跳过内容
Novel Catalog
Chapter 9
Noel and Mandy looked up in surprise as the waiter delivered the message, his tone polite but firm. The abruptness of the situation left them both momentarily stunned.
“What do you mean reserved?” Mandy asked, her voice sharp. “We’ve been here for quite a while already.”
The waiter, unflustered by her attitude, bowed slightly. “I apologize for the inconvenience, but the reservation is for a VIP party. I’m afraid you will have to leave now.”
Noel frowned, noticing the way Mandy’s expression hardened. “But we—”
“I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll escort you to the exit,” the waiter insisted.
Mandy glanced at Noel, her lips curling into a scowl. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath, but it was clear there was little room for argument. The waiter, with his calm demeanor, wasn’t giving them any choice but to leave.
As they were ushered out of their table, Noel shot a quick, sharp glance over her shoulder at John and Cordy, seated comfortably together at the window table, Richard happily chatting between them. It was clear from the serene way John had been enjoying his dinner, unaffected by their presence, that he had orchestrated this entire scenario.
Noel’s face flushed with anger. She wasn’t one to tolerate being dismissed so easily, especially not when she was aiming for a spot at the top, alongside powerful men like John. “Let’s go,” she snapped at Mandy, her eyes narrowed.
Once they were out of the restaurant, Noel huffed in frustration. “That John Levine… He’s trying to show off, isn’t he? All this for Cordy?”
Mandy, still fuming, adjusted her coat and shot a look at Noel. “I don’t get it. He’s got his eyes on you, but you’re still talking about Cordy. That doesn’t make sense. Why do men like John always get so obsessed with women like her?”
Noel crossed her arms, contemplating her next move. “Well, if he’s really as interested in her as they say, maybe it’s time I give him something to think about. I’m not about to let Cordy steal everything from me.”
Meanwhile, back at the table, Cordy had been trying her best to stay composed, despite the tension building in her chest. Mandy’s comments about her—delivered so casually in front of John—had cut deeper than she let on. But she didn’t want to show weakness, especially not in front of Richard, who was obliviously excited about the evening.
John, sensing her discomfort, remained unusually quiet, only offering a few remarks about the dishes they were ordering. His attention was primarily on Cordy, however, his eyes flicking to her every so often to gauge her mood. Despite the heated exchange between the women, he showed no signs of care.
It wasn’t until Mandy and Noel were halfway out of the restaurant that Cordy allowed herself to take a breath. She shifted in her seat, adjusting her position to look out of the window for a moment. The night was growing darker, and the city outside seemed alive with possibilities—though it was hard for Cordy to find much joy in it at the moment.
Richard, still in high spirits, eagerly dug into his dessert. “Mommy, do you like the cake? It’s so yummy!”
Cordy’s smile was genuine, even though her heart wasn’t entirely in it. “It’s perfect, sweetheart. Thank you for picking it.”
She could feel John’s eyes on her, but she refused to look his way. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could continue this silent dance, pretending as if everything was fine when it was clear that the web of relationships around her—especially with people like John, Kyle, and Noel—was growing more complex by the minute.
Meanwhile, across town, Kyle was still seething. The humiliation he’d endured that day was weighing heavily on him. He hadn’t been allowed to meet with John Levine—one of the most powerful men in the city—despite waiting hours, and now he had to deal with Noel’s gloating. But what truly burned him was the growing realization that Cordy was slipping further from his grasp, her focus shifting from him to others, namely John. His grip on the situation was slipping, and that fact made him angrier with each passing moment.
John, for his part, was content to leave Kyle to stew. The day had been a pleasant surprise, full of subtle victories and quiet observations. As much as Cordy had tried to distance herself from him, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her, and he wasn’t about to let her slip away easily.