Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 70

The pouring rain outside, accompanied by its chilling presence, created a stark contrast with the cozy

warmth emanating from the private dining rooms of Thriving Pizza Hub.

For today’s meal, the two ladies deviated from their usual spot in the corner of the main dining area and

opted for a private room. The decision was prompted by the freezing weather, which had filled up all

the available seating in the main dining area.

While relishing her meal, Sherri tried to divert her best friend’s attention, remarking, “Winter and pizza

make the perfect combination. The chilly season calls for steaming hot dishes. Once we indulge in this

feast, I’ll be blissful for the entire week.”

To console herself, Natalie decided not to dwell on that particular issue. She chuckled and remarked,

“Besides eating, you’re all about designer brands.”

Sherri was relieved by her best friend’s playful teasing as it signified that Natalie’s mond had improved.

With a cheerful tone, Sherri replied, “Absolutely! While food and fashion hold significance, welcoming a

new life into the world is also a momentous event for me. Embracing a little life brings me immense

joy.”

After a brief interval, a waiter wheeled in a rack overflowing with many ingredients. Natalie could not

help but be awestruck and exclaimed, “Sherri, did you just order every ingredient available in the

restaurant? Are you certain… you can finish all of that?”

She gazed at Sherri with an incredulous expression.

Sherri beamed and exclaimed, “We will turn griel and anger into appetite. Since you’ll be going abroad

next year, we should make the most of every chance to relish good food. Let’s savor our meals to the

fullest while we still can!”

Natalie pondered quietly, “Am I not coming back?”

Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought and enjoyed her meal.

Sherri’s eyes sparkled with delight upon seeing the wide selection of food. She turned to Natalie, who

was cooking the ingredients, and suggested, “Let’s order some beef strips, cheese cakes, beef,

shrimps, omelet rolls, and some fish. We should also add mushrrom and spinach, Oh, it seems we

forgot to order drinks. Natalie, what would you like to drink?”

Considering the quantity of food being ordered, Natalie expressed her apprehension, saying, “I’m line

with anything. Order what you like. Just remember, you’ll have to finish everything you’ve ordered.”

They had already ordered a little of everything, so there was no turning back,

“Don’t worry, I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet, I will finish it, so don’t be so stingy.” Sherri reassured

confidently.

“Am I being stingy? I’m just concerned about avoiding food waste. Wasting food is indeed regrettable,

you know. Should I eatighten you about the importance of appreciating agricultural products?” Natalie

questioned playfully.

“Forget about that. It would be best if you tried this beef roll. It’s delicious and especially tender,” Sherri

said as she placed a piece into her friend’s bowl.

Sherri suggested, “How about we order some beer and have a little toast?”

Upon hearing the suggestion, Natalie was nearly choked by the spiciness of the food, causing her to

cough. She quickly responded, “How about some yogurt or a non-alcoholic beverage instead? Just

think about Edward. It might be best to refrain from drinking for

now.”

When Edward Landor crossed Sherri’s mind, she swiftly abandoned the previous suggestion. “Well,

forget it then. Let’s have some grapefruit juice instead,” she proposed.

As such, the pair ordered four bottles of juice.

This decision set well with Natalie as she was not picky.

Hallway through the meal, Sherri felt full and could not eat anymore. However, a sense of

embarrassment crept over her as she noticed half of the ingredients remained on the rack.

She had overestimated herself

Natalie glanced up and noticed Sherri’s flushed face and rosy cheeks due to the warmth from the hot

soup. Unable to contain her amusement, she chuckled at her friend’s contented demeanor and the

occasional hint of a burp

Unable to contain her amusement, Natalie burst into laughter. “Look at this! I told you we couldn’t finish

everything, but you insisted

on ordering more. What do we do now?” she exclaimed between laughs.

Gazing at the half-eaten ingredients remaining on the rack, a headache began to take hold.

Disappointment washed over the ladies as they could not help but feel a sense of self-reproach for their

reckless decision.

Sherri’s mind swiftly conjured up an idea, and she suggested with a smile, “How about… we call

Edward to join us and help us finish the remaining food? I’ll make sure to finish the broth.”

“If you want to call him, go ahead and do it. I won’t be the one to make the call. We’ve already eaten

quite a lot of the food,” Natalie responded, feeling a hint of embarrassment about the suggestion,

Determined not to let the remaining ingredients go to waste, Sherri made a firm decision. “I’ll do it.

We’ve already ordered and tasted every dish and cannot return it,” she declared with determination,

Natalie thought to herself, “You only realize this now?”

Sherri opened her contacts and dialed a number. “Hey, Edward. Where are you? Feeling hungry?

Natalie and I are having pizza, Would you like to join us?” she asked.

“Great, we’ll be waiting for you,” Sherri responded.

While waiting, Natalie suggested getting another pie, but Sherri declined, citing it would be a waste of

money.

At this moment, Edward had just concluded a meeting with a client and was preparing to return to the

company.

Turning to Kyle, who stood before him, he suggested, “Let’s head over to the Thriving Pizza Hub.”

Seated in the driver’s seat, Kyle could not help but express his concern. “Mr. Landor, there’s a meeting

in 30 minutes that you need to chair,” he reminded.

“Let’s postpone it until tomorrow morning. Everyone has been working hard these past few days, so no

overtime today,” Edward instructed.

Having worked alongside Edward for numerous years, Kyle could not help but notice that it was the first

time he witnessed his boss prioritizing personal matters over the business.

Kyle pondered, “Why pizza? What’s going on?”

Despite having numerous questions, Kyle opened the navigation, started the car, and headed toward

the pizza restaurant.

Sherri forwarded the details of the private room to Edward.

Eagerly anticipating Edward’s arrival, Sherri began calculating his estimated time and ordered dishes

she knew he enjoyed.

Once again, Natalie suggested, “Sherri, why don’t we change the broth?”

“Don’t worry, my brother doesn’t care”

About 15 minutes later, Kyle parked the car in front of the restaurant and turned to him. “Mr. Landor,

there are a lot of cars here. I’ll go find a parking space.”

“He would not mind. Let’s keep it as it is,” Sherri replied.

“Alright,” Natalie responded.

Kyle Jenkins and Edward Landor had developed a strong bond over the years, forging a friendship

beyond their professional roles. As Edward recruited Kyle from another company at a considerable

expense, and their names shared similarities, some individuals speculated that Edward had

orchestrated the move deliberately. Furthermore, the fact that Trevon and Edward drove Maybach cars,

along with their assistants having similar names, gave the impression of rivalry.

This intensifies the perception of a formidable rivalry and intense competition between the two

individuals.

Edward stepped out of the car and adjusted his coat and scarf, attempting to shield himself from the

biting cold. However, the chilly wind managed to get through, sending shivers down his spine.

As he opened the door to the private room, his eyes immediately focused on the woman wearing the

blue sweater. Her hair was haphazardly gathered into a bun, presumably for convenience while eating.

“Edward, you’re here so quickly!” Sherri exclaimed with delight. “I’ve already ordered your favorite

dishes for you. It must be chilly outside, I made sure everything is arranged to your liking, including the

sauces,” she informed him warmly.

Edward sat beside Sherri, hoping to discern something from her. With a hint of suspicion, he asked,

“You haven’t done anything to betray me, have you?”

Natalie, feeling a sense of discomfort from Sherri’s excessive flattery and eagerness, interjected,

“Edward, we’ve already had some of the food earlier. Should we order a fresh pot of broth?”

Edward glanced at the pot, a smile playing on his lips. “That’s alright. Do we have something to drink?”

he inquired.

Natalie reached for the juice bottle from the rack of food ingredients and asked, “Edward, would you

like some of this?”

Edward gracefully extended his slender hand and accepted the drink. “Thank you. Are you full?” he

asked,

Sherri cleared her throat and admitted, “Well, honestly, I’m feeling quite full.” She lowered her head

slightly, a hint of guilt creeping. into her expression,

Natalie, too, felt a tinge of embarrassment. They had already consumed a substantial amount of food,

and she realized she should have intervened earlier, “I have a little more with you,” she said,

determined to share the responsibility.

Edward took her utensils and said, “If you’re full, don’t force yourself. You don’t have to eat anymore.

Please give it to me. My assistant will be joining us soon.”

Sherri nodded and replied, “In that case, I’ll order some additional dishes. These would not be enough

for the both of you!””

“Okay, go ahead,” he answered.

With those words, Edward picked up a plate and sat beside Natalie. “My assistant is a bit shy and not

very talkative. You may not know him. Why don’t we have him sit with Sherri?” he suggested.

Natalie, being easygoing, did not see any issue with the suggestion. “Sure,” she replied with a friendly

smile.

Natalie busied herself with tidying up the items on her table. She carefully cleaned them with a napkin

and neatly stacked the unnecessary plates on the rack.

“Edward, would you like me to get you a different beverage? This one is a bit tangy, but it may not suit

your preference,” Natalie asked.

“It’s alright, and it’s nice to try something you girls enjoy occasionally. How is your overseas visa

application coming along?” Edward asked.

“I have already signed, and I’m ready to give it a shot. I believe this is a rare opportunity, and I don’t

want to miss out on it,” Natalie replied.

Edward Landor snapped back to reality. “Well, that’s great. All the best,” he said.

With a bright smile, Natalie replied, “Thank you.”