29.
He is a gentleman
Say something, Samantha! Stop staring!
Do not fall for the temptation that is Damien, Samantha! He is bad news!
Samantha! Samantha! Samantha!
Oh dear, God, can I stop thinking?
“Now I know what D-DINE stands for. D, as in Damien. I can’t believe it never occurred to me.” I said with a lighthearted smile. It was my way of calling a truce. After all, I was the one who made the dinner awkward in the first place,
“I understand. D could also have meant Dick.” Damien winked, causing my heart to skip numerous beats.
How we could switch from upset to naughty in a minute had me in a chokehold. I want to be free like him.
I wish I didn’t have to overthink things.
I wish I didn’t always jump to conclusions only to end up hurting myself
“You are so smooth,” I muttered under my breath, but he heard me and chuckled.
He grabbed my hand on the table and gently caressed it. “Let’s enjoy our lunch. If you still choose to go for Julian after this, I won’t pressure you, okay?” He said, and it kind of hurt me a bit and kind of surprised me a bit. I mean, on the one hand, I wanted him to leave me alone, and on the other hand, I didn’t want him to. So what do I want?
“I’m sure you won’t mind. You are the most eligible Bachelor in New Everest. Your choices for women are abundant.”
“The only thing that’s abundant is the chances I’ll give you until you realize I’m the one for you.”
Damien presses a button under the table, “I ask them not to treat me like a regular customer-no greeting at the door and all that. Only to appear when I request. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Of course not.”
He smiles, “Good.”
A female waiter comes at the nick of time, almost less than a minute later. “Good afternoon. Sir,” She turns to me, “Good afternoon, ma’am.” She’s elegant.
“Good afternoon, Lydia. How has work been today.”
“Pretty good as always.” She replied with a blush. I could already tell that she had a crush on Damien. The East African woman was gorgeous. Her hair was gelled back, highlighting her full face and beautiful brown eyes. She looked pristine in her immaculate white shirt and black skirt.
I could smell the passive aggressiveness in the air from her. Damien smiled at her, and I could bet they’d fucked before. A little bit jealous, maybe, or just anxious. It was one of the reasons I didn’t want to get with him. I can’t live my life wondering who and who my man has Fucked. That’s why I need to stay away from him.
You are just overthinking things, Samantha!
He’s just a kind man.
Or not.
“So what will you have?” Damien asked, smiling, “Or do you want me to place your order for you?”
“I can handle myself,” I replied.
“Okay.”
He pointed to the button just on the side of my table that I hadn’t even noticed. “Press the button so you see the menu.”
“Oh, that’s new,” I commented, doing as he said. A square screen showed up on my side and another on his. The menu consisted of every delicacy in the world.
“This is truly elegant.”
There was also an expensive wine list featuring some of the finest worldwide.
“Scroll on it and tap to see a video of the meal if the name of the meal strikes you, or it sounds like something you would want to try.”
“I think I will stick to meals I have a fair idea of.”
“You should try something totally new. I recommend that.”
“Next time,” I said, waving off his suggestion.
“Does this mean you will agree to come here with me again? Is this you offering?” Damien asked, smiling wide. I could hear the thrill in his voice.
“Uhm. I can come here alone.” I replied, blushing.
I averted my gaze to the menu, attempting to conceal my blush, yet Damien’s intense stare on my face heated up my cheeks. I looked up as I sensed someone approaching our table.
Oh my God!
It was just the chef. He came to our table and was speaking to Damien.
“Sir, do you require any special meal for your date?” He inquired, and I stared at the chef and Damien, attempting to calm my racing heart that had skipped many beats, thinking it was Julian approaching our table.
On the one hand, I loved the adrenaline rush of expecting Julian to catch me with another man, but on the other hand, I hated having to be in fear. All these contradictions had me staring at Damien and the tall but sexy Italian chef with confused eyes as though they weren’t just talking to me.
“I’ll call you if she wants anything special, but for now, I think my date would want to order from the menu,” Damien said right on time to save me from embarrassment if I had dared to open my mouth and speak I would have either stuttered or said absolute rubbish and completely embarrassed myself. I’m grateful that Damien is insightful enough to know when to save the day.
I closed my mouth and swallowed,
The chef did a curt bow before leaving.
“Italian men. Always very gentlemanly.” I said.
“I’m a gentleman, and I’m not Italian,” Damien said, and I rolled my eyes at him.
I looked at the menus and at the waitress, who still seemed pissed at me being here with Damien.