Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198 A Surprise

“He delivered it himself?” Isabelle looked up, slightly surprised.

“Yeah. came by personally.” Evelyn said, her smile widening until her eyes were nearly shut. “Said he was in the neighborhood and picked them up on a whim. Dropped them off and left right away.

“He came here? To the studio?” Isabelle paused, searching Evelyn’s face for confirmation.

“He sure did! Even told us to eat them while they’re still hot. He got a batch for everyone, you know. And you know how crazy the lines at that place usually are.”

Lately. Evelyn and the others had been quietly shipping Damian and Isabelle. And with Collin showing up more frequently these days, the office speculation was only growing. Everyone was watching closely to see how Damian would react.

Isabelle let out a long, slow breath.

Oh, no. Does he run into Collin?

Could it really be that coincidental?

Pursing her lips, she took a quick picture of the spicy chicken wings–the replacement she’d settled on for the original garlic chicken feet–and sent it to Damian, just to keep him in the loop.

Unexpectedly, he replied almost instantly.

“Go easy on the Buffalo wings. Bad breath complicates kissing. Have more of the desserts instead.”

Isabelle rolled her eyes.

This man had no sense of propriety. He looked all polished and proper in his tailored suits, but underneath, he was a total rogue–arrogant to the core.

Among the desserts this time, aside from the usual from “Sweet Dreams Cafe“, there was also the shop’s new seasonal offering, “Mango Mirage“.

The names kept getting more extravagant. She had a feeling the bakery owner was a woman.

March weather was always unpredictable. The air was finally starting to warm, though the evenings still carried a slight chill.

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Chapter 198 A Surprise

By six o’clock, it was already completely dark.

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The makeup team had arrived and set up in the studio’s lounge area. Isabelle sat in one of the armchairs in the back room, letting them work on her face.

Damian and Brian waited in the main outer lounge.

They used the spare time to go over the documents in their hands one more time.

Celeste wasn’t there this time.

Now that was unusual.

Celeste had never missed a major automotive industry event before–it was usually Damian who skipped them. In the past, he’d never bothered with these functions, but lately, it seemed he was shifting his full attention to the self–driving division.

And tonight’s event appeared more significant than the previous ones.

He was dressed formally, wearing the custom white shirt Isabelle had made for him last year, paired with a light blue vest and a tailored suit jacket.

Very few men could pull off that color combination, but Damian wore it like it was made for him. With his build, he looked good in anything.

Combined with his close–cropped hair, he carried a quiet, commanding presence just by standing still.

Brian, on the other hand, was slouching comfortably against the sofa. Even the way his hair fell over his forehead screamed relaxed.

Thankfully, he was wearing that black suit. Otherwise, he’d look every bit the rebellious trust- fund kid–not a hint of a corporate assistant about him.

But Damian had never wanted an assistant who dressed like some meek subordinate. His assistant’s presence had to complement his own.

“Mr. Cross,” Brian began, glancing at the investment proposal tossed to the side of the table. “Are we really not considering the Zollars anymore? The partnership was all but confirmed last month. What made us pull back so suddenly?”

Damian sighed quietly, his eyes lowering. But the faint crease between his brows showed it hadn’t been an easy call.

He rubbed his forehead, looking pensive. “It’s complicated. Have the team run another deep-

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dive due diligence. It’s all moving a little too smoothly. Investment isn’t a game. We can’t afford to be careless.”

Brian nodded. “Understood.” Just then, his phone buzzed. “Mr. Connolly has arrived. I’ll go greet him.”

Damian gave a slight wave of dismissal.

Barry Connolly was a senior manager from Cypher Group’s headquarters. They didn’t see him often.

At last night’s cocktail event, Celeste had gotten halfway through her third drink and, leaning on the buzz, told Damian her leg was acting up–probably the weather, she’d said, maybe a touch of arthritis.

Brian had almost smiled. Arthritis flares up when the weather shifts if there’s old bone

trauma.

She hadn’t even fractured anything. The minor injury from New Year had healed ages ago.

Damian hadn’t commented at the time. But the next morning, he’d notified her that if her leg was bothering her, she should take the day to rest at home. As a result, Celeste wouldn’t be joining them tonight–so Barry had been asked to step in.

Damian was effectively replacing her.

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