UNFORGETTABLE (Fascination)
988 Words
HIS POSSESSION
Chapter Three: Unforgettable
Rain fell steadily over Manhattan, leaving the city wrapped in a silver haze.
From the floor-to-ceiling windows of De Luca Holdings, the skyline looked distant and quiet. Inside the top-floor office, however, the atmosphere was anything but.
Around the conference table sat some of the most powerful men in New York’s underground world.
Contracts lay open.
Figures were discussed.
Territories were negotiated.
At the head of the table, Adrian De Luca listened in silence.
“…the shipment will arrive Thursday evening,” one of his advisors concluded.
Another spoke immediately after.
“The Romano family has agreed to the revised terms.”
Every eye turned toward Adrian.
Normally, he would have responded without hesitation.
Instead…
Silence.
“Boss?”
Luca’s voice broke the stillness.
Adrian blinked once, as though returning from somewhere far away.
“…Continue.”
The meeting resumed, but Luca noticed something unusual.
For the first time in years…
Adrian had been distracted.
By late afternoon, the meeting finally ended.
One by one, the men left the office.
Luca remained behind.
“You’ve had a lot on your mind these past two days.”
Adrian walked toward the window.
“So it seems.”
“If something is wrong—”
“Nothing is wrong.”
Luca accepted the answer.
He had served Adrian long enough to know when not to press further.
Still…
Something had changed.
Across the city, Le Château prepared for another busy evening.
The restaurant buzzed with its usual elegance.
Ethan moved from table to table with effortless confidence.
“Table six needs another bottle of wine,” Noah called.
“On it.”
“And the birthday cake for table eleven?”
“I already reminded the kitchen.”
Noah laughed.
“I don’t know how you remember everything.”
Ethan shrugged.
“It makes the job easier.”
“You’ve got a scary memory.”
“I’ve been told.”
The evening passed quickly.
Customers arrived.
Customers left.
Life continued as normal.
At exactly eight o’clock…
The restaurant doors opened.
The hostess smiled politely.
“Good evening, Mr. De Luca.”
Ethan happened to glance toward the entrance.
There was the quiet businessman again.
Three nights in a row.
He smiled to himself.
He must really like the food.
Without giving it another thought, Ethan continued serving another table.
The hostess approached Adrian.
“Your table is ready.”
As Adrian followed her, he noticed Ethan helping a little girl choose between two desserts.
The child looked overwhelmed.
“Which one would you pick?” she asked.
Ethan crouched slightly so they were at eye level.
“The chocolate mousse,” he said with a grin. “But don’t tell the cheesecake I said that.”
The little girl burst into laughter.
Her parents smiled warmly.
“Thank you,” her mother said.
“My pleasure.”
Adrian watched the exchange for only a moment before taking his seat.
There was no performance in Ethan’s kindness.
He treated everyone with the same patience.
Children.
Elderly couples.
Business executives.
It didn’t seem to matter.
For reasons Adrian couldn’t explain…
He admired that.
A few minutes later, Ethan approached the table.
“Good evening.”
“Good evening.”
“The usual?”
Adrian looked up.
“You assume a lot.”
Ethan chuckled softly.
“I remember what you ordered the last two nights.”
“And if I wanted something different?”
“I’d happily recommend something.”
A brief silence settled between them.
“Then surprise me.”
Ethan blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“Choose my dinner.”
“You trust my judgment?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
Ethan smiled—a real smile this time.
“I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”
As he walked away, Adrian found himself watching him disappear into the kitchen.
Not because he intended to.
Because his eyes followed him on their own.
—
Dinner exceeded every expectation.
When Ethan returned, Adrian looked at the plate before speaking.
“Good choice.”
“I’ll pass the compliment to the chef.”
“You should take some credit.”
“I only made a suggestion.”
“Even so.”
For reasons he couldn’t explain…
That small exchange felt strangely effortless.
As Adrian prepared to leave, he noticed a young customer accidentally knock a glass from the table.
It shattered across the floor.
The restaurant fell quiet.
The young man immediately stood.
“I’m so sorry.”
Before anyone else could react, Ethan stepped forward.
“It’s alright.”
“I’m terribly embarrassed.”
“No harm done.”
Ethan calmly called for someone to sweep the broken glass away before reassuring the nervous customer once again.
Within moments…
The laughter returned.
The conversation resumed.
The incident was forgotten.
Adrian noticed something then.
People relaxed around Ethan.
His calmness had a way of settling everyone else.
It wasn’t something that could be taught.
It was simply who he was.
Outside, the rain had stopped.
Luca opened the car door.
“Home?”
Adrian stood for a moment, looking back at the restaurant’s warm lights glowing against the damp pavement.
“Tell me something.”
“Yes, Boss?”
“How many times have I eaten at the same restaurant in one week?”
Luca frowned slightly.
“I don’t believe you ever have.”
Adrian gave a thoughtful nod.
“So I haven’t.”
He got into the car.
As they pulled away, he rested his head lightly against the seat.
He had attended meetings.
Signed contracts.
Made decisions worth millions.
Yet the clearest part of his day…
Was remembering a waiter smiling because someone trusted him to choose a meal.
Adrian closed his eyes.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to convince himself that he returned only for the food.
And that realization unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
End of Chapter Three
- Writer
