Chapter 157: Two Enterprises?

Same day, in the evening. The Bonifacio High Street was a sprawling hub of activity, with its blend of high-end shops, trendy restaurants, and green spaces filled with people enjoying the cool breeze after the day's heat. Michael and Juliet found themselves seated at Italianni's, a sleek, modern restaurant known for its Italian cuisine.

As they looked over the menu, Michael asked.

"Have you made your choices?"

"Hmm..." Juliet said as her eyes scanned the menu, "I think I'll go with the linguine alla vongole. How about you?"

Michael nodded approvingly. "I'll try the osso buco. It comes highly recommended."

Hearing that, Michael called the waitress standing nearby with a flick of his finger. And as if in a flick, the waitress came over to their table.

"We're ready to order," Michael announced. "I'll have the osso buco, and she'll take the linguine alla vongole, please."

The waitress nodded, jotting down their orders. "How about for drinks?" she asked, looking between them.

"What do you recommend?" Michael said as he looked over at the vast selection of

wines and beverages on the menu.

"Our house red wine pairs well with the osso buco, and for the linguine alla vongole, a white wine, perhaps the Pinot Grigio, would be excellent," the waitress suggested confidently.

"Let's go with those recommendations," Michael decided, and Juliet nodded in agreement.

Once their drink orders were placed, the waitress left, allowing them to resume their conversation.

"Mr. Reyes, I am just going to report to you that I have already given our case to our legal team and that I focused myself earlier prior to us leaving the office creating an outline for your new venture, the pharmaceutical company. Can you please take a look at it? I have sent it to your email."

Michael nodded as he picked up his phone. There was a notification of a new email from Juliet. He opened it quickly, scanning through the contents of the outline she had prepared. Everything seemed to be in order, and he made a mental note to give it a thorough review later that night.

"Thank you, Juliet," he said, putting his phone down. "I'll look over this as soon as I can."

"They'll appreciate the honesty and transparency and besides, it's not like they are going to hinder your plan so long as you have the technology to back it up...which you do right?"

"I have it in a safe place," Michael reassured. "I will show it the moment they show an iota of skepticism."

Their conversation paused momentarily as their orders arrived, carried by the waitress who took their order.

She placed the steaming plates in front of Michael and Juliet, the aroma of the freshly cooked dishes wafting up tantalizingly.

"Here you go," she said with a warm smile. "Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you," Michael replied, returning her smile.

Once the waitress left, Michael and Juliet wasted no time in digging into their respective dishes. The osso buco was tender and flavorful, the meat falling off the bone with each bite. Juliet's linguine alla vongole was cooked to perfection, the clams adding a delicate brininess to the pasta.

As they were about to finish their meal, Michael spoke.

"So, about your workload issue. I have decided to get you an assistant secretary," Michael said, addressing the topic they had discussed earlier in the day.

"Really?" Juliet's eyes widened with surprise.

"Yeah...considering how hard your job is, being a chief of staff to me, I'd say it's about time we got you some help," Michael replied with a reassuring nod.

Juliet smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Reyes. That means a lot to me."

Michael waved off her thanks. "Think nothing of it. We need to make sure you have the support you need to excel in your role."

With their plates now empty, Michael called the waitress to settle the bill. After paying. They rose to their feet and walked together to the parking lot.

"You'll be the one looking for your secretary, inform me when you find one," Michael said.

"Of course, Mr. Reyes."