Charlotte replied with a smile, “<b>Of </b>course. If Lena rmended you, I have nothing to worry about.”
Scott felt a twinge of disappointment
“So… she really doesn’t remember me,” he <b>silently </b><b>remarked </b>
Still smiling, he took out his phone and said, “Let’s exchange contact info. We can set up a time to talk moreter.”
“Sure.” Charlotte pulled out her phone and exchanged contact.
Lena gently stirred her coffee, her tone light and trusing “Lottie, don’t let Scott’s three years of experience fool you. My brother says he’s already made quite a name for himself in intellectual propertyw. His firm handled several of my brother’s IP cases and he’s never lost a single one.
Н
Charlotte looked slightly surprised, her gaze returning to Scott. “You’ve already aplished that much? I’m genuinely impressed.”
Typically, an attomey with just over three years of practice was only beginning to move past the cookie phase and was still in the process <b>of </b>building experience. Mostwyers who earned industry–wide recognition had at least seven or eight years under their belts, sometimes <b>even </b><b>a </b>decade or more.
Scott <b>had </b>graduated the same year she did. For him to have already made a name for himself in the field of intellectual propertyw was undeniably impressive.
Charlotte had always been ambitious. She truly loved her profession and <b>had </b>long set her sights on bing <b>a </b>top–tier attorney–one of the best in the industry. So when <b>she </b>encountered someone like Scott, it was only natural for her to feel a genuine sense of admiration.
If she <b>had </b>no interest in him at <b>first</b><b>, </b>she could now <b>admit </b><b>that </b><b>she </b>was beginning to respect and appreciate him,
She smiled<b>, </b>her <b>praise </b>sincere, “I didn’t expect you to be this aplished at such <b>a </b><b>young </b>age. It <b>would </b>be <b>an </b>honor to partner with you.’
Scott’s reply was gracious, his tone gentle. “You’re too modest, Miss Riley ”
Mia, sitting nearby, mumbled under her breath, <b>“</b>They’re a perfect match. Seriously.”
Lena let out a quietugh and nudged her. “Stop saying stuff like <b>that</b>.”
<b>“</b><b>I’m </b>just being honest,” Mia whispered back. “Don’t you think they’re perfect together? Bothwyers, tons inmon, and let’s be real—they look amazing side by side. I’m kind of shipping them already.”
Charlotte looked slightly embarrassed. She turned to Scort and said apologetically, “Ignore her. My friend has a habit of joking around.”
smiled <b>easily</b>,pletely unbothered. “No offense taken.”
They continued chatting for a while longer.
Mostly, <b>Mia </b>took the lead, firing off questions to Scott. They covered everything from college days to post–grad work. Mia <b>was </bpletely engrossed
Then, suddenly, she asked with mock seriousness, “<b>Okay</b>, real talk–why did you reject my deniession back in college?”
Scott Instinctively <b>nced </b>at Charlotte, who was off to the side chatting with Lena about a recent fashion show and hadn’t heard the question.
Mia, as usual, was too carefree to notice the way
y <b>his </b>gaze
had lingered on Charlotte.
Scott quickly looked away <b>and </b>offered <b>a </b>polite<b>, </b>detached smile. “I liked someone else at the time.”
Mia blinked in surprise “Wait, you did? Who?”
Scott just loweredds gaze<b>, </b>smiled quietly<b>, </b>and didn’t answer.
Mia tilted her head, still suspicious. When Scott didn’t answer, a sudden thought struck her. Her eyes widened, and she pped a hand over her mouth in
“Wait… don’t sell ine–you’re pay?”
He hadn’t seen thating. The coffer he had just sipped caught in his throat, and he coughed twice, startled.
Charlotte turned sharply at the word gay, looking surprised.
ie trailed off, unsure whether to finish the sentence.
“No, no.” Scott waved his hand, still coughing slightly. “Definitely not. I’m straight.”
Mia gave him a suspicious side–eye. “Then why won’t you say who you liked?”
Just as Scott opened his mouth to answer, <b>a </b>cold male voice cut through the air behind them.
“What are you allughing about?”