Chapter 77 We Don't Have to Separate Just Yet
The next morning, Nicholas came downstairs and felt an inexplicable sense of relief at not seeing Zoe anywhere.
Charlie approached him. "Morning, Mr. Harrison. The restaurant is almost finished—would you like to take a look?"
Nicholas was in good spirits. It seemed that last night's dream had somehow healed something inside him.
"Not today. You handle the oversight. Let's pick a good day next week for the grand opening—arrange for all the media. I want the entire city buzzing about it."
Charlie's eyes suddenly lit up, and he spoke eagerly. "Mr. Harrison, how about next Wednesday? It's an auspicious day."
Nicholas looked at him quizzically. "Next Wednesday?"
"Yes, next Wednesday..." Charlie glanced around cautiously with his small eyes before daring to speak louder. "It's Mrs. Harrison birthday."
Emma's birthday? Nicholas was clearly surprised—he'd never celebrated her birthday with her before.
"Next Wednesday it is then. Make the arrangements. I want a spectacular ceremony."
He'd finally seen his heart clearly. Emma was important!
He was certain now—he wanted to invite all the city's elite to the opening, and perhaps apologize while he was at it. Maybe she'd forgive him!
All those experiences they'd never shared—first dates, first movies, first birthdays, first confessions of love... he wanted to try them all with her, one by one!
Just thinking about it made him a little excited!
At noon, in a restaurant downstairs from the Moore Group building.
Emma and Sheryl were having lunch while discussing the afternoon's work schedule.
Suddenly, a small commotion arose near the restaurant entrance.
A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses walked in—tall, elegant, with an outstanding presence.
Someone whispered, "Is that Zoe?"
"Oh my God, it really is the movie star!"
Before anyone could react further, several black-suited bodyguards quickly moved forward, politely but firmly clearing a path and asking the nearby diners to vacate their tables.
Zoe walked straight to Emma's table, removed her sunglasses, revealing a delicate face tinged with arrogance.
Her crimson nails tapped lightly on the table surface.
"Emma, let's have a private chat."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Seeing the situation, Sheryl quickly found an excuse, "Emma, I'll head back upstairs!"
She left swiftly.
Emma looked up, calmly glanced at Zoe, then checked her watch.
"You have five minutes. I have work this afternoon."
Zoe swept her hair back from her neck, deliberately revealing several telltale red marks.
Emma naturally understood what they implied.
"Nicholas and I are living together now." Zoe's tone was boastful, her lips curving into a smug smile.
"He really doesn't understand gentleness at all, and he's particularly... vigorous."
She paused, observing Emma's expression before continuing, "Five or six times in one night—nearly wore me out completely."
Emma picked up her water glass, took a sip, her expression unchanged.
"Get to the point!"
The smugness on Zoe's face froze momentarily, then transformed into something more cutting.
"The point is, Nicholas doesn't love you anymore! You're still clinging to him shamelessly. Have you no dignity?"
"You already have Matthew by your side, don't you? I suggest you be smart and stay away from Nicholas!"
"Go get divorced already! Stop interfering with our marriage!"
Emma set down her glass, a cold smile playing at her lips.
"Then I suggest you hurry up and get Nicholas to go to the courthouse with me. Otherwise, you'll forever be just a mistress."
"Nothing more than a homewrecker hiding in the shadows."
"You!" Zoe's face flushed with anger, and she took a deep breath to suppress her rage.
She changed tactics, trying to regain the upper hand.
"Nicholas built a restaurant for me—did you know? It's called Galaxy Restaurant. I heard the renovation alone cost three hundred million dollars, and it's filled with my favorite lilies, like something out of a fairy tale."
"It's an exclusive venue for celebrities and socialites like us."
She lifted her chin with an arrogant tone, "I do hope you won't show up to the opening, because you don't belong there!"
Galaxy Restaurant? Emma's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.
That damn man and his romantic gestures! How had she never known he was such a hopeless romantic?
She glanced at her watch again. "Time's up."
Emma picked up her purse and stood to leave, her movements crisp and decisive.
Zoe watched her retreating figure with momentary confusion, then smiled smugly again.
Nicholas building a restaurant for her was absolutely true—Charlie had been overseeing the renovation recently!
He must care about her, worrying that it was inconvenient for a celebrity like her to dine out.
He still had feelings for her! It had to be true!
Back at the building, Emma leaned against the sofa in the break room, rubbing her temples.
She was truly exhausted.
There were still more distributors to meet this afternoon.
Once she finished this busy period, she'd be heading to Novaria.
Emerald City would become just a memory.
At 2:30 PM, in the Moore Group conference room.
Emma pushed open the door and froze when she saw the distinguished man sitting at the conference table.
Nicholas? What was he doing here?
Judging by his appearance—impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, looking refreshed and quite pleased with himself—he seemed to be in excellent spirits.
Emma took the seat across from him, her tone carrying professional coldness and mockery.
"Is the Harrison Group so short-staffed that Mr. Harrison has to personally deliver documents?"
This was their first meeting in a formal business setting.
Nicholas looked at her, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Some matters require personal attention to show proper sincerity."
He gestured to Charlie, who quickly handed over a document.
Emma accepted the file without looking at Nicholas, opening it and reviewing the contents carefully.
Nicholas's gaze settled on her focused profile—watching her slightly furrowed brow, watching her slender fingers move across the pages.
Emma looked absolutely captivating when she was working seriously!
Suddenly, Emma paused, picked up the red pen from the table, and marked two spots in the document.
"Here—there are two errors."
Her voice was clear and composed.
"This production batch number is wrong—it duplicates the previous batch."
"Also, this reduction reaction's chemical equation has incorrect proportions."
She looked up, meeting Nicholas's gaze directly, closed the document, and gently pushed it back.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Harrison. Please make corrections and resubmit."
A flicker of admiration passed through Nicholas's eyes—those two errors had been deliberately planted.
He hadn't expected her to catch them, and so precisely at that.
Dr. N's choice in people was truly exceptional.
His expression darkened as he turned to Charlie, his tone stern.
"Take this back and fix it! If you're this careless again, you're fired!"
Charlie replied helplessly, "Yes, Mr. Harrison!"
He was taking the fall again!
He quickly gathered the documents and prepared to retreat dejectedly.
Emma looked at Nicholas and issued a dismissal.
"There are quite a few distributors waiting in line. Please feel free to leave, Mr. Harrison."
Nicholas stood but didn't leave immediately.
He walked over to her, his tall frame creating an imposing presence, his eyes gazing deeply into hers as if trying to draw her in.
"Emma."
His voice was low, carrying an inexplicable emotion.
"If you can't bear to let me go, we don't have to separate just yet."