Chapter 101 Meeting
Isabella had learned all this from news exposés.
When she said it out loud, it scared Violet so much her face turned pale.
"It's that terrible?"
Isabella asked her, "Do you trust me?"
Violet nodded without hesitation, "I trust you."
She turned back to Ralph, "I'm sorry, I don't want to sign the contract."
Ralph froze, finding it hard to believe, "You're refusing?"
"Yes, I'm refusing."
Charles's expression immediately changed, "Are you stupid? Why would you refuse?"
A hundred thousand dollars a year - this was basically free money.
Only an idiot would refuse.
Violet had almost forgotten Charles was still there. Seeing him come out questioning her, her expression shifted slightly, "Charles, this is my business, it has nothing to do with you."
"How does it have nothing to do with me? You're ruining your own future." Charles said anxiously, "I can't just watch you miss such a great opportunity!"
He glanced sideways at Isabella with a cold voice, "Did Isabella tell you not to sign?"
He had clearly seen Violet was moved by the conditions this man offered, but after Isabella pulled her away and said something, Violet came back and refused.
Isabella must have said something to change her mind.
That malicious idiot!
Violet didn't bother explaining to him. She apologized to Ralph again, grabbed Isabella, and left.
Charles watched Violet's retreating figure, then thought about that hundred thousand dollars a year. It felt like the girlfriend he had worked so hard to cultivate was slipping through his fingers.
Charles clenched his fists in frustration.
No way.
He had to get Violet back!
"Excuse me, could you give me a business card?" Charles said to Ralph, "Violet is my girlfriend. I'll talk some sense into her."
Ralph looked at Charles with some surprise, "You're her boyfriend?"
Charles nodded, "Yes."
Although Violet had broken up with him unilaterally, there was no way he would agree to it now.
Ralph adjusted his glasses and gave Charles a business card as requested.
"Then I'll trouble you to persuade her."
"Sure, I'll contact you when there's news."
——
Xaroma Café.
Apart from Lawrence sitting quietly in an inconspicuous spot waiting, and the barista, there was no one else.
To be safe, Dash had cleared out the café in advance.
Not only that, he had also arranged plainclothes bodyguards to patrol around the café, worried that some crazy fans might have followed.
Lawrence wore a hat and mask, his whole body covered except for his eyes. He nervously observed his surroundings while anxiously checking the time.
To avoid drawing attention, Dash had only given him half an hour.
But it was already ten minutes past the agreed time, and she still hadn't come.
Lawrence only had twenty minutes left. If he still couldn't wait for her, he'd have to leave.
In the blink of an eye, another five minutes passed.
Dash had been watching the café entrance from a car across the street and called Lawrence.
"She's still not here?"
Lawrence squeezed his palms, "No."
Dash sighed, "Silly boy, what did I tell you? You've been tricked."
"It's been half the time and she's still not here. Let's go, stop waiting."
Lawrence held his coffee, "There's still fifteen minutes. She'll come. We agreed."
Dash was helpless, "Fine, you wait then. But I'm telling you, I'm only giving you these fifteen minutes. If she still doesn't show up, you're coming back with me obediently to prepare for tomorrow's magazine shoot."
Lawrence's eyes were fixed straight on the café entrance, almost wearing them out from looking.
Hearing Dash's words, he was reluctant but had to nod, "Okay."
Another five minutes passed.
She still hadn't come.
Lawrence's face gradually became dejected.
He rested his chin on the coffee table, watching the time tick by second by second, his eyes gradually dimming.
Could she really have tricked him?
She was never going to come.
She didn't want to see him at all.
Lawrence's mood grew increasingly dejected.
For today's meeting, he had specially dressed up. Although his hairstyle and face were covered and couldn't be seen, he had sprayed on his favorite cologne, and even his clothes and shoes were carefully selected.
"Lawrence, time's up." Dash's voice came through the earpiece.
Lawrence checked the time. Sure enough, the half hour had passed.
"Hurry up and come out." Dash urged.
Lawrence looked hesitant, "Dash..."
"Alright, I know what you're going to say. No matter how long you wait, she won't come. Hurry over, if you stay any longer you'll really be discovered."
Lawrence reluctantly got up from his seat but couldn't bring himself to leave. Watching his watch tick another two minutes, he showed a sad expression and sighed.
"Dash, I got it, I'm coming over now..."
Just then, the café door was pushed open from outside.
As a night breeze blew in, Lawrence suddenly looked toward the entrance.
The next second, his pupils contracted sharply.
Staring at the girl walking toward him step by step, Lawrence froze in place...
The girl before him was just like when he saw her that day. Under the lights, her small face was incredibly beautiful, her skin white as snow, and those eyes even brighter than stars, stunningly beautiful.
Most importantly, though this was only their second meeting, looking at the girl's face, Lawrence felt a special sense of familiarity, as if some magnetic force was attracting him, making him unconsciously fix his gaze on her, unable to look away.
This feeling he'd never had before - it was completely love!
Lawrence felt like his heartbeat stopped for a moment. Watching the girl walking toward him, he didn't know how to react for a while. He was completely dazed.
Although Lawrence wore a hat and mask, Isabella still noticed Lawrence's gaze burning intensely, staring straight at her.
This kind of eye contact was too direct to ignore.
She was puzzled - why was Lawrence looking at her like this? Wasn't the person Lawrence asked to meet today Violet?
She was just accompanying Violet.
Thinking of Violet, Isabella glanced to her side and found that Violet had stopped walking at some point and was frozen in place.
She stood there like she was stunned, staring at Lawrence in disbelief.
Seeing Lawrence in person at such close range, Violet was so excited her heart was racing wildly.
"Isabella... it's really him, it's really Lawrence."
In her lifetime, she could actually meet Lawrence privately.
Violet clutched her heart, her vision going dark, almost fainting.
Isabella knew this would happen. She calmly steadied her and practically dragged Violet, who had lost the ability to walk, to Lawrence.
Lawrence stared at Isabella, very nervous and very shy. After a long while, he stammered, "Are... are you Violet?"
Isabella frowned slightly at his words. Confirming that Lawrence was talking to her, she realized Lawrence had mistaken her for someone else and explained, "I'm not Violet, she is."