Chapter 207 - 206
The others looked at the exquisite and elegant Chinese courtyard, reluctant to leave. The director and a few of the middle-aged male actors, in particular, gathered around the pond to watch The Gilded Orchid, looking as if they wished they could sneak a few fish home.
Joanna Kennedy subconsciously glanced toward a nearby courtyard. She hadn’t seen Liam Valentine since that day. Realizing what she was thinking, she frowned.
Just as she was about to look away, she saw a fluffy white Samoyed bounding toward her.
Before she could even react, she felt a familiar nuzzle against her leg. At the same time, she saw the person behind the Samoyed—it was the very same housekeeper who had "served" her food that day.
「Twenty minutes later.」
The group arrived at a restaurant owned by the Valentine Group.
"Director Archer, what’s the deal with President Valentine suddenly inviting us to dinner?" an actor asked in a low voice.
Just moments before, under the confused and surprised gazes of the group, the housekeeper had politely explained that President Valentine had booked a table at the restaurant to treat them all to a meal.
Only then did the cast realize that the Valentine Group was the film’s biggest investor and that the Chinese-style courtyard also belonged to the Valentine Family.
No wonder they had been willing to rent it to the production crew.
Director Archer thought for a moment before saying, "Perhaps he wants to ask about our filming progress."
He was the investor, after all, so it was only natural for him to be concerned about their progress. It was just...
Conor Archer’s gaze fell on the Samoyed clinging to the girl’s leg, his own thoughts unreadable.
Meanwhile, Joanna Kennedy held the leash, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her mind, however, was a million miles away.
’Liam Valentine is the investor for this movie? In that case, did he know all along that I was the lead actress?’
’Taking it a step further into conspiracy, could it be that I only got the chance to be the lead in Conor Archer’s film because of Liam Valentine?’
Joanna Kennedy knew she was spiraling. For a moment, she actually suspected that Liam Valentine had orchestrated all of this. ’But what reason would he have to do that?’
’What would he gain from scheming like this? It couldn’t possibly be because he’s interested in me, could it?’
Joanna Kennedy wasn’t narcissistic. Other than that one plate of shrimp, Liam Valentine hadn’t done anything to cross a line, nor had he said anything suggestive. Her suspicion was completely baseless.
’Maybe... it really is just a coincidence?’
Joanna Kennedy was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice the strange looks everyone was giving her.
The Samoyed had rushed straight to Joanna Kennedy, acting as if they were very familiar. Had she been here before?
What was her relationship with the president of the Valentine Group?
Everyone was lost in their own speculation. When they arrived at the private room, a server guided them to their seats. Conor Archer was about to leave the head of the table open when the housekeeper spoke up with a smile, "Our President Valentine has other matters to attend to, so he won’t be joining you. Please, enjoy your meal."
Without waiting for a reaction, the housekeeper turned to the girl, whose eyes were downcast, and said, "Miss Kennedy, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to help me take Sasa back."
Feeling all eyes on her, Joanna Kennedy frowned. Just as she was about to politely refuse...
...the housekeeper added apologetically, "He’s very attached to you."
. . .
Breaking the silence, Director Archer chuckled and joked, "Joanna, you should go. What are we going to do if President Valentine has to come over here to demand his dog back...?"
Joanna Kennedy’s frown deepened. As she was about to stand up, Owen Jennings, who had been quiet until now, suddenly asked, "Jojo, want me to go with you?"
There was a smile in his eyes. Joanna Kennedy hesitated for a moment before replying, "No, thanks. Don’t let me keep you from your dinner."
’It’s just returning a dog. Why would I need someone to go with me? That would just make things look more suspicious than they are.’
The restaurant was huge, spanning five floors. As she followed the housekeeper up to the top floor, Joanna Kennedy grew confused. "Aren’t we taking him back to the courtyard?"
The housekeeper simply smiled, took the leash, and opened the door to a private room. "After you, Miss Kennedy."
Inside the private room, a man sat quietly at a dining table before the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city lights outside cast his face in shadow, making his expression unreadable.
"..."
"President Valentine, what is the meaning of this?"
Joanna Kennedy wasn’t a fool. The moment she saw Liam Valentine sitting there, she knew for certain that he was approaching her intentionally.
As for his motive, she had no idea.
Liam Valentine acted as if he didn’t understand her. A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. "I just wanted to treat Miss Kennedy to a meal."
"I apologize for startling you last time," he said.
But Joanna Kennedy didn’t buy it. "President Valentine, do I look that gullible to you?"
’Once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern. Too many coincidences point to a plan.’ And this time, it clearly wasn’t a coincidence. Liam Valentine was doing this on purpose.
In response to her cold questioning, Liam Valentine unexpectedly nodded. "Yes."
Seeing her expression instantly darken, he couldn’t suppress a smile. "I’m joking. Miss Kennedy is very clever, not gullible in the least."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
His voice held a clear note of amusement, but his expression remained cool and composed. Since he was sitting, he had to tilt his head up slightly to speak to her, yet he still radiated the natural air of a superior.
From this angle, he looked the most like Simon Lockwood. His long, perfectly defined eyelashes, his calm, dark eyes, and that subtle aura of cool detachment... Standing this close, she could almost smell that familiar, clean scent of soap...
Something in Joanna Kennedy’s mind snapped. Unsure what possessed her, she suddenly leaned forward, bracing her hands on the table. "Liam Valentine," she asked point-blank, "are you trying to seduce me?"
’The similar scent, the similar disposition, even the way he indulges me...’
Her movement was sudden, but Liam Valentine didn’t flinch. His expression didn’t even flicker. He remained perfectly composed, his tone unreadable as he asked, "May I?"
"..."
They were extremely close. As his words landed, Joanna Kennedy’s pupils constricted in disbelief. She shot up and stumbled back several steps.
A flicker of regret crossed Liam Valentine’s face, but he continued, "Miss Kennedy, you should consider it. I would be an excellent lover."
"..." Joanna Kennedy’s face was stone. The words were practically ground from between her teeth: "Are you insane?"
A thousand curses were on the tip of her tongue, but that was the only one that escaped. She wasn’t just insulting him; she was genuinely questioning Liam Valentine’s sanity.
"Are you insane?" she repeated.
Liam Valentine sighed and answered earnestly, "No."
His expression was sincere. "Miss Kennedy can treat me as Mr. Lockwood. I don’t mind."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy: "You. Are. Insane."
Joanna Kennedy’s expression was still thunderous when she left the restaurant. She had no intention of rejoining the dinner. She had Julie send a message to the cast and crew and planned to head back to the hotel to rest.
When she got in the car and saw the man sitting in the back seat, Joanna Kennedy’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Si—Simon Lockwood?!"
Her expression was frozen. The moment she saw him, her normally bright, almond-shaped eyes flashed with clear panic. It was definitely not a look of pleasant surprise, but rather the flustered guilt of someone who’d just been caught doing something wrong.
And not just something minor.