63Jealousy
Nicholas drove himself while Madison followed in Rachel's car, following Nicholas's directions. The two vehicles arrived one after the other at the restaurant Nicholas mentioned, which bore the name "Homestyle Cuisine."
As they turned into an alley, Madison and Rachel wondered where they would park, but to their surprise, the alley opened to a spacious area with a large parking lot right in front of the restaurant.
After parking, the trio walked across a small arched bridge flanked by ponds teeming with goldfish before pushing open the doors to find a place that exuded a classical atmosphere.
It was said you needed a reservation at least two months in advance to dine here, which guaranteed a tranquil experience free of hustle and bustle, perfect for savoring the flavors of the food.
The server led them to a table for four and informed them they needed to place their orders at the front hall because the ingredients were all freshly displayed.
Guests could see what they wanted and make their choices, and the dishes would be prepared from scratch. Freshness was their specialty.
Nicholas asked the two ladies if they wanted to join him to order, but Madison and Rachel declined.
"Nicholas, you've been here before, you order for us. We're not picky eaters. Anything goes," Madison said with a gentle smile to Nicholas.
"All right, then have a seat while I go order," Nicholas said before he turned.
Madison and Rachel sat and began to discuss the pros and cons of the neighborhoods they'd just toured while sipping on the wine the server had poured.
The two women were quite fond of the new development, the "New Riverside Gardens," which featured up-to-date amenities and excellent security, a pleasing environment with a high greenery ratio, and a convenient distance to the schools.
Madison found the nearby school bus service reassuring for the kids' commute. Plus, having a subway station only 500 yards away from the complex entrance would make both school runs and her errands a breeze.
"Madison, do some online searching tonight for the listings for sale. Find a reliable agent and check out a few properties. Don't rush it. Take your time to find the right one," Rachel suggested.
"Yeah, I'll do some browsing tonight to get a sense of the floor plans," Madison replied.
*
Brian, with Matthew in tow, arrived at "Homestyle Cuisine." They found parking right at the entrance.
Brian parked the car, and they both walked in. The server led Matthew to the private dining room while Brian headed to the front hall to order.
During the calm before dinner, Madison updated Matthew on recent work progress. Once their dishes arrived, they lapsed into a comfortable silence, relishing their meal together.
Having ordered his meal and seeing Madison and Rachel chatting merrily upon his return, Nicholas inquired, "What's got you two in such high spirits?"
Rachel quickly responded, "We were just discussing our thoughts on a few neighborhoods we visited."
"And? Find any good prospects?" Nicholas's gently smiling face always had a comforting effect.
"Madison thinks 'Riverside Gardens' is quite nice," Rachel said, glancing toward Madison.
"The location is convenient, but I'm unsure if there are any suitable homes for sale. We'll have to keep looking," Madison replied.
"Yeah, I feel the same. I'll help look out for any good listings when it's time," Nicholas added.
Their conversation about housing ended as the server began to bring dishes to the table, and everyone started to focus on their meal.
The food at Homestyle Cuisine was truly delicious, prompting Rachel to give several compliments. "Madison could earn a lot for her cooking skills here."
"Don't tease. This is a professional chef's work," Madison quickly cut Rachel off, not wanting her to make her out to be some culinary goddess.
"I've yet to taste Madison's cooking. Once you've bought a house and moved in, you'll have to invite us over," Nicholas remarked.
"Absolutely," Madison agreed with a smile.
*
Matthew and Brian finished their meal quickly. Stepping out of the private dining room, Brian suggested Matthew head to the car while he settled the bill.
Matthew opted to wait at the entrance instead of heading straight to the car, casually looking around when he suddenly saw a familiar silhouette.
In the second-to-last row on the left side of the main dining area, two women and a man were seated together. Madison sat next to one of the women directly across from the man. Matthew recognized him as the same guy who had visited his office with Madison.
His gaze lingered on them, irritation mounting as he watched Madison chat animatedly and flash that stunning smile at the man across from her.
He struggled to contain the urge to confront them, a flurry of questions racing through his mind. How long had they known each other? What was their relationship? Why was she smiling at him like that?
Matthew had always known Madison to be cheerful, naturally making her well-received among his family and friends.
After her return, she was all smiles—beaming at Grandpa, Quentin, Hannah, Willow, and the others. But with him, there was only indifference. Did it mean her love had faded? Had she fallen for someone else? Was it the man sitting across from her now?
At that moment, he realized with a gut-wrenching jealousy how cozy that man was, sitting there, chatting her up with ease.
Yet he didn't even have the status or the courage to step up and challenge.
Having just settled the bill, Brian returned to find his boss's mood had turned sour. Just moments ago, he had been basking in cheer, but now, it was like he'd plummeted into a chilly abyss.
Brian found himself perplexed by his boss's sudden shift in demeanor. What could have occurred in such a short span of time?
Spotting Brian, Matthew coldly said, "Let's go."
With that, he turned and left without a backward glance.
Back at the office, Matthew couldn't help but dial Hannah's number.
Hannah was in the kitchen with Valerie, preparing stuffed pastries, her hands busy shaping the savory-filled dough into her preferred form.
Seeing her dad's call come through, she didn't mind her messy hands and sweetly greeted, "Daddy~~."
Listening to his daughter's youthful voice lifted Matthew's spirits a bit. After chatting for a while, he asked, "Where's Mom?"
"Mom went out, said she had something to discuss with godmother, and hasn't returned yet," Hannah reported earnestly.
"Oh," he pondered, growing irritated. She wasn't home yet? How long did it take to have lunch? Or had she gone somewhere else?
"What about William and your brother?"
"William and my brother are gardening, and I'm making pastries with Grandma. Are you off work, Daddy?" Hannah's anticipation of seeing her father was evident.
"Dad's wrapping up some work, then I'll head home for dinner."
"That's great! I'll make pastries for you tonight, Daddy. They turned out pretty."
"All right."
After hanging up with Hannah, Matthew looked at the papers on his desk, but his heart wasn't in it. Forcing himself to go over two more documents, he left the office. The secretary by the door spotted him and quickly stood up.
"Organize the departmental documents and have them ready for me. I'll review them tomorrow," he instructed before heading straight for the CEO's private elevator.
As the young assistant relayed the message, Brian, arms laden with files, arrived. "Matthew has called it a day. He said he'll look at the documents tomorrow."
Clutching the stack of papers, Brian stood motionless, processing the news.
"I thought we agreed on 4 p.m. Why is everyone leaving at 3?"
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