Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

Joanna smiled but said nothing more.

The sky was dim and the rain was still coming down hard. The view ahead was slightly blurry. To be safe, the car moved slowly. A drive that should have taken ten minutes stretched into half an hour.

Half an hour later, the car slowly came to a stop. Joanna subconsciously looked up. A lavish yet understated, gilded sign displayed the two words, ”Imperial Gardens.”

Imperial Gardens was a restaurant on par with The White Hall. Its main draws were comfort and privacy, and its prices were just as formidable. Money alone wasn’t enough to get you in.

Joanna was a little surprised. This Director Lawson was more capable than she had imagined. ’Then again,’ she thought, ’as the head of mimniu, her abilities and connections are naturally beyond question.’

An attendant holding an umbrella was waiting by the car. Leila Lawson suddenly took a call. After hanging up, she said apologetically, ”Joanna, I’m so sorry. Something urgent just came up. Why don’t you go in first? I have to take care of something.”

Seeing her expression, Joanna immediately said, ”It’s fine, business comes first. If you have something to do, you should go. We can always reschedule.”

Joanna had been hesitant about this dinner from the start. This Director Lawson was overly enthusiastic, and the way she sometimes looked at her always made Joanna feel a bit uncomfortable.

At Joanna’s words, Leila Lawson’s smile stiffened almost imperceptibly before quickly returning to normal. ”Since you’re already here, how could I let you go back on an empty stomach? Besides, I’ve already booked the table and paid in advance. The dishes should be ready by now, and they won’t give a refund if we don’t eat.”

Meeting Joanna’s uncertain gaze, she said, ”Joanna, just go ahead and eat first. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”

”No, really, I...”

”I can’t give you a ride, and with your status, it’s not convenient for you to hail a cab. It’ll take time for your assistant to come get you, so you might as well eat first.” Leila Lawson cut her off, her tone sincere. ”Joanna, please don’t be so formal with me, okay?”

As Leila Lawson spoke, she deliberately leaned a little closer. Joanna met her gentle, watery gaze and froze for a few seconds, subconsciously retreating until her back was against the car seat.

That familiar sense of unease returned.

’I don’t know if it’s just my imagination,’ Joanna thought, ’but I can’t shake the feeling that this Director Lawson is a bit strange.’

At this point, refusing again would make her seem too aloof and tactless. Joanna sighed inwardly and had no choice but to agree. ”Then next time, it’s my treat, Director Lawson.”

Looking into the young woman’s sincere, bright eyes, an unreadable emotion flickered in the depths of Leila Lawson’s own, but her face remained wreathed in smiles. ”Of course.”

After getting out of the car, she immediately sent a message to Julie. Julie was stuck in traffic and said she didn’t know when she would arrive.

Joanna sighed. What a coincidence. It seemed she had no choice but to eat. She sent the address to Julie and added a thoughtful reminder for her to drive slowly and not to rush, then put her phone back in her coat pocket.

Led by the attendant, Joanna entered Imperial Gardens. Once she was out of sight, Leila Lawson sent a message to her boss before starting the car and driving away.

”Miss Kennedy, please follow me.” The waiter explained as he led the way, ”Miss Lawson booked a private room on the third floor. The rooms on the third floor aren’t usually booked by many guests, so they offer better privacy than the first and second floors.”

After his introduction, the waiter stopped in front of a door, turned to the side, and gently opened it. ”We’ve arrived at your private room. After you, Miss Kennedy.”

Joanna nodded politely. ”Thank you.”

”You’re welcome.”

The private room was large and had a winding layout. Just inside was a floor-to-ceiling window. The night view would probably be lovely on a normal day, but unfortunately, it was raining.

Past a liquid crystal glass flower stand, a rectangular dining table came into view. Food was already laid out—a meal for two. In the center, a bouquet of blue enchantress roses shimmered brilliantly.

Beside it was a white piano. A man in a light gray casual suit sat sideways at the piano, his long index finger resting on the keys. As a gentle, melodious piano piece began to play, Joanna froze.

The man was sitting in shadow, still turned to the side. Joanna couldn’t see his face clearly, but his figure felt very familiar, and he had an excellent air about him.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Joanna couldn’t help but marvel. ’As expected of a top-tier restaurant. They even provide live musical accompaniment for each private room. They’ve really maxed out the experience.’

Unfortunately, she didn’t have a musical bone in her body. Just as she was about to say he could stop playing, the music ceased. There was a faint sound of a chair scraping against the floor.

In her line of sight, the man stood up and slightly raised his face. The dim, warm light illuminated his features.

”Miss Kennedy. It’s been a while.” The man’s voice held the faintest hint of a smile.

Under the light, the lines of the man’s face seemed to soften. His dark, tranquil eyes, viewed from a distance, were like a boundless ocean.

Joanna was stunned. She was dazed for a moment before her mind cleared. Not quite understanding the situation, she frowned. ”President Valentine? What are you doing here?”

Leila Lawson had invited her to dinner, but upon arrival, she suddenly claimed something came up and told Joanna to go in by herself, only for her to find Liam Valentine.

Joanna quickly pieced things together, her expression turning cold. ”You know Director Lawson.”

It wasn’t a question.

”Miss Kennedy, there’s no need to treat me like some kind of monster...” Liam Valentine didn’t answer her statement, sighing almost inaudibly. ”I absolutely mean you no harm.”

”No harm? Then why did you need to use someone else to lure me here?” Joanna’s tone was laced with sarcasm. ”President Valentine, that hardly fits your image as a gentleman.”

”Oh? So in your eyes, I was a gentleman of integrity, Miss Kennedy?”

The man’s tone was one of genuine surprise. Joanna’s frown deepened. ”Not anymore.”

”What a pity...” Liam Valentine let out a well-timed sigh.

The man’s smoothly agreeable attitude made it impossible for Joanna to stay angry. Aside from her initial fury at being deceived, she had already calmed down. Her tone was cool and direct. ”President Valentine, you’ve gone to a lot of trouble. I wonder what it is you’re trying to do?”

”Don’t say you’re trying to pursue me. I already have a boyfriend.” After saying this, a thought occurred to Joanna. She raised an eyebrow, her tone taking on a malicious edge. ”Unless, of course, President Valentine enjoys being the other man.”

Despite the rather insulting taunt, Liam Valentine didn’t get angry. His expression didn’t even change, and his smile remained. ”Miss Kennedy, you haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you sit down? We can talk while we eat.”

As he spoke, he elegantly pulled out a chair, gesturing for her to sit. It was a very gentlemanly gesture.

His completely composed demeanor irked Joanna. She desperately wanted to turn around and leave, but then she remembered what happened in Marinus. Liam Valentine had genuinely helped her.

If she just walked out, it would be a bit rude. Besides, Joanna was also very curious about what Liam Valentine actually wanted to say.

The man remained in his posture, holding the chair out for her, a faint smile on his face.

Joanna glanced over, then walked past him without hesitation to the other side of the table, pulling out her own chair and sitting down. ”We all have hands. I won’t trouble you, President Valentine.”

The young woman walked past him, pulled out a chair, and sat down, all in one smooth motion.

Liam Valentine paused for a second, then, realizing what had happened, let out a soft chuckle. ”Alright.”