Having received Samuel''s approval, Tessa and Stephen were finally able to be


    with each other publicly.


    That Friday afternoon, Stephen and Tessa went out for a meal together. They had


    decided to go to a nearby Band restaurant near thew firm.


    Jasmine had been the one to rmend that ce, iming the food there was


    delicious.


    Hence, Tessa suggested that they try it out.


    The restaurant was beautifully decorated and located in a central business


    district. Since it was a Friday, the ce was packed with customers.


    They had just entered the restaurant when a waiter approached them and asked,


    "Wee. A table for two?"


    Tessa nodded. "Yes, please."


    The waiter gestured for them to follow him. "Please follow me."


    "Do you have private rooms here?" Tessa asked.


    The waiter replied, "I''m sorry, miss. We do not have private rooms here."


    "Alright, then."


    The waiter brought them to a table by the window and asked, "Will this table be


    alright?"


    Tessa replied, "It''s fine."


    "In that case, you two can scan the QR code on the table to order."


    Tessa pulled out her phone and scanned the QR code as instructed. The food at


    the restaurant Jasmine rmended was reasonably priced, and their most


    expensive dish only cost a little over 100 dors.


    Since the restaurant did not have any private rooms, they could only sit by the


    window in the main dining area. The ce was packed, so it was a little noisy.


    Tessa looked at Stephen and asked, "It''s a little noisy here. You don''t mind, do


    you?"


    "I don''t mind. I wouldn''t mind even if you took me to eat at a roadside stall,"


    Stephen said gently with a smile.


    Tessa chuckled. "You were the one who said that. I''ll bring you to a roadside stall


    next time."


    "Sure." Stephen smirked.


    "You can take a look and see if there''s anything you''d like to eat," Tessa said as


    she handed him her phone so that he could look at the menu.


    Stephen answered, "You can just order what you want. I''m fine with anything."


    "Alright. I''ll order, then." Tessa lowered her head to scroll through the menu on her


    phone.


    Suddenly, she heard a female voice calling out, "Mr. Jacobson, it really is you!"


    Tessa looked up and saw a woman in a white blouse and pencil skirt greeting


    Stephen with a smile.


    She was quite beautiful with her hair pinned back with a w clip. Her formal outfit


    also made it clear that she had juste straight from work.


    Stephen just gave the woman a slight nod. His expression remained indifferent,


    and he did not say a single word in acknowledgment.


    Hazel kept smiling as she said, "Mr. Jacobson, what a coincidence! I''m here with


    my colleagues."


    Without sparing her a single nce,


    Stephen hummed in response.


    Instead, he looked at Tessa and


    exined, "Tess, this is the director


    of mypany''s nning


    department, Hazel Everhart"


    Tessa nodded and turned to Hazel. "Hello."


    Then, Stephen introduced Tessa to Hazel. "This is my girlfriend, Tessa Yates."


    The smile on Hazel''s face stiffened, and her tone dropped a couple of octaves.


    "Hello, Ms. Yates." As Hazel greeted Tessa, she sized Tessa up, and disdain


    quickly shed in her eyes.


    She thought to herself, "So this is


    Stephen''s girlfriend. She''s pretty, but


    she''s clearly just a pretty face. She


    probably just used her face to


    seduce Stephen. After all, men loved


    to show off their women as it would


    boost their egos."


    She thought it would be a shame if someone like Stephen dated someone with


    just a pretty face.


    Tessa caught the disdain in Hazel''s eyes, and her expression turned cold. "Ms.


    Everhart, do you need something?"


    Hazel became annoyed as she


    thought, Whether I need something


    or not is none of your business, no?


    I''m talking to my boss. What does


    that have anything to do with you?


    "You''re just a pretty face. He''ll get rid of you once he''s tired of you. Do you really


    think you''ll be able to marry into a rich family?"


    Despite the internal monologue going off in her head, Hazel did not dare to let her


    thoughts be known. After all, Stephen was right there.


    Instead, she put on a fake smile and turned to Stephen. "Mr. Jacobson, I won''t


    disturb you any longer. Goodbye."


    Stephen remained indifferent as he hummed in response.