Chapter 174: Dinner with Xavier & Gianna
The next day, as Cassidy had planned, they went to Cy. Noire’s new warehouse. They took the train to get there.
The beautiful Switzerland scenery left Zeke’s bodyguards, many of whom were visiting Switzerland for the first time, completely in awe. Zeke was equally impressed.
He finally understood why Cassidy had chosen Switzerland as her place to escape. Anyone burdened with stress or too many thoughts would instantly feel refreshed in a place like this.
It took them about two hours to reach the warehouse. Lucie and some of the Cy. Noire staff had arrived earlier. During the meeting the day before, Cassidy had told Lucie and the team that she planned to see the new Cy. Noire warehouse. Lucie had mentioned that she and some staff would also be at the warehouse if Cassidy wanted a tour.
When they arrived, Lucie came over immediately with a bright smile.
"Welcome, Zeke! Cassidy! I’m glad you made it," she said warmly.
"Thanks, Lucie," Cassidy replied. "It already looks impressive."
Lucie nodded. "I’m happy to hear that. We’ve prepared everything for your visit. Let me show you around."
After finishing the tour of the entire Cy. Noire warehouse, Cassidy nodded in satisfaction. She was pleased with how the new warehouse had been built.
"How about we have lunch together? I’ve already booked a nice restaurant for us," Lucie suggested cheerfully to Cassidy and Zeke.
"Of course," Cassidy replied.
They all went to the restaurant Lucie had reserved in a small village, a place with a cozy rustic vibe that immediately felt warm and welcoming.
They placed their orders when the waiter came to their table.
Once the waiter left, Lucie turned to Zeke with a curious smile. "So, Zeke, how do you feel about Switzerland so far? Better than the States, isn’t it?"
Zeke nodded lightly. "This isn’t my first time here. It’s just been a long while since I last came. And so far, the scenery and the air never fail to amaze me."
His honest words made both Cassidy and Lucie smile.
Soon after, Lucie and Cassidy slipped into a work conversation. They discussed Cy. Noire’s future plans, from distribution strategies to new product launches. Cassidy listened carefully, occasionally offering her own thoughts and ideas while Lucie filled her in on the staff’s progress.
Meanwhile, Zeke’s attention was on Claire. He leaned closer and asked softly, "Princess, is there a place you’ve been missing... maybe somewhere here you’d like to visit again?"
Claire shook her head.
"No?" Zeke asked gently.
"There’s no place I want to visit," Claire said softly. Then her face brightened a little. "But I want to see Nico. I want to play with him again."
Cassidy, though deep in conversation with Lucie, had her ears tuned to every word between Zeke and Claire. At the mention of Nico, she turned her head slightly.
"You miss Nico, sweetheart?"
Claire nodded quickly.
Cassidy remembered it well—how close Claire and Nico had always been. Whenever Henri or Elise came over, they would bring Nico along, and the two children would spend hours playing together. Cassidy smiled. She could understand why Claire longed to see Nico again.
"How about we go to Nico’s house tomorrow?" Cassidy said, hoping to cheer her up.
Claire’s eyes widened. "Really, Mommy?"
"Of course, sweetheart," Cassidy assured her. "It’s been a while since we last saw Henri and Elise too. So tomorrow, we’ll visit them and you’ll get to play with Nico again."
Claire beamed, clapping her little hands in excitement. "Yay. Thank you, Mommy!"
Zeke watched the exchange quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he saw how happy Claire looked at the promise.
After they finished their meal, Lucie suggested, "How about we walk around a bit? There are some lovely spots nearby."
Cassidy gave a polite smile and shook her head. "Thank you, Lucie, but we should head back. We already have a dinner appointment with Xavier tonight."
At the mention of Xavier’s name, spoken so casually by Cassidy, Lucie’s eyes flicked toward Zeke almost instinctively. She wanted to catch even the slightest reaction from him.
But Zeke’s face remained calm, expression unreadable, as if the name meant nothing to him.
Lucie felt a wave of confusion. Did Zeke know about Cassidy’s past connection with Xavier? Or was he truly unaffected? For a brief moment, curiosity stirred in her. But then she quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn’t her place to wonder, and more than that, she was simply glad that Cassidy now looked happier.
After saying their goodbyes to Lucie, they headed straight home to rest, knowing that later that evening they had dinner plans at Xavier’s restaurant in the city center.
Back at the house, Zeke turned to Cassidy as he loosened his shirt cuffs. "What should I wear tonight?" he asked.
Cassidy looked up from where she was sorting her things. "Xavier’s restaurant is fine dining. You don’t need to go too formal, but definitely not too casual either."
Zeke nodded. "Got it."
He walked over to the wardrobe and began selecting his clothes. This time, he didn’t try to match his outfit with Cassidy’s, unlike before.
When evening came, they went to Xavier’s restaurant.
As soon as they arrived, a staff member—someone who already knew Cassidy, greeted them warmly and led them to a private dining room. Inside, Gianna was already there, sitting alone at the table.
The moment she saw them, a bright smile spread across her face.
"Zeke, Cassidy, Claire... you’re here." Gianna stood up and greeted them with a hug, one by one.
"Where’s Xavier?" Cassidy asked when she didn’t see him.
"Oh, he’s in the kitchen," Gianna replied with a smile. "But don’t worry, he’s not cooking—though I wouldn’t mind tasting his food."
Cassidy nodded. Then, she, Zeke and Claire took their seats at the round table.
Not long after, Xavier returned from the kitchen.
"You’re here already? Sorry, I was in the back for a moment. I asked the chefs to prepare something special for us tonight. I hope that’s okay?"
"Of course," Cassidy said easily. "I trust your choices and I know nothing in your restaurant could ever taste bad."
Xavier smirked. "Thank you for your compliment."
As they waited for the food, Xavier turned his attention to Claire. "Claire Bear, Uncle Xavi missed you so much. Did you miss me too?"
"Yeah, I miss you too, Uncle Xavi. Why don’t you visit anymore?" Claire asked innocently, her words making the adults at the table fall silent.
Xavier blinked, caught off guard, but before the awkwardness could settle in, Claire continued brightly, "Oh, you probably don’t know, Mommy and I moved! We live in Daddy’s house now. Daddy’s house is like a princess castle."
Her cheerful explanation eased the tension and lightened the mood.
"Is that so?" Xavier asks with a gentle smile.
"Yeah. There’s Rocco too, at Daddy’s house. Rocco is a white dog. He runs really fast and likes to lick my hand."
Their laughter fills the room at Claire’s animated story. For a few minutes, all their attention stays on her—her bright eyes, her lively hands moving as she talks, and the way her small voice carries such excitement.
When Claire finishes her story, Xavier turns his eyes to Cassidy. "Are you here on vacation, or...?"
"You could say that. But the main reason we’re here is because I need to meet Lucie and the team."
"Oh?"
"Have I told you that the Cy. Noire warehouse here caught fire?"
"What?" Xavier’s voice rises in shock. "The Cy. Noire warehouse burned down?"
"Yeah, two months ago."
"I’m sorry to hear that."
Gianna, who had been quietly listening, frowned in curiosity when she heard Cassidy mention Cy. Noire. "Did you work at Cy. Noire?"
"Yes." Cassidy’s reply is brief, offering no further explanation.
But then, out of nowhere, Zeke spoke.
"Cassidy doesn’t just work at Cy. Noire," he said with quiet pride. "She’s the designer and also the CEO. We came here because she wanted to meet her team to discuss opening a Cy. Noire store in the States."
"You’re the designer and CEO of that brand?" Gianna’s surprise was clear. "The one that’s been booming everywhere?"
Cassidy only gave a small nod. She shot Zeke a side glance and discreetly pinched his thigh under the table for giving away more than she wanted. It wasn’t that she hated people knowing her identity—she just preferred keeping it quiet whenever possible.
Gianna looked at Cassidy with surprise almost in awe. "You know, I’m actually a fan of your brand. I’ve bought pieces from Cy. Noire myself."
Cassidy blinked, a little caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Gianna to be one of her customers. "Oh... really?" She gave a small smile. "Thank you."
"So you’re opening a Cy. Noire store in the States? When will it launch? Can I come to the opening?" Gianna asked with genuine excitement.
"Of course," Cassidy replied warmly. "I’d be more than happy to welcome the CEO of Hill Enterprise."
***