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Chapter_292
Andrew, still trailing behind, watched as Yvette and the man entered the steakhouse. His instincts kicked in immediately, and he quickly pulled out his phone to send the location to Jeremiah, knowing that his father would want to know where they were.
As he turned back to the vendor, the man handed him two ready meals wrapped in paper, the odor of herring unmistakably seeping through the bag.
“Here you go, sir,” the vendor said cheerfully, “That’ll be $18. Thank you for your patronage.”
Andrew’s eyes widened as he took the bag, the smell immediately hitting him. His face twisted in disgust. “What is this? It smells horrible!” he complained, holding his nose and stepping back from the vendor.
The vendor, clearly taken aback by Andrew’s reaction, frowned. “Sir, this is herring in a can. Are you making fun of how it smells?”
Andrew’s face darkened, and his stomach churned. He had never tasted herring before, but the smell was enough to make him feel like he might throw up right there. He could hear the people behind him grumbling impatiently as they waited in line, and he felt the pressure to pay up and get out.
Grabbing the bag with reluctance, Andrew quickly handed over the money, muttering under his breath as he walked away from the counter, his body still recoiling from the pungent stench that seemed to stick to him.
His immediate goal was to find a trash can to dispose of the offending herring. Every step he took felt like the odor was getting stronger, almost as though the smell had attached itself to him like some kind of invisible cloud. Finally, he spotted a trash can and made a beeline for it, ready to rid himself of the bag as quickly as possible.
But as he was about to toss the herring can into the bin, he looked up—and froze. There, leaning casually against the door of the steakhouse, was Yvette. She was watching him, clearly enjoying his discomfort. The man next to her, Charles, was standing a few steps behind, a neutral expression on his face.
Andrew’s heart sank. ‘This is beyond awkward,’ he thought, a flush creeping up his neck. ‘How do I explain this?’
Despite the embarrassment eating away at him, Andrew forced a smile and waved the bag in his hand. “Hey, Yvette! Fancy seeing you here! I just arrived in Betrico today. Was passing by and got hungry, so I thought I’d grab a bite. What a coincidence running into you!”
Yvette smirked, her lips curling in amusement as she took in the sight of Andrew with the bag. Even from a distance, she could smell the rancid herring from where she stood. She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the situation, then glanced at Andrew with an expression that almost seemed to say, I can’t believe you.
After a brief pause, she spoke, her voice calm but with a hint of mischief. “Want to eat together?”
Andrew blinked in surprise. ‘What? Why is she suddenly in such a good mood?’ he wondered, still flustered from the earlier embarrassment. But then, it hit him—this was the perfect opportunity. “Sure! I haven’t eaten yet. When Jeremiah arrives, we can all eat together…” he hesitated for a second before looking at Charles. “Uh, does your friend mind?” He gave a small, awkward wave toward Charles. “If he does, that’s fine.”
Charles, hearing the tone of Andrew’s words, felt a flicker of confusion. What is this guy’s problem? he thought. This is the first time I’ve seen someone speak so snarkily to Yvette.
Yvette didn’t seem phased in the slightest. Her gaze shifted to Charles, her expression unreadable, and she answered flatly, “He doesn’t mind. Come on in.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked back toward the steakhouse.
As Yvette and Charles walked ahead, Andrew, still clutching the smelly herring can, saw his chance. He quickly moved toward the trash can, eager to dispose of the awful smell. He couldn’t stand carrying it any longer.
The moment he tossed it into the bin, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if the weight of the situation had lightened just a little. However, he still couldn’t shake the discomfort of the earlier encounter.
Inside the steakhouse, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the awkward tension that had clung to Andrew moments earlier. Yvette and Charles had already taken their seats at a corner table. As Andrew entered, he could feel the eyes of the other diners subtly following him. The combination of a strikingly handsome man and a stunningly beautiful woman walking into the same space was bound to draw attention, even if it was only fleeting.
Andrew tried his best to seem unfazed, but it was clear that he was still processing everything that had just happened. The restaurant was busy, the sounds of quiet chatter and clinking cutlery filling the air. But Andrew was focused on Yvette and Charles, who seemed completely at ease, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Charles, noticing Andrew’s hesitation, simply gestured for him to sit down. “Don’t stand there like you’re about to run away,” Charles said dryly. “Come on, sit. It’s not like we bite.”
Andrew took a deep breath and nodded, trying to shake off the lingering sense of discomfort. He sat down, trying to act casual, though a part of him was still trying to figure out what kind of game Yvette was playing.
As he settled into his chair, he glanced over at her. Yvette had already begun perusing the menu, completely unbothered by the awkwardness he had just experienced. There was something so effortless about the way she handled everything. It was clear that, in her world, nothing really surprised her, no matter how strange the situation might be.
