Chasing the Unexpected

The weekend flew by, and soon it was Monday.

Nyla returned to the R&D department to continue her experiments.

Lucia also came back to work, but she was much more low–key than before, pretending not to see Nyla and completely lacking her previous arrogance. Whether she had truly learned her lesson or was just biding her time to scheme again was unclear.

The day passed quickly. Nyla received a call from Valarie just before the end of the workday, inviting her out to dinner. Since she had no other plans, she agreed.

When Nyla arrived at the restaurant, she noticed a young man, around 20 years old, sitting next to Valarie. He was full of youthful exuberance, and Nyla couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

As soon as she sat down, Valarie eagerly introduced him, “Nyla, this is my new boyfriend. What do you think?

The young man blushed and looked down shyly when Nyla’s gaze fell on him, his ears turning red.

“Where did you find such an innocent–looking guy? He’s not still in college, is he?” Nyla asked.

“You guessed it,” Valarie replied.

Nyla was speechless. She had assumed Valarie had just been joking about finding a college boy, but she acted so fast.

Giving Valarie a thumbs–up, Nyla picked up the menu. “Let’s order. I’m starving.”

Once they had ordered, Nyla chatted with Valarie while the young man beside Valarie meticulously fed her snacks.

Nyla began to wonder if he was under some sort of threat from Valarie to agree to be her boyfriend. Before long, the dishes arrived, and just as Nyla was about to dig in, a cold male voice echoed. “Valarie, who is that man beside you?!”

All heads turned simultaneously.

Not far away, Tom stood with a stormy expression, glaring at Valarie.

If not for Jacqueline standing beside him, he would have looked exactly like a man who had just discovered his girlfriend was cheating on him.

Valarie’s eyes remained indifferent, but she smirked. “Mr. Genge, this doesn’t seem to concern you, does

it?

Tom’s gaze grew colder, and he started toward her, but Jacqueline quickly grabbed his arm. “Tom, tonight’s dinner is important. Whatever misunderstanding you have with Ms. Weir, deal with it after the dinner.”

Tom lowered his eyes, suppressing his anger, and turned to walk toward another room.

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Jacqueline hurried after him.

The group couldn’t hear what Jacqueline said, but they saw Tom leave immediately after hearing her

words.

Nyla turned back to see Valarie’s calm face, seemingly unbothered. She swallowed the comforting words she was about to say.

Dinner continued in a somewhat heavy silence.

After they finished eating. Valarie sent the young man to get the car.

Standing at the restaurant entrance, Nyla couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Are you serious about this guy?Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Valarie laughed. “I was joking. He’s just my neighbor’s kid, who grew up following me around. I was going to explain it to you, but then I forgot.”

Once the young man brought the car around, Valarie waved goodbye to Nyla and left.

Nyla was about to get her car when someone called her name from behind.

She turned to see Spencer and Damon walking toward her.

Damon seemed to have been drinking–his face was a bit flushed, and the top two buttons of his white shirt were undone, revealing a well–defined collarbone

His suit jacket hung casually over his arm, and his innate elegance made it hard not to stare at him. Seeing him, Nyla suddenly remembered the nonsensical things Clark had said to her a few days ago. Damon had ulterior motives toward her?

With his status and looks, he could have any number of women at his beck and call. Why would he have designs on her?

Thinking that, Nyla couldn’t help but laugh.

Under the streetlight, Damon was momenta