Chapter 510
Chapter 510:
Yelena glanced at Austin. He had initially been sitting across from her, but now he had moved to sit right beside her. Though she didn’t explicitly mind the proximity, it felt somewhat unusual to be sitting so close.
She reassured herself that this was just typical social closeness, and perhaps she was reading too much into it.
Thankfully, the arrival of their food interrupted her thoughts. A waiter came in with their dishes, setting them down efficiently before exiting quietly and closing the door behind him.
Both Yelena and Austin started to eat without speaking, the only sounds being the clinking of their forks against the plates. Any initial awkwardness dissipated as Yelena began to relish the meal. She thoroughly enjoyed the cuisine here. Each dish was a testament to culinary perfection, from presentation to flavor and texture.
Caught up in the taste, Yelena let down her guard, picking up a duck leg and placing it directly on her plate. Finding the forks cumbersome, she opted instead to use her hands, savoring the duck leg with candid delight.
Suddenly, she became aware of Austin’s intense gaze. She paused, suddenly self-conscious about her informal dining style. With stiff movements, she looked at Austin and chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry p>
Austin simply shook his head, smiling. He didn’t find Yelena’s table manners rude—quite the opposite. He appreciated her authenticity; she was unafraid to show her true self, which he found refreshing.
Their moment was briefly interrupted by a knock at the door. A familiar voice from outside called, “Austin p>
When Austin heard the voice, his expression subtly changed, and he instinctively looked at Yelena, as if preparing to explain something to her.
The door to the private room then swung open, and Monica entered with a cheerful smile. “I came here with some friends. The waiter mentioned you were here, so I thought I’d stop by and say hi p>
Her gaze drifted around the room and landed on Yelena sitting close to Austin. Mid-sentence, her smile faltered and slowly faded.
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Rodney, arriving just in time to catch the changing dynamics, chuckled awkwardly and seemed ready to retreat from the tense atmosphere.
“Sir,” a waiter approached Rodney hastily.
In a low tone, Rodney reprimanded, “Why did you tell her? Didn’t you see Austin was on a date p>
Now Monica had intruded, complicating the situation further. Standing near the door, Monica caught every word of Rodney’s conversation with the waiter. Her expression darkened.
“Date? Was Austin truly interested in Yelena?” she thought. “No way! She couldn’t just stand by and watch the man she admired get involved with someone else p>
“Rodney,” Austin called out sharply, his annoyance clear. “What are you waiting for? Close the door p>
Rodney, left with no other option, forced a smile as he addressed Monica. “Monica, Austin is currently occupied. Perhaps we should p>
Monica’s eyes filled with disbelief as she looked at Rodney. “Rodney, we’re friends. Why are you asking me to leave?” Tears brimmed in her eyes, ready to spill.
Rodney felt a pang of discomfort. He knew Monica harbored feelings for Austin, but her affection was unreciprocated and seemed increasingly unrealistic.
“It’s precisely because we’re friends that I’m asking you to leave,” Rodney said firmly, adopting a more assertive tone. He took Monica by the hand, gently leading her out of the private room, and then gestured to the waiter to close the door behind them. Only when the door clicked shut did Rodney let out a sigh of relief. “Your involvement with Austin is over. Actually, it never even began. You know the consequences if Austin becomes upset. I can’t afford to be caught in the aftermath. This is my restaurant. If you want to make a scene here, take it elsewhere p>
Rodney knew well of Monica’s fiery temper, which belied her sweet and gentle exterior. Her reaction, if provoked, could cause trouble. He attempted to reason with her once more. “You wouldn’t want Austin to see you this way, right p>