Chapter 124
Chapter 124:
“John Bowen,” John said smoothly, flashing a polished smile as he extended his hand. “Pleasure to meet you p>
Yelena responded with a composed nod, her voice even. “Nice to meet you too.” Her expression remained unreadable, a quiet reserve cloaking her presence.
For a moment, John faltered, the easy rhythm of his charm interrupted. So this was Austin’s type—reserved, enigmatic, and completely unbothered by the atmosphere around her. It was no wonder he ignored all those other introductions. Unlike the overly enthusiastic women Austin had brushed off in the past, this one seemed untouchable, almost indifferent. At least this would shut down those ridiculous jokes about him and Austin being a couple. About time.
John pulled out a chair with the confidence of someone who belonged everywhere and nowhere all at once. He dropped into it with a grin, not bothering to wait for an invitation. “Hope you don’t mind me joining p>
Austin’s sharp glare spoke volumes. Wasn’t it a little too late to be asking permission?
Yelena, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind. She shook her head lightly. “No, not at all p>
Undeterred, John leaned in slightly, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Miss Roberts, Austin can be a bit… particular, but he’s a decent guy once you get past all that p>
Yelena could already tell John had completely misunderstood her relationship with Austin the moment he spoke.
“Just call me Yelena,” she said.
Austin shot John a sharp glare, his voice icy. “If you don’t know what to say, just shut up p>
gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․com is where magic happens
The more John spoke, the deeper he seemed to dig himself into trouble.
John raised his hands in mock surrender, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Alright, alright, I’ll keep quiet. I’m just looking out for you. You’ve been on your own for so long, and now that you’ve finally found someone, I thought I’d lend a hand p>
Before Austin could respond, Yelena interjected. “Mr. Bowen, you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Barton and I are just friends, sharing a meal. Meeting you today is purely coincidental. That said…” She studied John’s face with a discerning gaze. “I couldn’t help but notice something dark around you. My sixth sense tells me that you might encounter some bloody misfortune today. To offset it, I suggest eating raw chili or garlic p>
John blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what? Are you saying you can… tell fortunes or something p>
“Just a little,” Yelena replied modestly, her face as serene as ever.
John stared at her for a moment before breaking into laughter. “Yelena, you’ve got quite a sense of humor! I’ve never met anyone like you before. But listen, I’m a man of science, you see. I don’t believe in all that superst p>
Before he could finish his sentence, the unexpected happened.
His chair tilted precariously, and he instinctively grabbed at the table for support. His hand caught a glass instead, which then slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor with a loud crash.
The entire scene unfolded in an instant, leaving John standing, stunned and wide-eyed. He glanced down at the broken glass and then back at Yelena, his disbelief palpable. “No way. It can’t be?” His voice wavered. “Yelena… you weren’t joking around p>