Chapter 139
“In fact, bust out the self–hypnosis! Taylor, you and Soren are just friends going out for a meal together! This is all very normal!” I muttered.
Half an hour later, I arrived at the Oriole.
The manager recognized me and greeted me with a polite nod. “Miss Jones, your guests have already arrived. They’re waiting in the Pride Room.”
“Thank you.”
My heart thumped with excitement. I even paced a little as made my way to the Pride Room. As the waiter opened the door for me, I called out, “So-”
Then I saw her. A young woman sat beside him.
“-leil?! You’re here too?” I exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
Soleil smiled sweetly. “Is that supposed to be a rebuke, Tay–Tay? Am I interrupting your moment?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I shot a quick look at Soren’s expression.
“No! Of course not! I’d love to have you here!”
Ignore the “your moment” implication, Taylor! You did not hear that!
Soren poured me a cup of black tea.
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“She was at my office when I was about to leave. When she heard you were inviting me to lunch, she insisted on tagging along,” he explained.
“I should have invited you too, Sol! I’m sorry,” I said.
“Oh, no. I’m just being shameless, Tay–Tay. Next time, you should specifically call this a date so people like me have no excuse to show up!”
The tips of my ears burned.
“Sol, this isn’t a date! Your brother helped me out a lot lately, so I promised him a meal…”
“Oh, I see. I see…” She dragged out the words, studying her brother pointedly. “Is that the truth, Ren?”
Soren remained unbothered. He sipped his tea before replying, “It is whatever Taylor believes it is.”
My heart skipped a beat.
W–What was that?! D–Did he just… leave it up to me to define what this meal was?
If I called it a d–date, he would… He would actually accept that?!
Thankfully, the manager arrived with our food just then, putting an abrupt end to this embarrassing topic.
I was a little surprised, too–the food had already been ordered.
“I have something to attend to later today, so I was worried about being pressed for time. That’s why I had our course prepared according to Chef Remy’s recommendations,” Soren explained.
1/2
Chapter 139
+25 BONUS
“That’s great! I’m actually starving!” I said, wiping my hands with the warm, wet towel the waitress handed me.
I was pretty sure I understood what had happened now–Soren must have originally had plans this afternoon. He’d adjusted his schedule on the fly just because I suggested having lunch “now, today.”
And then there was what Soleil had said–hints so obvious they practically spelled it out–and the fact that Soren hadn’t denied a single one.
I was certain now–Soren didn’t see me as just a friend.
Maybe he was holding back because he had a million things to consider, just like I did. Maybe it was my low social status. Maybe it was the fact that, legally speaking, I was still married to my civil partner.
Whatever the reason, there was only the flimsiest of barriers between us–a mere tissue–thin wall we both pretended was solid as we continued our masquerade as friends.
Some people might hate this whole “are we in a situationship?” ambiguity, but you know what?
I actually liked it.
Why? Because when it really came down to it… I wasn’t his equal.
I didn’t want a man so high above me in status–a modern–day prince in our country–to choose a lowly daughter of a criminal when he had so many better options.
He was too good for me.
