Chapter 350

Chapter 350

"What's there to study about this thing?"

For a moment, I didn't know whether I should insist on getting it back.

I couldn't bear to let it go—it was Chloe's gift to me, after all.

"Mr. Collins..." I began, but Christopher had already pocketed the little cat charm and walked past me toward the door, acting as if nothing unusual had happened.

"It's getting late. Shall we go?" he reminded me casually.

Since we were heading to a dinner engagement, and anyone dining with Christopher would undoubtedly be important, arriving late wouldn't make a good impression. I didn't dare delay matters further and quickly followed him.

During the journey, I tried several times to steer the conversation toward my cat charm, but Christopher skillfully deflected each attempt.

If it had been anyone else, I might have thought them shameless for coveting my possession. But with Christopher, I genuinely believed he just wanted to study it, not keep it for himself. After all, he lacked for nothing.

In the end, I couldn't get my charm back.

When we arrived at the hotel entrance and the car was parked, I grew increasingly nervous as I prepared to exit the vehicle. I couldn't help taking several deep breaths, though it didn't help much.

"Mr. Cunningham and his wife are very pleasant people. You needn't be nervous. Besides, I'll be right there with you," he said, his deep gaze reflecting my image. I saw no displeasure or contempt in his eyes—only reassurance that put me at ease.

Christopher was right. Why should I be nervous when he was there? With his capabilities, even if I did something inappropriate, he could smooth things over.

The more I thought about it, the calmer I felt.

"They're a devoted couple who've stayed together through everything. When they were young, his wife lost a child while helping him, and afterward became too frail to have children. He never abandoned her despite having no children, never considered divorce. To this day, they're as in love as they've always been."

Christopher's briefing materials had included this background on Doyle and his wife. With his additional details, I could imagine what an admirable couple they must be.

Christopher seemed to notice my admiration and curiosity about the couple.

"There's much more to their story than what's in the file. If you're interested, I'll tell you more when we have time."

I nodded instinctively. "I'd like that!"

After responding, I immediately realized how obvious my gossipy enthusiasm was. Surprisingly, Christopher didn't seem to find it inappropriate or tiresome.

With this distraction, I forgot about reclaiming my embroidered pendant.

We walked side by side into the hotel lobby.

Christopher frequently entertained important clients, and with his remarkable appearance and demeanor, he was easily remembered. As soon as we entered, a server approached to escort us to our reserved table.

It was on the top floor, designed to showcase a starry sky—perfect for dining as daylight faded and stars began to twinkle, creating a magical atmosphere.

As hosts, we naturally arrived first. Christopher took the host's seat, with me beside him, leaving the seats opposite for our two guests.

After sitting down, I instinctively checked the time.

"No rush. Mr. Cunningham is also someone with a strong sense of punctuality. He and his wife will arrive on time," Christopher explained.

The server suggested, "Would you like to order now, so we can serve when your guests arrive?"

Christopher agreed and had the server hand the menu to me.

The menu featured realistic images of each dish. Everything was expensive, but justifiably so—not just for the taste, but for the presentation, which was top-tier.

Someone from my background could afford such a meal if I set aside the money, but naturally, I wouldn't splurge like this on myself.

However, while I might not indulge myself, I had a wealthy friend—Paula! She had brought me here before. She'd ordered all the signature dishes without blinking an eye. Thanks to her, I'd experienced all the delicious, luxurious places in Starlight City.

Looking at the menu and having researched Doyle and his wife's preferences beforehand, I could confidently select dishes that would suit their tastes.

Christopher knew my preferences well, as I'd eaten at his home for quite some time. Tiana had researched and prepared foods according to my taste. Christopher immediately noticed I was ordering with our guests' preferences in mind.

After I finished ordering, he took the menu and added several more dishes.

Hearing that the additional dishes were spicy—exactly to my taste—I felt touched, my emotions nearly getting the better of me.

"Mr. Collins, that's not necessary. We're hosting today, so we should prioritize our guests' preferences," I reminded him.

Christopher ignored my suggestion and added a few more dishes before handing the menu back to the server.

After completing this series of actions, he turned to me and said, "Don't be too deliberate about it—that might make our guests uncomfortable. We've already ordered several dishes they'll enjoy, which won't affect their dining experience. Besides, they might want to try new flavors, don't you think?"

Hearing Christopher's guidance, I realized I had been too calculated, which might indeed make others uncomfortable.

"I stand corrected, Mr. Collins," I said gratefully, appreciating his reminder and instruction. 

I hadn't considered things thoroughly, and I was fortunate to have his guidance.

After ordering, we quietly waited for our guests.

As time passed, something felt wrong. I glanced down at my watch—we were already fifteen minutes past the appointed time.

Christopher snapped his fingers, summoning the server.

"Please serve the food now," he instructed firmly.

"Yes, sir," the server acknowledged before leaving to relay the order.

I frowned, wondering whether I should remind Christopher about our missing guests.

Sensing my concern, he explained, "We needn't wait any longer. They must have been detained by something important and won't be joining us tonight."

I was startled. "How do you know?"

Throughout our wait, Christopher hadn't once checked his phone, yet he seemed certain.

Noticing my confusion, he explained, "As I mentioned, they have a strong sense of punctuality. Unless something unavoidable came up, they would be here on time. Since they're late, they must have been detained by something they couldn't escape."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked.

I couldn't recall this detail from the briefing materials.

Christopher raised an eyebrow. "Do you doubt me?"

"Not at all. Have you met Doyle and his wife before? You seem to know them so well," I asked curiously.

"It was in the file. I remembered it."

I was impressed that Christopher had read the materials so thoroughly that he noticed details I had missed. His memory was clearly exceptional—even after some time had passed, he recalled everything perfectly.

Fine food, starry skies, and handsome company—such a beautiful setting naturally stimulated my appetite.

Christopher occasionally served me food, encouraging me to try new flavors. "This tastes especially good."

"Mr. Collins, you should eat too. If you keep giving me food, I'll feel like a starving pig," I joked.

Christopher glanced at me with a hint of amusement. "Even if you were a pig, you'd be an adorable one."