"Of course," Natalie White said smugly. "But I'm still a step behind you. Ever since I made it into management at the start of the year, I've been swamped with work. Not at all like you, free as a bird every day. I'm honestly jealous."
Stella Sterling heard the veiled jab and glanced at her phone. "Management gets off this early?"
'It's not even five o'clock.'
Natalie White was at a loss for words. After a moment, she gave a smirk that wasn't quite a smile. "Can't I be on a business trip?! Whatever. You've never had a real job, so it's normal that you wouldn't understand."
The elevator happened to arrive on their floor just then.
Natalie White, in her high heels, walked past Stella Sterling and stepped inside first.
Stella Sterling followed.
The two acquaintances, who were friendly on the surface but not in their hearts, stood at opposite ends of the elevator as if an uncrossable line had been drawn between them.
Natalie White, admiring her fresh manicure, struck up a conversation: "Ethan Quinn is coming back."
Stella Sterling replied, "Oh."
Displeased by such a cold reaction, Natalie White pressed, "What do you mean, 'oh'? His flight gets in at the end of the month. Are you going to pick him up or not?"
Stella Sterling gave a noncommittal answer. "Not sure. We'll see."
"So heartless." Natalie White rolled her eyes. "You didn't see him off when he left, and now that he's back, you're not showing any interest. You really are cold-blooded."
Stella Sterling said nonchalantly, "If you want to show him you care, then go. No one's stopping you."
Ethan Quinn was a mutual friend in their circle. Before he went abroad, Natalie White had pursued him for two years, but she never succeeded.
'Looking at her now, it's clear she hasn't given up.'
Stella Sterling was rather puzzled. 'So what if Ethan Quinn was coming back? Why is she telling me?'
She and Ethan Quinn had barely been in contact over the past two years, at most exchanging a greeting text during the holidays.
Their relationship was neither close nor distant.
Besides, whether or not she went to the airport was her decision to make. It wasn't Natalie White's place to guilt-trip her.
The elevator ascended to the restaurant's floor.
This time, Stella Sterling stepped out first.
Natalie White was a few steps behind, muttering something under her breath, probably bad-mouthing her behind her back.
Stella Sterling couldn't be bothered to respond and walked straight into the Three-Michelin-Star Restaurant.
She didn't see Natalie White follow her in right after.
Roman Rhodes didn't arrive late.
Just after five-thirty, the man appeared at the restaurant entrance dressed in business casual.
Stella Sterling stood to greet him, her eyes briefly sweeping over him. "Mr. Rhodes."
A light ink-colored casual shirt was paired with casual trousers, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, revealing sharp wrists unadorned by a watch. Only the pinky ring on his left hand was particularly conspicuous.
The man's attire lessened the formality and seriousness of their dinner together.
Roman Rhodes strode over, his gaze fixed on Stella Sterling, and asked, "How's your cold?"
Stella Sterling smiled sweetly. "Much better, thank you for your concern, Mr. Rhodes."
The man's eyes shifted slightly, revealing a hint of interest.
The young woman before him was not as listless and haggard as she had been that morning.
Her black, knee-length dress was form-fitting but not tight, accentuating her curves perfectly.
Her fair, delicate cheeks were enhanced by light makeup, and her eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, like sparkling jewels.
She stood before him, charming and lovely, like a wild rose in full bloom—unrestrained, passionate, and vibrant.
Without a doubt, Stella Sterling was beautiful.
Even in the eyes of the worldly Roman Rhodes, she could still be called exceptionally beautiful.
When one's senses are pleased, one naturally exudes an air of delight in every gesture.
It was in this subtle atmosphere that Stella Sterling vaguely sensed that Roman Rhodes seemed to be in a good mood.
Even the contours of his often indifferent and calm face had softened and warmed considerably.
They sat down one after the other.
Stella Sterling handed the menu to the man. "I've ordered a few of the chef's signature dishes. Mr. Rhodes, please take a look and see if you'd like to add anything else."
"Your choices are fine." Roman Rhodes took it and set it aside. "The guest should defer to the host."
Before long, a waiter brought their food.
The sommelier and the head chef followed behind.
The restaurant had likely received word that Roman Rhodes was dining there and, as was customary, had specially arranged for the head chef to come out and explain the finer points of the menu pairings.
While making his introductions, the head chef kept sneaking glances at Stella Sterling.
He was clearly curious about the lady who was dining with Mr. Rhodes.
Moreover, any discerning person present could see that Mr. Rhodes showed a subtle indulgence toward this young lady.
After the head chef and his party had departed,
Stella Sterling raised her champagne glass and began with the pleasantries. "Mr. Rhodes, my visit to Vicenza this time was rather abrupt. Please forgive me if I've been impolite in any way. I'd like to toast to you."
"There's no need to be so formal." Seeing the young woman poised to down the glass in one gulp, Roman Rhodes spoke slowly, "It's not advisable to drink while you have a cold. Let's switch to tea."
Stella Sterling just barely stopped herself. Looking at the man's focused and calm gaze, she compromised, picking up her teacup and toasting with tea instead of wine.
Halfway through the meal,
Stella Sterling started a new topic of conversation.
"Mr. Rhodes, does Rhodes Harbor's acquisition of OmniConnect mean that you're planning to expand into the mainland's internet market?"
She asked about these business matters in a casual, chatty tone.
"Not necessarily." Roman Rhodes wiped his fingers with his napkin. "Rhodes Harbor has plans to acquire and invest in mainland companies every year. A single corporate acquisition doesn't represent a move into an entire sector."
Stella Sterling appeared thoughtful. "Then which mainland industries are you more optimistic about?"
Roman Rhodes unhurriedly set down his knife and fork, a slight smile playing on his lips as he retorted, "Miss Sterling, did you invite me to dinner, or to a financial news interview?"
'Oops, too forward.'
"You must think I'm being silly, Mr. Rhodes." Stella Sterling gave an embarrassed laugh and offered a half-sincere compliment. "It's my first time dining with a successful person like yourself, so I can't help but want to learn a thing or two. I asked too many questions, my apologies."
The man seized on a key phrase, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Our first time dining together?"
The change in his aura was instantaneous.
But just as quickly, it returned to normal.
Sensing the sudden silence in Roman Rhodes's demeanor, Stella Sterling didn't understand why he had shown a rare flicker of displeasure.
Even if it was fleeting.
Stella Sterling thought for a moment, then held up an index finger to emphasize, "This is, indeed, the first time *I've* invited *you* to dinner."
The implication was that the lunch at the internet conference last time was, at best, a coincidental shared table.
Roman Rhodes's gaze darkened as he stared at Stella Sterling.
'Call her heartless, or just dense.'
'Thinking back on our encounters and interactions these past few days…'
'She puts on this cute and clever act in front of me, and every time, there's a reason.'
'She wants to play the wolf in sheep's clothing, but she's terrible at hiding her tail.'
Roman Rhodes couldn't help but sigh internally. 'Even knowing what she's like, I still want to see what other little tricks she'll try to pull on me.'
The man lowered his eyes, hiding the turbulence within them, and asked in a low voice, "What do you want to do with the 'wisdom' you're seeking from me?"
Stella Sterling replied bluntly, "Make money."
'With such a huge money-printing machine dangling in front of me, only a fool wouldn't seize the opportunity.'
"Make money?" Roman Rhodes scrutinized Stella Sterling and stated bluntly, "You don't look... like you're short on cash."
'As the sister of Jude Langley's ex-girlfriend, her family background can't be bad.'
'Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to produce three million to buy that Tea Bowl from me.'
'Furthermore, while her clothes don't have any major brand logos, one look at the craftsmanship tells me they're custom-made.'
'For a young woman like her to casually say she wants to make money... it's not very credible.'
Hearing this, Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow slightly. "Not needing money and wanting to make money aren't mutually exclusive."
After saying that, she mumbled under her breath, "Mr. Rhodes has even more money, and I don't see you idling your time away, just eating, drinking, and having fun..."
Roman Rhodes took a sip of champagne, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
'She really is sharp-tongued.'