Chapter 27
No fucking tonight.
Right
I was already rethinking that promise.
The city stretched out beneath us, a shimmering sea of lights, endless movement. Up here, though, on the quiet balcony of this high–end restaurant, everything felt distant. Almost peaceful.
Layla hadn’t said much since we sat down, but she was enjoying the food. I could tell by the way she savored each bite, the occasional satisfied hum she didn’t realize she made.
I reached for the bottle and poured her another
glass of
wine.
She arched a brow, watching the liquid fill her glass. “You trying to get me drunk?”
“You’re skilled at that yourself,” I shot back.
She scoffed. “You make me sound like an alcoholic.”
I leaned back, swirling the wine in my own glass. “You said it, not me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t drink that much.”
I took a slow sip. “Mhm.”
She huffed, shaking her head, but there was a ghost of a smile on her lips. Silence settled between us for a moment. Then she looked up, eyes sharp, curious. “Do you work for your father’s company? Is that what the business trip is about?”
I met her gaze, then shook my head. “No. I’m actually not at all involved in any of my father’s businesses.
That caught her off guard. She set down her fork. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,”
Her brows furrowed. “Then what do you do?”
“I own a tech firm. Techrest,”
She leaned in slightly, intrigued. “Techrest?”
“Smart tech. Al–driven home security, automation, some software development. We design systems that integrate everything in a household or office, lighting, security, climate control, seamlessly, all Al–optimized. We’ve also been developing some proprietary encryption technology, high–level security solutions for corporations.”
She soaked in every word, eyes flickering with interest. “Huh.”
That “hub” made me smile. “What?”
She shrugged. “I guess I just assumed you’d be in something… I don’t know, different?*
“Different how?”
She considered. “Something more. corporate.
I chuckled. “Smart tech can be corporate.”
Maybe. She tilted her head. “Where’s your company based?”
“London. But I’m branching out.”
Iler lips parted slightly, impressed, but there was something else there that I couldn’t decipher. “That’s… actually really cool. No wonder you were pissed
1/2
Chapter 27
when I called you a spoiled rich boy.” Then, narrowing her eyes playfully, “You just got slightly more interesting.”
I let out a low laugh. “Slightly?”
She smirked. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
I rested an elbow on the table, watching her. “And what about you? Are you content with your job?”
Her entire face lit up. “Definitely. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do”
The passion in her voice was obvious. Undeniable. I wanted to tell her I was proud of her, that I’d always known she’d managed to do it, but I held myself back. I reached across the table, taking her wrist, studying the ink on her skin. A delicate design traced along her wrist, and a small, barely noticeable tattoo sat on her upper arm
“They’re pretty,” I said, brushing my thumb over them, “1 like them.”
She arched a brow. “Didn’t take you for a tattoo guy, especially after your little scene at the shop.”
“I’m not.” My eyes flicked to hers.” And we already discussed that scene and concluded my actions were logical. But I’d like to see more of your work.”
She leaned back, crossing her orms. “It’ll take
more than dinner to get access to that.”
I smirked, tilting my fiead. “How much more?” She lifted her glass, sipping slowly, deliberately. “Haven’t decided yet.”
watched her lips curve over the rim of her glass. Yeah. This was a game I’d gladly play.
