Nichs was scratching his head, trying to figure things out. "Who are you texting? You never reply when we message you."


    Dn casually nudged Nichs''s head away and rolled up the car window.


    Nichs, standing outside, knocked on the ss. "I''ve got a meeting with some university officials. Since you''re here, wanna grab dinnerter?"


    "No time."


    Nichs was left wondering why Dn even bothered showing up. Just as he was about to leave, a car pulled up in front of Dn''s, and the window rolled down


    to reveal ra''s gorgeous face. She gave Dn a friendly wave.


    "Mr. Dn, I just booked a table. Care to join me for dinner?"


    Dn rolled his window back down, chuckled, and said, "Sure."


    Nichs, still standing there, was floored. What just happened, dude??? He was starting to question if he was seeing things.


    Right then, Nichs''s assistant came over and whispered, "Mr. Nichs, it''s time to go."


    But something made Nichs open Dn''s car door and hop in. He told his assistant, "Reschedule the meeting. Tell them something came up."


    As he settled in, he nced over at ra in the other car. "Ms. ra, mind if I join you for dinner?"


    ra was cool with it. She''d gotten a heads-up from Scarlette about Nichs''s ns and managed to get ahead, so she figured keeping things friendly was the way to go.


    Her car led the way, unaware of the tension in the car behind.


    Dn''s face had noticeably darkened. Nichs, being his usual nosy self, kept a close watch.


    Dn wasn''t much of a talker, so the drive was silent. When they arrived at a private dining spot, Nichs finally spoke.


    "I ask you to dinner, and you''re busy. But when she asks, you''re all in. Dn, something''s up."


    Nichs had a knack for digging into things when they didn''t seem right.


    Dn brushed him off and got out of the car with his wheelchair, Aiden ready to help. Nichs watched them head inside and sneakily called Richard.


    "Hey, Richard. Don''t you think Dn''s acting weird with ra?"


    He''d had his suspicions before but thought they were too out there.


    Richard, lounging with his legs up, was entertained. He''d noticed it ages ago, but loved a bit of drama, so he yed along. "Weird how?"


    "I can''t put my finger on it. Asked him to dinner, and he said no. Then ra asks, and he''s in. So I came to see for myself."


    Richard chuckled. Wasn''t Nichs just setting himself up as the third wheel?


    "Oh? Keep an eye out for what''s really going on."


    Nichs smirked, "You bet. I''m not letting ra pull one over on him."


    With that, he hung up.


    Richard shook his head at his phone. Someone had nned for some alone time, and now it was out the window.


    Meanwhile, ra had booked a private room. Aiden stayed outside, leaving her and Dn inside. But the peacested only a moment before Nichs strolled in and plopped down next to ra.


    Dn, sipping tea, paused but yed it cool.


    ra hadn''t expected Nichs to sit so close, so she quickly offered him the menu. "Mr. Nichs, any food allergies? Mr. Dn can''t have seafood, so I''ve already had it taken off the menu."


    The ce had a changing menu, and ra had already sorted it out with the waiter.


    "I''m good with anything."


    Nichs had parked himself next to ra to stop her from trying anything. He''d heard rumors that back when ra was at Ferguson Corporation, she had taken advantage of Dn''s limited mobility to sit on hisp when no one was around. The gossiper even said Dn had told her, "Don''t do that."


    So Nichs wasn''t a fan of ra. He couldn''t wrap his head around why Dn would agree to dinner with her.