68
-Rose Dern-
"You heading somewhere?" Suzy asked, head buried in whatever was on the magazine she held in her hands.
"Hmm." I did a final check to see if I'd put everything that needed to be in my handbag.
And yep, all was completed (not that there were many things).
Afterwards, I took to hoping the dark blue off-shoulder shirt I'd matched with black jean trousers and heels made me look pretty enough to earn a compliment.
Ever since when he told him I looked beautiful at the office, I had yearned for that again.
Which was why I left my blonde hair to fall on waves over my shoulders as I was told it made me look more beautiful than if it was packed in any style.
"Where to?" Suzy asked, not seeming to care too much, with hoe her attention focused on the magazine.
"No where important, I've just got to go meet someone to discuss work-related issues." Even after I said it, I realized how that wasn't a smart excuse to back up why I'd been invited.
And she knew, from the way she raised her head to stare at me. "And who, if I may ask, is this 'someone'?"
Her teasing gaze made me feel like a child caught stealing candy from a store or something.
But I rolled my eyes to avoid her reading through me.
"It's Darien. He asked me to have dinner with him at some restaurant." I shrugged. "I guess he wants to talk about work."
Her smile grew wider. "You and I both know he doesn't want to talk about some boring business."
She dropped the magazine beside her on the couch, standing up. "Oh sweetheart, don't act so naive. We both know he's interested in you."
My cheeks burned at her words, which I hoped my hair would cover.
"I don't know." I guessed shrugging would calm my racing heart, but unfortunately it didn't. "He's my boss, remember."
"So?" Her lips pursed teasingly.
"So, I don't think it'll be right for him to like me." Every part of me disagreed with what I was saying, but if I told Suzy what was really in my heart, she'd tease me to my grave.
"Also, I don't think he likes me."
"But you like him." She jumped her brows, that teasing smile playing on her lips.
Duh, of course I do.
But I would not be saying that to her. Instead, "listen, I don't have time for your boring talks. Someone is waiting for me, okay?"
Her smile grew even wider. "Yes, my dearest friend, go, don't keep your prince waiting." She gestured towards the door.
Rolling my eyes but secretly thankful she didn't try to squeeze answers out of me, I sauntered out of the house to my car whose door was opened by a bodyguard.
He closed it as soon as I was in, then the driver drove off, dropping me off in front of the restaurant Darien had asked to meet up at.
And woah, it was the biggest restaurant I'd ever been to.
Just the sight of the outside made my jaw drop.
I'd never been to a restaurant so breathtaking. It was already perfect without even checking the inside.
The doorman opened the car door for me.
And since he looked like he could be in his early sixties, I thanked him for doing that when I could just do it myself.
Then I started moving.
Every step I took towards the restaurant made me love it even more.
Like there was something automatic or whatever, as I neared the door, it separated, making way for me to enter, shutting itself once I did that.
Wow.
Inside left me even more awed.
I wasn't even sure what to say attracted me the most out of everything in this place, but… damn it was gorgeous.
A worker sauntered towards me, a smile planted on her face.
"Miss Dern?" I wondered how she knew my name, but I smiled either way.
"Yes."
"Please follow me." She started walking towards somewhere while I just did what she'd said.
Soon we were really inside the restaurant, with gold everything and beautifully made tables that were… empty?
Why were all the chairs empty?
Oh, not all, because my gaze landed on the one by the center where Darien sat.
The table had been given a more beautiful design than the rest.
Wow!
His gaze landed on me as he rose to his feet with a very handsome smile plastered on his lips
"Wow." I had to say when I'd walked to where he was.
He walked over the table, pulling my chair for me which I sat on after s "thank you" and he went to sit opposite me.
"Did you book the entire place?" I had to ask.
That was the only smart explanation as to why we were the only ones here. It also explained how the worker knew my name.
He nodded, the smile not leaving his face. "Yes actually. Do you like it?"
What type of question was that? This place was beautiful.
"Yes, yes I love it." I literally couldn't stop glancing at every part of the place.
He replied me with a satisfied, and somewhat proud, smile.
A waitress approached us. "May I take your orders?"
That made my gaze move to her, though it soon shifted to the menu in front of me that I picked up.
And just the sight of the prices made my eyes widen.
What the heck?!
Even if I had fifty million, there was no way I would waste it buying something from this restaurant.
Like, everything was literally in thousands of dollars.
Some even went ahead to being millions.
Just to eat?!
What the—?
As it wasn't something I'd dare do, I decided to go for the easiest. “Uh, I'm not that hungry so just get me a glass of water.”
Darien raised a brow at my order, but didn't say anything about it.
Instead, he turned to the waitress, ordering the most expensive meal for the both of us.
Woah, who knew rich people could be that crazy.
Either way, I didn't object.
He was a billionaire afterwards, and if he planned on paying for my meal, what was the use of arguing.
Instead, I dropped the menu, watching the waitress leave, coming back with our order which was laid beautifully on the table.
"Thanks for inviting me." I started once she was gone . "You know, when you'd asked me to have lunch with you, I didn't expect it to be so grand."
"There's no need to thank me. This is what you deserve." He gave me a heart-fluttering smile, before turning to his food.
So I did the same.
And oh my, when I took a bite, my taste bud jumped in surprised excitement and the deliciousness melted on them.
What?!
This was magnificent.
"Is it good?" His voice made me turn to him and he held my gaze.
"Yes, it is."
"I'm happy you like it."
The words were followed by silence.
Uh… okay, what next?
Maybe I should just get to business.
After another bite, I spoke. "I've proposed a deal with the DDS international, so you'll be holding a meeting with them on Thursday."
He seemed confused at first, but then his expression softened. "I didn't call you here for work."
My heart raced faster at the softness in his voice.
But still, I managed to ask, “then why did you call me here?"
"Because of us Rose." The words made me forget how to breathe as I just stared into those eyes of his.
"Us?" It came out just above a whisper.
Oh my, what do I do about my breathing condition and inability to stop the rate at which my heart throbbed
"The truth is, I love you Rose and I want to love you forever."
Those words. Those words I'd dreamt of hearing for a long time.
It was something my entire body yearned to hear.
And now that they came out, they left my heart racing millions of times faster.
He stood up and walked over to me, his eyes locked onto mine like he was afraid to look away. Then, he took my hand, his grip warm and steady, and gently pulled me to my feet.
“Please,” he whispered, his voice filled with so much emotion it made my chest tighten. “Be my future.”
My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat. Where was my voice? Why couldn’t I just say what I felt? If I didn’t tell him now, I might lose him forever.
His brows pulled together slightly, doubt creeping into his eyes. “Do you feel the same way?”
Oh God. He thought I was going to reject him.
I took a shaky breath, slipping my hands from his and instead wrapping them around his neck. His body stiffened for a second, like he wasn’t sure what I was about to do.
Then, I kissed him.
It was soft at first, just a gentle press of my lips against his. But the second his arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close, everything changed.
His lips moved against mine, slow and deep, making my knees go weak. When his tongue brushed against mine, a shiver ran through me, and suddenly, I was completely lost in him.
I pulled back just a little, my breathing uneven. Our faces were still close, his forehead nearly touching mine.
“I love you too, Darien,” I whispered, my voice shaky but sure.
His lips curled into a slow smile, and before I could even process what was happening, he kissed me again—this time with even more passion, like he never wanted to let me go.