Chapter 317

His guess was entirely correct. Lily was indeed ready for dinner. Initially, she'd been content to postpone it, but Alexander's recommendation piqued her interest. For Lily, the joys of life included not only creating fragrances but also savoring delicious food. It was essential that the meal not disappoint.

Lily had planned to invite Giselle, but approaching Giselle's door, she reconsidered. The meal would likely be punctuated by constant nagging. Lily abandoned the idea and opted for takeout instead. She hailed a cab, randomly giving the driver the address of a restaurant.

Lily spoke Westwood fluently. Even dining alone, communication wasn't difficult, though few people knew of her linguistic abilities. Even Nathaniel might have been unaware of her multilingualism. Her high level of comprehension in her studies stemmed from genuine interest. This facilitated research into foreign fragrance materials or the history of spices—essential for her work. She didn't boast about these skills; they were simply tools for her profession.

Dining alone felt like solitary travel—comfortable yet lonely. Sipping her fragrant red wine, she found herself missing Alexander.

"Hi, Lily!"

A familiar voice, followed by a cheerful figure. "What a coincidence! Fate, I'd say! Are you here for dinner too?"

Lily was surprised to see Lisa so soon. It was quite unexpected.

"Yes, a friend recommended it, so I came to try it," Lily nodded.

"Of course, it's good here!" Lisa said proudly. "Have you tried anything yet? How is it?"

"It's not bad," Lily replied. She'd ordered the signature dish, which was delicious, though she still preferred home-cooked meals.

Lisa was clearly pleased to see her. Leaning in, she whispered, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon; I thought I'd only see you tomorrow. By the way, are you alone? Aren't you here on company business? Don't you have an assistant?"

Thinking of the assistant she'd left behind, Lily raised an eyebrow.

"She's resting at the hotel." Giselle was probably still anxious about tomorrow's competition.

"Then your assistant is unprofessional! An assistant should handle your food, transportation, clothing, and lodging. How could she rest and leave you to eat out alone?" Lisa disapproved.

"I asked her to rest," Lily said, rubbing her ears. "I wanted some alone time."

Lisa's smile faltered. "Am I bothering you?"

"It's okay. We haven't seen each other in a while. I'm happy to see you," Lily smiled. "Are you alone?"

Lisa exclaimed, as if snapping back to reality. "Oh! I forgot I have an appointment!" She looked inside the restaurant. "I have to go. Let's meet again soon."

"Okay," Lily replied happily, watching Lisa walk away. Lisa joined another woman at a nearby table.