Chapter 590 Mr. Windsor's Turn to Taste
The meeting place had been set by Richard.
Perched atop a mountain, the upscale country club was one of the Foster family's properties, designed with distinctive Southwest American flair. The club offered relaxation, featuring fishing, enjoying afternoon tea, and golf.
Led by a bellhop through the tranquil grounds reminiscent of a gently flowing stream, Natalie couldn’t help but take a longer look.
Noticing her interest, Oliver inquired, "Do you like it?"
"It's alright," Natalie replied, not overly enthusiastic. "It's just surprising. I wouldn't have expected...”
“Retirees?" Oliver finished her sentence, a twinkle of mischief in his eye.
Natalie cautiously held back a reply.
The word "retirees" felt like a minefield to her, and she didn't want to revisit old arguments with Oliver. Nonetheless, it certainly had the air of a senior center—hardly a spot you'd associate with a young crowd.
Considering Richard had been selected by Jane’s brother to be her fiancé, and he was barely thirty, his choice of venue was nothing short of astonishing.
Oliver let out a cryptic chuckle, the mockery in his tone clear as day, "Guess the cologne was wasted."
Dressing up so formally seemed wasted on just "retirees".
Natalie was about to glare at him and lecture about manners when suddenly, a rich, warm voice called out:
"Mr. Windsor, Mrs. Windsor."
A few meters away, by the door of a secluded room, stood a tall and well-posed man. Dressed in a casual suit appropriate for early summer, his features were striking, his gaze serene, and he exuded an indescribable scholarly aura.
He seemed less like a businessman and more like a college professor, the kind who could effortlessly command a lecture hall, wholly immersed in academic research.
It was hard to imagine that this man, the actual power broker of the prominent Southwestern Foster family, was currently collaborating with Oliver to take down Ashford's illegal operation in tandem with official channels.
Considering that she was in company with Oliver, Natalie refrained from correcting Richard’s reference to her as "Mrs. Windsor" on the spot to avoid making either of them feel awkward.
Sometimes as an adult, you have to learn to play the fool.
"Mr. Foster," Oliver nodded slightly in greeting.
As Natalie subtly observed Richard, she smiled and said, "Mr. Foster, I've heard much about you."
"Mrs. Windsor is more than welcome to take her time," Richard replied with an unchanging smile, a blend of gentlemanly charm and assertiveness.
He gestured for them to follow him into the tea room.
Natalie felt a bit embarrassed; Richard appeared amiable, but his actions were sharp and decisive, unexpectedly calling her out on her little ploy.
Finally, he started to resemble a true family leader.
From the moment she laid eyes on Richard, Natalie expected that he would invite them for tea rather than proposing modern leisure pursuits like fishing or golfing.
Sure enough, inside the tea room, the water had been heated to the perfect temperature for tea, around 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Richard took his seat at the head of the room and dismissed the server. He rolled up his sleeves and began preparing the tea himself, his movements skilled and practiced.
The aroma of fresh tea began to spread throughout the room.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Natalie, Richard saw that neither she nor Oliver seemed like outsiders and promptly began discussing serious matters with Oliver.
Natalie occasionally tuned in, not listening intently; the two men spoke of everything from their joint venture against Ashford to potential business collaborations between the Foster and another prominent family, touching on matters both domestic and international.
Natalie understood most of it but wasn't particularly interested in pondering these issues.
Besides, these two were quick thinkers, both deeply shrewd and calculating. Keeping up with their line of thought would be too taxing for her.
With nothing else to do, Natalie had the staff bring another tea set, and she started preparing tea herself.
Natalie always took her tasks seriously, particularly the art of tea which demands full focus. By the time her brewed tea was settling, she realized that the two men, who had been discussing multi-billion dollar business deals, had fallen silent.
One's gaze was on her, and the other's eyes were fixed on her hands, now busying with the tea leaves.
"Mr. Foster, would you care to try some?" Natalie hadn't planned to offer Richard a taste, but he was intently watching her handle the tea.
"It would be my honor," responded Richard without an ounce of reservation, signaling for a cup of tea to be brought to him.
Natalie had a feeling, turning her head, she certainly saw Oliver giving her a frosty look, as if she'd committed some grievous sin against him.
Silence hung briefly before Natalie went ahead and served him a cup, "Would Mr. Windsor care for some?"
There was a slight thaw in Oliver's expression as he accepted the teacup.
"Mrs. Windsor's proficiency in the art of tea is far superior to many of her peers I've encountered. It's no wonder Jovan often speaks so highly of you," Richard complimented without hesitation. His gaze at Natalie held a hint more respect than mere politeness.
And with that, nothing more.
Jovan Watkin, Jane's brother.
Natalie guessed Richard was deliberately mentioning Jovan Watkin. Playing along, she asked, "Does Mr. Foster have a wife or girlfriend yet?"
"No," Richard's smile became more genuine, clearly pleased with Natalie's line of conversation.
"I've heard Richard was once close to being Jane's fiancé."
"That's true."
Given his candor, Natalie decided to be forthright, "So what brings Richard to seek me out today?"
Richard blinked, looking towards Oliver.
He... came for Natalie?
Was it not Mr. Windsor who had subtly implied an invitation for Natalie to join them today?
Richard's mind raced, and he soon smirked, looking down.
It wasn't solely down to Oliver's "hint"; if it weren't for his own curiosity, he wouldn't have easily invited a woman he didn't know to their meeting.
"Richard wishes to inquire, how is Miss Jane doing?"
"If Richard wished to know about Jane, I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult with your resources," Natalie suspected he was just making conversation.
Richard shook his head, "I haven't gone out of my way to check on Miss Jane. Besides, someone is keeping tabs on me."
Natalie quickly thought of a name, "Anthony?"
"Yes."
Natalie silently disapproved of Anthony's actions. The man wasn't treating Jane right and had the gall to sabotage her love life!
"To be frank, I've met with Miss Jane. She openly declared her dislike for me, saying she had someone she loved," Richard revealed with a hint of irony in his tone, not directed at Jane.
It was a jest at fate's cruel games; Jane once swore undying love for someone who ended up hurting her so deeply.
Natalie suddenly wasn't sure about Richard's intention for meeting her, "Do you still... have feelings for Jane?"
Richard picked up his tea and took a sip. "I've always admired Miss Jane, and Jovan and I were good friends. Before his accident, he expressed a wish that someone would watch over his sister for life."
So, is it about... responsibility?
Natalie thought for a moment before stating honestly: "Well, Richard, you don't exactly seem like Jane's type, and I wouldn't have expected you to have feelings for her."
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