Chapter145 Rich People Sure Know How to Play
Harrison stared at that red exclamation mark, his face turning deathly pale.
Blocked.
She'd blocked him.
"Bang!"
The phone was violently slammed onto the desk. Harrison braced both hands on the surface, gasping heavily, his eyes bloodshot.
Why?
Why did Miranda have to cut off even the last bit of connection between them?
Just as Harrison teetered on the edge of rage, someone pushed open the office door.
"Harrison?"
A sweet, soft voice came through.
Ariana wore the latest Chanel suit, carrying a limited edition Hermès Birkin bag, clicking in on high heels.
Her face was made up exquisitely. She looked radiant, the perfect picture of a well-pampered wealthy heiress.
Seeing Harrison standing by the desk with an iron-dark expression, something flickered in Ariana's eyes. But she quickly masked it, putting on a concerned expression.
"What's wrong? You look terrible. Did something happen at the company?"
Ariana walked to his side and intimately linked her arm through his.
Harrison took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his inner turmoil, managing a strained smile.
"Nothing. What brings you here?"
He inconspicuously flipped his phone face-down on the desk, not wanting Ariana to see that message.
Ariana seemed not to notice his small action, pouting somewhat aggrieved. "Speaking of which, you've been replying so slowly to my messages these past few days, and when I ask you to dinner, you say the company's busy. I missed you, so I could only come find you at the office."
As she spoke, she traced circles on Harrison's chest with her finger. "No matter how busy, you still need to eat. It's been so long since we had dinner together."
Harrison looked at Ariana before him. He had indeed been neglecting her these past few days.
"Sorry, there really have been a lot of projects recently." He rubbed his brow, his tone carrying some fatigue.
Ariana sensibly didn't press further. Instead, she looked up at him expectantly. "What about today? Can you have dinner with me today? I already made a reservation. I heard that restaurant is extremely hard to book. I only got in through a friend."
Harrison wanted to refuse, but seeing Ariana's expectant eyes, he finally nodded.
"Alright."
Evening. The car stopped in front of an elegantly decorated private restaurant.
Harrison got out, looking at that familiar sign and frowning.
This was the restaurant he'd been to at lunch.
"Harrison, isn't this restaurant amazing? My friend told me the head chef was brought in from abroad, a three-Michelin-star chef. Super hard to book."
"Harrison? Harrison?"
Ariana waved her hand in front of him, her tone carrying some inquiry. "What are you thinking about? So absorbed, I called you several times and you didn't hear."
The slightly dissatisfied voice pulled Harrison from his chaotic thoughts.
He snapped back to attention. "Nothing. Just thinking about details of that company acquisition."
The smile on Ariana's face stiffened.
The company again.
These past few days, he'd used the company as an excuse every time.
He wasn't like this before. Before, no matter how busy, he'd patiently keep her company.
But she quickly adjusted her emotions, showing an understanding smile. "Alright then. Work is important, but your health matters more. You go ahead with the server to the private room. I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."
This restaurant's restroom was also decorated extravagantly. Marble sinks, sensor faucets, the air filled with the elegant scent of premium aromatherapy.
Ariana walked into the last stall. Just as she closed the door, two women's voices came from outside, speaking in lowered tones.
Restaurant servers.
"Hey, did you see? That guy in room 208 is really something."
"What do you mean?"
"He was just here at lunch with a woman. Just a few hours ago. And now tonight he's here with a different one. Don't you think these rich people really know how to play?"
The other server's voice carried disdain and envy. "No kidding. But honestly, the one he brought tonight doesn't compare to the lunch one. Not as classy, not as pretty either."
The two were chatting enthusiastically when they suddenly heard the sound of a toilet flushing from inside a stall.
Their conversation cut off abruptly.
They exchanged glances, both seeing panic in the other's eyes. They hadn't expected someone to be in the stall!
Had their words just been overheard?
Neither dared stay another second. They practically fled.
The stall door pushed open.
Ariana walked to the sink, looking at her exquisitely made-up face in the mirror, the corners of her mouth curving in an icy arc.
She turned on the faucet, methodically washing her hands, inwardly sneering coldly.
Rich men keeping several mistresses on the side—wasn't that perfectly normal? She wondered which unlucky woman had found such a two-timing man.
However...
Ariana pulled out a tissue, drying the water from her hands, gazing at the mirror and satisfiedly tousling her hair.
Harrison was different.
He wasn't just wealthy and handsome. Most importantly, he was devoted in relationships.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have schemed so hard, expended so much effort to take him from Miranda.
A perfect man like Harrison deserved someone like her.
Thinking this, Ariana's mood instantly improved.
She pulled out a cushion compact from her bag and carefully touched up her makeup before humming a cheerful tune and walking briskly toward the private room.
She couldn't wait to enjoy this romantic candlelit dinner with Harrison.
The corridor wasn't long. Just around the corner.
Ariana's smile was sweet and gentle. She raised her hand to push open the heavy wooden door of the private room, but her gaze froze on the gilded number on the door plate.
If she remembered correctly...
Just now in the restroom, those two servers had been discussing the "player" man in room 208.
The smile on Ariana's face froze instantly.
Impossible.
What were the odds?
Were those servers talking about Harrison?
Ariana's nails dug deep into her palms. She turned and walked back.
Her heels struck the marble floor with urgent clicks. The restroom entrance was empty—those two servers long gone.
She bit her lip and searched along the corridor, finally hearing those two familiar voices at a corner near the prep area.
Ariana immediately walked over and stood before the two servers.
"That man you mentioned in the restroom—is he in room 208?"
The two servers exchanged glances. Remembering the toilet flush, they instantly realized.
They never expected the actual person involved had overheard their gossip.
One server cleared her throat. "Miss, we don't know what you're talking about."
Seeing their refusal to talk, Ariana laughed coldly. She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of bills.
"Thwack."
The money was heavily slapped onto the windowsill in front of them.
"If you tell me the truth, this is all yours."