Chapter 288
Lily's perfume, a delicate floral scent, wafted towards me as she leaned closer, her hand brushing against my waist.
Amelia continued chatting, oblivious to the tension building beside her. "There's a new Western restaurant by the Sevan City Bay. Epicurean Oasis. Heard it's fantastic. What do you say?"
"Sure," I mumbled, my attention elsewhere.
I felt a warmth spreading across my back, a dampness that sent a shiver down my spine. Lily was crying, her tears soaking through my suit jacket.
Discomfort warred with a strange sense of responsibility. This charade with Lily had to end. Jenny would find out eventually, and even though my feelings for Jenny were... complicated, I didn't want to hurt her like that.
Gently, I tried to pry Lily's hand from my waist. Her grip tightened instantly.
I tugged again, more firmly this time, but she held on with surprising strength.
I couldn't risk a scene, especially not with Amelia watching. Most of the people in the elevator were from Skyliho, and while my newfound position afforded me a certain level of immunity, gossip spread like wildfire.
Why was I even bothering with this?
Suddenly, I felt a tingling sensation on my palm. Lily was writing something, her fingertip tracing letters against my skin.
At first, the message was lost on me. But she repeated it, over and over, until the sixth time, it finally clicked.
Six words, etched onto my skin: "I was wrong. Please forgive me."
A wave of emotion washed over me. Confusion, mostly. I'd never truly cared for Lily, not even when we were lovers. My feelings for her had always been... lukewarm at best.
Was this her pride, wounded by my rejection? Was she trying to manipulate me, to seek revenge?
She started to write again, but I caught her hand, her fingers intertwining with mine. We stood like that, hands clasped, as the elevator descended to the ground floor.
The doors opened, and I reluctantly released her hand. She didn't let go immediately, her grip lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary.
I stepped out, forcing a smile as I fell into step beside Amelia. Lily remained in the elevator, her eyes locking onto mine as the doors began to close. In that instant, tears welled up in her eyes, her expression a mixture of regret and heartbreak.
Damn my soft heart.
For a fleeting moment, I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms, consequences be damned.
But I held back.
Amelia's car was waiting for us, and soon we were cruising towards Sevan City Bay. Epicurean Oasis, the restaurant lived up to its name. It was sleek, modern, and oozed an air of understated luxury.
As we were being led to our table, my gaze snagged on a familiar figure across the room.
It was Jenny.
A surge of joy shot through me, and I almost called out to her. But then I saw the man sitting across from her, and the joy evaporated, replaced by a burning rage.
It was none other than Joseph.
What the hell was he doing with her?
Anger pulsed through me, hot and blinding. If Amelia hadn't been there, I would have marched right over and confronted them both.
"John? Are you alright?" Amelia asked, her brow furrowed with concern. "You look pale."
"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about work."
She gave me a wry look. "Work should be the last thing on your mind after hours."
She picked up the menu, her earlier concern faded. "What are you in the mood for?" she asked, her eyes scanning the selections.
I wasn't hungry, not anymore. "I'll have what you're having," I mumbled, my gaze fixed on Jenny.
She'd seen me too. I saw the flicker of panic in her eyes before she quickly averted her gaze. Thankfully, Joseph had his back to me, oblivious to my presence.
"This place must be expensive," I commented, trying to distract myself.
Amelia shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I can expense it."
Her casual dismissal confirmed my suspicions. This place was definitely out of my price range. But then again, with its prime location overlooking the Sevan City Bay, it wasn't surprising.
No wonder they were here.
"I need the restroom," I announced, pushing back my chair.
Amelia nodded, her attention already back on the menu.
I strode towards the restrooms, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white.
What was going on? Had they reconciled?
The image of Jenny laughing with Joseph sent a fresh wave of anger crashing over me.
What was the meaning of this?
Had her grandmother intervened? Or had my suspicions been right all along? Had she turned to Joseph out of loneliness, out of desperation for a connection I was too blind to provide?
I splashed cold water on my face, trying to regain some semblance of composure.
"You seem upset," a smooth voice startled me.
I turned to see a woman standing beside me. She was dressed entirely in black, a black veil obscuring her features, like a beautiful specter.
"Katherine? What are you doing here?"
"Why, can't I enjoy a fine meal?" Katherine asked, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Or would you prefer to dine alone with Ms. Jones? I can disappear if you'd like."
"Don't," I said, reaching for her hand before I could stop myself.
She chuckled, her fingers brushing against mine. "Careful, John. We wouldn't want to cause a scene."
She was right. Not with three pairs of eyes potentially watching our every move.
"Are you... are you at that table?" I asked, nodding towards the main dining area.
"Now, wouldn't that spoil the fun?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I sighed and left it to Katherine to turn even the most tense situation into a game.
"John," she said, her voice softening. "Don't jump to conclusions. Things are not always as they seem."
Was she talking about Jenny?
Before I could ask, another woman entered the restroom, and Katherine excused herself with a knowing smile. I followed her out, watching as she disappeared into a private dining room.
My table was still visible from where she'd gone.
I returned, feeling like I was caught in a bizarre play, the audience watching my every move.
The truth was, spending the past three days in close proximity to Amelia had stirred something within me. We hadn't crossed any lines, but there had been accidental touches, lingering glances, a certain intimacy that came from sharing a confined space for hours on end.
And Amelia... she seemed drawn to me as well. She'd confessed that she found me attractive, different from the other men she'd met.
We'd talked about our pasts, our dreams. She'd told me about her college sweetheart, a relationship that had fizzled out after graduation. She'd been so focused on her career at Skyliho that she hadn't had time for love.
She'd said it with a wistful smile, but I hadn't believed her for a second. Virgins were a rare breed these days.
"What took you so long?" Amelia asked as I settled back into my seat.
"The restroom was packed," I mumbled.
She nodded, her gaze sharp. "What happened to your hand?" she asked, noticing the scrape on my knuckles.
"It's nothing. Just a scratch."
"Let me see," she insisted, reaching for my hand.
Her touch sent a jolt of awareness through me. She examined the wound with a frown, then beckoned a waiter over. "Band-aid, please."
She blew gently on the bandage as she applied it to my hand, her touch surprisingly tender. And then, as she went to pull away, her hand lingered, her fingers intertwined with mine.
I snuck a glance towards the private dining room, imagining Katherine's amused gaze burning into me.
Then, I looked at Jenny.
Our eyes met across the room. Her face, which had been alight with laughter moments before, hardened instantly. There was a possessiveness in her gaze that both angered and thrilled me.
Who did she think she was to look at me like that?
I'd warned her about Joseph.
As if to spite her, I tightened my grip on Amelia's hand, meeting her surprised gaze with a challenging smirk.
If she didn't want me, there were plenty of other women who did.
Amelia's lips curved into a slow smile. "So, John," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "Does this mean we're dating now?"
Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water.
"Dating?" I stammered, my face flushing. "I... I don't..."
What had I gotten myself into?
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