Chapter 415: Cute Kitten!!!
The Atelier was busy.
Weekend evenings usually were.
The main dining hall carried its usual warmth, soft lights, polished tables, quiet conversations, and the aroma of food drifting continuously from the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, Elena stood near one of the preparation counters, checking a sauce when Daniel suddenly walked in.
He looked unusually amused.
Elena glanced toward him.
"Do you need something?"
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he leaned slightly closer.
"She’s here."
Elena frowned.
"Who is here?"
Daniel’s smile widened.
"With a man."
Elena stopped what she was doing.
She slowly turned.
"Who is here with a man?"
"Monica."
Silence.
Daniel continued,
"She brought a man for dinner."
Elena’s eyes widened.
"Really?"
Daniel immediately laughed at her reaction.
Elena put down the spoon in her hand.
"I want to see him."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Do you want to disturb them?"
Elena paused.
That was true.
If Monica had brought someone to a private room, she probably wanted privacy.
Elena thought for only a few seconds.
Then she smiled.
"Give me the tablet."
Daniel looked suspicious.
"Why?"
"I’ll take their order personally."
Daniel stared at her.
Then slowly smiled.
"Hmm."
He handed over the ordering tablet.
"Clever."
Elena ignored him and immediately walked out of the kitchen.
Daniel watched her leave.
Then shook his head.
"Poor Monica."
...
Inside one of the private dining rooms...
Monica sat across from Elliot.
For once, there was no stage around him.
No audience.
No lights.
No hundreds of people laughing after every sentence.
Just the two of them.
The private room was comfortable, with soft lighting and a large window showing part of Star Harbor outside.
Elliot looked around.
"This place seems popular."
Monica smiled.
"It’s the weekend."
She picked up the menu.
"And this is one of the most popular restaurants in Star Harbor."
Elliot nodded.
"I noticed."
He leaned back.
"There were people waiting outside."
"Usually happens."
Elliot looked toward her.
"So..."
"How often do you come here to eat, Miss Monica?"
Monica thought about it.
"Come here?"
"Not very often."
Elliot nodded.
Then Monica continued,
"But eat the food?"
She paused.
"Daily."
Elliot stared.
"Daily?"
Monica realized how strange that sounded.
"Yes."
"So you order takeout from here every day?"
Monica immediately shook her head.
"Ahh."
"No, no."
Elliot became more curious.
Before she could explain...
There was a knock on the door.
Then it opened.
Elena entered carrying a water jug and two glasses.
Monica froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she slowly looked down at the table.
For someone who could handle billion dollar negotiations without blinking...
She suddenly looked shy.
Elena noticed everything.
And immediately smiled.
"Welcome to The Atelier, Mr. Elliot."
Elliot looked surprised.
Elena poured water into the glasses.
"I heard you had an amazing show tonight."
Elliot blinked.
"You know me?"
"Of course."
Elena smiled.
"I’ve seen my niece watching your shows on television."
Monica slowly closed her eyes.
Elena continued cheerfully,
"She’s a very big fan of yours."
Elliot immediately smiled.
"Oh."
"Then please send my thanks to her."
Elena glanced toward Monica.
A mischievous grin appeared.
"So..."
Monica already knew something terrible was coming.
Elena asked,
"What can I get for the lovely dates?"
Monica coughed.
Badly.
Elliot immediately reached for the water.
"Miss Monica?"
He pushed the glass toward her.
"Are you okay?"
Monica took it quickly.
"Yes."
She drank.
"Thanks."
Elliot looked toward Elena again.
"About the order..."
He smiled.
"I think Miss Monica should order for me."
Monica looked up.
Elliot continued,
"She says she eats your food regularly."
Elena’s smile became even brighter.
"Of course."
Then she looked toward Monica.
"Tell me, Mona dear."
Monica’s eyes widened.
"What should I cook for you two?"
Elena tapped the tablet.
"Or..."
"I can bring something good on my own."
She smiled warmly.
"I promise I won’t disappoint your date."
Elliot sat completely still.
Then quietly repeated,
"Mona dear?"
Monica looked toward Elena.
A helpless smile appeared.
"You can bring anything."
She sighed.
"Whatever you cook is amazing already, Aunt."
Elliot’s head turned.
"Aunt?"
Monica looked toward him.
"Yes."
She gestured toward Elena.
"Meet my aunt."
"Elena."
Then she added,
"You’ve already met Uncle Daniel."
Elliot suddenly remembered the man who had personally shown them the private room earlier.
Monica continued,
"Aunt Elena owns this restaurant."
"And she’s also the chef."
Elliot immediately stood.
Far too quickly.
"Hello, Aunt."
He froze.
Then corrected himself.
"I mean..."
"Mrs. Elena."
For the first time that evening, Elliot actually looked nervous.
Monica noticed.
And smiled.
Elena laughed.
"No worries."
She waved her hand.
"You can call me Aunt."
Elliot slowly sat down again.
Elena smiled.
"Please relax."
Then she looked toward Monica.
"I’ll bring something good."
Before Monica could stop her...
Elena was already gone.
The door closed.
Silence.
Monica looked toward Elliot.
He stared back.
Then asked,
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"
Monica laughed quietly.
"I didn’t know she would personally come here."
Elliot looked toward the closed door.
Then back toward Monica.
"So..."
"When you say Aunt..."
He hesitated.
"She’s related through your cousin?"
Monica smiled.
"Mother."
Elliot frowned.
"What?"
"She’s the Chairman’s mother."
Elliot stared.
"The Chairman of Reaper Group?"
Monica nodded.
Elliot looked around the restaurant again.
"His parents run a restaurant?"
"Yes."
Monica smiled.
"Aunt Elena is an amazing chef."
"It was her dream to open her own restaurant."
Elliot listened quietly.
Monica continued,
"And she is like a mother to me."
Her voice softened.
"Both of them take care of me like their own child."
Elliot’s expression changed.
Monica looked down.
"That’s actually one of the reasons I came to Star Harbor."
"Reaper Group moving here was important."
"But..."
She smiled faintly.
"I also wanted to spend time with the family I have now."
Elliot slowly smiled.
"It’s a relief."
Monica looked toward him.
"What?"
Elliot immediately shook his head.
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Tell me."
He smiled.
"Later."
Monica stared for another second.
Then decided to let it go.
"Fine."
She leaned back.
"What about your family?"
Elliot’s expression softened.
"How is your sister?"
He smiled.
"She’s doing well."
"She has a good job."
Monica nodded.
"And?"
"She’s dating someone."
Elliot smiled faintly.
"A good guy."
"So far."
Monica laughed.
"So you’re already acting like an overprotective brother?"
"Obviously."
He continued,
"I hope things work out for her."
"She deserves a good future."
Monica smiled.
"And your parents?"
Elliot looked down for a moment.
"They’re happy."
Then his expression became proud.
"I finally convinced them to retire."
Monica looked pleased.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"They worked too hard for me."
His voice became quieter.
"When I was struggling..."
"They were still supporting me."
"Even when I wanted to continue comedy instead of finding something stable."
He smiled.
"They never gave up on me."
Monica watched him quietly.
"They must be proud of you."
Elliot nodded.
"I think they are."
Then Monica suddenly leaned slightly forward.
"Hey, Elliot."
"Hmm?"
"Can we take over your management?"
Elliot blinked.
"My management?"
"Yes."
Monica nodded.
"Under Reaper Entertainment."
Elliot looked surprised.
"You mean..."
"My tours?"
"Contracts."
"Brand deals."
"Shows."
"Everything?"
"If you want."
Monica smiled.
"We already have the infrastructure."
"You’d have a stronger international team."
Then her voice became softer.
"And..."
"We could see each other more often."
Elliot looked at her.
Monica continued,
"Even if both of us are busy."
For several seconds...
Elliot said nothing.
Then he smiled.
"Not a bad idea."
Monica noticed his eyes lowering toward the table.
The mood shifted again.
Something unfinished still existed between them.
Something both of them had been circling around since backstage.
Monica slowly took a breath.
"You know what?"
Elliot looked up.
"I want you to say it."
His expression changed.
"This time."
Monica’s fingers lightly tightened together beneath the table.
"My heart is still restless."
She looked away briefly.
"I don’t know..."
Her voice became quieter.
"If..."
She stopped.
Elliot understood.
He looked at her for several seconds.
Then spoke.
"Miss Monica."
She looked toward him.
"Let’s get back together."
Monica closed her eyes.
For a moment...
She said nothing.
When she opened them again, there was vulnerability in them that Elliot had rarely seen.
"You won’t run away this time, will you?"
Elliot’s expression immediately became serious.
"I promise."
Monica looked directly at him.
"I was naive."
He continued.
"And scared."
"I know I made a mistake."
His voice softened.
"I’m deeply sorry."
Monica remained silent.
Elliot looked down.
"Somewhere..."
"I always felt like you were there for me."
He smiled faintly.
"When nobody believed in me..."
"You did."
Monica’s eyes slowly became wet.
Elliot continued,
"You attended those terrible shows."
Monica laughed softly through the emotion.
"They weren’t terrible."
"They were."
He smiled.
"Bars."
"Small clubs."
"Places where half the audience wasn’t even listening."
"You were still there."
Monica looked down.
Elliot continued,
"You were always the last person to leave."
His voice became heavier.
"And then..."
"When I ran away from you..."
"I realized how important you were."
Monica looked up.
Elliot’s smile disappeared.
"What I did was cowardly."
"I convinced myself that I was protecting you from disappointment."
"But really..."
"I was protecting myself from feeling small."
Monica listened.
Elliot continued,
"So I worked."
"Every show."
"Every bad night."
"Every empty room."
"Every rejection."
"I kept thinking about you."
His eyes remained on hers.
"I wanted to reach a point where I could come back..."
"...and stand beside you."
Monica’s lips trembled slightly.
Elliot smiled.
"But then I became afraid of something else."
"What?"
"That you wouldn’t want to see me anymore."
Monica’s eyes became wetter.
Elliot continued,
"And then today..."
"I walked onto that stage."
His expression softened.
"And I saw you."
"Front row."
"Right in the middle."
He laughed quietly.
"I don’t think anyone in that auditorium was happier than me."
Monica looked down.
Her voice came out softly.
"I’m glad."
She swallowed.
"I’m so glad."
The tears didn’t fall.
But they were close.
Elliot leaned slightly forward.
"Miss Monica..."
She smiled.
"Call me Monica."
He stopped.
Then Monica added,
"Or..."
"Mona."
Elliot looked surprised.
Monica smiled.
"It’s my real name."
He repeated it slowly.
"Mona."
Her smile became brighter.
"Yes."
The door opened.
Elena returned with the first dishes.
Whatever emotional moment had been building immediately became buried beneath food.
And judging by the amount Elena brought...
She had absolutely no intention of serving a light dinner.
...
Thirty minutes later...
Elliot had almost forgotten about everything else.
He stared at the food.
Then at Monica.
Then back at the food.
"You get to eat this every day?"
Monica laughed.
"Yes."
Elliot looked genuinely offended by life.
"Aunt Elena cooks like this at home?"
"Yes."
"Daily?"
"Most days."
Elliot leaned back.
"I’m jealous."
Monica laughed.
"I said the exact same thing to my cousin the first time I tried her cooking."
Elliot smiled.
Then remembered something.
"Speaking of your cousin..."
Monica looked toward him.
"Where is he?"
Monica smiled.
Elliot continued,
"He still doesn’t come to work?"
She started laughing.
"He works."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Monica shook her head.
"It’s just..."
"He has more than Reaper Group to handle."
"So I manage most of Reaper."
Elliot nodded slowly.
"So he owns more companies."
"A few."
Monica smiled.
Elliot looked impressed.
"He must be very experienced."
Monica’s smile became mischievous.
"He’s younger than me."
Elliot stopped eating.
"What?"
"Twenty three."
He stared.
Monica continued casually,
"He just got married."
"And currently..."
"He’s on his honeymoon."
Elliot looked genuinely shocked.
"Twenty three?"
Monica nodded.
"He built all of this?"
Monica smiled.
"He’s amazing."
Elliot slowly nodded.
"I agree."
They continued eating.
A few minutes later, Elliot suddenly remembered something.
"By the way..."
Monica looked over.
"Thank you for coming to the show."
She smiled.
"It was good."
Elliot laughed.
"Just good?"
"Very good."
"Better."
Then Elliot continued,
"I heard someone spent thousands buying an already sold ticket."
Monica froze.
"What?"
Elliot looked toward her.
"You didn’t know?"
"Thousands?"
"Apparently."
He smiled.
"It became a small topic online."
"Someone desperately wanted that front row center seat."
Monica stared at him.
Then slowly closed her eyes.
A certain cousin immediately came to mind.
Actually...
One specific person.
She sighed.
Then smiled.
"It’s worth it."
Elliot watched her.
He understood there was probably a story behind that ticket.
But for now...
He didn’t ask.
...
Beijing.
3:00 AM.
Miles’ phone buzzed beside the bed.
Once.
Then again.
Miles opened his eyes.
He reached for the phone while yawning.
"What’s wrong?"
His voice was rough with sleep.
"Everything alright?"
Monica’s voice came through.
"Yes."
Miles frowned.
She sounded strangely cheerful.
"I just called to thank you."
Miles stared into the darkness.
"It’s three in the morning."
Then he paused.
"Wait."
His sleepy expression changed.
"Why do you sound more tired than me?"
Monica sighed.
"I couldn’t sleep last night."
Miles immediately became awake.
"Wait."
He sat slightly upright.
"You went to the show?"
"Yes."
"Did he say something bad?"
His voice became sharper.
Monica immediately replied,
"No."
"No, no, no."
Miles’ expression darkened anyway.
"If he rejected you again, I’ll..."
"It’s the opposite."
Miles stopped.
"What?"
Monica smiled on the other side.
"It’s the opposite."
Miles stared at the wall.
Then slowly understood.
"You mean..."
A grin appeared.
"You two are back in business?"
Monica went silent.
Then replied,
"Business?"
Miles chuckled.
"That’s an odd way of saying it."
Monica sighed.
"You’re impossible."
Miles smiled.
Then Monica’s voice softened.
"Thank you so much..."
A pause.
"...Brother."
Miles became quiet.
Then smiled.
"Anything for you."
He lay back against the pillow.
"Just be happy."
Monica smiled.
"I am."
Miles nodded even though she couldn’t see him.
"Good."
Then he yawned again.
"Now get some sleep."
"It’s Sunday."
Monica laughed quietly.
"Yes."
"Sorry for disturbing you."
"It’s fine."
"Enjoy your honeymoon."
Miles smiled.
"I will."
The call ended.
Miles lowered his phone.
Then stared at it.
"This girl."
He looked toward the clock again.
Three in the morning.
Then realization hit him.
"Oh."
He sighed.
"It’s morning in Star Harbor already."
A sleepy voice came from beside him.
"Who was it?"
Miles turned.
Chloe’s eyes were still closed.
Her face was half buried in the pillow.
Miles smiled.
"A workaholic insomniac."
Chloe murmured something.
Miles leaned closer.
"What?"
Still half asleep, Chloe whispered,
"Cute..."
A pause.
"...kitten."
Miles froze.
Then quietly laughed.
He gently pulled the blanket higher around her.
"Sure."
Chloe had already fallen back asleep.
Miles placed his phone aside.
Then moved closer.
And within minutes...
The room became quiet again.