Piper Gates nodded seriously, "Didn't you say you could eat anything? This place has a really fresh Mac and cheese breakfast!"
Honestly! Calling someone out at seven in the morning, is there a cleaner restaurant than Mcdonald?
Michael Stone sat in his Bentley outside, listening to Ray Dunlop's raucous laughter on the phone. "What did you say? Jasper Hart is having dinner with a woman for the first time! Eating McDonald? What's that Mac and cheese?"
"Mac and cheese breakfast, with pasta and cheese and cheddar sauce..." Michael replied quietly.
On the other end, Ray Dunlop was banging on the table, exclaiming, "You tell me how it goes after Jasper Hart finishes! I have to go to the Hart Family and laugh at him in person!"
Inside the restaurant, Jasper Hart was unfazed and asked, "What's the reason?"
The man, dressed in a custom-tailored suit, exuded an air of luxury even in this small eatery.
Piper suddenly felt this was getting dull. Jasper Hart was a man of great stature; she couldn't keep tricking him out like this.
Chewing on her pasta, Piper decided to be honest, "Michelle Gates is coming to the Hart Family to have lunch with you today."
"Michelle Gates?" Jasper Hart asked, puzzled. "Who's that?"
"My sister! She probably got lost at yesterday's party and came today to make a good impression on you, along with my supposed fiancé, who said he has business dealings with you," Piper replied, not intending to hide anything.
Jasper furrowed his handsome brows. "Fiancé? Gustin Family's?"
"Yeah," Piper nodded. "Do you know him?"
Jasper's expression darkened. "No, I don't."
Piper looked down, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. She mumbled, "You can go back now. Today doesn't count. I'll treat you to a proper meal another day."
As Jasper stood up, Piper sighed internally. After all, he had saved her, and this felt a bit unfair.
"Let's go," the man's pleasant voice rang above her.
Piper blinked in surprise. "Huh? Where to?"
"To a different place for some fresh breakfast," Jasper said.
Piper paused for a moment, processing his words. "But… aren't you going to the office?"
"Don't you not want me to meet your sister?" Jasper Hart countered.
Piper Gates felt a warm flutter in her heart and immediately stood up, following Jasper to the car. "Let's go eat!"
Michael Stone, sitting in the front, asked, "Where to, sir?"
"Canadium Restaurant. Just use my usual menu," Niles replied.
Zavier Harding quickly drove them to Canadium Restaurant, a well-known spot in Swansea City. They only served fifty tables a day, and the dishes depended entirely on the owner's mood. Even the wealthy elite had to wait in line and take their chances.
Upon arriving, Michael parked the car, and Jasper led Piper inside. They made their way upstairs to a private room where a steaming breakfast was already laid out on the table. Niles took a seat and said, "It's fresh here. Dig in."
Piper happily sat down and began to feast, occasionally glancing up at Jaspee. "At the banquet yesterday, many people said you were unapproachable, but I don't think that's true."
"Is that so?" Jasper leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee with an air of cool elegance. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her, "What do you think I'm like?"
Piper Gates smiled and said, "Aren't I just a stranger? We've already shared a meal at McDonald, so why the distance?"
Jasper Hart smiled slightly but didn't respond. He had struck gold and wasn't about to let everyone in on it.
As Piper struggled with the food on her plate, Jasper's phone suddenly rang.
"Hello?" Jasper answered the call.
Amid the clinking of dishes, Piper only heard him say, "Not available," before he hung up. She didn't pry further and continued to focus on her meal.
Meanwhile, at the Hart Family reception.
"What's going on with your company? I told you I'm here to see Mr. Hart!" Michelle Gates glared at the receptionist, clearly frustrated.
The receptionist maintained her standard smile. "Miss, you need an appointment to see Mr. Hart. I checked with Assistant Dan, and you don't have one. I can't break company policy."
Cisco Gustin stepped protectively in front of Michelle and said with irritation, "Do you know who I am? I'm the Vice President of the Gustin Family! We have business dealings with the Harr Family!"
The receptionist maintained a business-like demeanor. "Mr. Gustin, even if the president of the Gustin Family is here, an appointment is still required."
In the bustling lobby, many people were casting curious glances their way. Michelle awkwardly tugged at Cisco Gustin's arm and suggested, "Cisco, let's just forget it. We don't have an appointment, so we can't go in. We can come back in a few days when we deliver the birthday invitation."
Cisco Gustin had no choice but to agree. Seeing his disappointed expression, Michelle quickly understood he felt embarrassed and kindly proposed, "Cisco, you didn't eat much this morning. I heard the breakfast at Canadium Pavillion is really special. How about we go try it together?"
At her suggestion, Cisco hesitated. The last time he went to Canadium Pavilion was with his father for a business meeting, and he had only briefly exchanged business cards with the manager.
The receptionist kindly reminded them, "Miss, Canadium Pavilion requires reservations, and I heard they're fully booked for the month."
Michelle shot a disdainful glance at the receptionist. "Only ordinary people need to make reservations! My boyfriend knows the owner of Canadium Pavilion, so of course, we can go whenever we want! Right, Cisco?"
Seeing the eager look in Michelle Gates' eyes, Cisco Gustin affectionately ruffled her hair. "Alright, let's go right now."
"Cisco, you're so good to me!" Michelle exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. Just having breakfast at Canadium Pavilion was enough to make her the envy of her social circle for a whole month!
Cisco quickly called the manager and then took Myrtle out the door, heading toward Canadium Pavilion.
The receptionist was sharp; she had overheard Assistant Dan mentioning that the president was having breakfast when she consulted him earlier. Rumor had it that Jasper Hart had visited Canadium Pavilion a few times.
She hurriedly called Michael Stone to report, "Mr Stone! Mr. Gustin has left and is heading to Canadium Pavilion for breakfast! Do you think he's trying to catch the president's attention?"
Michael Stone hung up the phone and walked straight into the private room. Piper Gates, noticing Michael's hurried entrance, tactfully stood up and said, "I'll just step out to the restroom."
Once Piper left, Michael said, "President, Cisco Gustin and Michelle Gates are on their way to Canadium Pavilion."
Jasper Hart frowned in displeasure. "Do they have a reservation?"
Michael Stone shook his head. "No, I just checked the reservation list for Canadium Pavilion this month, and they're not on it. But Cisco Gustin said he knows the owner here."
Jasper Hart raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "He sure has the guts to brag."
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Get to Canadium Pavilion!"
"Bro?" Donald Hart sounded confused. "What's the rush to go to Canadium Pavilion this early in the morning?"
"I'll give you ten minutes to clear the place out, or this restaurant can close for good," Jasper Hart said sharply before hanging up.
Donald sighed and got up. Although his brother was usually distant and cold, he rarely got this worked up. He wondered who had the audacity to provoke Niles Hawke, dragging his restaurant into the mess.
At that moment, Cisco Gustin walked into the restaurant with Michelle Gates, finally feeling relieved. Thankfully, it was quiet in the morning, and he had managed to persuade the manager to hold a table for them.
They found a seat in the lobby, and Michelle set her bag down before heading to the restroom. As she pushed the door open, she was startled to see Piper Gates!
"Piper Gates!" Michelle Gates screamed. "What are you doing here?!"
Piper Gates thought to herself that she had come here to hide from Michelle. What a coincidence these sisters had...
Ignoring her, Piper finished washing her hands and prepared to leave. She had eaten enough and didn't want to get tangled up in this.
Michelle grabbed her wrist tightly and shouted, "Piper! Who did you come here with?"
Piper frowned. Michelle's grip landed right on her injured wrist, sending a sharp pain shooting through her. She coldly replied, "Let go."
"Tell me! Who did you come with? I know it! Are you stalking us? You say you don't care about Cisco anymore, but behind our backs, you're doing something so shameless!"
Just the thought of Piper scheming to come here and flirt with Cisco Gustin made Michelle feel like she could spit blood in anger.
Piper tried to pull her hand away, but with her wrist injured, she couldn't muster the strength. Reluctantly, she was dragged by Michelle into the lobby.
Piper Gates seized the moment to pull away with all her strength, but to her surprise, Michelle Gates suddenly let go and fell straight to the ground, letting out a pained scream, "Sister! What are you doing?!"