Chapitre 6: Let's Cut The Chase
Ivy's eyes widened in shock as the vibrant red liquids splatted across her boots, leaving conspicuous stains that seemed to mock the elegance of the surroundings—time seemed to freeze momentarily as the scene unfolded in a surreal blur. Ivy's hand halted midway before she quickly took the napkin from the waitress.
The restaurant fell into a hushed silence, all eyes now drawn to Ivy's unfortunate mishap.
"Oh shoot! It'll leave a stain!" The waitress was now more attentive and quick to rescue Ivy's boots. She frantically dabbed at the vibrant stains, trying to help prevent it from spreading.
Amidst the chaos, Roland misinterpreted Ivy's actions. When she reached for another napkin, he thought she was offering it to him. He reached out to take the napkin from her hand, only to realize that Ivy was focused on her now-stained boots, not him.
"My shoes will definitely be stained if I leave them like this. It would be best if you also had a change of clothes. Isn't your hotel room on the tenth floor? Let's return to your room and deal with this mess before continuing the conversation." Frustration etched across Ivy's face as she surveyed the mess it became.
Ivy was always prepared with an extra pair of shoes in her bag for someone who disliked participating in fancy occasions. She quickly took out her slippers and put them on after making sure her feet were clean. The slipper's design was unique, sporting an angry pig's face at the center with two floppy bunny ears attached. The ears playfully flapped with each step she took, seemingly mocking their failed date.
"I guess that is our only choice," Roland looked at the mess he created. Everything was not going well, from the ruined outfit to the dishes being served. He lost his appetite and didn't wish to continue dining with her. Besides, it would be easier to speak to her when they have more privacy.
Considering the Clover family's generosity in reserving a suite for his stay and informing the staff to be more attentive to his needs, he decided to hold back his temper for now.
"Alright, then, let's split the bill at the counter. Oh, right. Thank you for helping with my shoe just now. Sorry for the whole mess." Ivy turned to the waitress and smiled. As Ivy handed her the used napkin, she tapped on the waitress' hand twice.
The waitress smiled with a nod, "No problem at all."
When the two completed the payment process, the waitress untied her apron knot and threw it in the employee laundry bin.
The manager walked up to her side with his hands folded nervously. "Miss. Chloe, didn't you say you wanted to experience being a waitress? You just started an hour ago. Is there something wrong?"
Chloe released her bun, letting her hair fall to her back. "Nope! My shift is done for tonight! Thanks for the experience, manager!"
As she exited the restaurant, she swayed her head slightly. "Ah! That bun was tied so tight and high on my scalp! Sheesh, Ivy sure owes me one this time. Right, let me get Lucas!"
While waiting for the elevator, she swiftly dialed her best friend, Lucas Wang. They've been childhood friends since they were young and have always stuck by one another. Within the first ring, Lucas answered the call. "Yo dude, I'm coming down now! Get ready!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Huh? Get ready for what?" Lucas paused, munching on his hamburger as Chloe spoke.
"...You're our backup..." Chloe reminded him.
Meanwhile, Ivy had already followed Roland to his room in another part of the building. As soon as they exited the restaurant, he revealed his true colors. He no longer put on a pretentious smile and let his true thoughts surface.
"Oh! Not going to pretend anymore, I see?" Ivy's voice dripped with subtle sarcasm.
"Not at all. Who will continue acting when there are no witnesses around? Let's get this straightened out then, shall we?" His disdain was palpable as he rolled his eyes away from giving her another glance. It was as if her presence was contaminating his surroundings.
Likewise, she would rather end this blind date. 'I guess I won't be feeling bad for being a savage after all.' She spent the next two minutes on her phone typing something to someone. Once she was finished, she realized they were at his suite.
Without waiting for Ivy, Roland strode into his suite first. He took off his stained blazer with a disgusted look on his face. With his fingers pinching the edge of his blazer, he tossed it aside to prevent it from touching his belongings.
As he slipped out of his shoes and began loosening the buttons of his dress shirt, he reminded her to shut the door. "Remember to close the door properly. You wouldn't want anyone overhearing our conversation, Miss. Clover."
"Of course," Ivy responded, using the back of her foot to slam the door shut. As soon as the latch clicked closed from behind, the last bit of politeness between them vanished.
"Now that the door is locked and we are alone, what exactly do you want?" Ivy stood against the wall with her legs crossed. Though she appeared engrossed in her phone, she remained high alert to her surroundings.
"Well, let's talk business then. As you know already, I am a businessman. In business, we don't take losses, only profits. About the marriage alliance between our families, I want to propose for us to work together." He adopted a businesslike demeanor as if marriage was child's play.
"And what would that be?" To suppress her laugh, Ivy pinched the back of her hand discreetly.
"We can get married and show up at public events as an affectionate couple. However, we will live our separate lives privately. Whether getting a lover or having a fling - we are not allowed to interfere with each other's affairs. With the Clovers so desperate to find you a partner and your below-average appearance, I doubt you'd be able to get a better offer from any reasonable man out there."
In a cold, calculated manner, he continued presenting his terms. Since she did not care to preserve his reputation earlier and almost exposed his flaws publicly, he wouldn't care to respect her in private.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
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Power Stone 
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