The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 462 Pay The Bill

Upon hearing this, Leila stood there uneasily with an embarrassed expression. During their last meeting, she was with a man in his fifties. Since he was one of Charles's most important clients, she tried all means to please him and ensured that he signed a contact with Charles. Undoubtedly she let that man take advantage of her.

After ignoring other people seated around the table, she rested herself on that man's lap seductively. Even though she finally bagged the deal for Charles, others thought her act was uncouth and indecent. But hearing Madeline mentioning their meeting in a good light, she was certain that she was being mocked.

With a faint smile, Leila returned, "You flatter me. I just did my job obediently."

"Oh, is that so?" Madeline sneered. "Miss Zhang, I have something rather important to deal with. I shall see you later!"

"Sure, please do carry on," Leila responded politely. Leila felt quite disappointed as she reflected upon their meeting. 'She said those words just out of courtesy. I know she didn't mean it. I don't know if I will ever get to meet her again. After all, she is a successful business woman.'

Madeline turned around and commanded the obedient girl waiting behind her, "Follow me, Pamela."

"Um, Aunt Madeline!" that girl replied meekly, catching a glimpse of Leila unintentionally. Catching the girl looking at her, Leila returned the gaze by looking into her eyes. When she saw her innocent eyes, she was stunned. It had been a long time since she met someone as naive and innocent as her.

Pamela He followed Madeline blindly, and they went straight towards Burke. Watching them going towards Burke, Leila was shocked.

'Do they know Burke?

Burke and Madeline, what's their relationship?' Her mind was flooded with a million questions, answers to which she might never get.

After Leila left him, Burke returned to his seat and began to drink. Once he realized the wine bottle was empty, he waved his hand in the air and shouted at the hotel manger who was standing behind him, "Spencer, bring me another bottle of wine."

The second he heard this, Spencer Ge cast a glance at Madeline. Upon seeing her shake her head slightly, he didn't respond. As he got no answer, Burke got up wobbling and caught sight of Madeline. She stood in front of him, looking displeased and disappointed.

"What are you doing here right now?" Burke asked rather coldly.

"I came here for you," Madeline replied in a dissatisfied tone. After looking at Burke and his obvious dejection, she couldn't resist expressing her anger and berated. "Look at yourself. You look like a sore loser who cannot get a grip on his life."

"Just leave me alone," Burke snapped back impatiently, as he waved his hand gesturing her to leave. "I failed, just like you thought I would. Are you happy now?"

"I told you clearly from the very start that it was impossible for you and that woman to be together," Madeline pouted. "Didn't you plan your grand proposal to her for tonight? Where is she?" she asked, as she looked around.

She saw no one except Leila who was standing still in shock and disbelief.

She wondered with a frown, 'Is she that woman Burke has loved for over ten years?'

"Miss Zhang," she called out as she walked up to Leila. With a stern look, she asked her blatantly, "What's the nature of your relationship with Burke?"

"We were classmates," Leila stammered as she looked at Madeline nervously and wondered what her intentions were. She had no idea why Madeline asked this question suddenly.

"So Burke prepared all of this to propose to you, didn't he?" Madeline asked as her face reflected contempt and dismay. If she had known that Burke intended to marry Leila, Madeline would have opposed his decision decisively from the very start and ensured it never happened.

Leila froze and din't dare to utter a word in response. Burke narrowed his eyes and caught sight of Leila. He shook his head and tried to act sober. Realizing that it was indeed Leila who was still there, he yelled out to her, "Why are you still here? We're over now. Which part of that is hard to understand? Just get out of my sight!"

'My entire family knew that I was going to propose a girl today. I told them that I would do it confidently. I even asked my mom to come here so that I could introduce my finance to her. But my plan has been ruined. How embarrassing! What will I tell all of them now? That I got rejected?' he thought to himself.

Burke nudged Leila to leave as he wanted to protect her from what was about to unfold.

But Leila had no intention of leaving. After noticing that Burke seemed to share a close relationship with Madeline, she tried to use her connection with Burke to flatter and impress Madeline. She drew closer to Burke, held his arm and help him sit back down on his seat. With a concerned look, she then asked Burke in a soft tone,"Are you okay? Is there something I can do for you?" "I'm fine, I don't need your fake concern," Burke snapped at her in a cold and harsh tone. He pushed Leila away gently and went on,"Just leave from here. I don't want to see your face." "Please don't urge me to leave, not when you are in such a bad state," Leila pleaded. With one glance at Burke, she continued acting tenderly, "You're my friend, how can I possibly leave you alone?" With a sudden thud, Burke laid his head on the table and fell asleep. Leila was speechless, not knowing what to do next. She lifted her head, looked at Madeline in the eyes, and asked almost authoritatively, "May I know why you came here to meet Burke, Mrs. Zhou? As you can see, he is asleep now. And he can't possibly answer your questions. I'm his friend. If you have something to say to him, please let me know and I'll be sure to forward your message to him."

She observed that Burke and Madeline weren't just acquaintances, with that information Leila tried her best to pretend be a sensible girl in front of Madeline who cared about Burke very dearly. For a moment, she even suspected that Burke was Madeline's son.

Burke had always maintained a low profile in high school, and he found a regular job after graduating from college. Owing to the hushed tones, she naturally assumed that he might be an affluent second generation.

She recalled, 'Each time I asked him about his family, he faltered. Perhaps he was afraid that I might be scared away by his background.'

Madeline observed Leila discreetly, lost into thought. 'I have met several different kind of people through the years since I started my business.

Many girls like Leila aspire only to marry a rich husband to change their fate and fulfill their dreams. Even though she is trying to hide her greedy disposition, but her eyes betrayed her.

I can see the greed clearly reflecting in her eyes.'

"Now that you tell me you're his friend, I will speak my mind with you," Madeline initiated a conversation. After passing Leila a scornful look, she continued with a sneer, "Mr. Zhou reserved all the tables here. I understand that he is in low spirits because he failed, but after all business is business. I came here to ask him to pay the bill and clear all the dues.

When Mr. Zhou booked, Spencer offered a 10% discount exclusively to him. But considering that he is your friend, I will give you a 20% discount on the entire bill which is now 8, 80, 000 in total." She then turned to Spencer and demanded, "Give me Mr. Zhou's bill, Spencer."