Chapter <b>180 </b>


    And above all, I wouldn’t give him that kind of satisfaction.


    Meanwhile, Naomi and her friend seemed to be stunned speechless by Alexander’s rude suggestion. The seconds ticked by, and Aiden raised his eyebrows and gave me a questioning look. All I could do was shrug. There was no way I could exin why this situation was so awkward out loud. That would only make everything even more ufortable.


    Then, Naomi did something even more surprising than Alexander’s rude proposal. She actually took him up on it and sat down in the chair beside mine and gestured for her friend to sit next to Aiden.


    When the two women were seated, I gestured for Aiden to get up. There was no way I was going to suffer through a whole dinner with Alexander five feet away to witness this awkward exchange. But when I started to get up, Naomi grabbed my arm and widened her eyes, silently pleading with me to stay.


    I sighed and sat back down, knowing that if the situation was reversed, I would want someone to stay and help smooth over this strange turn of events.


    Aiden got the attention of <i>our </i>server and asked him for two more menus for Naomi and her friend.


    “Thank you for allowing us to intrude on your dinner,” Naomi whispered. “The bill is on me.”


    15:1500


    Aiden grinned. “In that case, I’m getting the steak,<i>” </i>he said,


    The four of us chuckled. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.


    Then, Alexander’s phone rang, and when he answered it, my stomach jolted.


    “Hello, Mother,” he said in a voice just loud enough for everyone at our table to hear.


    Oh, this night just kept getting better and better.


    Alexander’s mother, Helen, spoke so loudly that her voice rang clear through the phone’s speakers.


    “Good evening, darling,” she said. “I heard that your date with Naomi went well. I’m so happy to hear that my attempt at matchmaking worked! I heard through the grapevine that Naomi was a ‘foodie‘ like you kids are calling it these days and that Naomi has a good appetite.”


    At this, Naomi turned red and slid down in her seat.


    “Oh, yeah,” Alexander replied with a sarcastic edge to his voice. “I like girls who can eat a whole pig in one sitting.” Then, his tone became serious. Alexander’s voice became so grim that it sent a shiver down my spine. “Honestly, Mother, you need to stop setting me up on blind dates. Your meddling in my dating life caused a big misunderstanding between one of my more imaginative subordinates and me.”


    My eyes widened when I figured out that he was referring to me. What misunderstanding was he talking about? With a jolt, I realized that he might not be in Ld to see Naomi. Had I


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    gotten it all wrong? I had heard the information by listening to the secretaries gossip,


    “I’m not going to pursue anything with Naomi. When I’m ready, I’ll find my own girlfriend,” Alexander said, “Goodnight, Mother.”


    After Alexander hung up, our two tables were silent for a full minute. I looked over at Naomi with sympathy for the poor girl churning in my stomach. Her face had gone white, and her friend was rubbing her back soothingly.


    “I can’t believe how delusional I’ve been,<i>” </i>she whispered as embarrassed tears filled her eyes. “I had begged my mother to arrange a second meeting between Alexander and me. I


    thought that we had hit it off on our first date.<i>” </i>She sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m such a fool.” Naomi paused and wiped a tear off of her cheek. “I never thought that he would be so heartless and reject me by allowing me to overhear a call with his mother.<i>” </i>


    I crossed my arms and shook my head at Alexander’s cruelty.


    “Honestly, I can believe that he would do something that cold,” I told Naomi in a voice loud enough for Alexander to overhear. “That’s just the kind of man he is.”


    This made him whip around his seat, and we stared at each other, unblinking, not wanting to be the first one to speak.


    I hardened my gaze and refused to look away.


    I wouldn’t allow myself to be a pawn in his game.


    Chapter 129: The Grapevine


    Charte 180


    <b>*</b>Author*


    To the surprise of everyone, it was Alexander who looked <b>away </b>first. A smug smile spread across Olivia’s face from her small victory, but Alexander turned his back on her and picked up his menu, winning this round with his continued fake indifference toward her.