Kyle Morgan brushed Zachary Conway’s hand away and shot him a look. "Weren’t you the one who said it yourself when you got drunk on your last break?"
Zachary Conway grabbed his head and asked in a low voice, "D-Did I?"
"You did." Kyle Morgan pursed his lips. "I should’ve recorded you that day."
Zachary Conway suddenly grew flustered. "That’s not something you go and record."
Just then, Michelle Fuller came over to greet them. "Hey, we meet again."
"Hey there~" Kyle Morgan stood up and waved at her.
Hearing the odd tone in his voice, Zachary Conway elbowed him in the waist.
Kyle Morgan clutched the spot with a dramatic flair. "Come on, Kian Cole. We’re brothers, aren’t we? Can’t I even say a simple hello?"
"You..." Zachary Conway’s face flushed red with anger. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
With that, he stood up, smiled at Michelle Fuller, then nodded at Sean Fuller, who was standing behind her. "Hello."
Michelle Fuller made the introduction. "This is my little brother, Sean Fuller."
"Oh, so you’re her little brother." Kyle Morgan enthusiastically extended his hand. "Hi, I’m Kyle Morgan, a colleague of Renee Jennings."
"I’ll call you Brother Kai, then." Sean Fuller shook his hand and then looked over at Zachary Conway. "Zeke, we meet again."
After saying that, he sat right down next to Sawyer. "Sarah, you’re looking even more beautiful today."
Sawyer chuckled. "Thank you for the compliment. You’re quite handsome yourself."
Sean Fuller raised an eyebrow and pretended to smooth his hair. "You noticed. I made a special effort for today."
Kyle Morgan blinked, asking in surprise, "You all know each other?"
"We met on a mission before," Sawyer explained.
Kyle Morgan nodded. "Oh, so that’s how it is. And here I was, thinking you were all meeting up secretly behind my back."
"As if!" Zachary Conway shot him another discreet glare.
Sylvia Brooks and Faye Wyatt arrived at the same time, having run into each other in the elevator.
Once everyone had arrived, Renee Jennings asked the waiter to start serving the food.
Faye Wyatt was eating her appetizer and chatting with Sylvia Brooks when her phone, left on the edge of the table, suddenly buzzed.
The caller ID read ’Zoe Morgan.’
"Sorry, I have to take this," Faye Wyatt said, excusing herself. She got up and walked to a corner of the private room to answer. "Vivi."
"Fanny, where are you?" Zoe Morgan asked from the other end of the line.
Faye Wyatt paused, asking in confusion, "Vivi, where am I supposed to be?"
"I sent you a message. Didn’t you see it?"
"No, I haven’t checked my phone. What was it about?"
"It’s Yvonne’s birthday party today. Did you forget?"
"I didn’t forget." Not only had Faye Wyatt not forgotten, but she remembered it quite clearly. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known it was Renee Jennings’s birthday today as well. "I’ve already had someone deliver Yvonne’s gift to her house."
When Zoe Morgan heard this, her grip on her phone tightened. "Fanny, you’re not coming to Yvonne’s party?"
"I’m not going to make it. I’m here with Renee." Faye Wyatt smiled. "Please tell Yvonne happy birthday for me."
For a moment, Zoe Morgan was silent.
When she didn’t get a response, Faye Wyatt said calmly, "Vivi, let’s talk next time. I’m hanging up now."
There was still no sound from the other end, so Faye Wyatt just hung up.
After the main course, the waiters cleared the table and began to serve dessert and the birthday cake.
Renee Jennings stood up, beaming. "Thank you all for taking the time to celebrate with me today."
Faye Wyatt rested her chin on her hands, her expression elegant and warm. "Renee, there’s no need to be so formal. We’re thrilled to be here celebrating with you."
Her words were met with a chorus of agreement.
"That’s right! We’re so happy to be here."
"We’re all friends here."
"I’m coming to your next birthday party, too!"
At their words, the smile on Renee Jennings’s face widened. "I actually prepared a little something for all of you. I hope you’ll like them."
She had written everyone’s names on the gift bags beforehand, and now she passed them out one by one.
"This is the first time I’ve ever gotten a gift at someone else’s birthday party." Kyle Morgan looked shocked. Staring at the logo on the gift bag, he suddenly felt his own fruit bouquet had been a bit pathetic.
"Me too," Zachary Conway said with feeling. "Our Consultant Jennings is so thoughtful. I’m taking notes."
"That’s not it at all." Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow playfully. "I’m just trying to bribe you all with these small gifts in the hopes that you’ll all continue to be my friends."
"Deal!" Michelle Fuller responded immediately with a laugh. "I’ll be your friend not just in this life, but in the next one, too!"
Sean Fuller applauded enthusiastically, playing along. He said with a grin, "I’m different, Renee. I don’t want to be your friend in the next life—I want us to be siblings!"