"It seems you had a prior engagement?" The old man asked and she looked at him, remembering there was someone with her.
"I did. But he's the one who came late." Valerie said and sat back down. She sighed. "Excuse me for my misconduct."
"It's alright. But you already ate with me though, will that be okay? You might not be able to eat with them." The old man said, concerned but she shook her head, waving it aside.
"Don't worry. Like I said, you're not the only one with a big appetite. Besides," she glanced at her phone sadly. "I'd rather stuff my stomach here than with him." She muttered.
"Young lady, despite meeting me for the first time, I felt you were rather excited." The old man said and even Valerie had noticed it.
It was not like her at all. And the reason was...
"Well, to tell you the truth, you're the most normal person I've met in a while and... I wanted to be around someone normal to regain my sanity." She stirred her orange juice. "It may sound crazy but I don't know what it's like to have a normal meal with someone. It's either they're out to get my throat, scheming with me in their mind or have ulterior motives. That's just how my life is."
"I see." He nodded his head, understandably. "Me too. It's the first time in a while that I got to enjoy a meal while feeling normal." He said and waved at her. "You can go to your appointment now. I'll be okay from here."
Valerie raised her hand, calling the waiter forth and paying the bills.
"It's almost like I used you to pass my time, old man. I hope you don't mind." She said but he laughed it off and said,
"I used you to stuff my belly so this much is nothing." He said, causing her to feel glad.
"It was nice meeting you, old man." She said to him, smiling genuinely and he nodded, smiling back.
"Likewise."
She put on her shades and got up. She nodded at him and left, heading for the top stairs.
As she left, the old man noticed her immediate expression change. It looked like she was emotionless, whereas she had the most warm heart. Then, she put her nosemask on.
"So, she's the rumored mad heiress. The villainess of the century." He muttered.
This old man wouldn't have known it was her if not for her eyes. Everyone believed the rumors because no one knew the truth but who would've believed that same mad heiress would help a completely stranger just because he said he forgot his wallet?
He was suspicious of her real motives, if she really knew his identity but was hiding the fact. Well, he could never come to that conclusion as he felt everything she did was genuine and her smile was from the heart.
What he could call fake was the expression she had on when she answered the phone. It made him wonder who she had an appointment with. Yet, he refused to pry into the young lady's life.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a suit, looking exhausted and sweaty from searching everywhere for a specific person, entered the restaurant, only to find this old man seated comfortably with a half-eaten feast in front of him.
"Chairman, have you been here the whole time?" He asked, approaching with shortness of breath. "I've been looking for you this whole time and thought you had been kidnapped. Please, don't scare me like that."
"Oscar, you worry too much." The old man said. "Why didn't you come in when you didn't see me at the entrance?"
"Because you don't have any money on you." Oscar, this old man's assistant said. And the old man shook his head.
"Oscar, do you believe a stranger would suddenly buy me a feast simply because I said I forgot my wallet?" He asked but Oscar didn't believe it.
"That person definitely had ulterior motives." He said and the old man laughed.
"Right? That's what I thought but when we ate and talked, they didn't look like they had anything in mind. Rather, they were rather lonely."
"Chairman, how could you eat food a stranger bought for you?" Oscar exclaimed in fright. "What if it had been drugged or poisoned before your 'planned' meeting? We need to get you to the hospital to get a check-up right away."
Oscar was honestly being dramatic but given the old man's position and his history of eating poisoned food, Oscar had cause to worry. After all, who wouldn't want to get close to the Chairman of Stewart Corp?
"Alright, we'll go to the hospital to ease your worried heart. Honestly, aren't you getting too old for this?"
He glanced at the stairs and closed his eyes with a little smile.
'I hope we meet again, young lady. That is if fate allows it.'
Valerie made her way to the top floor where Maximus was waiting. As soon as she got in, Max said,
"Why does it seem like I need to buy a ticket just to see my wife's face?" He asked and she took off her nose mask, as well as her cap, and then the shades, exposing her face.
But then she frowned, seeing him with a glass of wine and sipping leisurely.
"Drinking wine when it's bright outside. It would seem my dear husband isn't as busy as one would assume." She said, dropped her things on the table, and sat down.
"What could I have done while I 'waited' patiently for you?" It would seem he held a grudge for making him wait but she didn't feel guilty at all.
She practically had someone to keep her company and talk about things like normal people do. No revenge plot, no scheming words coated in compliments, and no poison either. It was just normal. She never knew it could be so heart relieving.
If she could, she'd do that again sometime. Maybe she should start a charity plan. But then, her villainess persona would crack.
Sigh, it was hard being the bad guy.
Max noticed her mind was elsewhere and frowned. Even in front of him, it seemed like she couldn't even give him a bit of attention. It was infuriating.
"Valerie," he called and Valerie looked up. He put down his glass and tapped his thigh. She understood what he meant but did he really want her to sit on his thigh now? There was someone else in the room.
She glanced at Jeremy who was trying hard to conceal his presence by acting like he wasn't seeing anything.
Well, she guessed Max would do even more shameless things in the future in front of so many people so it was better to get used to it now.
She got up from where she was sitting and went to sit on his leg.
"You look different today." He suddenly said while she balanced herself on his leg and placed one hand on his shoulder while she used the other to swipe her fallen locks behind her ear.
"You've probably never seen me wear pants before." She said to him but he shook his head.
"It's not that." He said and observed her face carefully.
"Then is it because I don't have any makeup on?"
"You never wore makeup when we were in school so it's not that." He said, and Valerie blinked, surprised. She didn't think he'd bring up their school days for anything. "Hm, there's this glow in your face." He said and squinted his eyes. "Valerie, who did you meet before coming to me?"