Chapter 632

At that instant, Derek pushed open the office door,balancing an elegant lunch box in his hands. "Mr.Jones," he announced with a respectful smile, "I brought your meal. Would you like to have it now?"

Vincent, seated behind his desk, adjusted the cuffs of his tailored shirt with calm precision, his face unreadable. "I'll be eating out," he said flatly.

The words caught Derek off guard. He blinked,glancing uncertainly at the lunch box that suddenly seemed purposeless. "Then what should I do with this?"

"Give it to someone else," Vincent replied coolly,rising to his feet and heading for the door without another glance.

Startled, Derek hurriedly set the box down and rushed after him. "Yes, Mr. Jones! Should I take you to your usual restaurant?"

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"No need." Vincent's stride remained steady, but his voice carried a sharp undertone. After a brief pause,he added, "Find out where Lennon is having lunch."

Derek nearly stumbled mid-step. "Lennon?" he echoed, utterly baffled as to why a lawyer suddenly mattered in what seemed to be a simple meal decision. Still, he swallowed his questions and immediately reached for his phone.

Moments later, Derek received a reply and reported promptly, "Mr. Jones, Lennon is dining at the Gilded Restaurant."

Vincent's expression darkened, his eyes glinting like cold steel. "We're going to the Gilded Restaurant."

"Understood!" Derek answered swiftly, rushing to bring the car over.

The drive took only a short while, and soon, they pulled up before the grand entrance of the Gilded Restaurant.

Derek hurried inside to secure a private dining room.

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But when he turned around, Vincent wasn't behind him.

Instead, Vincent stood motionless in the lobby,scanning the restaurant's tables with a piercing gaze that cut through the crowd like a hawk tracking its prey.

"Mr. Jones," Derek called carefully as he jogged over,"the private room's ready. Are you... looking for someone? Lennon, perhaps?"

Vincent's eyes flicked away, his tone curt. "No."

Without further explanation, Vincent strode toward the reserved room, his steps sharp with unspoken irritation.

Sensing that something in his boss's mood was dangerously off, Derek hastily gestured for the waiter to serve the dishes, hoping the food might help smooth the tension radiating from Vincent's silence.

The plates arrived swiftly, steaming with rich aromas.

Yet, Vincent barely touched his cutlery. After a few

distracted pokes at his meal, he set it down, rose abruptly, and straightened his suit jacket.

"Mr. Jones, you're done already?" Derek ventured carefully, surprised.

"I've lost my appetite." Vincent's tone was clipped,his next words edged with frost. "Which dining room is Lennon in?"

Derek's stomach tightened. He immediately hurried to the front desk, returned moments later, and reported, "Mr. Jones, Lennon's on the second floor."

Without utering another word, Vincent turned and ascended the staircase, his expression stormy.

Derek trailed after him, practically half-running to keep up.

When they reached Lennon's private room, Vincent pushed the door open without knocking.

Inside, Hannah and Lennon looked up from their half-finished meal, startled by his sudden intrusion.

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"Vincent?" Hannah's brows knit together in surprise."What are you doing here?"

Vincent's gaze swept coldly over Lennon before settling on her. "I came to speak with my lawyer," he said, his voice distant, every syllable laced with tension. "Is that a problem?"

The edge in his tone caught Hannah off guard, but she quickly gathered herself, maintaining her composure. "I'm sorry if I've taken up Mr. Brooks'time," she replied smoothly. "It seems I've disrupted your business, Mr. Jones. I'll take my leave."

She started to rise, but Vincent's arm shot out,blocking her path with a firm, deliberate motion. "Did I say you could go?" His voice was low but commanding, his presence unmistakably forceful.

Hannah looked up at him, confusion flickering across her face. "Aren't you here to discuss work with Mr.Brooks? Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to stay?"

For a brief moment, Vincent's composure faltered.He stared at her, saying nothing-his eyes carrying a

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weight that neither accusation nor reason could quite define.

Derek and Lennon exchanged uneasy glances. Both men recognized the unmistakable tension thickening the air but couldn't make sense of it.

Lennon silently mouthed to Derek. "What's going on?"

Derek could only grimace and mouth back. "How would I know?"

Sensing the brewing storm, Derek stepped forward quickly, tugging lightly at Lennon's sleeve and forcing an awkward smile toward Vincent. "Mr.Jones, we'll give you and Ms. Scott some privacy. We won't disturb you two any further."

Without waiting for a response, he ushered Lennon out of the room and gently closed the door behind them.

Out in the hallway, Lennon turned to Derek,bewildered. "What happened? Why did Mr. Jones

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barge in like that-and why did he look so furious?"

Derek exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck."I was about to ask you! You could've told me you were having lunch with Ms. Scott."

Lennon frowned, genuinely puzzled. "She just invited me for a quick thank-you lunch and a follow-up discussion on the case. I didn't think I needed to report that to you."

The two men shared a resigned look, both sighing in unison.

Meanwhile, behind the closed door, silence hung heavy in the private room-just Vincent and Hannah,their unspoken emotions swirling like tension before a storm.