“I wonder what the two men are talking about. They look like they’re having a great time,” Xavier wondered aloud.

The adoring look on Stephen’s face melted away after hearing Xavier’s words. He handed his golf club to the caddy and started walking toward Tessa, Hayden, and Barry.

“Hmm? Why are you going over there?” Xavier asked as he followed along.

Stephen’s expression was cool, matching the tone of his voice as he replied, “I’m going to talk business.”

“Talk business?” Xavier asked, bewildered. “With whom?”

He immediately understood what was going on after his eyes strayed toward the group of three who were talking amongst themselves happily. Stephen undoubtedly had grown jealous. He disliked how the two men were orbiting around Tessa, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and give the two men something else to do.

Xavier laughed quietly. There was no way that Stephen would just let them be. He had held himself back for so long, but even he had his limits.

Stephen planted himself in front of Tessa. Under the bright rays of sunlight, his tall figure cast a long shadow on her. Tessa looked up at Stephen. He was wearing a dark grey set of athletic wear, suiting his preference for simple styles.

“Why is he here again?” Tessa wondered in her heart.

Hayden thought it was peculiar as well. Stephen was notoriously difficult to meet normally, and even if Hayden managed to bump into him, he wasn’t very receptive to engaging in conversation. For him to approach them not once, but twice in a single day, Hayden wondered if there was something wrong with Stephen.

Stephen had his hands stuffed into his pockets. He looked rather carefree and his voice took on a casual tone when he asked, “Mr. Lowain, if I’m recalling correctly, didn’t you want to partner with Stardawn?”

Stardawn Hotels was a hotel chain

that belonged to Jacobson

Corporation. Hayden nodded enthusiastically after hearing Stephen bring up the partnership of his own volition. “That’s correct, Mr. Jacobson. We’ve wanted to work with Stardawn for a long time. I mentioned it to you during the banquet, but you were busy then and said we could talk about it another time.

“Since we’re free today, it’s a great opportunity to discuss it further. There’s no time like the present after all.”

Lifting his wrist, Hayden glanced at his watch and said cheerfully, “It’s almost time for dinner anyway. How about I make a reservation at the restaurant, and we can discuss it over our meal.”

Stephen’s gaze flickered toward Tessa before he shifted his eyes away. “Fine,” he answered coolly.

Hayden was over the moon with joy.

“Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Lowain, the two of you can discuss with each other. Tessa and I will take our leave first, then, Barry mentioned

understandingly. “Mr. Lowain ne

can discuss the terms of the

we

contract the next time we meet.”

Tessa had been silently staring at Stephen’s shadow on the ground, her thoughts

a mystery. She only snapped back to reality after hearing that they were leaving.

She regained her composure and prepared to leave with Barry.

“I’ll look for you tomorrow afternoon regarding the contract, Barry. Since I lost to

Ms. Yates earlier, I will uphold my end of the deal. I’m a man of my word, after all.”

Hayden had said all these aloud for Stephen’s sake. He wanted to

partner with Jacobson Corporation’s

Stardawn Hotels, so he was

Stephen to have a good impression

of his character. But Stephen couldn’t care less about what

Hayden was saying. The only thing

he cared about was Tessa’s

imminent departure.

Stephen made sure to sound as disinterested as possible when he said, “Since

you’re already here, why don’t the two of you join us for dinner?”