CHAPTER2
1311 Words
EMILY’S POV
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
The restaurant doors were Still half open behind me, but I didn’t move. I Couldn’t move. My feet felt glued to the Polished floor as his eyes locked on me.
He looked… dangerous in a Controlled way.
Like Someone who didn’t need to raise his voice for People to obey him. Like the world had already learned to adjust itself around his existence.
He has a dark hair, Sharp jawline and a Piercing grey eyes.
And then it hit me…. This was my blind date.
My Stomach dropped so fast I thought I might actually faint.
Chloe did not warn me about this level of attractiveness.
This was a trap… This was illegal and unfair…
He Stood Slowly.
“CHLOE BENNETT?” he asked.
His voice was deep, Smooth and Controlled.
I Swallowed.
“Yes,” I Said quickly, Stepping inside before I Could lose my Courage Completely.
The doors Shut behind me with a Soft Click.
He gestured toward the seat opposite him.
“Please.”
He was Polite, yet intimidating.
I walked over, every Step louder in my ears than it Should’ve been.
I Sat down.
My hands immediately betrayed me, I Started fidgeting under the table.
“I’m Ryan Kingston,” he said.
The name didn’t register at first.
I was too focused on Surviving.
“Chloe.” I replied.
He nodded Slightly.
I remembered Chloe’s voice immediately:
“Be annoying. Be rude. Be impossible.”
Right…
I Could do this…
I Cleared my throat.
“So,” I said too loudly.
His eyes flicked up Slightly.
“What?” he asked.
I forced a smile. “This Place is nice. I mean, really nice. Do you Come here often or do you just bring people here to impress them?”
There was a Pause.
His expression didn’t Change.
But I Saw the Slight tightening of his jaw.
Oh no.
Was that bad?
I kept going anyways.
“I mean, I guess rich People like these kinds of Places. I wouldn’t really know. I usually just eat whatever is Cheapest.”
He Still didn't Say anything.
“I actually don’t think expensive food tastes that different anyway.” I Continued.
That was a lie.
Ryan leaned back Slightly.
His eyes narrowed just a fraction.
“I see,” he said.
I exhaled internally.
Good…. He’s annoyed.
That’s the goal.
I was doing great.
Unfortunately… I was also Starting to Panic.
Because he was staring at me in a Calculated way.
“So, what do you do, Chloe?” He Said after a while.
“I’m… very flexible,” I Said quickly.
His eyebrow rose Slightly.
“I mean,” I Corrected fast, “I don’t have any work for now and I don’t like being tied down.”
Ryan didn’t react immediately.
“That’s interesting.” He finally talked.
I Pressed on anyway.
“I also think People Should enjoy life more. Like, I don’t want a Stressful job or anything. Just Something easy. Something where I don’t have to try too hard.”
His gaze Sharpened…
I felt it like Pressure against my skin.
“And what kind of job is that?” he asked.
I Shrugged.
“Honestly? I’d prefer not to work at all if I didn’t have to.”
I blinked…
“…What?” His voice dropped Slightly. “You don’t want to work?”
I waved my hand.
“I mean, if I marry well, why would I?”
That did it.
I Saw it clearly this time.
The Shift in his expression…. He was disappointed.
Exactly what Chloe wanted…
I forced a Careless laugh.
“Relax, I’m joking.”
He Studied me for a long moment.
“And what do you expect from marriage?”
That was a dangerous question.
Chloe didn’t Prepare me for that.
I Panicked. .
“Money,” I said immediately.
“I mean… Comfort,” I Corrected. “Security and a nice lifestyle with no Stress.”
His gaze hardened Slightly.
I was digging my own grave but I Couldn’t Stop now.
Chloe said I Should be impossible and that's exactly what I'm doing.
“I think marriage is mostly about Convenience anyway,” I added.
That landed.
I Saw it in his eyes.
Something like disbelief and irritation.
“You think marriage is Convenience,” he repeated.
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He leaned forward Slightly.
“Then why are you here?”
That question hit harder than expected.
Because I wasn’t actually Supposed to be here.
Because this entire Situation was a lie…
My throat tightened.
But I forced myself to Smile.
“To See if you’re… worth it,” I said.
His eyes narrowed further.
“I see,” he said again.
But this time it didn’t Sound Calm.
It Sounded like restraint.
Like he was holding Something back.
Good.
That’s the goal…
I leaned back in my Chair.
“So what about you?” I asked quickly, trying to regain Control.
“What about me?”
“What are you looking for in a wife?”
That question made him Pause.
“Someone honest,” he said Simply.
“Someone Kind, Responsible.
“Someone who understands Commitment.” He Completed.
I nodded Slowly. “Wow.”
His eyes flicked up. “What?”
“That Sounds… boring.”
He Stared at me and I Stared back.
Okay… Maybe I went too far.
But I was already Committed to the disaster so I kept going.
“You know,” I said, “People like that usually end up Stuck in boring marriages.”
“Do you Speak from experience?” he asked.
My Smile faltered for half a second then I covered it quickly.
“No,” I Said lightly.
I leaned forward.
“So are you rich?” I asked Casually.
His expression went Completely still.
“…Excuse me?”
“I’m just asking, because location like this, Suit like that, watch like that—” I gestured vaguely, “you look like you are.”
His gaze Sharpened dangerously…
“Not like I Care. I just want to know what I’m dealing with.”
He was Silent for a long moment.
Then he Said quietly. “Yes.”
I nodded. “Good, because I like expensive things,” I tapped my fingers on the table.
That was the final nail.
The exact moment Ryan Kingston decided I was a Problem.
Not just annoying. Not just rude.
But Something worse.
“You like expensive things,” he repeated.
“Yes.”
“And you don’t want to work?”
“Yes.”
“And you believe marriage is Convenience.”
“Yes.” I replied.
His eyes didn’t leave mine.
Then he leaned back Slowly.
Like he had Seen enough.
“I see,” he Said for the final time.
But this time…
It wasn’t Curiosity… It was Conclusion.
Dinner ended Shortly after that.
Not because we agreed.
Because neither of us wanted to Continue Pretending it wasn’t a disaster.
The walk out of the restaurant felt longer than the entire date.
Outside, the air was Colder.
I exhaled in relief…
“That was… nice,” I said awkwardly.
Ryan adjusted his jacket Slightly.
“I wouldn’t call it that.”
Fair…
“Anyway, I Should go.” I Said quickly.
He nodded once…
I turned to leave, already mentally Celebrating my Success.
Mission Complete.
Chloe would be so Proud of me…
I waved without looking back.
“Bye!”
He didn't respond.
I walked faster.
I didn’t see him watching me not until I reached a Corner and turned.
And then I noticed the way his eyes darkened Slightly.
“Never again,” Ryan Kingston said Coldly but I heard.
And I kept walking anyways…
Same here, Good riddance to him too…
- Writer
