Chapter 109

[Mr. Dorsey, can we do this later?] Brielle sent the message just as she stepped into the restaurant.

Kenzo was sitting in a corner, his pale fingertips resting lightly on the glass tabletop, almost dazzling in their whiteness.

Brielle had always known that Kenzo was a man of great poise. Back at Beaconsfield College, there was a daily queue of admirers eager to confess their feelings to him, but Kenzo always gently turned them down.

He was different from Max. Max seemed unapproachable, so distant that closeness felt like a luxury.

Kenzo, on the other hand, felt close, so close you thought you could reach out and touch him. Yet, he was like warm water flowing through your fingers, moving on without pause, leaving only the memory of heat on your skin.

“Sorry for the sudden invite, Kenzo. Did I mess up your plans?” she asked as she approached.

Kenzo looked up, smiling warmly, “Being invited by you is an honor.”

He stood up to pull out a chair for her, then gentlemanly handed her the menu. “Choose whatever you like.”

Brielle pushed the menu back to him, “Kenzo, you order. I’m not picky.”

Kenzo didn’t insist. He ordered unagi eel glazed in a rich sauce and a foie gras sushi roll.

“Kenzo, are you planning to write another script this year?”

As the most talented playwright around, Kenzo’s previous scripts had launched many a star’s career.

Some were catapulted straight to A–list status, thanks in no small part to Kenzo’s writing. His standing in the entertainment world was no less than Max’s in the business sector.

“I’m still pondering. I want to craft a mystery this time, so I went abroad for inspiration.”

After ordering, he leaned back, hands clasped in front of him, the picture of ease. “You probably don’t have time for TV, right? You’ve been busy since school days.”

Brielle ordered a steak for herself, “I’ve seen your drama series from last year. It was a hit.”

“Brielle, you haven’t changed a bit.”

They had crossed paths at Beaconsfield College when Brielle was graduating and Kenzo had returned to teach for a month.

Brielle spent long hours in the library, often nearly getting locked in. It was during one of those late nights that Kenzo appeared, umbrella in hand, walking through the gentle rain.

“Mr. Kenzo,” she had greeted him, as Kenzo looked up, key to the library in hand.

It was past eleven, way beyond closing time, but with the downpour, she had no choice but to wait for the rain to ease.

Kenzo unlocked the library door, “Come in and take shelter from the rain. I need to do some research, might be here all night.”

That suited Brielle just fine.

She graduated with honors, her thesis showcased on the university website. Kenzo knew her as diligent, earnest, and clear–headed. And she was much the same now.

Brielle ordered a juice, “I have changed, actually. It’s you who’s the same.”

Kenzo chuckled, “Any other plans today? Want to visit the set after we’re done here?”

Curiosity about the filmmaking process tempted her to accept, but then she remembered the text from Max. Right on cue, her phone pinged with a new message. She ignored it, feeling it impolite to check her phone at that moment.

“I’d like to, but Mr. Dorsey unexpectedly asked me to prepare some documents. I have to go back and work overtime.”

“On a weekend? Max is really squeezing his employees, huh?”

As he spoke, her phone rang again.

“Sorry, I’ve got to take this call.”

She excused herself, seeing the caller ID flash “Sugar Daddy” – a name she’d whimsically assigned in a moment of madness. Now, with Kenzo’s eyes on her, she felt a wave of embarrassment as she answered.

“Mr. Dorsey.”

She could feel her cheeks burning despite her best efforts to remain composed.

Kenzo averted his gaze politely as the door to the restaurant swung open, and Sophia walked in with a few other socialites.

Sophia spotted Brielle on the phone immediately, her mood soured at the sight. Her eyes then caught the man sitting across from Brielle, obscured by potted plants, his white suit just visible.

She circled around discreetly until she could see his face, then froze.

Kenzo?

For a moment she thought she was mistaken. How could Kenzo and Brielle be dining together?

She snapped a photo and sent it to her group chat. [Brielle and Kenzo having dinner? Can someone tell me what’s going on?]

After a brief silence, Lillian replied.

[The Barnes family son, Kenzo?]

[That’s him. But what’s he doing with Brielle?]

Sophia bit her lip, recalling the man she’d seen hiding in Brielle’s bedroom. Could it be him?