章節 30: Alex and Pearl

Alex and Pearl had just ordered their lunch and were enjoying each other's company when Julia suddenly appeared, taking a seat at a nearby table. Alex immediately tensed up, remembering the way she had treated him in high school. He tried to focus on his food, but the memories flooded back, causing him to feel uneasy.

As they chatted, Alex couldn't help but open up to Pearl about his experience with Julia. "She is the one that killed my father," he said, his voice low. "It was a really tough time for me."

Pearl listened sympathetically, reaching out to give his hand a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry that happened to you," she said. "No one deserves to be treated that way."

In exchange, Pearl opened up about her own family struggles, particularly her father's departure from her mother and her sister's decision to support him. Alex listened intently, impressed by Pearl's strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

But then Julia spoke up, interrupting their conversation. "I don't take talks from a slave labor supporting company owner and a b-rate company's daughter seriously," she said, her tone condescending.

At first, Alex was taken aback by the insult, but then he and Pearl both burst out laughing. They realized that they were both talking about the same person, and the coincidence was too funny to ignore.

"Looks like we have something in common after all," Alex said, grinning at Pearl.

"Who knew we'd both have to deal with someone like her," Pearl replied, shaking her head in disbelief.

Despite Julia's parting shot, Alex and Pearl refused to let her ruin their good time. They continued to enjoy their lunch, laughing and joking with each other. And even though they both knew that Julia would never approve of their friendship, they didn't care. They had found something special in each other, and that was all that mattered.

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John's heart raced as he watched Julia storm out of the restaurant. He had always been infatuated with her, but after everything that had happened, he knew that he could never pursue her. Still, he couldn't help but be curious about what had happened in there.

As Julia passed by him, John mustered up the courage to approach her. "Hey, Julia. Is everything okay?" he asked, trying to hide the excitement in his voice.

Julia turned to him, eyes blazing. "No, everything is not okay. I just had to sit through lunch with those two idiots," she spat.

John's heart sank. He knew exactly who she was talking about. "Alex ?" he asked.

Julia rolled her eyes. "Yes, And to make matters worse, Alex was talking about how a girl from high school ruined his life. Can you believe the nerve of him?"

Suddenly, he realized that Alex was also in the same campus as his collage. "Wait, Alex was there too?" he asked, feigning surprise.

Julia looked at him suspiciously. "Yes, he's a student here. Why do you ask?"

John tried to keep his composure. "Oh, no reason. I just didn't know that he went to this college too," he said, trying to sound casual.

Julia shrugged. "Well, he does. And I can't stand him or his little friend. They think they're so great just because they run some second-rate company. It makes me sick," she said, her voice dripping with contempt.

John forced a smile. "I'm sorry to hear that, Julia. Maybe we can grab lunch sometime and catch up?" he offered, hoping to end the conversation on a positive note.

Julia raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, John. I'm pretty busy these days," she said, her tone icy.

John knew that he had hit a nerve. "Sure, no problem. Take care, Julia," he said, watching as she walked away.

As he stood there, John realized that he needed to keep a close eye on Alex and Pearl.

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As Alex lay there on his bed, he couldn't help but reflect on how much his life had changed since meeting Pearl. The dark cloud that had been following him since his father's death seemed to have lifted, and he found himself feeling happier and more optimistic than he had in a long time.

As he thought about the future of Portal, he remembered that they had been looking for a new partner to replace CyberEats. They needed a company that shared their values and could help them expand their reach. Then it hit him: why not approach LocalEats, Pearl's mother's company?

It made perfect sense. LocalEats was a growing company with a great reputation, and they shared Portal's commitment to using sustainable and ethical business practices. Plus, with Pearl as his friend and ally, Alex felt confident that he could make a compelling case to Pearl's mother for why the two companies should join forces.

Excited by this idea, Alex got up from his bed and decided to call Maxie, Portal's COO, to share his thoughts. Maxie was thrilled with the idea and immediately set to work drafting a proposal to send to LocalEats.

As Alex hung up the phone, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the friendship he had formed with Pearl. It was amazing how one person could have such a big impact on his life and the future of his company. And as he looked out the window at the bright sun shining down on the campus.

Alex found himself enjoying his time in college, with his focus shifted away from the stresses of running his company. He attended his classes with enthusiasm, eager to learn new things and connect with his peers. After class, he would hang out with Pearl, exploring the campus and trying out new restaurants and cafes.

He had never realized how much he was missing out on by being consumed with work all the time. Now, he was able to enjoy life's simple pleasures, like grabbing a cup of coffee with a friend or going for a walk in the park.

Alex found that he was becoming more relaxed and easygoing, thanks to the positive influence of his new friends. He no longer felt the need to be constantly in control or pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion. Instead, he was able to appreciate the beauty in everyday moments and focus on enjoying the present.

This new perspective brought a sense of peace to Alex's life, and he found himself feeling grateful for the opportunity to slow down and appreciate the world around him. He was no longer driven by the need for revenge or the desire to prove himself. Instead, he was simply living life for the joy of it.