Chapter 101 Diana, Please Get Off the Car
The car slowly rolled away from the chaos, the wheels making a soft noise against the pavement. I stared out the window, watching the scene fade—the rioting crowd, the flashing police lights, all of it slowly disappearing. We turned a corner and headed down a quieter road.
I glanced at the passing scenery and asked, "Babe, aren't we going home?"
Edward gently stroked my cheek and said, "Of course, we are. Where do you want to go?"
I figured he was teasing, maybe asking if we should go to the villa or the apartment, so I playfully tugged at his tie and pouted.
He chuckled, "Before we head home, there's something I need to do."
Curious, I turned to face him. "What are we doing?" I asked.
Edward rubbed his chin and replied, "First, we're getting you a change of clothes. The rest is a surprise. You'll see."
We drove through a few blocks and finally stopped in front of a fancy hotel.
Edward exited the car with his usual grace, moving around to my side. Opening my door, he extended his hand with a charming smile. "Please, step out."
I couldn't help but smile back. I took his hand and stepped out, enjoying the moment. His touch was warm and strong, making me feel safe, like nothing else mattered but his care and affection.
It wasn't too late, but the hotel was quiet, with just two rows of security guards and no other guests. As we got out, the butler hurried out, nodding and bowing. "Mr. Howard, Mrs. Howard, everything is ready. Please come inside."
Edward nodded and said, "Go change your clothes first. I'll wait here."
I followed an attendant to a beautifully decorated dressing room. The attendant opened a wardrobe filled with new designer clothes. "Mrs. Howard, these are all for you. Mr. Howard said if you don't like them, you can get new ones."
I picked a simple yet elegant white dress with delicate lace trim at the neckline and a light, flowing skirt. When I zipped it up and looked in the mirror, I was stunned. The dress made my skin look more delicate, and my eyes brighter. I tidied my hair, tucking a few loose strands behind my ear, and went back to Edward. His eyes lit up when he saw me.
He stood up, walked over, and gently took my hand. "You look beautiful," he said softly, full of affection.
Edward took my arm, and we walked towards the lobby. I whispered, "What are we doing?"
He responded only with a mysterious smile, steering me inside with a confident stride.
The hotel, owned by the Howard Group, was renowned for its opulence and exclusivity, attracting only the wealthiest of clients. It wasn't unusual for the atmosphere to be serene, but with no customers at all, it felt a bit odd.
I cautiously asked, "It's late; you're not making me inspect the place, are you? If you want me to work overtime, you have to pay me."
Edward squeezed my hand and said, "You got the litigation fee today, right? Don't worry; as the wife of the president of the Howard Group, not only will you get overtime pay, but the entire profit of the Howard Group is yours."
He playfully tapped my nose and led me inside. When we entered the largest private room, it was already set up with a dining table, candles, and all the decorations I loved.
"Mrs. Howard, please have a seat." Edward pulled out a chair for me, and I slowly sat down. He very gentlemanly helped me with the napkin.
The butler, seeing Edward personally serving me, was so nervous that his hands were shaking. "Mr. Howard, let us handle these small tasks," he said, trying to take the napkin from Edward with trembling hands.
He was probably regretting his neglect of me and might already be drafting his resignation letter in his head.
But Edward wasn't angry. He raised his hand to stop the butler and said, "Today, let me serve my wife."
The butler, not knowing what Edward was up to, could only lower his head and step aside. Edward sat across from me, and the butler finally got the chance to place a napkin for Edward.
The butler clapped his hands, and a waiter came out from the inner room, holding a delicate decanter. The butler stepped forward to pour red wine for both of us.
Edward spoke first, "Today was your first court appearance. I've been wanting to celebrate with you, but Diana, your mind has been on the law firm, only thinking about gathering with your lawyer colleagues and forgetting about me, your husband."
His tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction and a touch of jealousy. For some reason, I seemed to see little stars in Edward's eyes again.
Edward raised his wine glass, and under the light, the glass sparkled like a dazzling gem. He smiled at me and said, "Mrs. Howard, please."
I mimicked Edward's gesture, raising my glass and lightly clinking it against his.
I took a small sip of the wine, letting it linger on my tongue for a moment. In that instant, I felt a smooth and delicate texture, like velvet gently caressing my taste buds. The acidity of the wine was just right, like a lively elf dancing in my mouth, bringing a refreshing sensation.
Putting down the glass, Edward spoke again, "Try the dishes here. They may not be the most luxurious in the world, but they definitely rank in the top two."
Edward gently cut a piece of lobster meat and brought it to me. I used a fork to pick up the lobster and put it in my mouth. I nodded and said, "It is indeed good."
Seeing my praise for the dish, the butler hurriedly stepped forward to introduce the lobster, "Mr. Howard arranged for us to prepare a celebration banquet for you. This lobster was just caught from the sea this morning. To ensure the freshest taste, it was transported overnight from the port to our hotel and arrived just fifteen minutes before being served!"
The butler said with a proud expression. However, seeing the anger on Edward's face, the butler swallowed the rest of his words and fell silent.
Edward tightly gripped the knife and fork and said to the butler, "There's nothing more for you to do here. You may leave."
One cool thing about this hotel was that every table had its own butler. When Edward told the butler to scram, the poor guy got all jittery, not sure what he did wrong. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place—stay and risk pissing off Edward, or leave and maybe get in trouble for not doing his job.
Edward slammed his knife down on the plate. "Just leave!"
The butler, looking like a scolded puppy, bowed his head and backed out of the room.
Seeing Edward all riled up, I worried he might take it out on the butler. "He's just doing his job, no need to get mad. Let him go," I said, trying to calm him down.
Edward ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "He's too chatty, acting like he knows everything. It's killing the vibe. Forget it, I'm done eating. Let's move on to the next thing!"
"Next thing?" I asked, a bit confused.