Chapter 709: Black Skirt

Chapter 709: Black Skirt

Alexander picked up the phone: "Mom."

Samantha asked: "How's the investigation into the Scott family going?"

"From what I can see in the files, they seem pretty decent." Alexander hesitated for a moment. "Mom, I still think you should be careful. Among the major families in Rihegde, any one of them is just as good as the Scott family, if not better. Plus, we know them well and understand each other. I don't want you taking this risk."

"I've already introduced your sister to most of the rich kids in Rihegde. Has she taken a liking to any of them? She finally finds this Mr. Scott somewhat acceptable, so let's just let them spend some time together and see how it goes."

Alexander said in a serious tone: "Mom, she just finds him acceptable - that's not the same as liking him. This Scott family has unclear origins. They came to Rihegde to develop their business so quietly, which seems suspicious. We should be more careful."

"Alexander, I think you're being overly cautious. Since the investigation into the Scott family didn't turn up any problems, stop being so paranoid. Alright, I need to go. Mrs. Hernandez was very pleased with Leah last time too. If Leah hadn't acted up and left a bad impression, we wouldn't need to go through all this trouble again. Okay, I'm hanging up now."

Alexander tossed his phone onto the desk and pressed his hand against his forehead, rubbing it back and forth gently. Was he being paranoid? Or were they really fine? After thinking for a moment, still feeling uneasy, he called Peter.

On Samantha's end, after learning from Alexander that the Scott family was fine, she excitedly arranged another meeting time and place with Amara, then pulled Leah aside to get her all dressed up.

At the vanity, Samantha looked at her daughter in the mirror and said with a smile: "This time, behave yourself and have a nice chat with Mr. Scott."

"Mom, I don't want to wear this red dress. It's too flashy. Get me that black dress - I want to wear that one." Leah said listlessly and indifferently.

Samantha stood in front of the closet and took down the black dress, saying somewhat disapprovingly: "This one looks too dark, not good. Something with more color would be better."

"I want to wear this one. I like this one." Leah stood up, took the dress, held it up to the mirror, then turned around and put it on.

This black dress was a birthday gift Kevin had given her one year. Of course, Kevin wasn't the only one who gave her a gift - David and the others had all given her presents too. Some gave phones, some gave cosmetics, some gave bags.

Kevin was the last to know, and since they had all already chosen their gifts, he couldn't give her something duplicate. He casually wandered around the streets, and happened to see a mannequin wearing this black dress in a clothing store window. He liked it at first sight and bought it.

At that time, Leah already had a crush on him. Although the dress didn't look expensive, that day it meant more to her than all the other gifts she received. In the days that followed, she loved trying it on every day but couldn't bear to wear it out, treasuring it like something precious. Fortunately, this dress was Hepburn-style, so it never went out of fashion.

Today, going to meet Brian, she didn't know why, but she suddenly really wanted to wear this dress, as if she wanted to express some kind of emotion.

Samantha brought Leah to the meeting place. Amara and Brian had already arrived.

"We're late." Samantha said apologetically.

"Mrs. Sinclair, you're too kind. We arrived a bit early." As Amara spoke, she casually glanced at Leah. Today her outfit was similar to that day, but her behavior and manner were very elegant.

"Hello, Mrs. Hernandez." Leah smiled faintly, then looked at Brian: "Hello."

Brian nodded politely. "Ms. Sinclair, hello."

Amara said with a smile: "Ms. Sinclair is so poised and graceful, very pleasant to look at. Last time when you were teasing us, you really gave Brian quite a shock."

"I'm sorry, I was immature last time. Please don't hold it against me." Leah said politely.

Samantha said: "Mrs. Hernandez, let's not take up their time. Let them chat on their own. There's a new restaurant that just opened nearby, let's go there."

"Sounds good, whatever you say." Amara said with a smile, linking arms with Samantha as they left.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Brian gazed at Leah before him, his eyes obscure, with a hint of scrutiny. Leah kept her head down, stirring her coffee, and even though she felt his gaze, she had no intention of looking up.

Suddenly, Brian leaned forward slightly, placing both hands on the table, and asked with interest: "Why did you suddenly want to meet again? Your prank last time was quite successful."

Leah slowly raised her head to look at him, her expression completely calm. "I can go on dates with anyone. You look relatively acceptable, and I don't want to deal with this anymore."

"Really?" Brian laughed, then asked with interest: "So Ms. Sinclair, are you planning to try dating me?"

Leah's eyes showed disappointment. "If Mr. Scott is also interested in me, I'm not opposed to it."

Brian chuckled twice but didn't speak. Instead, he picked up the stirring spoon and swirled it in his coffee a few times, then lifted the cup and took a sip.

"I am indeed interested in Ms. Sinclair. I think you would be a suitable partner." He spoke deliberately. "However, your attitude toward me is somewhat perfunctory, which makes me quite unhappy. I don't like forcing people, and I especially don't like being a backup. If we're going to date, we need to be sincere and not deceive each other's feelings."

Leah was quite surprised he would say this, and couldn't help but blurt out: "Do business marriages need sincerity?"

Brian scoffed. "Of course! Marriages need sincerity even more! Only by acting sincerely can we make outsiders believe it!"

"Then isn't that still deceiving feelings?" Leah asked with a mocking smile.

Brian said: "Deceiving outsiders - where are the feelings in that?" He smiled and continued: "I know Ms. Sinclair is only coming out on dates because of family pressure, or maybe you already have someone you like and haven't thought beyond that. I understand you quite well, and I sympathize with you. Because my situation is similar to yours - I'm constantly nagged by my family elders. I really couldn't take it anymore, so I came out on dates with my aunt."

Leah's eyes showed confusion. She felt like he had something more to say, so she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Brian read her expression and gave her a reassuring smile, saying: "Let's make an agreement!"

"An agreement? What kind of agreement?" she asked curiously.

Brian didn't rush to answer Leah's question. Instead, he picked up his coffee and took another sip, then gently set it down. His calculated manner was uncomfortable to watch.

Facing this performance, Leah rolled her eyes internally. What are you putting on this act for in front of me!

"I think we should date by contract. I want to focus on my career in Rihegde and don't want to deal with romance right now. And you, I imagine, don't want to keep going out on dates either. So why don't we pretend to date, get past our elders first, and then after my company expands in Rihegde and reaches a partnership with the Whale Group, we can find an excuse to break up later. What do you think?"