When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 64

A large, vibrant bouquet of roses sat on the table—a thoughtful touch. They took their seats.

It was Henrietta’s first arranged date, and she felt a little awkward. Joaquin broke the silence, handing her a tablet for the menu. “Order whatever you like.”

“Thank you.” Henrietta accepted it, her eyes scanning the dishes.

Joaquin lit a cigarette, his gaze never leaving her. She was stunning today. No, she was always stunning. The title of Juno City’s foremost ice queen was no exaggeration. Up close, she seemed to radiate beauty, not a single flaw in sight.

A shame she’d refused the marriage alliance before. All for that social climber. Her taste in men was truly awful. The heiress to the Sargent Group, lowering herself to date some nobody for years…

He wondered how far things had gone between them. Was she still untouched? Or had that guy used some underhanded tactics to get to her?

Henrietta finished ordering and handed the tablet to the waiter before looking up. Joaquin’s gaze was predatory, intense, almost… feral. Henrietta pressed her lips together, feeling even more uncomfortable, though she maintained a cool and composed expression.

The waiter presented the tablet to Joaquin. “Mr. Leland.”

Still fixated on Henrietta as a hunter locks onto its prey, Joaquin simply said, “I’ll have the same as her.”

“Yes, sir.” The waiter bowed and retreated.

Joaquin gestured with his cigarette. “Do you mind, Ms. Sargent?”

After the brief introduction, Joaquin signaled to his assistant, who brought over a jewelry box. Joaquin slid it across the table to her. “A small gift for our first official meeting. I hope you like it, Ms. Sargent.”

Henrietta was taken aback. She’d never heard of someone giving a gift on a blind date; it put her in a difficult position.

This was, after all, just a first meeting. If things didn’t work out, the gift would become an awkward reminder. If she accepted it and later declined his advances, should she return it? He would probably see that as an insult and refuse to take it back, leaving her with an expensive item she couldn’t keep or discard.

It wasn't like a birthday, where she could accept any gift, no matter how valuable, and reciprocate in kind. But this… this felt presumptuous.

Was the head of the Leland Group really so thoughtless? Or was he just so powerful that he assumed she was already his? Or perhaps this was his way of expressing his confidence and admiration?