BookToReadChapter 271
Oak Lake felt too small for comfort. Allison never imagined she'd bump into Joshua here of all places. As she
stood there, stunned, Watson chimed in from behind, "Mr. Fisher, what a surprise running into you here for
dinner."
Joshua's voice was cool and collected, his exterior calm. "Yes."
Allison found herself at a loss for words, so she opted for silence, brushing past Joshua and heading straight into
the restaurant.
A waiter approached with a welcoming smile. "Hi there, how many in your party? Do you have a reservation?"
Allison kept her cool. "Two, and yes, it's under the last four digits 0725."
"Right this way, please."
As Allison followed the waiter, Watson flashed a smile at Joshua. "Mr. Fisher, if you'll excuse me."
Joshua stood there, frozen, his eyes cast downward. It was Valentine's Day, after all. Why was Allie dining alone
with Watson on such a day? Was it... a date?
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A pang of jealousy tightened his chest, leaving him rooted to the spot like a statue, his legs numb.
With Joshua saying nothing, Watson's gaze lingered before moving on. The dim lighting in the restaurant set a
romantic tone, but it couldn't hide the loneliness etched on Joshua's face.
A barely-there smile crept onto Watson's lips. He knew Joshua had jumped to conclusions. On a day like this,
seeing a man and a woman dining together could easily be mistaken for romance. Watson had no plans to set
the record straight.
He strolled past Joshua with a steady stride, catching up to Allison.
Inside the private dining room, Allison sat in a chair, her mind elsewhere. She didn't stir even as Watson entered.
"Ms. Allison," Watson said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
Allison snapped back to reality, a bit unfocused. "The menu's over there. You go ahead and order."
Watson offered a warm smile. "Sure thing."
He avoided unnecessary questions
or
Allison
anyone unwelcome.
regained her
composure, pushing their recent encounter to the back of her mind.
As they waited for their meal, the conversation shifted to their business partnership.
Watson said, "I have a buddy who's been practicing criminal defense for three years, just like me. If you're open
to it, I'd love to bring him on board."
Allison's eyes brightened. "Absolutely, let's arrange a meeting and go over the details."
Watson nodded. "Sounds good."
"He was my college mate, so rest assured about his skills."
Allison chuckled, "Of course, anyone you vouch for must be top-notch."
Though it was polite chatter, Allison remained vigilant. Partnering meant sharing both risks and rewards, and she
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmneeded to be sure aboutcher partners' credentials and skills.
Watson's eyes were gentle. "I'm planning to invest three million
Vel
dollars and practice under the firm's
name. We can sign the contract
whenever you're ready."
Allison extended her hand with a smile. "I appreciate straightforward folks like
you, Mr. Watson. Here's to a great partnership."
Watson shook her hand. "Here's to it."
After dinner, Watson asked politely, "Today's a special day. Mind if we snap a photo together, my partner?"
Taking a commemorative photo was pretty standard. Allison didn't think twice and smiled, "Sure, why not."
Watson handed a waiter his phone to take a picture.
In the photo, they stood side by side, with Allison looking at the camera, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
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