Balfour waved a dismissive hand, signaling that he didnât need a menu. âIâll have what the lady across from me is having,â he said casually.
The words sent a thrill through Giselle, and she quickly flagged down the waiter.
âAnother spaghetti bolognese, but hold the celery on his. He doesnât eat celery,â she instructed.
The waiter nodded, jotting down the order. âAlright, one regular and one without celery. Just a moment, please.â
Clearly, the waiter took them for a couple out for a lunch date, which only made Giselleâs smile bloom wider.
It wasnât until she had settled comfortably at the table in the restaurant that she realized Balfour had really invited her out for lunch!
The man, as unapproachable as an iceberg, had finally succumbed to her charms.
Giselle was confident. There was not a man she couldnât charm when she put her mind to it.
âSo⦠what made you think to ask me out today?â Giselle asked, her cheeks flushed, her gaze lowered shyly as if she hardly dared to lock eyes with Balfourâs.
Balfour remained stoic, tapping a finger on the table as he considered his words.
âIs it so strange? We havenât had a meal together for a while,â he stated matter-of-factly.
Lately, it wasnât visiting his grandparents, it was always out with Ivy. He hadnât attended any trivial social gatherings for a long time.
âYeah, but youâre so busy with the company. I tried to ask you out a few times, but Quinton always said you were not available!â Giselle seized the opportunity to speak ill of Quinton.
It was one thing for Balfour to be aloof, but why did his assistant have to act so high and mighty?
Every time she tried to confirm Balfourâs schedule with him, Quinton would come up with all sorts of excuses to show that Balfour was indeed too busy to have lunch with her.
Unbeknownst to Quinton, he had silently been blacklisted. There were too many like Giselle who he had to turn down, and the number of people wanting to dine with Balfour was overwhelming.
Moreover, Balfour had made it clear: other than his wifeâs invitations, all other ladiesâ requests could be outright denied.
As the CEOâs assistant, his job was to shield him from all nuisances.
âItâs true. I have been very busy,â Balfour replied succinctly.
âAlright⦠but youâre here with me today, so youâll have to give me the rest of your time, wonât you?â
Giselleâs voice was gentle and soft, hiding her cunning intentions.
Balfour gave a slight nod, âSure.â
Giselle could hardly contain the joy that lifted the corners of her lips. She hastily took a sip of her drink to compose herself.
âThings have been rather unsettled lately, even someone in our film crew got injured,â Giselle ventured, watching Balfourâs reaction.
Balfour raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
âWell, itâs all for the sake of fame, isnât it? Not every actor can let go of the need to compare themselves with others.â