Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 178

Victor's eyes flickered for a moment before he smoothly looked away.

He offered a polite, distant smile. "Very well."

Ruby followed along with an air of indifference, neither eager nor reluctant.

The moment the three of them entered the restaurant, they found themselves face-to-face with a woman whose eyes practically sparkled with excitement.

"Cassian! What a coincidence!" Gennifer beamed, nearly jogging over to meet them.

Cassian paused, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Gennifer stuck out her tongue in a playful gesture, then pointed across the room to her table.

Across from her sat an elderly gentleman, whose silver hair and sharp gaze commanded instant respect. He nodded at Cassian, greeting him with a dignified humility that spoke of long-earned authority.

"This is my professor from university," Gennifer explained. "I've been worried about the recent issues at Veyne & Co., so I brought him along to help brainstorm some ideas."

She looked up at Cassian, expectant and eager for praise, like a cat waiting for a compliment.

Cassian played along, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "You've worked hard."

As he spoke, he deliberately lowered his gaze, hiding the glance he stole in Ruby's direction.

Gennifer practically lit up at his words, waving her hands with exaggerated modesty. "It's nothing! I'm happy to help, especially if it's for you!"

Their easy, almost exclusive rapport didn't escape Victor. He frowned slightly, barely noticeable, and instinctively glanced at Ruby to gauge her reaction.

Given their history, Victor knew well enough how Ruby felt about Cassian.

But Ruby merely watched, her gaze landing on the pair without a flicker of emotion, as if she were nothing more than a bystander.

Victor sensed something odd in the air.

"Ah, you must be the famous Mr. Hargrove!" Gennifer exclaimed, suddenly realizing and reaching out to shake Victor's hand, her face alight with enthusiasm.

Victor, watching her approach the table, raised a hand to stop her before she could get too close. His smile was impeccably polite, bordering on insincere. "We have some matters to discuss. I'm afraid it's not convenient to have a fourth person join us. I hope you understand, Miss Grayson."

In that brief exchange, combined with what he already knew about Ruby's family and the rumors he'd heard abroad, Victor immediately recognized the woman before him.

Gennifer.

He narrowed his eyes, his expression impossible to read.

Victor pulled his attention back, his ever-present smile unwavering. "Come now, Cassian—we're old friends of Mr. Veyne. Isn't it only proper to catch up a bit before jumping straight into business?"

With that, Victor stood and poured a generous glass of red wine for Cassian. "Some things—and some people—are worth waiting for. But don't make the wrong ones wait too long."

Cassian shot Victor a curious look, unsettled by his words.

Victor simply raised his glass in a silent toast, his manner unchanged.

But Cassian couldn't shake the feeling. Victor's words were like a pebble tossed into still water—small, perhaps, but the ripples lingered.

Unconsciously, Cassian glanced at Ruby.

She sat quietly, focused on cutting her steak, giving him nothing but a serene profile.

"Let me help you."

Victor, noticing Ruby's struggle with her meal, reached over and took her plate with practiced gentlemanly grace.

Ruby didn't protest; it wasn't out of frailty or pride, but simply that her well-done steak was, indeed, proving difficult to slice.