Reclaimed by the Ruthless Heir

Chapter 5 – First Conversation

Aria POV

I could feel him watching me.

Even across a crowded restaurant filled with conversations and clinking glasses, I felt Lucien Devereux’s gaze like warmth against my skin.

It was distracting.

Dangerously distracting.

“Aria, focus,” I muttered quietly to myself while arranging desserts onto a tray.

Mia leaned beside me with a teasing grin. “The billionaire heir is definitely interested.”

I nearly dropped the plate in my hands.

“He’s not.”

“Oh, please. Men like that don’t stare at women unless they want something.”

I ignored her, though my heartbeat betrayed me completely.

Throughout the evening, I avoided looking directly at table twelve unless necessary. Every time I approached, Lucien’s attention shifted toward me immediately.

Not the others.

Me.

And somehow that made me nervous.

When their dinner finally ended, relief washed over me.

Good.

They would leave.

I could stop overthinking his eyes.

I grabbed the bill and walked carefully toward their table.

“Here you go,” I said politely.

Theo reached for it first, but Lucien stopped him casually.

“I’ll handle it.”

Of course he would.

Everything about him screamed control.

As he signed the receipt, Damien smirked at me. “You survived your first encounter with Lucien Devereux. Congratulations.”

Heat rose to my cheeks.

Before I could answer, Lucien stood slowly from his seat.

The movement alone drew attention from nearby tables.

Tall.

Elegant.

Powerful.

It honestly felt unfair.

My breath caught slightly when he stepped closer.

Up close, his cologne smelled expensive and clean, something dark and masculine that lingered in the air around him.

Then his eyes lowered briefly toward my hand.

“You’re holding the tray too tightly.”

I blinked in surprise.

I looked down.

He was right.

My fingers were gripping the edge hard enough to hurt.

Embarrassed, I loosened them immediately.

“You notice strange things,” I mumbled before thinking.

A small silence followed.

Then unexpectedly—

Lucien smiled.

Not fully.

Just slightly.

But it changed his entire face.

Beautiful.

Dangerously beautiful.

“I notice important things,” he corrected calmly.

My heart skipped so hard it actually hurt.

Behind him, his friends looked shocked.

Apparently Lucien Devereux smiling was rare.

“Lucien,” Xavier called teasingly, “stop terrifying the poor girl.”

“I’m not terrified,” I defended automatically.

Lucien’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Oh?”

Realizing what I said, I immediately regretted it.

Damien burst out laughing. “She’s got courage.”

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

To my surprise, Lucien looked amused instead of offended.

“What time does your shift end?” he asked suddenly.

I froze.

Why was he asking that?

Mia nearly choked behind the counter.

“Ten,” I answered cautiously.

Lucien nodded once like he had mentally noted the information.

Then he reached into the pocket of his coat, pulled out something, and placed it gently on my tray.

A business card.

Black.

Elegant.

Simple.

“My number,” he said calmly. “In case you ever need anything.”

Need anything?

People like him didn’t casually offer help to girls like me.

I stared at the card speechlessly.

Before I could respond, Lucien turned toward the exit.

His friends followed behind him, still throwing curious glances in my direction.

Just before reaching the door, Lucien stopped.

Then he looked back at me one last time.

“Goodnight, Aria.”

And somehow…

The way he said my name felt more intimate than it should have.