Chapter 619 - 615: It’s Not Convenient, I’m on a Date

Fiona Sanders’s gaze drifted back and forth between Emeric Grant and Cecilia Sterling. Girls are always perceptive; when a man and a woman appeared alone in a restaurant with such a nice ambiance, their relationship was bound to invite speculation.

But Fiona Sanders didn’t say anything directly. Instead, she giggled and said in a friendly tone, "Jackie and I were just over there and thought we saw you from a distance, but I wasn’t sure. It was only when we got closer that I could tell. It’s been so long! How have you been lately?"

"Pretty good. Just a bit busy with work, so I haven’t really had time to join your get-togethers."

"That’s no big deal. As long as we’re all in Lorcain, we’ll find time to get together eventually." Fiona Sanders said nonchalantly, "It’s just me and Jackie today. We were planning to get a spa treatment at the salon here this afternoon and decided to grab a bite first. Why don’t you join us?"

The invitation was sudden, but Fiona Sanders didn’t feel it was too presumptuous, mainly because she and Emeric Grant had a close relationship.

Cecilia Sterling said nothing, simply looking at Emeric Grant.

’It was up to Emeric Grant to handle this situation.’

"Is that okay with you?" Fiona Sanders finally remembered there was another beautiful woman present.

The next second, Emeric Grant shook his head and refused her outright. "No, it’s not convenient. I’m on a date."

Then, he took the opportunity to introduce her to Fiona Sanders. "This is Cecilia Sterling, my girlfriend."

Cecilia Sterling blinked, looking at him. ’Weren’t they not officially a couple yet?’

’And he’s already introducing me with the title of girlfriend?’

Fiona Sanders was also a little stunned. She had just been speculating about their relationship, but for Emeric Grant to introduce her so openly and without hesitation was still quite a shock.

After all, she knew Emeric Grant’s past.

Emeric Grant had never been in a relationship!

’Is this... his first love?’

"Hello," Cecilia Sterling said, offering a polite, smiling greeting.

Fiona Sanders’s expression immediately changed, replaced by a superficial, perfunctory smile. "Hello, beautiful. I’m Fiona. I’m a childhood friend of Emeric’s. We grew up together in the same neighborhood."

Cecilia Sterling understood. ’No wonder she lacks a certain sense of boundaries; they really are that close.’

"Well then, I won’t disturb your date," Fiona Sanders said with a raised eyebrow, waving to Emeric Grant. "Let’s talk on WhatsApp later."

Emeric Grant nodded politely and watched her leave.

"Sorry about that just now. I took the liberty of saying you were my girlfriend," Emeric Grant said apologetically after turning back to her.

His apology left Cecilia Sterling completely baffled.

’So he only said that just now because he had a reason?’

Looking at Emeric Grant’s face, Cecilia Sterling thought, ’You don’t have to apologize. I’m willing to be.’

But Emeric Grant went on to explain his reasoning. "Fiona and I are childhood friends, which means she’s also best friends with Cecilia Langley, and they grew up together. If I hadn’t said that just now, I was worried it might cause trouble later and let the whole ’couple for a day’ thing get exposed."

’So that’s why.’

Cecilia Sterling nodded in understanding, her lips pressed into a thin line. Inwardly, she felt a genuine pang of disappointment.

The moment that feeling surfaced, Cecilia Sterling instantly knew her own heart. She liked Emeric Grant!

Because she liked him, she had expectations. And because she had expectations, she felt disappointment.

Cecilia Sterling didn’t resist this feeling. She even felt that she had already started to like Emeric Grant on the night of their "couple for a day" date, when he took her back to school.

Or perhaps even earlier.

Emeric Grant looked at Cecilia Sterling, paused for a moment, and then said, "I think you should be the one to take the lead on how things progress between us. I’ll completely respect your decision."

Hearing this, Cecilia Sterling’s heart softened, but she also didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’Complete respect?’

She thought to herself, ’Some things, some times, don’t require *that* much respect!’

’If I’m supposed to take the lead... then should we just sleep together first?’

But Cecilia Sterling couldn’t let herself look like some kind of shameless hussy, so she maintained a calm smile and said, "But I was very satisfied with how you turned her down just now."

Emeric Grant looked confused. "What’s there to be satisfied about? We’re on a date. Of course we can’t have other people interfering. I was always going to refuse."

Cecilia Sterling smiled sweetly, thought for a moment, and then explained the detail that mattered to her. "Because you rejected her directly and decisively, without pushing me out front to absorb the awkwardness of the rejection for you."

In that kind of situation, a lot of guys, when hearing an invitation to join, would instinctively look at their girlfriend. It’s as if they want their girlfriend to shake her head and refuse first, allowing them to then chime in that it’s inconvenient. Even though the guy wants to say no himself, he insists on glancing at the woman first.

It might seem like he’s asking for her opinion, trying to cultivate the persona of a doting boyfriend who’s a little scared of his girlfriend, but it’s really just a lack of backbone. It’s the inability to summon the courage to refuse someone directly, so they have to drag the woman out to act as a shield.

But Emeric Grant didn’t do that. He just told Fiona Sanders directly, "No, it’s not convenient. I’m on a date."

Throughout the entire exchange, he completely shielded her, not making her face a single second of discomfort or awkwardness.

That was a sign of high emotional intelligence.

Cecilia Sterling found that detail very attractive. It earned him major points!

But so many guys are completely oblivious to these things.

As understanding dawned on him, Emeric Grant couldn’t help but smile and nod. "Oh, so that’s what you meant. I honestly didn’t think that far ahead. I just felt that our first date shouldn’t be interrupted by anyone."

"That just proves it’s ingrained in your character. That’s why you could give such a decisive response without even thinking about it."

"So, did I score some points?" Emeric Grant asked, looking at Cecilia Sterling with anticipation.

Cecilia Sterling nodded. "Definitely. A lot!"

"That’s good."

Soon, the dishes they had ordered began to arrive. Cecilia Sterling had naturally picked the restaurant’s signature dishes, all of which were a feast for the senses. After a few bites, Emeric Grant nodded in satisfaction. "It’s a good thing you’ve been here before. Everything you ordered is delicious."

"But they aren’t cheap!" Cecilia Sterling said, half-joking.

Emeric Grant laughed too. "I can afford it. Don’t worry, just eat."

’He came from a family of doctors. Just seeing his great-grandfather’s residence, The Courtyard, was enough to show that the Grant Family’s financial standing was considerable. Emeric Grant wasn’t just third-generation wealthy; his ancestors were likely even richer.’

During the meal, Cecilia Sterling got up to go to the restroom.

"Fiona, is Emeric Grant really in a relationship?"

"He said she’s his girlfriend, so I guess that’s that. No wonder Cecilia’s been in such a bad mood lately. Every time we ask her out, she’s completely listless."

"I just saw that girl. She’s gorgeous. So this is the type Emeric Grant likes; no wonder he never dated before. I thought..."

"You thought what?"

"...that his sexual orientation was..."

"How could that be? He’s just always had that kind of personality, incredibly prim and proper. But Cecilia has liked him for so many years, chased him for so many years without success, and now someone else has swooped in and snatched him away. I have no idea what tricks this Cecilia Sterling used. Did she rely entirely on her looks?"

As she spoke, Fiona Sanders shook her head, dismissing her own idea. "That can’t be it. Emeric Grant isn’t the type to only care about looks, otherwise Cecilia would have succeeded long ago."

Then she sneered. "She probably used some underhanded tactics. After all, with a personality like Emeric Grant’s, ordinary methods probably wouldn’t be enough to win him over."