Emerald’s POV
I released another quiet sigh.
For a moment, I honestly considered turning around and finding another restaurant. Unfortunately, the hostess had already greeted me.
"Good evening, miss. Table for one?"
"Yes."
Before I could say anything else, Elias rose from his seat and walked over. "I promise I’m not following you."
I looked at him for a moment before replying. "I didn’t say you were."
"You were thinking it."
"...Maybe."
He laughed, the sound surprisingly easygoing. "I actually live a few blocks from here."
My curiosity immediately got the better of me. "You don’t stay in the university dormitories?" I asked.
He shook his head. "My family prefers privacy. I’ve been staying in a serviced apartment since arriving in Boston."
That explained it. In fact, this restaurant might have been nearer to his home than to Lanard. Maybe this was simply another coincidence.
Just then, the hostess smiled apologetically. "I’m terribly sorry, miss, but we’re fully booked tonight."
’Fully booked?’ My gaze drifted across the restaurant on instinct. There were several empty tables. But then, I immediately understood that those tables weren’t simply empty.
Growing up around boardrooms, charity galas and high-profile business dinners had taught me otherwise. They were reserved. Likely for guests who hadn’t arrived yet.
The hostess continued apologetically. "The only available seating at the moment is—" She glanced between Elias and me. "—Mr. Roth’s table."
Elias immediately spoke. "Only if you’re comfortable with it. No pressure." His tone remained relaxed. "If you’d rather wait, I completely understand."
I regarded him in silence. He wasn’t trying to persuade me. In fact, he already looked prepared to continue eating alone. Against my better judgement, I nodded. "One meal."
His smile returned. "I think we can survive that."
Several minutes later, we were seated opposite one another. The restaurant’s warm lighting reflected softly against the polished wooden table between us.
A waiter poured water and then left us to browse through the menus.
"So," Elias finally said after placing his menu aside. "What made you decide to pursue an MBA?"
I closed my menu. "No knowledge is ever a waste."
He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I like that answer."
"It’s the truth."
"I suppose it is."
"What about you?" I questioned, refusing to be the only one supplying answers.
"My family’s been involved in business for generations." There wasn’t the slightest hint of arrogance in his voice. "I’ve spent most of my life learning through experience." He smiled. "But then I figured it was about time I learned some theory too."
That surprised me. "So you’re here because you wanted a different perspective?"
His brows lifted slightly as he nodded twice. "Exactly."
I nodded. That actually made sense. Naturally, I reached for my glass of water.
"What about your work experience?" he asked.
My fingers clenched around my glass. I wasn’t prepared for that question. At that moment, I saw images of the long nights I endured, the business plans I developed, the investor meetings I arranged and attended, and the product launches I contributed to.
Six years helping Kelvin build Mercer Technologies from almost nothing. Six years believing we were building our future together only to discover I’d merely been helping someone else’s future.
I quietly pushed the memories away just in time for a waiter to return and take our orders.
"I’ve had some experience," I replied casually. Thankfully, Elias didn’t press the issue, so I asked, "What industry were you in?"
He smiled knowingly, as though recognizing I had deliberately redirected the conversation. "I’ve worked across a few sectors."
"That sounds vague."
"It is." He laughed softly.
The conversation drifted naturally after that. We found ourselves discussing business case competitions we had read about over the years. Apparently, Elias had participated in several during his undergraduate studies.
"I lost my first one quite spectacularly," he admitted. "You?"
I shook my head, setting down my glass of water after taking a sip. "I’ve never entered one."
His eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"There was never enough time," I explained. That wasn’t entirely untrue. Every spare moment I had, I devoted to Mercer Technologies. Looking back now, I should have spent all of that time investing in myself instead.
A waiter arrived with our meals before either of us spoke again. After taking a few bites, Elias smiled. "So... what do you think of Professor King’s assignment?"
I looked up from my plate. "I think he enjoys making students suffer."
He laughed. "I knew I wasn’t the only one." Then he said, "The question sounds simple, but it isn’t."
"It isn’t." I agreed.
He nodded. "The deeper you think about it, the more complicated it becomes."
"I’ve changed my answer three times already."
"I’ve lost count." He rested his fork against the plate. "I think that’s intentional."
I nodded slowly. "He isn’t testing whether we know the answer. He is testing how we think."
Elias stared at me for a second, then smiled. "That’s exactly what I concluded."
For some reason, hearing someone else arrive at the same conclusion was oddly reassuring.
"I’ve actually got a pretty good framework for approaching it," Elias continued. "If you ever get stuck, I would be happy to help." He shrugged casually. "I’ve got a bit of an advantage."
I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"
"My background and practical experience." He smiled. "I’ve dealt with enough businesses to recognise certain patterns."
I truly did appreciate the offer, but I declined. "I will be alright."
"You sure?"
I nodded. "I would like to figure this one out myself."
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if he might be offended, but he just smiled and said, "I respect that."
Not once did he insist or try convincing me otherwise. Strangely, that made me appreciate the gesture even more.
By the time dinner ended, our plates had long been cleared away. The waiter returned with the bill. Without thinking, Elias reached for it and so did I.
"I will get it," I said at exactly the same time.
He looked up. "So..."
"Separate bills." There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation in my voice. The corners of his lips curved. "Fair enough."
A few minutes later, we stepped out of the restaurant together. The cool evening breeze carried the familiar sounds of the city around us.
Elias slipped his hands into his coat pockets. "I suppose I will see you in class tomorrow."
"Probably."
He smiled. "Have a safe trip back."
"You too."
A taxi happened to pull up near the entrance. I raised a hand, and it stopped. I settled into the back seat and glanced through the window.
Elias was still standing outside the restaurant. He offered a small wave before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
As the taxi merged into traffic, I leaned back against the seat. Elias was surprisingly easy to talk to, but he was simply a classmate. Nothing more.
And that was exactly how I intended to keep it.