Falling For My Billionaire Savior - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

As we stood in front of the restaurant, Elena hesitated, reluctant to enter the door. She said, "Ms. Gordon, this place is way too extravagant. Can we go somewhere else instead?"
"Come on," I said, linking my arm with hers. "We're celebrating. It deserves a feast. And when it's just the two of us, call me Kate."
"Is that... appropriate?" she asked tentatively.
I said with a smile, "Absolutely. I liked you the moment we met. I don't really have many friends here. At work, we're boss and employee. After work, we're girlfriends."
"Great." She nodded, still a little unsure.
Elena had been hesitant at the door, but once she saw the menu, her reluctance turned into firm resistance. She insisted we leave, claiming she wasn't used to the food here.
But I knew exactly what had happened—she'd been scared off by the prices, just like I had the first time I came here.
Her reaction confirmed that people with shared values just got each other. Friendships worked best when people's views on everything were aligned.
Still, I insisted we dine here, no matter what she said.
Imitating Mason's confident manner, I ordered two steaks, clam chowder, foie gras, a vegetable salad, and some desserts. And despite Elena nudging me under the table with increasing urgency, I also ordered a bottle of Lafite.
Once the waiter left, Elena said, "No need to waste money like this. We could've just eaten something simple."
I replied, "Just this once, okay? Next time, we can get fried chicken."
Her eyes lit up. "Fried chicken sounds great. Wait, do people like you even eat that kind of food?"
I nodded. "Sure we do. Not often, but sometimes."
Just then, the food arrived, and the exquisite plating quickly distracted her. I finally let out a quiet sigh of relief. I told myself to be more careful next time. That slip almost gave me away.
We chatted while eating, completely ignoring the etiquette during training. No talking while eating? To hell with that. The meal was full of joy, laughter, and genuine connection.
After the meal, Elena went to the restroom. I called over the waiter to settle the bill. I smiled and thanked him as he returned my change—but the smile froze on my face the moment I looked up.
Mason was walking toward me, arm-in-arm with a stunning woman. My smile immediately faded. They were already too close to pretend I hadn't seen them.
"What a coincidence. Are you dining with a friend?" Mason greeted me casually.
"Yeah," I replied, my eyes locked on the woman next to him. She was tall, curvy, and her generous chest was practically glued to his arm.
"Let me introduce you," he continued, without missing a beat. "This is Lexie, my date tonight. And this is Katherine, my fiancée."
I snapped, "You're introducing your girlfriend right in front of your fiancée? That's a bit too far, Mason." I completely forgot that I was only pretending to be his fiancée.
Lexie immediately pulled her arm out of Mason's, panic written all over her face. "Ms. Gordon, please don't misunderstand. I'm not Mr. Knight's girlfriend. We're just friends."
Without waiting for a response, she bolted like I might chase her down. But in her haste, she twisted her ankle—those heels had to be at least six inches tall. My feet ached just looking at her.
She slipped off her heels, clutched them in one hand, and limped quickly out of sight. Only when she'd completely disappeared did I turn back.
I tried to sound casual, though my heart was still stinging. "She left? I thought she was your date for the evening?"
Instead of answering, Mason shot back, "Who are you here with?" He looked oddly fixated, as if it really mattered.
"I came with a hot guy, very hot," I said coolly.