Chapter 70

Miles looked at Julian differently now. Even the fierce air he usually wore seemed to soften in his eldest brother's presence. He sat obediently across from him and bent over his breakfast like a little quail.

Julian had no words.

Elise watched the unusually peaceful scene with a smile. As far as she knew, neither brother had realized the gifts were from her, and they were getting along much better because of them. Miles looked positively touched.

Pleased, she lowered her head and resumed eating. Adrian was away performing, and Theo had returned to his team for another stretch of around-the-clock training. She would send their presents to them instead.

A Maybach S450 stood quietly by the curb near Northbridge High. Passersby glanced back at its badge, then looked again to make sure they had recognized the model correctly. Curiosity and envy followed once they had.

From the passenger seat, Pei Yi briefed him on company matters. Mu Chuan sat in the spacious back seat, listening thoughtfully as he took a bottle of red wine from the car's refrigerator.

“When Miss Whitmore first transferred here, her classmates weren't very welcoming,” Pei said. “There was a bullying incident. Someone damaged her backpack and textbooks. The Whitmores' adopted daughter also caused trouble for her and spread stories about her online.”

Mu's fingers stopped against the stem of his wineglass. “And then?”

Pei avoided his gaze. His boss was usually decisive and evenhanded, but with certain people he could be ruthless. The cold look in Mu's eyes now was enough to make anyone shiver.

“The girl who damaged Miss Whitmore's things has already transferred,” Pei continued more respectfully. “The adopted daughter went back to her birth parents. I heard she took an extended sick leave and hasn't been to school for a long time.”

Mu mastered his expression. “Did you check?”

“Yes. Hannah Lawson isn't ill. She simply doesn't want to come to school, and she isn't getting along well with her birth parents. She ran away from home recently, but her father brought her back.”

Mu considered that for a moment. “Make sure she doesn't appear at Northbridge again.”

Pei straightened. “I'll take care of it.” His boss never left a potential threat unattended. Hannah had already acted against Elise; if she remained at the school, resentment might drive her to do it again.

Pei hesitated. “There's something else. We've just learned that someone from the Whitmore family is investigating you.”

“Who?”

“Julian Whitmore.” Pei frowned. Being investigated was unpleasant. Julian had a good reputation in their circles, but that didn't mean he couldn't act against Mu. “Should we warn him?”

Mu looked out the window. The dismissal bell had rung, and boys and girls in similar uniforms were beginning to stream through the gate. He watched each one, afraid he might miss Elise in the crowd.

“No,” he said. “Give him everything, truthfully.”

Pei stared. “Everything?”

At the auction Mu had competed with Julian for the diamond because he hadn't wanted Julian to win it for some mysterious sweetheart. But Julian was Elise's brother. If Mu intended to pursue her, he would have to be open with him.

A girl with long hair falling smoothly over her shoulders came out of the gate. She waved goodbye to another girl and took a different route.

After parting from Nora, Elise walked with her head down, distracted. Mu had given her the invitation that let her attend the auction and buy the gifts that had eased the strain between Julian and Miles. She had planned to thank him with a present of his own.

But what could she give him?

He had casually spent $11.5 million on a colored diamond. Would he even care for anything she could choose? The question had troubled her all day.

A figure stepped into her path. She looked up to find Mu standing in front of her, watching her intently.

He pressed his lips together. Surprise lit her face, and when she smiled, his heart seemed to skip. His limbs went stiff. Suddenly he didn't know what to do with his hands or feet.

Pei could hardly believe his eyes. Where was the composure his boss maintained through any crisis? He had chatted easily with foreign heads of state, yet one smile had left him like this. Was he really so innocent when it came to romance?

Elise's eyes brightened. “Were you passing by?”

Mu was pleasant and good-tempered, as far as she could tell. He had even made a shelter for a cat; surely someone so softhearted toward animals must be kind. She had quietly placed him among her friends long ago.

He softened his imposing manner and bent slightly, as though to match her height. “No.” He paused. “Yes.”

Elise blinked. Which was it?

Mu cleared his throat. Getting this nervous was embarrassing. He forced himself to settle down, and when his expression had returned to normal, he said, “I was passing by. I happened to see you coming out, so I stopped you.”

Pei could no longer control his face. His boss had been distracted all afternoon, even during a meeting. He knew exactly when school ended and had ordered them here early. They had been waiting outside for an hour!

Elise paid no attention to Mu's changing expression. “Thank you for the invitation,” she said with a smile.

She had spent so long wondering what to give him, and now here he was. An idea occurred to her. She blinked and asked hesitantly, “Do you have time? I'd like to treat you to a meal.”

She hadn't chosen a gift yet. Perhaps dinner would do as a thank-you instead.

His mouth curved upward. “You want to take me to dinner?”

“Yes,” she said earnestly. “To thank you for the invitation.”

His smile turned wry. For a moment he had thought... Well, he couldn't rush things.

He gathered himself, opened the car door and invited her in with a courteous gesture.

As soon as Elise settled in the back seat, she took out her phone and messaged Julian. She was having dinner with a friend and would be home afterward.

Mu watched quietly. Was she reporting to Julian? Perhaps not. She had more than one brother. A pang of jealousy caught him; all of them were much closer to her than he was.

After sending the message, Elise sat a little stiffly in the unfamiliar car. Mu glanced at her and broke the silence.

“Since you're treating me, may I choose the place?”

“Of course!” He had helped her so much that he ought to choose. Even if the restaurant was expensive, she was prepared to pay.

The décor still took her by surprise when they arrived. There were very few customers, and an entire floor seemed to have been prepared for Mu alone. A large table faced a transparent cooking station, where they could see the ingredients and every movement of the chef's hands.

Mu ordered the dishes. Elise had never seen a cooking station like this before and watched, fascinated, as the chef prepared the food with swift, precise movements, adding a few dazzling flourishes for the guests.

When the dishes arrived, she looked up in surprise. Why were they all things she liked? Perhaps Mu's tastes were much like hers.

She soon forgot the question and concentrated on eating. Julian's private chef had spoiled her palate, but even so, this meal was delicious. It was better than the food at home, and she still wanted more when she finished.

Mu watched her enjoy it, a smile appearing without his noticing.

During dinner he asked her many questions about school. Assuming he was curious, Elise answered freely. He followed wherever her conversation led, and she relaxed enough to talk about Nora and Jade, her brothers, and even their squabbles at home. Mu listened, an unreadable emotion flickering in his eyes.

After the meal he hesitated. “So, are we friends now?”

Elise paused, then made up her mind. “Yes.” He had been good to her, and she wanted to be his friend.

Mu seemed to turn the word over in his mind. Elise felt a little rush of happiness at having made another friend. Across the table, Mu was wondering how he might turn “friend” into “boyfriend.”

When it was time to pay, Elise waved over a server, who politely placed the itemized bill in front of her. “Your total is $1,700.”

Elise had taken out her phone to pay. Her hand stopped, and she nearly dropped it on the table. How much?

One meal cost that much? The décor and ingredients had told her it would be expensive, but she hadn't expected this.

She caught the amusement in Mu's eyes. He had seen her surprise at the price. How embarrassing. Her cheeks warmed as she quickly paid the bill.

“Congratulations,” the server said. “A purchase of at least $1,400 entitles you to a prize from our mystery-box machine.”

“A mystery-box machine?”

Then Elise remembered Nora mentioning them. Lately, entertainment venues had been setting out machines filled with identical boxes. You picked one without knowing what was inside. It was rather like a raffle, and finding a lucky prize could make your day.

She had never tried one and was curious. But would Mu be interested? He was the head of an enormously wealthy family. Surely a little mystery box costing only a few dollars wouldn't appeal to him.

She glanced at him. As if it were a casual suggestion, he said, “That sounds good. Let's try it.”

Elise stared at him.

The machine stood by the restaurant exit. A dozen or so boxes were lined up inside, all wrapped in pink cardboard that gave no hint of their contents. She chose number 927, the date of her birthday.

When the box dropped into the slot, she felt the thrill of drawing a prize. Aware that her excitement must be obvious, she hugged the unopened box and looked at Mu. He was still beside her, watching her warmly. His gaze made her feel that whatever she did would be all right.

She pushed the odd thought aside and opened the box. Protective foam surrounded a small black satin case. Why would a cheap mystery-box prize need such elegant packaging? Had they spent all the money on the box?

She opened the case and discovered how wrong she was. The thing inside was worth millions of times more than its packaging.