Chapter 100 Lunch


    Chapter 100 Lunch


    No one at thepany knew what had happened to Dawn the day before.


    At 11:30, Ethan showed up right on time outside Dreammaker Studios. Dawn and Janice came down together. Janice seemed even more excited than Dawn.


    “This is the first time I’m meeting your fiancé and I didn’t even fix my hair … Do you think he’ll have a bad impression of me?”


    Dawn gave her a strange look. “Does it really matter what he thinks?”


    “Of course it matters!”


    Dawn said nothing.


    “Look, we’re good friends. If your boyfriend thinks badly of me, that reflects on you too. You know that’s important.”


    Dawn didn’t know what to say.


    She forced a small smile and stayed quiet.


    As they stepped outside, Ethan’s car was parked at the curb. He pressed the horn and opened the door. Dawn walked up, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Have you been waiting long?”


    “Not too long.” Ethan took the bag from her hand and asked gently, “Are you hungry?”


    Dawn shook her head and remembered the person beside her. “Oh, right … I should introduce you. This is Janice Knowles, my design team leader. Janice, this is my fiancé, Ethan.”


    Unlike on the way here, Janice had kept her head down the whole walk.


    Now she lifted it slightly and offered a shy smile.


    “Nice to meet you.”


    Ethan nced at her, shook her hand, and let go immediately.


    “Dawn just joined thepany. Thank you for taking care of her.”


    His voice was calm, almost neutral, but it carried a charm that made Janice swallow hard. “Y- You’re wee, sir… it’s what I’m supposed to do.”


    Dawn froze, eyes wide with confusion.


    “Sir?”


    Janice had never met Ethan before, yes, but this level of formality felt intense even if it was a first meeting. <fn77ff> For more chapters visit f?ndnovel</fn77ff>


    Ethan noticed Dawn looking at him. He rested a hand on her shoulder and guided her toward the car while still speaking to Janice.


    “Don’t be nervous. I don’t bite.”


    This time his voice had a teasing edge.


    “Okay.” Janice forced a small smile and climbed into the car, secretly biting her lip. <i>Oh </i><i>my </i><i>gods</i>, what was <i>I </i><i>saying</i>? <i>Great</i><i>, </i><i>so </i><i>much </i><i>for </i><i>a </i><i>good </i><i>first </i><i>impression</i>.


    The afternoon sun pressed down on the city, and since work still waited for themter, Ethan picked a restaurant close to Dreammaker Studios.


    The ce specialized in Southeast Avoria food. Dawn had eaten there once before and still remembered the way the dishes lingered on her tongue.


    you have any food allergies or stuff you can’t eat?” Dawn asked as they sat down.


    “Janice, do you


    Janice shook her head with a lightugh. “Nope, I’m good.”


    Her eyes flicked to the man beside Dawn. He was bent over the menu, his voice low and careful as he asked Dawn what she thought about each dish.


    It struck Janice then. He had a softness he showed only to Dawn. To everyone else, he looked untouchable, cool as stone.


    She reached for the pitcher on the table and poured water for the both of them, her mind already drawing its own quiet conclusions.


    “Think we’re good to order?” Dawn asked Ethan softly. She slid the tablet out of his hands and passed it across the table.


    “Janice, take a look. Maybe there’s something you want to add.”


    Janice waved it away with both hands.


    “No, really. I’m not picky. You two choose.”


    “Alright, then that’s settled.”


    Dawn handed the tablet to the server with a quick nod, encouraging her to move things along.


    Conversation at the table flowed smoothly. They bounced from topic to topic, most of it small talk. Every now and then Janice nudged the subject toward work, but Dawn pulled back. She didn’t want Ethan sitting through a talk he might not follow.


    “So, Janice, where’s home for you?” Dawn asked.


    Janice hesitated, lifted her ss, and took a sip before answering. “I’m a Pettington girl.”


    That pulled Dawn’s eyebrows up. “No way. Ethan and I grew up there too. That’s wild.”


    “Yeah, what are the odds … “Janice lifted her eyes with a smile, but the smile wavered when she met Ethan’s gaze. He wasn’t staring intently. He looked rxed, almost bored, but something in his eyes made her feel exposed, like he could see through everyyer she tried to hide behind.


    Her chest tightened, her words caught in her throat, and she almost froze. Fortunately, the server returned with the first dishes. The aroma of spice and butter filled the space, cutting the tension only she seemed to notice.


    “Here, try this garlic butter crab. It’s amazing,” Dawn said. She leaned forward and scooped a piece onto Janice’s te.


    Then she stuck out her tongue in a yful little grin and whispered, “My fiancé’s just shy. Don’t mind him.”


    Janice went quiet. Ethan stayed quiet too.


    Dawn felt the strange silence between them but brushed it off. First meetings were always awkward. It made sense.


    With her maintaining the rhythm of the conversation, the meal continued smoothly enough.


    Yet something about it nagged at her.


    Janice had been <i>so </i>eager to know more about Ethan before.


    But when they finally sat across from each other, she barely said a word.


    Back at the office, the thought still lingered. Dawn gave voice to it while also trying to cover for Ethan. “He’s really not hard to get along with. He just doesn’t open up right away. He needs


    time.”


    She nodded to herself as if sealing it as truth. “A couple more times together and it’ll be fine.”