Chapter 286: Like a Carrot

Chapter 286: Like a Carrot

"Derek, you didn’t have to do this." Melissa pursed her lips, her cheeks flushed pink. Under the warm lights of the restaurant, she was sparkling.

Derek smirked. "How could I not do this? I told you, didn’t I? I’ll get you the role. Besides, it’s been a while since we went out together."

"Derek," she mused softly, her eyes softening with affection. "Thank you."

"If you really want to thank me, then enjoy the food," he said, reaching out to hold her hand, smiling charmingly at her. "Because of you, I realized there’s no point in sulking just because Travis played dirty."

His smile stretched, glorious and magnanimous. The Summit Partners deal was a shame, but fortunately, Derek had gotten intel about something else. The chairman had given him a new project. It might not be as big as the Summit Partners project, but it was just as important.

"Melissa, once this project pushes through, we won’t have to worry about anything else!" Derek intoned. "And it’s good for LL Construction too. I’m thinking of offering your father the project instead of looking elsewhere. As long as he wins the bidding, we’ll be fine."

Melissa nodded. "I’ll tell my dad about it later."

"Of course!" He beamed. "Let’s eat! Do you know how hard it is to get a reservation here? I had to pull some strings just to bring you."

Her blush deepened as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "I’ll definitely enjoy the food you ordered for me."

They smiled at each other and resumed their meal. Melissa’s smile was fixed on her face, knowing the restaurant had a long waiting list. For Derek to get them a table, she was pleased. Surely, the Summit Partners project was over. Scarlet, Melissa’s contact at Summit Partners, had told her there was nothing she could do, but that didn’t dampen her spirits.

Oh, well.

Derek was the chairman’s direct kin,

To top it all off, Melissa had landed a role in Angel’s Revenge. While it wasn’t all Derek’s doing, he had played a crucial role in convincing one of the executives to give her the role. Things were looking up for both of them.

"Did you like the food?" Derek asked as they finished the main course. "I ordered some sweets. You’ll love them."

Melissa smiled. "Mhm."

Soon, the desserts were served, and they enjoyed them in peaceful silence. Wiping her lips with the cloth, Melissa fluttered her eyes at him.

"Derek, I’ll just go to the restroom," she said, and he nodded.

"Don’t take long. There’s more," he muttered mid-meal, earning a hum from her.

Melissa headed to the restroom for a quick touch-up. She didn’t need to relieve herself, but she wanted to check her lipstick and makeup. Derek liked it when she was perfect. Applying her lipstick, her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Old Auntie, that color doesn’t suit you."

Melissa froze. She turned to see two children looking up at her.

"And it’s on your teeth too!" Second pointed. "That color makes you look yellowish."

"Is that why you’re glowing?" Chacha tilted her head. "Your color is orange, like a carrot."

Melissa’s brows crinkled. She darted her eyes between the two. They looked familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen them. She scoffed, about to speak, but the twins suddenly turned their backs.

"Chacha, why do girls like that lipstick color? It makes them look like an eggplant."

Chacha shrugged. "I don’t know. Maybe because they can’t afford what Mommy uses."

"Mhm! Mommy’s the best! Even with that lipstick the old auntie uses, it will look good!" Second mused. "But if it’s not her, they just look strange."

"Second, women are strange like that old auntie. It’s best not to talk to her."

Second nodded. "She’s ugly."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say," Chacha cooed. "And her boyfriend’s blind."

Melissa clenched her teeth, listening as if the children didn’t realize she could hear them.

"Ugly?" she repeated, looking at her lipstick. This color had been perfect, yet the children casually dismissed it.

"Does it not suit me anymore?" She wondered, stepping back to check her outfit and lipstick. Irritated and self-conscious, Melissa wiped off her lipstick and switched to a lighter shade.

Looking in the mirror again, she nodded in satisfaction. "This is better!" She double-checked, pleased that the new color matched her style. With that, she walked back to Derek.

Along the way, she noticed the same children from the corner of her eye. Her brows knitted as a man approached them.

"Isn’t that...?" She trailed off, recalling the handsome employee she had bumped into at Summit Partners. She watched the children hold Atlas’s hand as they walked together.

Did he already have children?

Curious, Melissa followed them. This was a private area for more important guests. Even Derek couldn’t get a private dining room, yet the man and the children were inside.

"Mommy, we’re back~!" Chacha exclaimed as they entered the private dining room, followed by Second. Lastly, Atlas walked behind them.

Melissa craned her neck to glimpse inside. Much to her dismay, she recognized the person inside.

"Mrs. Bennet?" she whispered, about to look closer, but the private dining room door had already shut. "That’s Mrs. Bennet—does that mean those are her children?"

Melissa paused, thinking of Atlas. "Then... that man from before... was Mr. Bennet?"

Shock, dismay, and disbelief swelled in her chest all at once. Melissa just couldn’t believe this discovery. Initially, she had thought the man she bumped into at Summit Partners that day was just an employee.

She dragged herself back to their table, still utterly confused by this accidental revelation. When she sat down, Derek paused and looked at her.

"Huh?" he furrowed his brows. "What’s wrong, Melissa? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Melissa blinked, shaking herself out of her trance. "Derek, what does it mean when an important person visits another company?"

"Huh?" Derek tilted his head. "Why are you asking?"

"Just answer it."

"Melissa, you already know the answer," he frowned. "If another person is seen at another company, it’s most likely business."

"Business, huh?" She rocked her head, looking away. "Does that mean the Bennets and Summit Partners are entering a deal?"

"What did you say?"

Melissa looked back at him and smiled. "Nothing, Derek," she shrugged. "I just... nothing."

"Okay! Eat your dessert now."

Having said that, Derek resumed eating, while Melissa pursed her lips. She glanced toward the private dining area and smirked.

The Summit Partners and the Bennets, huh? she thought. I wonder what type of business they’re discussing. Whatever it is, I should start looking into it to know where to invest.

I should tell Celestine about this. She’ll know what to do with this intel.