Bruce found himself at a loss for words.
Leah and Rita shared his confusion. Had they somehow upset the restaurant’s owner’s wife? They had never even learned the identity of the person behind Lonsong Restaurant.
Holding back her indignation, Leah’s voice remained calm and collected as she asked, “Would you mind telling us the name of your boss’s wife?”
“Absolutely not!” the waiter responded, forcefully shutting the door.
The three were unceremoniously driven out, their pride visibly wounded, especially Leah’s.
For Leah, a renowned celebrity, being ejected by a mere waiter was both demeaning and maddening. Nonetheless, as someone constantly in the limelight, she had no choice but to swallow the insult.
They were just turning to leave when, unexpectedly, the door swung open once more.
The waiter held a sign that boldly read, “No entry for bitches or jerks.”
Instantly, their faces clouded over with anger, struck by the outright insult.
Rita, seething, moved to confront the waiter, but Bruce sharply cut her off, saying, “Do you want to escalate this? If you can’t control yourself, head home!”
“But-” Rita, consumed by anger and frustration, stomped her foot and stormed away in a fury.
Leah, aware of her public status, foresaw potential scandal. She whispered, “Bruce, perhaps it’s a misunderstanding. Let’s try the restaurant next door?”
“Sorry for this mess,” Bruce said, looking at Leah with gentle eyes.
Turning to leave, Leah shot a lingering, sharp glance at the restaurant’s closed door, a flicker of coldness in her eyes.
Corrine, inside the restaurant, was unaware of the unfolding drama. She marched in, her attention only recalled when a waiter inquired about her reservation.
Taken by surprise, she suddenly realized she had entered without thinking.
“Oh, my apologies. I walked in without thinking.” An uncontrollable, awkward smile appeared on her face.
As she turned, she collided with a massive bouquet of roses.
Taking an involuntary step back, Corrine hesitated.
“Excuse me, beautiful lady, would you join me for dinner?” a man nearby asked, his voice as smooth and enticing as a serenade.
The familiar voice stirred a flicker of surprise in Corrine’s eyes, followed by a subtle smile.
“I thought…”
“You thought I wouldn’t show up?” As the massive bouquet of roses lowered, Nate’s handsome face came into view.
The soft corridor lighting cast delicate shadows across his chiseled features, highlighting the intensity of his expression. His dark eyes gleamed like stars, stirring a deep sense of longing in her chest.
He gazed at her with a quiet smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“I was worried these flowers would wilt before you got here.”
“Are you complaining that I’m late?” Corrine swept a strand of hair behind her ear, her brows lifting with a playful glint.
Nate pressed his lips together, his eyes shimmering with warmth.
“The timing’s perfect, the moonlight is just right, and you walked in at the exact moment you were supposed to. Everything is how it should be.”
His gaze was so full of affection that it seemed as though he might lean in for a kiss at any moment, making Corrine’s heart race.
She lowered her gaze to hide her flustered emotions.
“Did you wait long?”
“One hour and fifty-four minutes,” he replied.
Nate’s candidness left Corrine momentarily speechless.
She studied his striking features, a spark of amusement dancing in her eyes.
“So, what exactly are you trying to say?”
Nate’s gaze never left her face, his dark pupils glimmering with something almost magnetic.
He took a step closer, holding the bouquet and gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly
“Just using your question to show how sincere I am.”
His voice was smooth and rich, like a melody that wrapped around her heart, making it flutter uncontrollably.
The distance between them disappeared, and her senses were filled with the subtle scent of his cologne.
Corrine’s long, thick lashes fluttered nervously, her heart racing in her chest. She cleared her throat and, with a soft voice, asked, “Weren’t you going to invite me to dinner?”
“Follow me,” Nate said, his voice calm and steady, as he naturally reached for her hand.
As their hands connected, Corrine felt a rush of warmth spread from his palm, seeping into her skin, sending an unexpected shiver through her.
She instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip tightened just enough to remind her of his presence-gentle yet firm.
Reluctantly, she allowed him to lead her, her eyes darting around the restaurant with a hint of unease.
Once inside the intimate dining suite, Nate casually set the bouquet down and pulled out a chair for her, the gesture smooth and practiced.
Just as she settled, a waiter entered, carrying a bottle of wine. He poured drinks for both of them before turning to Nate with quiet respect.
“Sir, shall we begin serving the dishes now?”
Nate nodded with a slight motion of his head, and the waiter, still smiling, exited without a word.
Although their conversation was simple, Corrine couldn’t ignore the subtle reverence the waiter had shown Nate, something that didn’t go unnoticed in the air between them.
Soon, the table was filled with dishes, each one more enticing than the last. Corrine’s eyes widened as she looked at the spread before her, a blend of surprise and curiosity in her gaze.
What struck her was how none of the dishes contained anything she disliked. It felt as though every plate had been crafted just for her.
Could it really be just a coincidence?
She lifted her eyes, casting a subtle, thoughtful glance at the man sitting across from her, wondering if he knew more than he let on.
Nate didn’t seem in any rush to start eating. Instead, he picked up the king crab in the center of the table, his hands deftly working the crab legs with a swift, practiced motion of his knife.
Handling crab legs wasn’t a simple task. Most people would have appeared clumsy in the process. It was exactly for this reason that Corrine, despite her craving for crab, restrained herself from trying one.
Yet Nate’s fingers-long and precise-wrapped around the fork and knife with ease, his movements smooth and graceful, almost hypnotic.
As Corrine averted her gaze, she was surprised to find a perfectly prepared crab leg on her plate.
“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice betraying a hint of surprise. She lowered her head to take a bite, then glanced at Nate, her curiosity piqued.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.