True Love Waits

Chapter 451 Tender Only For You

After hanging up, Debbie headed back to the private booth. She was entertaining, after all. The best way to boost her career. She was about to round a corner when she heard some women chatting nearby. One woman said in a voice full of admiration, "You're the luckiest woman in the world, Stephanie. You're about to marry Mr. Huo, and he cares so much about you."

"You're just about as lucky as me. Let's eat out. How about Orchid Private Club? I'll call Carlos and ask him to lend me his private booth," announced Stephanie in a proud tone.

"Really? Mr. Huo's private booth? I can't wait!" the other women exclaimed. Their cheers reverberated through the hallway.

As Debbie listened, they seemed to be getting close. They rounded the corner and were face to face with her. There were about four of them. Stephanie's friends were surprised to see Debbie. One of them whispered to the others, "Wait...isn't that Debbie Nian?"

"The singer? Yeah, looks like her. I hear that she and Mr. Huo..." another woman whispered back, winking at her friend. For Stephanie's sake, she didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant.

Debbie's and Stephanie's eyes met. Debbie was mad at Carlos a moment ago for he had changed their daughter's last name on a form without consulting her. But now she flashed a meaningful smile. Stephanie sensed provocation in that smile. With a frown, she passed by Debbie. Neither of them spoke.

When Stephanie and her friends walked into the elevator, Debbie took out her phone, unblocked Carlos' number and called him.

No sooner had Carlos stepped into the meeting room than his phone rang. He was known as a cold and emotionless man, but a smile crept over his face when he caught sight of the caller ID. He answered the phone and stepped out. "Hi," he said softly. That was such a shift in tone. The rest of the meeting attendees looked at each other in wonder. They had never seen their boss so tender.

"Was that really him? You never hear him sound like that." "Who called? Was it Miss Li?" someone else asked.

"Haha! Right! You ever hear Mr. Huo talk to Miss Li like that?"

"It's gotta be. She's his fiancee, right?"

More than a few of the men there knew of Debbie's recent association with Carlos. They simply smiled and kept silent. It wasn't their place to air their boss' dirty laundry.

temporarily forget what Carlos did. "Hey, old man, I

it hard to say no to

think a thank-you dinner is just what the doctor ordered. Can I borrow your private

thought. That name rang a bell. "The guy who cost

with Elmer. "Yeah, him. Well, not counting that bill, I made even less than a million." And her routine expenses made it less

moping tone. "I'll lend you my private booth.

if Elmer rips me off again? He might invite me to sign another contract. I don't want to get stiffed every time the work ends." A dinner at Orchid Private Club was as expensive as eating on the fifth floor of the Alioth Building. Debbie

advice. Go to Orchid

was up to something. But she

decided to follow his advice. After hanging up, she

phone, he got a call from Stephanie. "Carlos, who were you on the phone with? I've been trying to get through for awhile," she said, trying her best to sound casual. "A client. What do

tonight. I want to entertain some clients and I'm thinking of doing it at Orchid Private

got her point even before

she asked him that. 'Clever girl!' he thought, smiling. Then he said to Stephanie, "Sorry, it's already spoken for. I can get you another one,

her. To spare herself humiliation,

for you.

hung up without even waiting for Stephanie to respond. Listening to the hang-up beep, she slowly put her phone down, face

walked over and

forced smile, "Carlos' private booth isn't available tonight. I was a little late.

responded. Disappointment was plain in their voices and faces. The look

they were still happy because they were going to eat at Orchid Private Club. So they