Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 47

Only when Damian raised his now half-full wine glass did Isabelle hesitantly pick up her own glass filled with juice.

"It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Debose," Isabelle said.

"Mr. Cross is certainly attentive to his employees," Ashley said with a smile, glancing at Damian before letting her gaze rest heavily on Isabelle. She then took a meaningful sip of her wine.

The others followed suit, taking sips before starting to eat.

"No need to worry about the others. But this one," Damian said, a slight smirk on his lips as he glanced at the blushing Isabelle, "her alcohol tolerance is terrible, and she's prone to getting into the wrong car when drunk. What can I do? Her family gave me strict instructions to look after her while we're abroad."

He draped an arm over the back of her chair, leaning in to ask, "Isn't that right, Ms. Foster?"

"Yes, my family is very strict, so it's best I don't drink," Isabelle mumbled in agreement, feeling slightly awkward.

Beside her, Brian, who was chatting with Harrison, ate while trying to hide a smile. The show tonight is getting good.

Ashley looked at Damian's expression and seemed to understand. "It's fine. This is just a casual dinner, not a business meeting where you have to drink. No need to stand on ceremony."

"Ms. Debose is very understanding," Isabelle said, taking a sip of her juice.

"Damian, you and Ms. Foster are..." Ashley probed indirectly.

"Mr. Cross' mother and my mother are best friends," Isabelle hurriedly explained.

Damian didn't say a word. He picked up his wine glass, took a large gulp, then grabbed his fork and started eating the Brussels sprout salad on the table.

Harrison glanced up at them slightly. "No wonder I always felt Mr. Cross treated Ms. Foster differently. So that's the connection."

Tiana and Brian nodded, then went back to their meal.

After dinner, at Ashley's insistence, she added everyone's WhatsApp contact, including Isabelle's.

When it was time to leave, Tiana arranged for cars. Everyone except Damian and Ashley returned to the hotel.

After getting out of the car, Tiana and Harrison went up to the hotel first.

"Hey, that woman's Mr. Cross' ex-girlfriend. You just handed him over to her like that?" Brian asked, frowning. He seemed more anxious about it than the two involved.

Isabelle's cheeks, flushed from the cold wind, turned a shade pinker. "Will he... be mad?" she asked cautiously.

Brian replied, "Of course he will! Mr. Cross has no feelings for Ashley anymore. He probably wishes he could cut all ties with her. And you just had to..."

Isabelle murmured, "He doesn't have feelings for me either..."

Brian shot back, "If he had no feelings for you, why would he go to such lengths to keep you by his side?"

"Go to such lengths?" Isabelle seemed to catch a hint of something in his words.

Maybe, maybe not.

Standing in the cold wind, she had been lost in thought, wondering if he was like Gary.

Love is fickle. Besides, there is no love between us.

"Alright," he said with a soft chuckle. "Let's go back."

"Come here." After changing his shoes, Damian walked over to the desk and placed the bundle he'd been cradling inside his coat onto it.

Isabelle followed him, only then realizing he'd been hiding something inside his coat.

"Wow! That smells amazing!"

"Eat it while it's hot." Damian opened the takeout container and pulled the chair out for her.

"Is this for me?" Isabelle looked at the chicken pot pie. The familiar logo told her it was from that old, famous store she used to love. The place wasn't far from the hotel. He must have taken a cab there, bought it, and run back.

"For the ungrateful one," Damian said flatly, shoving the fork into her hand.

She really hadn't eaten much tonight. Most dishes on the table were a bit spicy, and she couldn't have much because of her period—eating spicy food would make her menstrual flow heavier.

She hadn't expected Damian to notice. And he'd even gone out of his way to buy her food.