"Yeah, I heard about it yesterday from them. I feel sorry for you, girl. I hope you can sort things out soon—" Harper said in genuine concern.
"We are almost there," Bella replied bitterly. She felt her problems had doubled since she returned to this country. Both her family and Tristan’s family awaited her around every corner.
"Harper, Bella, would you girls mind to stop talking?" Leo’s voice distracted them as they looked at him. "There are delicious foods before us. Let’s eat—"
They stopped talking, their eyes fixed on the delicious dishes on the table.
Bella’s eyes beamed when she saw steak, stir-fry vegetables, and fried rice served in the middle for them to share.
"Oh, is this Hibachi fried rice and steak?" Bella asked excitedly, looking at Sam, who was sitting opposite. She remembered eating this dish at her favorite Japanese restaurant.
Bella loves fried rice combined with steak. However, even though she likes fried rice, she is very picky about it. If it doesn’t taste good, she won’t eat it.
"Yes, Boss. Stefan said you are fond of steak Hibachi fried rice with veggies on the side, so I made this for you. Try it," Sam said as he finished arranging all the food on the table. He placed the fried rice, the steak, and the veggies in separate big bowls, with the biggest bowls filled with fried rice.
"Wow! Stefan told you about my weakness! I can’t wait to taste it, Sam,"
Bella’s voice filled with excitement as she began to fill her plate with a few slices of meat and fried rice. She decided to taste the fried rice first, leaving the vegetables untouched.
She hoped the taste would remind her of the small Japanese restaurant she had discovered near her apartment in Central Park.
Bella didn’t rush to put a spoonful of fried rice into her mouth but smiled when she saw all eyes focused on her as if they wanted to hear her opinion.
When she finally tried a spoonful of fried rice, her eyes widened, surprised at how similar it tasted to her favorite Hibachi fried rice.
"Wow! This is good, Sam—"
"Glad you like it, Boss. Now try the steak," Sam said, his eyes beaming, looking at Bella excitedly and worriedly.
When the piece of meat entered her mouth and melted with the black pepper barbecue sauce, it left her speechless. She stared at Sam incredulously.
After she swallowed, Bella placed her cutlery on the plate and raised her thumbs to praise him.
"Oh my god! This is heavenly delicious, Sam. You are indeed a talented chef..."
"Really? It’s that good?" Harper, who had not yet eaten, immediately followed Bella and tried her steak. Instantly, her expression mirrored Bella’s. She was impressed with the delicious grilled meat.
"Wow! Sam, this is so delicious!! You should open a restaurant, Sam!" Harper also praised him with her thumbs.
"Girl, can you both stop praising Sam? If you continue, he might fly to the moon. Hurry, hurry, eat, or Stefan will finish all the meat before you know it..." Leo chuckled when he saw Stefan’s hand hanging in the air.
Bella and Harper stopped speaking and turned to see Stefan.
Stefan was embarrassed, having almost emptied all the meat and fried rice on the table. Now, all eyes stared at him as if they wanted to say, "Seriously?" with their gaze. He could only grin and let them take the remaining food on the plate.
Leo, "..."
"Forget it! I won’t bring anyone," Leo responded. He was now afraid to bring Dana to the party, worried that these two would scare her off if she discovered his feelings.
"Why?" Harper felt disappointed hearing Leo’s refusal. "You should bring her, Leo... I will help you."
"Yes, bring her."
"Damn! You both will scare her," Leo narrowed his eyes, looking at them as if he wanted to ask them to stop meddling in his love life.
"Who the hell is she—"
Bella’s palm landed on Harper’s mouth to stop her from speaking. Harper could only glare at Bella, but eventually, she shut up.
After Bella keeps Harper shut her mouth, she turns her gaze to Leo and smiles at him, "Leo, bring her. I promise you, we won’t ask her anything."
Leo didn’t respond to that but stood from his seat.
"Alright, girl, I won’t say anything more about it. I will head to my office now. I have so many things to do. Bye—" Leo said and walked like running toward the elevator.
He was too nervous; Bella and Harper could guess the woman she liked.

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