Chapter 429
Back in the private room, one of them spoke up, “Dane went over to Whispering Leaves. I think he ran into a friend there p>
“Dane’s friend is our friend. Why didn’t you invite them too?” someone else asked.
The truth was, they were all hoping to get Dane to invest, which was why they’d chosen Lamplight in the first place.
But after a few rounds of drinks, Dane still hadn’t given them a straight answer. Everyone’s nerves were getting a little frayed.
They turned to the one who’d made the introductions. “So… what now? Do we go invite him back p>
He hesitated. “Let me head out and check first p>
They all knew marching in as a group wouldn’t help. If they ended up annoying Dane and losing the investment altogether, the night would be a total waste.
“Alright,” someone said quietly.
Back at Whispering Leaves, Dane was already walking in.
Tilda couldn’t help but laugh when she saw him. “What are you, some kind of bloodhound? How do you always know where to find me? I just wanted some girl time with Claire but you tracked us down anyway p>
Dane just smiled, looking unbothered. “I heard you were here. Thought I’d stop by and say hello p>
“Yeah, right. Like you really need an excuse,” Tilda shot back, but she didn’t push. “You’re here anyway, just grab a seat and eat p>
Dane looked at Claire, as if waiting for her reaction.
Claire paused, not exactly thrilled but definitely not about to send him away either.
She gave a faint nod and Dane immediately sat down right next to her.
Tilda clicked her tongue. If Van wasn’t still recovering, she’d have called him over as well. It might have balanced things out, instead of her having to watch these two practically radiate that cute couple energy.
Dane brought the faint scent of alcohol with him. Claire’s brows knitted together. She obviously didn’t like it.
Dane noticed right away. “Sorry about that. I had another dinner earlier, and there was some drinking p>
He said it quietly, looking right at Claire.
“It’s fine. Business dinners are what they are,” Claire replied.
She could tell he’d just come from a table full of men, with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes clinging to him.
“Do you smoke?” she asked. Drinking was fine, but she really couldn’t stand cigarettes.
“Not really. Just a puff here and there at business things. Never around women though,” Dane answered, not wanting to make empty promises.
Tilda joined in, grinning. “Relax, Claire. He’s a gentleman. I’ve known this guy my whole life and I’ve never seen him light up in front of a woman p>
She liked to tease Dane, but after all these years growing up together, she couldn’t help speaking up for
him Besides if things actually et
worked out between Dane and Claire, she’d get to go to thei wedding. That was a win in her book.
Not that she wasn’t curious to see how Dane would manage to actually win Claire over, since Claire was still so young.
Dane suddenly turned to Claire and said, “I never congratulated you on winning the qualifiers p>
He took the teapot and poured her a cup, giving her a small smile.
Even the tea at this place was top notch.
He poured himself a cup next. “I’ll toast you with tea instead p>
Claire lifted her cup with a polite, “Thank you p>
Honestly, Claire still couldn’t figure out Dane. He didn’t seem like the type for romance, but his actions kept sending her mixed signals, Maybe the only explanation was that he saw a marriage with her as a valuable alliance with the Churchill family.
It made sense. Businessmen chased profit, after all. If that was Dane’s mindset Claire really didn’t mind long as he treated her well enough and didn’t overstep her boundaries, she saw no reason to call off the engagement.
Like she’d told herself before, Dane was handsome and exceptional. Turning him
down without good reason would just be foolish.
She let him be attentive, and quietly accepted his efforts.
Dane hadn’t eaten much at his earlier dinner, so now that he was in a quieter setting, he actually took a few bites of food. He even helped himself to half of Claire’s rice, almost without thinking.
Tilda sat on the sidelines, watching with envy. Even though she and Van were officially a couple now, Van just didn’t have Dane’s subtle charm. He was oblivious, clumsy, and nowhere near as thoughtful as Dane.