Xylia arrived at a fine restaurant at the agreed time.
Henry had been waiting there for quite some time already.
Joshua also came along with Henry.
Xylia did not expect Joshua to be <b>present </b>as well.
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He sat beside Henry, remaining <b>seated </b>while Henry stood up. Resting one hand on the table, he smiled lightly at Xylia.
From afar<b>, </b>Xylia saw the slyness in his eyes<b>; </b>a surge of emotion caught in her throat, leaving her uncertain how to vent it.
Henry greeted her. “Hi, you must be Ms. Sadler. My name is Henry Payton. We spoke online yesterday.”
Faced with Henry’s enthusiasm, Xylia had no choice but to withdraw her gaze from Joshua and smile at Henry. “Nice <b>to </b>meet you. I’m Xylia Sadler”
Henry said politely, “Please have a seat.<b>” </b>
Xylia sat down opposite Henry.
Joshua’s gaze remained fixed on Xylia, following her movements and finallying to rest on the seat diagonally opposite her.
Henry noticed the way Xylia looked at Joshua and spoke to Xylia, “Ms. Sadler, you know Joshua better than I do. Since Joshua is free today, he came by to catch up with me. You don’t mind, do you?”
Before Xylia could speak, Joshua spoke up. “She certainly wouldn’t mind. We’re really close.”
<b>Xylia </b>shot him a covert re.
That utterly non–threatening re actually made Joshua find it very cute.
Facing Henry’s gaze, Xylia could only maintain <b>a </b>polite smile. “I do <b>not </b>mind.”
Henry smiled more cheerfully.
He handed the menu to Xylia and <b>said</b>, “It’s Joshua’s treat. Please feel free to order, Ms. Sadler. There’s no need to stand on <b>ceremony </b>with him.”
Joshua tilted his head slightly and looked at Henry. <b>“</b>I’m the one who connected you two–shouldn’t you be treating <b>us</b><b>?</b>”
Henry showed no embarrassment regarding financial matters and spoke in a forthright manner<b>, </b>“<b>I </b><b>am </b>currently in the startup phase, and all my funds have been invested in the factory.”
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As he spoke, he looked at Xylia. “Only when the factory’s funds are in ce can my cooperation with you. <b>remain </b>stable, Ms. Sadler, Joshua is <b>a </b><b>close </b>friend to both of us, <b>and </b>he’s happy too when our partnership is steady. So he should be the one to pay for this meal.
Nylia was amused by Henry’s words. “You are right. Since Joshua was the one who introduced us to this coboration, he should indeed treat us to a meal.”
Joshua smiled as he looked at Xylia, but did not refuse.
Money was thest thing he was short of
Just seeing Xylia’s heartfelt smile was enough for him.
After cing the order, they waited for the dishes to be served.
Henry promptly handed the documents, which had been prepared in advance, to Xylia. “Ms. Sadler, here <b>are </b>the materials regarding my factory for your review.”
While Xylia was reading the documents, Henry was exining beside her. “My factory is rtively small in scale, but we spend all our money on equipment <b>and </b>recruiting talent. The team includes master craftsmen with twenty years of experience, as well as design interns from my own <b>graduating </b>ss. Every member is highly motivated”
Henry’s garment factory was located in Norhill, near the outskirts. Although its scale was modest, its equipment <b>was </b>its strength.
Upon reviewing <b>the </b>factory equipment in the documentation, Xylia noted that nearly all the machines were precision–oriented. Such equipment produced fabric and executed stitching with exceptional uracy and refinement, which was indeed impressive.
Furthermore, she nced at the profiles of certain employees, including a senior craftsman with many years. of experience at a major brand’s garment factory.
Xylia’s first impression of Henry’s factory was highly favorable.
“Ourbel was founded as a partnership among several of us. Ms. Sadler, you’re the first person with whom I discussed coboration.
“If we reach an agreement, our strategic friendship willst longer than with any future partners. Once thebel is established, your studio will also grow in scale.
“By working together and striving side by side, we will surely carve out a bright future together,” Henry demonstrated with boundless enthusiasm.
Xylia believed that this was the <b>passion </b>inherent to entrepreneurs.
She closed the documents and ceased further consideration. “It’s a pleasure working with you.”
She extended her hand toward Henry.
Henry was momentarily stunned and only then spoke in pleasant surprise, “Ms. Sadler, you’re indeed.
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straightforward!”
Xylia said. “Please do not call me Ms. Sadler; address me <b>as </b>Xylia instead.”
Henry nodded. “Okay, Xylia”
He reached out and shook Xylia’s hand.
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Joshua <b>had </b>been sitting nearby, his gaze fixed intently on the pair of sped hands, his expression inscrutable.
After the dishes were served. Xylia and Henry were chatting about their coboration.
Joshua repeatedly poked at the steak on his te with his fork.
Watching the two converse happily and hearing Henry constantly calling out Xylia’s name, he felt deeply stifled.
His efforts to facilitate this coboration seemed to have brought unpleasantness upon himself.
Just as he was lost in thought, a familiar and detested figure approached from nearby.
Connor entered this restaurant, his gaze sweeping the room <b>as </b>if searching for someone.
<b>After </b><b>searching </b>for quite some time without finding Xavier, he impatiently took out his phone. Finally, as if sensing something, he nced toward the location of the table where Xylia was seated.
He was momentarily stunned, then <b>his </b>face darkened.
He tapped the phone screen a few times at random, put the phone away, and walked toward the table where Xylia <b>was</b>.
Xylia and Henry were chatting when they sensed another presence nearby: turning around, they saw Connor standing beside them.
Connor’s gaze fell on Henry, and he let <b>out a </b>coldugh. <b>“</b>Another new face, Xylia Schultz. You really <b>know </b>how to mess around, huh?”
“Xylia Schultz?” Henry looked at Xylia and asked, “Isn’t your surname Sadler?”
Before Xylia could exin, Connor asked with a smile, “Sadler? Xylia, just how many identities do you have? And how many men have you strung along using those identities?<b>” </b>
Xylia’s expression turned cold as she looked at Connor, her gaze tinged with annoyance. “My affairs are not
your concern.”
“Not my concern?” Connor was floored.
He lifted his gaze slightly and met the dark eyes of Joshua beside him.
He could not help but recall how Joshua had threatened and warned him time and again, and the resentment
8:13 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b>Sep 18 N
in his chest lingered, refusing to dissipate.
He spoke to Xylia in amanding tone, “Come out with me. We need to talk.”
Xylia frowned. “I have nothing to say to you. You should leave <b>now</b>.”
Xylia was annoyed by Connor’s habit of asionally showing up in front of her and acting crazy.
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Connor lowered his head to look at Xylia and threatened in a low voice, “There are still things between us that haven’t been settled. If you don’t want me to make a scene in public, you’d bettere outside with me.”
Xylia was puzzled, wondering. <b>‘</b>Are there any unresolved matters between us?‘
There was a pronounced sense of threat in Connor’s eyes.
Xylia fell silent for a moment, then nced at Henry, whose face was filled with confusion, and at Joshua, whose expression was visibly troubled.
She considered it imperative to resolve the matter concerning Connor; otherwise, his relentless entanglement would inevitably cause her trouble one day.
She looked at Henry <b>and </b>Joshua. “Excuse me, I will step out for a moment.”
Xylia stood up and looked coldly at Connor. “Let’s talk outside.”
Connor smirked at Joshua, whose <b>face </b>was sullen, shrugged provocatively, <b>and </b>then turned to follow Xylia
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