The next day, Anastasia went to check in on Juliet and see how her studies were going.
When she returned home, she found Marcus waiting for her.
She raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to take you out," Marcus said, getting to his feet. He was tall and lanky, with
a relaxed charm. "I've been waiting for an hour. Where've you been?"
"I was just visiting Juliet," Anastasia replied casually.
"Juliet?" Marcus looked surprised. "Juliet is in Riverton too?"
Anastasia had just taken a glass of water from the maid and hadn't even had a sip. Hearing his words, she shot Marcus a wary look.
She hadn't forgotten his unusual interest in Juliet back in Fairhaven.
"What's with that look?" Marcus said calmly. "How could she come to Riverton and not tell me? Perfect. Let's take Juliet out for dinner tonight, a belated welcome meal!"
He pulled out his phone as he spoke. "I'll see if Barnett and Tyrone are free."
Anastasia had her doubts, but seeing how open he was and that he was inviting friends, she decided not to overthink it.
Juliet was going to build her life in Riverton, so it would be good for her to get to know them.
She called Juliet.
She thought about inviting Benson, but he was incredibly busy and still abroad for some show.
Meanwhile, Marcus finished his calls. Barnett was out of town on business, but Tyrone was available.
"Not calling Harrison?" Marcus asked her.
"No need. Juliet already had dinner at the Lancaster estate when she first arrived."
Besides, Harrison was so busy; she didn't want to bother him with something like this.
They set a time for that afternoon. Anastasia picked up Juliet, and by the time they arrived at the restaurant, Marcus and Tyrone were already there.
Juliet knew Marcus, but she had never met Tyrone. The moment she saw him, she froze in disbelief.
Was that... Mr. Winters?!
She wasn't a fangirl, but having been in the entertainment industry before, she'd technically worked with Tyrone a few times-if you could call it that. At bertevel, she was just an extra, worlds away from a star like Tyrone. They might have been on the same set, but she could only ever see him from a distance, never dream of getting close.
She never imagined she'd one day be sitting at the same table, sharing a meal with Tyrone Winters!
Juliet was both thrilled and nervous, her sparkling eyes turning to Anastasia beside her.
Anastasia was truly amazing, being friends with someone like Mr. Winters!
Just then, Marcus and Tyrone, who had been chatting in the private room, noticed them at the door.
Marcus stood up. "What took you so long?"
Anastasia offered a simple explanation, "Traffic was a bit heavy."
It was impossible for there to be a lull with Marcus around. He introduced Tyrone to
Juliet, and within a few sentences, he had put her at ease.
Tyrone greeted Juliet with a warm smile, and after a brief chat, he
turned to Anastasia. "I've been a bit
busy lately so thaven thad a
chance to ask you out. No hard feelings, I hope."
Anastasia smiled and shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.
The four of them chatted casually, and by the end of the meal, they had all grown closer.
Marcus loved a good time. He glanced at the clock, about to suggest they move on to another spot, when the door to the private room was flung open aggressively.
"Marcus "
A woman, Marcus's fiancée Yolanda, stormed in. Her voice died in her
throat when she saw it wasn't ne
private rendezvous with another woman that she had imagined.