bChapter /b400

Sean smoothly sidestepped Megan’s hand, keeping his distance.

His voice bwas /bcold. “Since Miss Riley and Mr. Lucas aren’t on a date, I assume you won’t mind if I join you. We’re all familiar faces, after all. And it’s been a while since Ist saw Miss Riley–this seems like a good chance to catch up on the bcases /bmypany handed over to your firm.”

Megan’s expression froze for a second.

Scott let out a softugh. “I’m afraid this might not be the best time, Mr. Jasper. We’ve got kids with us today.”

Sean turned to Jodie and offered a warm smile. “Jodie, do you mind if I sit with you and have dinner together?”

Jodie recognized him instantly. She used to light up whenever she saw him. He had been nothing but kind, always bringing her toys. Of course she didn’t mind.

She replied crisply, “I don’t mind!”

Sean smirked as he turned to Scott. “Jodie’s fine with it. Are you really going to be the stingy one here, Mr. Lucas?”

Scott met his gaze with a calm, easy smile. “You dide here with a lovelydy, Mr. Jasper. If you squeeze in with us, happens to Miss Stone?”

what

Sean’s expression didn’t change. He looked at Megan and said, “Sorry, something came up. You should head home first. We’ll discuss the project another day.”

The mention of a “project” wasn’t for Megan’s benefit–it was for Charlotte. He wanted her to know this wasn’t a date. Whatever it looked like, Megan was just a business partner.

As he spoke, he didn’t take his eyes off Charlotte.

But she didn’t look back at him. Her expression didn’t change, as if none of this mattered.

A quiet pang of disappointment settled in Sean’s chest.

Scott chuckled. “Not very gentlemanly of you, Mr. Jasper. Leaving Miss Stone like that?”

Sean’s tone was cool. “That’s none of your concern.”

With that, he calmly picked up the menu and added two dishes, as if he had always been part of their dinner.

Charlotte pressed her lips together, casting a nce at Megan. A wave of jealousy rose in her chest.

b“/bIf Mr. Jasper came here with Miss Stone, then leaving her behind like this doesn’t seem right. Let’s discuss the cases another day. It’s after hours. I don’t want to talk about work right now.”

Sean arched an eyebrow. “Not in the mood to talk about work? That’s not like you, Miss Riley. Funny I seem to remember the two of you chatting quite enthusiastically about work in your living room.”

His eyes narrowed, voice tinged with jealousy. “But with me, suddenly it’s ‘off the clock“?”

Charlotte shot him a frosty look, the kind that said, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Thenb, /bseeing the awkward expression on Megan’s faceb, /bshe let out a sigh and stood up.

“If Mr. Jasper insists on joining us, we’ll just move to arger tableb” /b

bSean /braised a brow but followed.

After Charlotte sat down, Jodie and Tiana obediently joined her at the new table. Sean smiled and took the seat bbeside /bbCharlotte- /b

bMegan/bb, /bseeing an open seat, followed and sat beside Sean.

Scott had no choice but to join them as well.

The date had been going perfectly–until Sean barged in and ruined the moodpletely.

bScott /bshot him a sharp look, clearly annoyed.

Sean, unfazed, curled his lips into a triumphant smirk, as if everything was going exactly as he nned.

Sitting beside him, Megan noticed the tension crackling between the two menb. /bHer fingers tightened slightly around her coffee

bcup/b.