Chapter 88: Chapter 88: We’ll Discuss It Tonight

That afternoon, Silas Rhodes called and invited them to dinner.

Yvonne Sutton went ahead first; Wyatt Shaw had to rush to his company for a meeting.

"Aunt Yvonne, over here."

Arriving at the Western restaurant, Yvonne Sutton saw Silas Rhodes waving at her as soon as she walked in. Yvonne nodded at him, then walked over and saw that Jean Bell was there too.

"Miss Bell, good evening," she greeted Jean Bell.

Jean Bell stood up and shook her hand. "Mrs. Shaw, hello."

She was being a little too formal, making Yvonne feel slightly uncomfortable.

After she sat down, Silas asked about Wyatt Shaw. She explained he had gone to his company and would be over later.

"My uncle works way too hard. If I got married, I’d definitely take a year off to have fun, just cut loose and enjoy myself," Silas said.

Jean Bell scoffed. "You could take a year off right now. It makes no difference to The Rhodes Group whether you’re there or not."

"Hey, that’s harsh. At least I’m still the general manager of a subsidiary."

"I heard the company you were managing already went bankrupt."

"Why do you always have to touch on a sore subject? Can’t we just have a pleasant dinner?"

The two were clearly very familiar with each other, joking back and forth.

Silas Rhodes went out for a smoke, and Jean Bell ordered a coffee for Yvonne Sutton.

"Thank you."

Yvonne said thanks, then recalled her phone call with Claire Lawrence that afternoon. She had asked about Claire’s casting situation. Director Sherman had recommended she audition for Jean Bell’s new drama, but when she contacted the assistant director, he asked what shows she’d been in and if she’d had any breakout roles. Since she hadn’t, she didn’t even get a chance to audition.

"Miss Bell, has the cast for your show been finalized?" she asked.

Jean Bell smiled. "Does Mrs. Shaw have an actor to recommend?"

"Yes, a friend of mine."

Jean Bell nodded but said nothing more.

Seeing her attitude, Yvonne decided not to press the matter.

"By the way, I mentioned before that I’d like to invite you to be our on-set doctor, Mrs. Shaw. Have you given it any thought?"

Yvonne’s mind raced for a moment, and then she smiled. "I’m currently my friend’s agent. Of course, if she’s fortunate enough to get into Miss Bell’s production, I wouldn’t be against moonlighting as the on-set doctor."

’I don’t know why Jean Bell is so insistent on me being the on-set doctor, but bringing it up now, she’s clearly trying to make a deal.’

"That’s simple enough. Have your friend come to my studio for an audition tomorrow."

"That’s wonderful."

Just then, Silas Rhodes returned and asked why Wyatt Shaw hadn’t arrived yet.

Yvonne Sutton sent Wyatt a text, and he replied that he was almost there.

"I’m starving. Let’s order first," Silas said. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He called the waiter over, ordered a few house specialties, and then steaks.

The waiter asked how they wanted them cooked. Silas and Jean Bell gave their orders, and Yvonne said she wanted hers well-done; she wasn’t used to eating rare food.

"And for the last one?"

The waiter was asking about Wyatt Shaw’s order, and Yvonne realized she had no idea how he liked his steak.

"Medium," Jean Bell said.

Yvonne’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Jean Bell.

But Jean Bell acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, turning to continue her conversation with Silas.

"Actually, it doesn’t matter if my uncle comes or not. You can just tell my aunt," Silas said.

Jean Bell took a sip of her coffee, her eyes lowered in a faint smile. "I think it would be better to tell Wyatt Shaw directly."

"If my aunt agrees, my uncle will definitely go along with it."

"Is that so? I’m not so sure about that."

Jean Bell turned to Yvonne and explained, "It’s about some work matters. I don’t want to trouble you, Mrs. Shaw, so it’s better to speak with Wyatt directly."

Yvonne gave a faint smile. ’She doesn’t want to trouble me, but she’s happy to trouble my husband?’

Sure enough, Wyatt Shaw arrived a few moments later.

Dressed in a sharp suit, he walked to the table, greeted Silas and Jean Bell, then bent down to kiss the top of Yvonne’s head. He then unbuttoned his suit jacket with one hand, took it off, and handed it to the waiter.

"Have you ordered?" he asked.

"We did," Silas answered.

Wyatt then turned his head to ask Yvonne, "Is there anything you like?"

Yvonne nodded. "It’s fine."

"Is Miss Sutton not used to Western food?" Jean Bell asked.

"It’s not that she’s not used to Western food. She’s just not used to any food that isn’t made by me," Wyatt Shaw said, glancing at Jean Bell.

Yvonne ducked her head, trying to suppress a laugh, but managed to hold it in.

"Uncle, can you not flaunt your love life in front of us two single dogs?" Silas exclaimed.

Wyatt glared at him. "Don’t you go giving dogs a bad name."

Silas wasn’t having it. "Is that any way for an elder to talk? You’re so savage."

"As your uncle, it’s my responsibility to teach you some manners. Now hurry up and pour the wine. A toast, three glasses for your uncle."

"You..."

"Are you still expecting me to clean up your messes?"

Silas puffed up his chest, but deflated instantly upon hearing that. He scrambled to his feet, poured three glasses of wine in a row, and downed them all.

"Uncle, from now on, this nephew of yours is in your hands. Please, you have to treat me like a human being. Oh, and Aunt Yvonne, if Uncle ever decides to be cruel to me, please stop him. I’ll drink to that to show my respect."

With that, Silas downed another glass.

Wyatt was amused by him. "Only your uncle would dote on you like this. After costing the company hundreds of millions, you should have been banished to the frontier long ago."

Silas said, aggrieved, "That was only because Second Grand-uncle framed me."

"If you’re going to blame someone, blame yourself for not having a brain. That’s why he was able to frame you."

"You guys... could you at least spare a thought for my young, fragile heart?"

After their back-and-forth, the atmosphere livened up.

The food arrived, and Wyatt Shaw began cutting Yvonne’s steak for her.

Jean Bell held a glass of brandy, taking a small sip. She would glance at Wyatt from time to time, savoring the moment.

"Wyatt Shaw, there’s something I need your help with."

Wyatt kept his head down, focusing on cutting the steak, and answered casually, "Go ahead."

"I’m planning to shoot a suspense drama, and the plot is set on an island. So, I was hoping to borrow that private resort island of yours to use as our filming location," Jean Bell said.

Hearing this, Wyatt looked at Silas, who immediately explained, "The island is registered in your name. I wouldn’t dare make a decision without you."

Wyatt thought for a moment. "I was originally planning to develop that area into a resort. The proposal is already drawn up. If I lend it to you for filming, it might affect our project’s timeline."

"Well, we only need it for a month."

"A month?"

Wyatt thought again, this time turning to Yvonne. "Yvonne, what do you think?"

Yvonne was taken aback. ’Why is he suddenly asking me?’

"Just one month should be fine; it won’t affect the project’s launch. But I was planning on transferring this island resort into your name, so naturally, the decision is yours to make."

Yvonne frowned. ’Why is he suddenly trying to give me this island?’

"I don’t want it," she said.

Wyatt put his arm around her and gave her a kiss. "No refusing."

Yvonne was not happy. "Why can’t I refuse? I just don’t want it."

Wyatt chuckled. "Then we’ll discuss it tonight."

The thought of the improper ways he might try to convince her to agree made her face turn red.

Jean Bell took another sip of her drink, then looked at Yvonne.

"Well then, Mrs. Shaw, it looks like I’ll have to beg you."