Chapter 232: Dining with the Past

I never expected it to be him. Summer suddenly realized, “So it was you.”

Lucas smiled, “How are things with your boyfriend now?”

Summer shook her head, simply stating, “I’m single now.”

Lucas’s smile deepened slightly. He remembered that day; it was when his first love, Wendy, had chosen her ballet dreams over him, leaving him heartbroken. He was feeling down and went to a restaurant to drink, a place he had bought for Wendy because she loved a particular dish there. He had heard from the staff about a girl who had booked the entire restaurant for her boyfriend’s birthday. It was rare to see such devotion.

Curious, he had glanced over. The table was laden with food, but the woman’s boyfriend never showed up; her silhouette was delicate and forlorn. Perhaps it was a shared sense of heartbreak that made the memory stick.

“I didn’t expect you to end up as the boss of Stewart Group. Keep it up,” he said. His encouragement sounded like something a teacher would say.

Summer couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you.”

Lucas, watching her simple yet radiant smile, couldn’t resist saying, “You have a beautiful smile.” His comment made Summer a bit embarrassed. Lucas tactfully changed the subject.

“Stewart Group’s department store is facing a need for innovation and reform. I know some people who specialize in that area; I could introduce you sometime.”

Summer knew that Lucas, as the president of the association, had access to many resources, which was why he was so well-supported by his peers.

“You’ve already helped me enough; how could I impose further?”

Lucas looked at Summer gently, “If it’s not too much trouble, could Ms. Stewart perhaps treat me to a meal?”

Two days later, at the top-tier Havenbrook Clear Light Pavilion, by a table near the antique-style windows, Lucas brought an expert along for a meal with Summer. The expert, Ryan, was over fifty and had more than twenty years of experience in department store development. Summer listened intently to his advice on retail innovation.

Mid-conversation, Ryan’s phone rang; he had to leave abruptly, which Summer regretted as she wanted to hear more of his advice. Lucas noticed Summer’s disappointment.

“Mr. Ryan, since you have to leave unexpectedly today, to make it up, why don’t you visit Stewart Group sometime and share your lifetime of experience with the next generation?”

Ryan was a well-known figure in the industry, often courted by various retail groups with attractive offers, which he rarely accepted.

Chapter 232: Dining with the Past

Summer was delighted and quickly thanked him. After Ryan left, Summer knew that Ryan had come because of Lucas’s influence. She was quite grateful for Lucas’s repeated help and raised her cup of tea.

“Mr. Lucas, thank you for the introduction today.”

Lucas’s lips curled into a gentle smile, “Ms. Stewart, do you know what you’ve said to me the most?”

Summer was puzzled.

“It’s ‘thank you.’”

Summer was taken aback.

Lucas spoke meaningfully, “If you’re going to thank me, just consider me a friend.”

“Mr. Lucas, you mean…”

“Don’t call me Mr. Lucas; it’s too formal. Call me Lucas, and I’ll call you Summer.”

On her way back from the restroom, Summer passed a luxurious private room, its grand doors slightly ajar due to a hostess clad in an elegant cocktail dress delivering dishes. Out of the corner of her eye, Summer saw people inside and paused. The room was lavish, centered around a large antique wooden table. Inside sat Helen and Fraser, along with several imposing men and women from abroad.

Unnoticed, Summer was bumped by a waiter coming out, spilling a bit of food on her clothes. The waiter was startled and quickly apologized. “Miss, I’m so sorry, it wasn’t intentional.”

Summer, not wanting to draw attention, waved it off, “It’s fine.”

Fraser, lounging in his chair with his long fingers casually resting a teacup on the table, heard a familiar female voice and lifted his eyelids, glancing toward the door. As Fraser turned his head, ignoring the hostess’s offer to clean her clothes, Summer quickly walked away. Fraser only saw a woman in a white coat, her slender silhouette and loosely curled hair flowing as she briskly moved past, like a whisper.