NovelGoldChapter 139
“In fact, bust out the self-hypnosis! Taylor, you and Soren are just friends going out for a meal together! This is
all very normal!” | muttered.
Half an hour later, I arrived at the Oriole.
The manager recognizedand greetedwith a polite nod. “Miss Jones, your guests have already arrived.
They're waiting in the Pride Room.”
“Thank you.”
My heart thumped with excitement. | even paced a little as made my way to the Pride Room. As the waiter
opened the door for me, | called out, “So-"
Then | saw her. A young woman sat beside him.
“-leil?! You're here too?” | exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
Soleil smiled sweetly. “Is that supposed to be a rebuke, Tay-Tay? Am | interrupting your moment?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks as | shot a quick look at Soren’s expression.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
“No! Of course not! I'd love to have you here!”
Ignore the “your moment” implication, Taylor! You did not hear that!
Soren poureda cup of black tea.
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“She was at my office when | was about to leave. When she heard you were invitingto lunch, she insisted on
tagging along,” he explained.
“I should have invited you too, Sol! I'm sorry,” | said.
“Oh, no. I'm just being shameless, Tay-Tay. Next time, you should specifically call this a date so people like me
have no excuse to show up!”
The tips of my ears burned.
“Sol, this isn’t a date! Your brother helpedout a lot lately, so | promised him a meal...”
“Oh, | see. | see...” She dragged out the words, studying her brother pointedly. “Is that the truth, Ren?”
Soren remained unbothered. He sipped his tea before replying, “It is whatever Taylor believes it is.”
My heart skipped a beat.
W-What was that?! D-Did he just... leave it up toto define what this meal was?
If | called it a d-date, he would... He would actually accept that?!
Thankfully, the manager arrived with our food just then, putting an abrupt end to this embarrassing topic.
| was a little surprised, too-the food had already been ordered.
“I have something to attend to later today, so | was worried about being pressed for time. That's why | had our
course prepared according to Chef Remy’s recommendations,” Soren explained.
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Chapter 139
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“That's great! I'm actually starving!” | said, wiping my hands with the warm, wet towel the waitress handed me.
| was pretty sure | understood what had happened now-Soren must have originally had plans this afternoon.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe'd adjusted his schedule on the fly just because | suggested having lunch “now, today.”
And then there was what Soleil had said-hints so obvious they practically spelled it out-and the fact that Soren
hadn’t denied a single one.
| was certain now-Soren didn’t seeas just a friend.
Maybe he was holding back because he had a million things to consider, just like | did. Maybe it was my low
social status. Maybe it was the fact that, legally speaking, | was still married to my civil partner.
Whatever the reason, there was only the flimsiest of barriers between us-a mere tissue-thin wall we both
pretended was solid as we continued our masquerade as friends.
Speople might hate this whole “are we in a situationship?” ambiguity, but you know what?
| actually liked it.
Why? Because when it really cdown to it... | wasn’t his equal.
| didn’t want a man so high abovein status-a modern-day prince in our country-to choose a lowly daughter
of a criminal when he had so many better options.
He was too good for me.
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