Derrick glanced at the small head bowed next to him. The girl didn't even dare to look up; she was intensely focused on fidgeting with her fingers.
"Are you a friend of Casper's? What's your name?" Derrick asked. It was the first time he had ever seen a woman next to his brother, and he couldn't help but be curious.
Winter slowly raised her head to answer politely. "We're just... friends."
Derrick raised his eyebrows and offered a gentle, though somewhat predatory, smile. "If you aren't friends, why are you going home together?"
"I just needed a ride," Winter murmured. She felt incredibly unnatural under his gaze and instinctively shifted closer to Jasper. Even though this man was smiling, she felt he was deeply insincere.
Jasper felt her press against him. Irritated by his brother's antics, he snapped, "Stop moving, he's not going to eat you! And Derrick, stop threatening her. She's my assistant."
Jasper had been under his brother's thumb since childhood; while he resented the control, he knew Derrick cared for him, so he took the trouble to explain.
Derrick chuckled, but his eyes caught the bandage on Winter's wrist. "Does a burn like that really hurt?"
Winter didn't look at him, her head bowed again. "It's fine."
Though she was a bit slow to catch on, she wasn't stupid; she could sense the faint trace of teasing in his voice. Seeing that she was well-behaved and disciplined, Derrick watched her with growing interest.
"Older brother!" Jasper growled. He was already regretting making her sit in the middle. His brother's habit of flirting with every 'flower' he encountered was truly exhausting. If word got back to Amanda that Winter had been teased on his watch, she'd definitely come for his head.
Derrick shrugged and finally stopped. Jasper urged the driver to hurry. Before Winter stepped out of the car, Jasper tossed a thick file of documents into her lap. "Give these to Amanda," he ordered.
Meanwhile, Amanda was having dinner with Quentin, Diego, and Celia. It was a rare chance for them all to gather, and the atmosphere was lively. Celia watched Quentin attentively taking care of Amanda and felt a surge of happiness for her friend.
"Have you two planned a honeymoon yet?" Celia asked.
Amanda chewed thoughtfully. "You just reminded me—I haven't had a free moment lately. And with it being the end of the year, Quentin's company is buried in work. If we go, it'll have to be next year."
Quentin placed some stir-fried beef into Amanda's bowl. "I can make the time," he said gently. "I'll take you wherever you want to go."
Amanda glanced at him playfully. "You have the makings of a besotted king—the type who ignores his court and his duties just to please a woman."
Quentin didn't deny it. Instead, he teased back, "Oh? So you've always been this narcissistic?"
Amanda glared at him and promptly moved all the carrots from her bowl into his. She had discovered that the usually easy-going Quentin had one major weakness: he detested carrots.
Knowing she was "punishing" him, Quentin just smiled. He wouldn't eat them on his own, but if she fed them to him, he wouldn't refuse.
"So, do you have a dream destination?" Celia asked, unable to stop gossiping. "I think Paris would be perfect. Kissing under the Eiffel Tower is so romantic!"
Amanda coughed, feeling a bit embarrassed. "That's a bit... direct, don't you think?" she whispered, gesturing to the two men at the table.
Celia, having lived abroad for over a year, was far more open-minded. "I'm just being sincere! France is the country of romance and love! And—"
Before she could finish, Diego unceremoniously stuffed a forkful of greens into her mouth. Celia chewed angrily, glaring at him. "What was that for?!"
Diego didn't answer right away. He squeezed her cheek and popped a piece of meat in after the vegetables, effectively silencing her. "Are you married? Do you have a boyfriend? You sound far too experienced for your own good."
He could handle her—they had grown up together—but he was mindful of Quentin's presence. Celia had no filter.
Celia dropped the honeymoon topic but pointed huffily at the plate of shrimp. "Fine! If you want to feed me so badly, peel these for me. I want shrimp."
Without a word of protest, Diego began peeling the shrimp for her.
"Amanda," Diego said, turning back to the main point of his visit. "What are the plans for New Year's? Are you coming home to the Solis house or staying with the Harris family?"
Amanda looked at Quentin.
"On New Year's Eve, I have to attend a party to promote the movie premiere," she noted.
Quentin reached out to stroke her hair, pleased that she was looking to him for the answer. "Since this is Mandy's first year as my bride, she'll need time to adjust. We'll spend New Year's morning at the Solis house and have dinner at the Harris estate."
Diego nodded, then gave Quentin a smug grin. "By the way... I haven't heard you call me 'Brother-in-law' yet, have I?"
Quentin cast a dry, sideways glance at the proud Diego but chose to ignore him entirely, focusing back on Amanda's dinner instead.