Infuriated by Michael’s attitude a while ago, I decided to dampen his pride. Hence, I put on an attractive smile and locked gazes with Yuval as I thanked him coyly.
Even though Michael remained silent, I could sense that his icy-cold aura had gradually intensified.
“Ah! It looks like most of the seats here are occupied. Since I’m by myself, it’s easier for me to sit together with both of you. You don’t mind, do you?” Michael said casually and took the seat next to me.
The moment he sat down next to me, I was engulfed by a tense atmosphere. I really disliked him sitting close to me. Besides, the whole situation was already awkward enough.
The slight change in Yuval’s expression was unmistakable. He frowned again the moment Michael sat closely next to me, but he remained silent. I could not help but pity him in a way. Nobody would be able to smile if their dates were interrupted by another man. Michael Shaw has really crossed the line this time!
Suppressing my frustration, I ignored Michael deliberately and avoided sparing any glance at him. My instinct told me that he would not let me off if I dared to mock him in his face again. Thus, I tried to finish my meal as soon as possible, so I would be able to slip away with Yuval at once.
“Anna, have you received my bouquet of flowers? Do you like it?” Yuval looked up at me abruptly and asked gently.
In a split second, I stiffened and almost choked on the steak in my mouth. Crap! How should I tell him that this monster sitting right next to me had ordered me to throw them away?
After taking a sip of water and swallowing the steak in my mouth, I forced a smile and replied, “Yeah, I received it this morning.”
“Why didn’t you bring it along with you just now? Did you leave it at your place in the office?” I was dumbfounded when he asked again. Should I tell him the truth? How will he react if I tell him that I was forced to throw the bouquet of roses away?
“It’s in the dumpster now! She threw it away.” Michael answered coldly before I could make up my mind.
My heart thumped wildly in my chest, and I saw that the smile on Yuval’s face froze.
“Yuval, let me explain! I-I did not throw it away on purpose… I was forced to do so to comply with the restrictions of our company. We are not supposed to receive any deliveries of personal items during working hours. Thus, I had no choice but to throw it away…” I explained incoherently.
Even if I knew that my explanation might not sound conceivable, it was the best excuse that I could think of at the moment. After all, I was still being frank partially as Michael actually instructed me to throw it away so as not to affect my work in the office.
Yuval squinted his eyes and looked at me doubtfully. At that moment, I could sense that he did not believe my words. He’s a lawyer, after all, so I’m not surprised.
“Yuval, I was telling the truth. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to throw the flowers away…” I looked at him apologetically and kept mumbling. At the same time, I rebutted Michael repeatedly inwardly. He was obviously putting on a show to drive a wedge between Yuval and me. Since both of us were not too invested in this relationship yet, Michael could effortlessly cause our relationship to come to an end.
Michael smirked with a sense of schadenfreude in his eyes. Knowing that he was stirring trouble purposively, I almost burst a blood vessel and lashed out at him. Ugh! This man is really stepping on my toes!
Yuval glanced obliquely at Michael and looked at me suspiciously again. I only had myself to blame for this. If I were him, I would surely feel the same.
“It’s alright. I understand about it and won’t deliver flowers to your office anymore. I’ll just give it to you in person so you won’t get in trouble.” I heaved a silent sigh and was thankful that Yuval was so understanding.
At the same time, I was overcome by a sense of guilt. Michael’s countenance and body language were obvious indeed. Even a dull-witted person could sense that I seemed to have an unusual relationship with Michael, what’s more, an observant lawyer like Yuval.
The smile vanished from Michael’s face within seconds as his face turned grim again. I bet he must be feeling dejected as his words did not manage to provoke Yuval as expected.
Feeling suffocated by the tense atmosphere, I had completely lost my appetite. I hurriedly finished my meal and left the restaurant hastily with Yuval.
I was relieved as Michael did not stop me from leaving. Nevertheless, I kept wondering if he would look for me later that night. Based on how I had challenged the vindictive man’s pride a while ago, I was worried that he would come and settle the debt with me later.
When both Yuval and I stepped out of the restaurant, darkness had fallen. In Yuval’s car, I stared off into the distance out of the window, my mind preoccupied with my thoughts.
“Anna, I heard that you moved out of Natalie’s place two days ago. Do you mind if I ask why?” Yuval broke the silence by asking warily.
Upon hearing Natalie’s name, I lowered my head sorrowfully. Recalling the reason I moved out from her place out of a sudden, a surge of mixed emotions welled up within me again.
“Just a minor conflict, nothing serious,” I replied placidly and did not intend to tell him the exact reason.
I was actually trying to be protective of Natalie by keeping mum about John. She would certainly be hurt if others knew about it and started gossiping. Even if Yuval was introduced to me by Natalie, he was just a friend of hers. Besides, they were not considered that close.
“Natalie is a forthright young lady. No doubt she really treats you as her close friend and is really concerned about you.” Yuval glanced at me and commented. I was not sure if there were any hidden meanings behind his words. Even so, something crossed my mind upon hearing them.
Ever since I moved out from Natalie’s place, we had stopped contacting each other. Should I give her a call?
We had been close friends for so many years, and it was not worth having our friendship strained just because of a jerk.
“Yuval, thanks for your reminder. Now I know what I’m supposed to do. Natalie is very important to me, and I really cherish my friendship with her.” I turned and smiled at him.
“Where are you staying now? Let me give you a lift. It’s getting late, and you need to wake up early for work tomorrow.” The moment Yuval offered to send me home, I froze. If I was still staying at Natalie’s place, there would not be any issues but I wasn’t. No way! I can’t let him find out that I’m staying at Michael’s place at the moment!
“Hmm… it’s alright. You can just drop me off here. I can walk back home myself since it’s just a stone’s throw away. I wouldn’t want to cause any inconvenience since it’s not on your way.” I tried to turn him down by giving an excuse.
“Do you really think that I’ll do that? It’s late, and you are all by yourself. I don’t mind driving a bit further. It’s safer that way. And don’t worry, as we’ll be reaching soon,” Yuval protested and looked at me in bewilderment.
As a typical gentleman, I was not surprised that he insisted on sending me home. When I used to stay at Natalie’s place, he never failed to send me to the doorstep every time after our date.
