The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 119

When Jasper opened the trunk of Zane's car to load a small suitcase, he was met with a wall of designer shoe boxes.

He popped two of them open. Shockingly, they were both women's stilettos.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what his boss had been up to.

"Boss, are you pivoting the company into women's footwear?"

"Do you ever shut up?" Zane shot back.

"You are remarkably unhinged," Jasper muttered, checking the size on one of the boxes. "Hey, these are exactly my girlfriend's size. Let me take two pairs."

"Keep dreaming. If you hand her these, she's going to think you're bribing her to cover up a cheating scandal. You couldn't give these away if you tried."

Jasper glared at him, utterly defeated.

With the useless conference finally over, the backlog of work in Eastford had piled up into a mountain.

Elena Whitaker had been demanding Zane come home for family dinner for two days, but he was drowning in paperwork. By the time Elena actually lost her temper, Zane finally dropped his files and headed out.

Except, Elena informed him she was waiting at one of the upscale restaurants owned by the Whitaker Group.

Zane instantly knew he was walking into a trap.

The moment he walked into the private dining room, his suspicions were confirmed. Sitting right next to his mother was Mrs. Neville—and Nadia Neville.

Elena smiled brightly and immediately launched into introductions.

Zane offered a polite, detached handshake. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Neville. I'm Zane."

Nadia shook his hand. "Nadia."

Mrs. Neville, a sharply dressed woman in her late forties, scanned Zane with blatant approval. He was tall, striking, and carried an undeniable aura of power.

It was a classic high-society blind date. The conversation consisted of polite, agonizingly dull small talk.

Zane played the perfect gentleman, enduring it until he could reasonably excuse himself to the restroom.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, he ran straight into Elara.

"What a coincidence, Zane."

"Very," Zane said, his heart skipping a beat.

Elara was eager to discuss the Silver Lining Initiative. "Are you entertaining clients here?"

Since Zane owned the restaurant, he ate here frequently even without clients. She hoped he might have time for a quick business chat after his dinner.

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