Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Putting on an Act

After getting everything sorted, Julian Sterling called his personal bodyguard and headed to the agreed meeting place with Gabriel Cole. Along the way, he tried looking around to see if there were any other security vehicles escorting him, but the surroundings appeared normal. Perhaps knowing what Julian was looking for, his bodyguard-slash-driver spoke up: “The personnel arranged by the boss along the route have already arrived at the venue ahead of time. The boss said that you wouldn’t want them to be too conspicuous.”

Hearing this, Julian felt completely reassured, and his previously tense heartbeat gradually calmed down. He leaned back against the soft leather seat and nodded gently: “Later, just follow me into the restaurant and get a table right next to ours. You do not need to sit too far away, but do not lose sight of me either.”

The bodyguard obviously could not sit at the same table as them, because today’s conversation was of a private nature. Furthermore, given Gabriel Cole’s personality, Gabriel certainly would not accept the presence of a third party. However, if Julian had to make someone stand stiffly and watch him eat, Julian genuinely felt he would not be able to swallow his food. He wanted the people who followed to protect him to be treated as comfortably as possible.

The car slowly came to a halt in front of an upscale restaurant. When he was escorted by the bodyguard to the location, Gabriel Cole was already seated at the most prime position of the venue, with an elegant vase of fresh flowers displayed on the table. Gabriel smiled in greeting and did not seem to show any negative reaction regarding the bodyguard appearing alongside Julian.

Nevertheless, to maintain a comfortable atmosphere and in accordance with basic courtesy, Julian still had to speak up and explain: “My husband has been quite uneasy about outside security lately, so he told this bodyguard to stick close to my side at all times. I hope his presence does not ruin our ambiance. You do not mind, do you?”

Gabriel Cole shook his head, his demeanor remaining distinctly elegant. He replied in a very natural tone: “It is perfectly fine, safety comes first after all. I completely understand that concern. Tell your bodyguard to just pick the adjacent table and freely order whatever he wants, tell him not to hesitate at all, I will cover the bill.”

Having said that, Gabriel Cole reached across the table, taking the initiative to hand the luxurious leather-bound menu to Julian Sterling: “The dishes marked with a red pen in here are the most famous ones they offer. I have already called ahead for the kitchen to prepare them. The waiters will probably bring the food out in just a moment. Take a look and see if there are any other dishes you might want to eat, and we will order more.”

Julian gave it a quick glance, there must have been at least five or six dishes marked. Thus, he shook his head: “That is enough, we will not be able to finish all of this.”

“Do not worry about it, do you really think I cannot afford to treat you to this little bit of food?”

Seeing that Julian did not seem to want to order anything else, Gabriel Cole did not push the issue. Gabriel started conversing with Julian as if they were old friends who had not seen each other in years, having a hundred things they needed to catch up on.

Truth be told, whether in his past life or this current one, what Julian hated the most was having to talk to a person like Gabriel Cole. The man sitting in front of Julian seemingly never knew how to get straight to the point.

A single sentence coming from his mouth could contain five to seven different layers of meaning, beating around the bush in every way conceivable just to probe someone else’s attitude. Just sitting quietly and listening to Gabriel ramble was already incredibly exhausting, let alone having to rack one’s brain figuring out a suitable response. It was not at all the usual wisdom, sophistication, or prudence of a seasoned businessman.

Rather… how to put it, it felt like he was intentionally putting on an act, trying so hard to craft such a facade. Creating a facade of unfathomable depth, meticulously calculating every single step. But the reality was, the more he spoke, the more that hypocritical attitude merely made the person sitting opposite him feel extremely uncomfortable and lose their patience.

He did not know if Gabriel Cole himself felt tired after talking incessantly for so long, but just sitting there listening had already made Julian completely exhausted. Even the steaming, exquisitely presented delicacies now resting on the table could not arouse the slightest bit of appetite in him.

This forced atmosphere was suffocating him. Finally, unable to endure this meaningless circumlocution any longer, Julian had to bluntly speak up to interrupt his words: “I wonder what important matter prompted you to go out of your way to invite me here today? Both of our times are precious, so we might as well just get straight to the main point.”

“I merely wanted to sit down, share a meal, and chat with you for a bit.” Gabriel Cole replied with a placid smile.

“I do not think we share any common ground to warrant such a lengthy conversation.” Julian decisively rested his chopsticks on the edge of his bowl.

He picked up his glass and took a sip of filtered water to signify that he had finished his meal and was full, even though in reality, he had barely touched his food. His gaze turned indifferent: “If you still cannot state the straightforward purpose of this meeting, then I must ask to be excused and leave first. I have personal matters I need to attend to shortly.”

“Julian .” Just as he pushed his hands against the table, adopting a resolute posture to stand up and leave his chair, Gabriel Cole, seated opposite him, hastily called his name to hold him back. His tone suddenly became incredibly serious: “What do you think about coming to work at my corporation?”

The only response to the man’s calculating question was a sharply cold stare from Julian, looking exactly as if he were staring at a lunatic spouting baseless nonsense.

This proposition was overly absurd and ridiculous considering their current relationship. Yet the man sitting across from him was exceptionally good at putting on an act; Gabriel pretended to completely misunderstand the meaning behind that disdainful glare, instead putting on a very sincere expression as he slowly continued: “I am not joking at all. I genuinely hope that we will have the opportunity to collaborate in our professional endeavors.”

Julian faintly curled his lips into a sarcastic smile, his voice full of self-deprecation: “Do you truly value and wish to recruit someone who could not even manage studying economic management, who failed so badly that they hit rock bottom and ultimately had to struggle just to transfer to the fine arts department like me?”

“But you successfully passed the entrance exams for the fine arts department at St. Lawrence University, one of the top institutions in the entire country. That alone is enough to prove your capabilities.” Gabriel Cole leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret: “Julian , I know you inherently despise the Sterlings; you would rather hide yourself away, rather let them trample over and despise you, remaining resolute in not wanting them to discover your true talents. But I am absolutely nothing like them. I genuinely like you, and I immensely value the hidden talents within you.”

“Gabriel Cole , please stop sitting here telling me such tasteless jokes.” Julian coldly brushed off the flattery from the man in front of him: “You are smart enough to know that all of my resentment towards the people of the Sterling family entirely stems from the fact that they always openly despise and look down on me. And the most fundamental root cause leading to that is precisely because I am truly useless. If I actually possessed the ability to conceal my talents, harboring deep schemes and hidden calculations like what you are imagining, would I really be able to grit my teeth in silence and let them hurl abuses and trample upon my dignity day in and day out like that?”

“No one can truly know what is on your mind.” Gabriel Cole answered offhandedly, then looked directly into his eyes: “I am truly, very sincerely inviting you to come work for me.”

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