Chapter 3 – Four Greek Gods
619 Words
Aria POV
Rosewood Bistro was louder than usual that night.
Plates clinked endlessly, customers filled nearly every table, and the smell of expensive wine mixed with fresh steak in the air. My legs already hurt, and I had only been back for twenty minutes.
“Aria!” Mia whispered harshly beside me. “Table twelve is yours.”
I grabbed my notepad quickly. “Got it.”
Without looking up, I walked toward the large corner booth near the window.
Then I froze.
Four men sat there like they belonged on the cover of luxury magazines instead of inside a crowded bistro.
Every woman in the restaurant was staring.
Honestly… I understood why.
One had silver-framed glasses and sharp features that screamed intelligence. Another leaned lazily against the booth with the confidence of someone born rich. The third was blonde, smiling easily while scrolling through his phone.
But the fourth man…
My breath caught.
He sat in the center silently, one arm resting against the leather seat while the others talked around him. His black hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his sharp jawline looked almost unfairly perfect.
Power radiated from him naturally.
Not loud.
Not forced.
Dangerously calm.
For some reason, the entire table seemed to revolve around him.
And his eyes—
Dark.
Cold.
Intense.
The moment I approached, those eyes lifted directly to mine.
I nearly forgot how to breathe.
“Well,” the blonde one said with a grin, “looks like Lucien finally found something interesting.”
The man beside him chuckled.
I quickly looked down at my notepad, pretending not to hear.
“Good evening,” I said professionally. “What would you like to order?”
Silence.
I could feel his gaze on me.
Slowly, painfully aware.
Heat crept into my cheeks.
“The usual,” the man with glasses answered calmly, though amusement lingered in his voice.
I nodded quickly and turned to leave.
“Wait.”
That deep voice stopped me instantly.
I turned back.
Lucien.
Even his name sounded expensive.
His eyes moved briefly to the sketching pencil tucked behind my ear before returning to my face.
“You draw?” he asked unexpectedly.
My fingers instinctively touched the pencil.
“A little.”
“A little?” the lazy-looking guy laughed. “Nobody carries pencils around for fun.”
I felt embarrassed immediately.
“It’s just a hobby.”
Lucien studied me quietly for a few seconds that felt strangely longer.
Then he leaned back slightly.
“What’s your name?”
Nobody had ever asked me that way before.
Like my answer actually mattered.
“Aria,” I replied softly.
His expression shifted almost invisibly.
“Aria,” he repeated slowly.
My name sounded different coming from him.
Dangerous.
The blonde friend smirked knowingly while the others exchanged looks.
I tightened my grip on the notepad nervously.
“Your orders will be ready soon,” I said quickly before escaping toward the kitchen.
The second I pushed through the doors, Mia grabbed my arm aggressively.
“Oh my God,” she hissed excitedly. “Do you even know who that is?”
I blinked.
“No?”
Her eyes widened dramatically.
“That’s Lucien Devereux.” She lowered her voice even more. “The Lucien Devereux.”
I frowned slightly. “Am I supposed to know him?”
Mia looked ready to faint.
“He’s the heir to Devereux Group. His family practically owns half of Country E.”
My stomach dropped.
Rich.
Not normal rich.
Untouchably rich.
Suddenly, the memory of his gaze made my heartbeat turn uneven again.
I carefully peeked through the kitchen window toward table twelve.
And found Lucien Devereux still watching me.
- Writer
