Chapter 156 156: I Have No Time
Lilith heard him and was surprised, "How did it die?"
"If you want to raise plants, do it at home. You put a potted plant in my office, how would I have time to water it?" Jay frowned.
"I think you killed it on purpose." Lilith mumbled a sentence, smiling again, "It doesn't matter, tomorrow I'll buy a new one for you again."
"Whatever." Jay did not bother to listen to her, sat back in the chair, and put the photo aside.
Lilith did not get angry, laughing and hanging around his neck like a vine, "After eating, you will have more energy to work. I know you love your job, but you should eat dinner."
"I have no time."
"Come on a date with me?" Lilith asked with a smile.
"Mm-hmm." Jay felt a little breathless, especially as the scent of this woman traveled into his nostrils, and his mouth went dry.
Lilith asked again, "Oh? Would your girlfriend not like that?"
"Mm-hmm." His attitude remained lukewarm.
But Lilith heard him and crept into his arms with her cunning eyes, "You lie, I asked around, you usually eat alone, or you eat with colleagues. You have no girlfriend."
"Don't bother me. Get up. If you stay with me, I'll arrest you for assaulting a policeman."
"Then I'll sue you for threatening a law-abiding citizen." Lilith pouted with her small mouth. Jay was speechless and had to give up, "Aren't you ashamed? You're a woman. You shouldn't be in a man's office so late."
"Will you do anything to me?" Lilith winked at him.
"No way."
"Then fine, you're not going to do anything to me. Why can't I be in your office?" Lilith laughed even more brightly, deliberately to arouse suspicion.
Jay frowned and picked her up. "Don't you know how much gossip there is at this time?" Don't torment me."
"The Lake's gossip isn't about me. What does it matter that I come to see you?"
Jay took a deep breath, and he found that if the maid came up, it would be a difficult situation to explain. He raised his hands in surrender, "Miss Lake, I beg you to get out of this office and close the door for me, okay?"
"Give me a reason."
"I'm working on a case, and I don't have time to go to dinner with you." Jay rubbed his temples as if coaxing a child, "So be quiet and don't disturb me, okay?"
Lilith suddenly saw something on the table and picked it up. "What's this?"
Jay nodded, walking forward, "Don't move, give that to me."
"No." Lilith avoided him with a laugh.
Jay's long hands caught her all of a sudden, but she spun as he reached out, and Lilith was completely held in his arms. Her back was against his chest, and they didn't expect their position to look so ambiguous.
She looked up with a smile, and Jay bowed down to grab it, and their lips inadvertently touched, and they both froze.
Everything was fixed. The fragrance of the woman and the smell of the man's cologne was intermingled with both of their breath. Lilith blushed and spun around, lowering her head, and her long eyelashes covered her panic and shyness.
Jay's chest jumped and felt a strange tingle, but he still pushed her away, reaching the photo. "Stop trying to steal from me."
"Who's stealing it from you? I just want to see what's drawn on it." Lilith's voice was small, but her heart thumped, "It is just a totem."
"A Totem?" Jay's eyes were bright, and he suddenly came forward and clenched Lilith's shoulders, "Did you just say it's a totem?"
"My shoulder!" She gave a cry of surprise.
"I'm sorry." Jay was anxious and rubbed her shoulders gently, "Did I hurt you?"
"Can't you play nice?"
"Well, I'm sorry. Next time I promise not to hurt you." Jay was somewhat incoherent and asked her. "Tell me about this totem."
Lilith pointed to the pattern on the paper. "I remember seeing it in a book long ago. It was like a butterfly but also not a butterfly. It was a totem."
"Think again and recall, what kind of book was it? Tell me."
Lilith turned her eyes to him. "Who can remember what happened 800 years ago? Besides, I'm hungry, and my brain cells aren't working at all."
Jay listened, grabbed his car keys, and pulled her wrist, "Let's go, I'll buy you dinner."
Lilith followed behind him, smiling an evil smile.
****
Leo invited Irish to the restaurant at the top of the Runestone building, where all of Broadway could be seen from the window.
Although it was only a meal, Irish could feel there was a hidden meaning behind it.
"Are you showing off to Joseph by asking me to dinner?" The scene outside the window was beautiful, and the street lamps illuminated the city's grid layout, the flashing neon lights dancing in the night.
Leo was in a good mood, putting a cut steak on her plate and shrugging his shoulders. "You are incorrect. It's just because the food in his restaurant is amazing."
"Let's get to the point. Leo, you shouldn't be taking advantage of this whole situation." Irish lowered her cutlery and her voice. No one in the business could be considered selfless, and competition like this was only natural.
Leo smiled, "You have always been smart, you should know my intentions are pure."
"I know, one stone and two birds." she sighed. "On one hand, it's strictly business. On the other hand, you want to disparage the public's opinion about Joseph."
"So, this is the best way." Leo picked up his glass and spun it gently.
Irish turned to look out the window, thinking, and after a long time, she nodded,
"Yes, the best way."
Leo stared at her, whispering, "Irish, I just want you to know that if someone wants to hurt you, I'll be the first to protect you, no matter who it is."
Irish turned to him, his words made her warm and lost. She stayed silent for a while, and when Leo almost finished the wine in his glass, she opened her mouth, "In fact, I've always wanted to ask you a question."