a middle-aged man in a Bullfrog Bistro uniform.

Adelina was stunned. "Uncle Miller?"

Uncle Miller was equally surprised to see her, but quickly smiled. "Adelina, what are you doing here? Oh right! I almost forgot; you mentioned interning at Moore Corporation!"

Adelina looked conflicted as she glanced between Langston and Uncle Miller before taking the delivery. "Why are you delivering it yourself? Isn't the barbecue joint busy?"

Uncle Miller wiped his forehead. "No worries. Mr. Moore personally called to place the order; I felt I should deliver it myself."

Adelina was shocked. "Mr. Moore has your number?"

Uncle Miller nodded. "Our joint is actually renting space from Moore Corporation. Mr. Moore visited once and left his number."

While they were still talking, Langston had already settled onto the couch.

Adelina hurried to the table, laying out the boxes and serving the still-warm dry barbecue meat.

"Join me. I ordered enough for two," Langston offered, passing her a pair of utensils.

Obligingly, Adelina sat across from him, picking up the utensils and dividing the container filled with rice for them both.

Uncle Miller couldn't help but comment, "Mr. Moore sure is down-to-earth. For a student like Adelina to dine with you, she's very lucky!"

Adelina didn't dare say a word and just quietly bowed her head, focusing on her meal.

Langston spoke without showing any emotion. "She's in charge of one of the projects I'm working on; it's quite normal for us to work overtime together."

"Yes, yes! I hope Mr. Moore can give Adelina more opportunities to learn. She may have graduated from a prestigious school, but she lacks real-world experience. I also hope that Mr. Moore will continue to guide her. As for the meat at my joint, they're on the house whenever you crave them!"

At that moment, Uncle Miller sounded like a father deeply concerned about his daughter's career, trying his best to curry favor with her boss.

Adelina felt a sting in her heart. She certainly didn't want Langston to take advantage of Uncle Miller, so she said, "Uncle Miller, you don't have to do this. Mr. Moore provides excellent mentorship to all of us employees."

Uncle Miller was about to say more when Langston extended an extra set of utensil and bowl toward him.

"Miller, come and have a seat. Don't be shy, let's eat together and talk about your son. I know some people doing business in Southeast Asia. Describe your son to me, and I'll send it to them to see if they can find any information."

Hearing this, Uncle Miller seemed to have found a savior and excitedly took a seat. "Mr. Moore, would you really help me?"

Adelina was nervous.

Although she had asked Langston for help, she didn't want Uncle Miller to know what Langston had made her promise.

Under the table, she surreptitiously clutched at the hem of Langston's suit jacket, trying to remind him not to say anything careless.

Unexpectedly, he grasped her hand and interlocked their fingers.

Adelina was shocked and tried to withdraw her hand, but he squeezed even tighter.

Uncle Miller, seated diagonally across from them, was completely preoccupied with the return of his son, and didn't notice their discreet exchange.

"It's no trouble at all, but I can't guarantee we'll find anything," Langston replied diplomatically.

Uncle Miller pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, took one out, and lit it after producing a lighter, taking a drag.

He then repeated the same things he had told Adelina, omitting the part about Garrett calling off the engagement.

In truth, Langston had heard all of this before during his first casual conversation with Uncle Miller. The content was mostly the same, with little new information.

Langston had dropped out of high school and then paid his way through a vocational school to study culinary arts. He became a chef, and within less than two years, he left the restaurant in his dad's hands. With a wild idea, he headed off to Southeast Asia to strike it rich—a move that turned out to be quite insightful. That last comment was directed toward Adelina.

Adelina knew Langston was mocking her judgment in marrying someone, but he didn't know that she hadn't even seen the man's face before registering their marriage.

If he knew, he would likely be so frustrated that he might poke a hole through her head.

Uncle Miller didn't catch the hidden meaning in Langston's words; he thought Langston was just mocking his son.

"Ah, I'm just really disappointed in that boy! Adelina, I owe you an apology!" Uncle Miller would always express his remorse to Adelina after complaining about his son.

Adelina quietly ate the meat with one hand, not daring to comment on Mr. Miller's situation.

Langston glanced at her and finally, under the table, released her hand.

She quickly trapped her hands between her knees, but before she could breathe a sigh of relief, another chunky meat appeared in her bowl.

Langston had put it there for her.

"Eat more meat; you're too skinny. It's all bone when I touch," he said considerately.

However, that remark sounded quite suggestive to an outsider, and even Uncle Miller, a man not easily shocked, gave him a confused look.

Adelina's face turned pale with embarrassment. Despite her discomfort, she couldn't defy Langston and only kept her head down as she quietly finished the meat in front of her.

As soon as she finished one, he would add another. Soon enough, almost the entire pot of meat had been transferred to her bowl.

Uncle Miller watched them thoughtfully, seemingly oblivious as the ash from his cigarette nearly fell on his hand.

Finally, Adelina put down her utensils. "I'm full! Mr. Moore, please continue at your leisure!"

Langston hadn't eaten much either and soon put his own utensils down.

Uncle Miller hurried to clean everything up, wiping down the table as well.

"Uncle Miller, let me walk you downstairs," Adelina said, seizing the moment as there was something she felt she needed to explain to him.

However, Uncle Miller glanced at Langston and quickly waved her off. "No need, no need. Keep working overtime! Work's important, work's important!"

With that, he didn't wait for a response from Adelina and turned to open the door to the CEO's office, making his exit.

Langston picked up his car keys at that moment. "Let's go. Weren't we going to escort him? I'm off work now anyway. Let's all head downstairs together!"