Chapter 76: That poor woman. She’s got the patience of a saint!
Dinner began with the steady arrival of dishes—one after another, the wooden table filling with sizzling platters, dipping sauces, and aromatic sides. The warm tones of BBQ Heaven’s lighting gave everything a golden, cozy hue. Glasses clinked as drinks were poured—sparkling soda for Becky and Rose, a mellow herbal tea for Celina, and plain water for Miles, as usual.
A server placed a large tray of grilled chicken, glazed ribs, and charred vegetables in front of them, the fragrant smoke rising like a gentle invitation.
"Mmm, that smells insane," Rose said, practically bouncing in her seat.
Becky leaned slightly toward Miles, smiling. "So, Miles... how’s your business going? You gave us quite the surprise when the news broke that Sterling Enterprises acquired Cinder Square."
She chuckled, poking at a roasted corn cob on her plate. "You were the only Sterling I knew, so naturally, I called Celina in the middle of the night just to confirm."
Rose sipped her drink and nodded. "Quite the surprise indeed. Even in my family, Sterling Enterprises is suddenly a topic of dinner conversation."
Celina smirked over her glass, her voice teasing. "Didn’t you two get used to surprises from Miles back in the university days? The man’s a walking enigma. You think you’ve figured him out, then boom—another twist."
Becky laughed, "You’re absolutely right. Like when he Scared those bullies just with words"
Rose added, "Or that time he beat the shit out of those goons and acting like nothing happened."
Miles, chewing a piece of perfectly grilled chicken, simply said, "This grilled chicken is very flavorful."
There was a beat of silence—then all three girls burst into laughter.
Celina wiped the corner of her eye, "Classic Miles."