"Okay, okay! I won''t say another word," Donovan backed off quickly. "You get back


    to work, and I''ll go handle my next client."


    He stood and left before she could say anything else.


    Romina, still irritated, silently cursed River a hundred times over.


    Meanwhile, River sneezed loudly-no doubt thanks to Romina cursing him in her


    head.


    Unlike Romina, River was in a great mood.


    He held a morning meeting, handled a stack of important documents, and then


    headed out to meet a client. His secretary apanied him.


    After wrapping up the meeting and seeing the client off, it was already 11:30 a.m.


    -just thirty minutes until lunch.


    River didn''t feel like heading back to the office, so he told his secretary to return


    on her own. He drove straight to Eaglioncile Hotel.


    As luck would have it, he ran into Donovan right as thetter was escorting a


    client out.


    Their eyes met briefly. Donovan stayed professional, sending off his client without


    acknowledging River. But as he turned back, River casually walked up and


    followed him into the hotel.


    "What brings President York to our humble hotel today?" Donovan asked.


    River grinned. "It''s a beautiful day-clear skies, no wind. I drop by Eaglioncile


    Hotel now and then. Thest time I came, it was to the café. You remember,


    Romina called me ''husband." Donovan stopped and turned to look at him. "River,


    you''ve got no shame. You know exactly why she said that."


    "I don''t know anything. All I know is she called me ''husband.'' If she says I''m her


    husband, it''s only right I y the part. There''s a flower shop nearby, right?


    Romina''s not big on flowers- too impractical-but maybe I''ll get her a bouquet


    made of cash. Something she''d actually like. Think I still have time?"


    Donovan replied dryly, "River, I''m not your brother. Call me Mr. Lafond, please."


    River just chuckled. "Sooner orter, we''ll be family. Might as well get used to it.


    What''s the harm in calling you brother now?"


    Without responding, Donovan led the way into the hotel and headed straight for


    the café.


    "Come on. Let''s have a proper chat," he said.


    "Sure thing."


    River followed him, though his mind was still on the bouquet of money he nned


    to give Romina.


    Donovan nced at him. "Can''t you wait until after lunch to deliver your little


    money bouquet? Don''t forget-Romina arranged a blind date for you today. She''s


    ying matchmaker." River was usually sharp, but right now, he waspletely


    clueless. It hadn''t even urred to him to send the bouquet to her office.


    "Thanks for the reminder, Brother," River said. "But I''m worried Romina won''t


    ept it."


    "If she doesn''t want it, you''ll just give up?" Donovan asked.


    "Not a chance," River said. "If I decide to give it, I''ll give it. No matter what."


    They talked as they walked and eventually reached the café on the first floor.


    It was nearing lunchtime, so the ce wasn''t too crowded yet. However, the


    private rooms were already booked up.


    The café would get busier in the afternoon.


    They chose a table by the window and sat down.


    After cing their orders, they waited for their coffee.


    When it arrived, Donovan didn''t waste any time. He cut right to the point.


    "River, be honest with me-do you like my sister?"


    River casually stirred his coffee with a spoon, his expression unreadable.


    Donovan continued, "Don''t lie to me. I''m a man too, and I can tell. The way you''ve


    been looking at hertely-it''s different."