Chapter 38
FREYA
Mr. Warren Welcome
The in
manager greeted us as we set foot
foot into the restaurant,
“Table for two” Coming from Connor, it was somewhere between a request and an order. The manager eagerly nodded.
“Please, this way.
Connor took a step back and slightly turned towards me. “After you.
Offering a tentative smile, I followed the manager who showed us to our table. The restaurant was really fancy and I felt seriously underdressed for a place like this. As soon as we settled into our seats, a waiter arrived.
“Would you like to place an order for drinks“.
His eyes flickered nervously between our faces, Connor looked at me, waiting for if I had any preference. I shrugged, letting him onder for both of
“Bring is a bo
us a bottle of your best red wine and the me
menu.
“Right away. The water was out of eyesight just as soon. He seemed relieved to be able to flee. I was confirmed that it had something to do with Connor Knight, Judging by the demeanor of the manager earlier and the waiter, people were nervous to be around him. That also meant….
“You’re a regular here.” I voiced it out without much thinking.
He considered me for a second or two before leaning back in his sear. “The food is good here.”
Another few seconds of silence stretched between us before I decided to break it.
“So, you wanted to talk business
He was staring again. He did that a lot but somehow his stare didn’t give me the creeps. It did however make me extremely conscious. Like he was trying to read me inside out.
“Let’s place the order first”
Exhaling. I leaned back. “Well, I’m not too hungry”
“It’s lunch time. The seared scallops here are delicious”
As if just on cur, I felt the slightest bit hungry, And who doesn’t like good scallops!
Then I should probably try it
He smiled and I knew that charming smile right there had some dangerous capabilities. The waiter came back with the wine and we placed the order for food.
“As you already know, I own l
Inks and Pages.” He spoke once we were left alone.
“I had been frequenting that place since childhood. Your family found it picked up the glass of wine and took a sip. The second the rich liquid hit my tongue, I knew I had been missing out
“No, I recently acquired it.” He spoke nonchalantly like buying a renowned book–store chain was no big deal.
I blinked. “Oh, okay.”
“I plan to remodel some of the stores in the city and add cafes to them,
“A bookstore cum cafe? That sounds amazing!” I mitered. It was potentially a booklover’s paradise especially for people who have been visiting Inks and Pages forever
He put his glass down. “That’s where you come in. I’m offering you to be a partner”
I procesard his words in stunned silence. He wanted me there for the cafe part. I had a hard time deliberating if this was a prank or something but it want. On my way here. Had sneakily googled him and be in fact was the owner of Inks and Pages.
an my seat. “I don’t know I mean it’s huge. Are you sure?”
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Chapter 38
He rubbed his fingers along his sharp jaws. “I never do something I’m not sure about. I liked the taste at Meringue. You’re good at it.”
“Gee, thanks, Dad?” I couldn’t help it. It was the way he said it and I was very familiar with this way of speaking. I knew he wasn’t good at handing out compliments.
He cracked another smile and for dramatic measure placed a hand on his chest. “Forgive my skills of appreciation.”
Smiling. I looked away only to find our waiter coming back with our food.
The smell of what was in front of me was enough to make me salivate. God, this smell delicious
“So it lastes” Connor stated, taking a bite from his plate.
I shoved a fork of it into my mouth and almost had to stop myself from moaning…
“Yeah, it’s good” Good was an understatement. I knew I was going to come back here even though I might not financially recover from the blow
“And what is your decision?” He asked after a few minutes
1 washed it down with some wine before speaking. “Well, I can’t say no to such a big opportunity.”
I would be a fool to do that. At present I had the financial stability to think about expanding and not to mention this collaboration would bring. huge exposure in my cafe.
“Great. We’ll start with one and then the rest. His words made sense. If one worked out well, the other stores too would get remodeled.
“Perhaps you can come over to my office sometime this week. I’ll get the paper ready.”
“Sounds good.” I raised my glass and clinked in against his that he was already holding up
When this man, looking like a million bucks, wanted to talk to me, a new business venture was the last thing I had expected. It was one of those days I guru
“This is really exciting, you know. A cafe cum bookstore is like, so close to heaven”
He looked
up from his plate and stared. “It 15a
“Yeah, so many people are gonna love this “
“That’s the hope Connor’s eyes glinted with something while he had a faraway look in them. From his expression, I had the feeling that there was some motivation driving this venture of his and that he gave zero fucks about general people.
Whatever be in. I had no idea how corporates worked and I wasn’t developing an interest anytime soon.
I swallowed down a few more bites before realizing that I had to be the one to speak in order to not make this lunch awkward
“You said you own Inks and Pages among others. What che?”
He looked a little surprised that I had caught on to his words. “Real estate.
“Ah.
“Do you have a family!”
Now it was my tum to be surprised. I thought he wasn’t interested in small talk. I thought over his question. Family….
have
a daughter. She’s—Aident” My brows furrowed in confusion as I watched Aiden stride to our table.
He was in his business attire from this morning and I remembered Erica’s words from earlier. They had a lunch meeting. What were the freaking dunces But it was here, in the very same restaurant!
I stood up and looked past his shoulder and named my eyes till I located Erica. The familiar sour taste filled my mouth and suddenly the excitement I was feeling seconds ago had drowned out.
“Am I interrupting?” Aiden’s chilly voice wrapped around me. He, for some reason, looked pissed. His eyes remained wholly focussed on my face.
“No worries, Knight. We were almost done here.
I had forgotten that Conor was there, silently observing us. I shifted my confused gaze towards him who was now standing as well.
2:31 PM c d
Chapter 38
“Mr. Warren and you know each other? That wasn’t too unlikely considering their worlds were the same.
“Acquaintances.” Came Aiden’s clipped reply. Real polite!
Consor reached out and gently touched my arm. “Please, it’s just Connor for you.”
Aiden’s eyes drilled a hole at the spot where Connor’s hand touched mine. If I had any more wine to drink I would sure think it was jealousy on his
Aiden directed his icy glare to his face. “Warren” He gritted, displeasure rolling off him in waves. The latter however seemed unfazed. Connor’s lips tugged up in the slightest bi of amusement as his hand fell by his side.
“We are leaving. Come on.” Once again, Aiden was talking to me, I realized. More like he was ordering me.
I frowned “What Not I’m in the middle of something here”
“Oh, no it’s fine. We can talk later, In fact we will when you come by later.”
Beside me I felt Alden still at his words. His eyes shone with a hint of something that seemed dangerous. Connor didn’t look threatened though, an least that’s what the tiniest of the smirk on his lips told. The men silently stared at each other and 1 for the love of God didn’t understand what the altercation was abour
“Uhm- can you ask for the billi
Connor looked at me and flashed a charming smile. “Don’t worry
about that. I brought you to lunch. It’s only fair that I pay.”
Before I could insist any further, Aiden placed a hand at the small of my back and started guiding me out of the restaurant
“Thank you, Connor.” I spoke over my shoulder
“The pleasure’s mine.” I heard Connor’s voice, heavy with amusement as I let Aiden lead me out of the doors.
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