Coaxing

Clyde and Fin paused for a second, eyes wide as they could stretch. They exchanged glances while Cain never left his gaze on me, his eyes roaming all over my face like he was studying it.

Hello! Can you not look at me with those eyes?! Can't you see that I'm uncomfortable with you staring at me?!

The silence was brutal as no one wanted to talk. The three men look over at Cain, eyes asking for a signal.

Cain stared at me without paused, and I thought the torture would never end when he said, tone icy, "How did you know we needed you for something?"

He was direct and straight to the point. Though I like it that way, my heart twisted at his frankness.

The man really is a block of never-melting ice. He just slapped on my face that the only reason I was here was because they needed me for something.

So arrogant!

I took a deep breath, and with a calm expression, answered, "Because of you guys," I said, not looking at Cain and focused on the other three.

Fin gave me a confused look, "Because of . . . us?" He exchanged glances with Clyde.

I shifted my attention to Zhane, who was sipping his tea like he was a stranger there, accidentally sitting at our table.

"Zhane knows me well. He knows that I don't like meeting new faces, especially men. For him to set me like this, something must be up."

Clyde and Fin didn't speak. Lips clamped shut. Their eyes rounded, expression confused.

I knew what they were thinking. A sixteen years old teenage girl should be elated and excited in meeting boys, especially good-looking men. But unfortunately for them, I already lived more than seventy years, and was not short in meeting gorgeous men . . .

. . . Alright! I'll admit that they're better-looking than those men. So what? I got used to good looking men, so their charms are not effective against me . . . I hope.

"It seems like you're not all just a pretty face," Cain said with impeccable calm. His lips raised a little, seemingly smiling but not quite a smile.

I knew my face was red by now by the way my head was heating.

Does this man not know that his smile can make any woman's underwear fall on the ground?! And stop staring at me, my maiden's heart can't take it, alright?!

Annoyed and angry by how many times he rattled me, I glared and kicked Zhane's leg, venting my anger on him. Since I can't do anything against Cain because I'm afraid of him.

"Well, I can just walk out from this restaurant," I said, shrugging my shoulder.

Zhane scrambled to put down his teacup and gawked at me in panic.

"Princess! Don't be like that! Please give me some face and hear what we're going to say," he said. Voice anxious. Eyes pleading.

"I've already given you face by not storming out when I noticed that you set me up," I rebuked.

In truth, I did try to storm out, but I wouldn't be admitting that anytime soon.

I'm going to teach you not to mess with me in the future.

I pretend to stare at my teacup, face dark and lips tight. Zhane reached out and gently tugged my sleeve like a child.

"Princess! I was wrong! Please don't be angry!"

I sensed him panicking when he saw the anger on my face. I almost laugh.

I ignored him, and his voice turned horse loaded with distress like he was about to cry.

"Princess! I'm sorry! Look at me, please. Don't be angry anymore!"

I peeked at him at the corner of my eyes and said with an aggrieved tone, "I seem to like that latest collection of Alexander McQueen clutch bag."

"I'll buy it for you!"

"You know, the food in New York is delicious––"

"I'll pay for your food all week!"

"Do you know about those pink diamond earrings at Bijoux Jewelry store? It's quite rare and precious––"

"I'll go and get it for you!"

I stared at him and beamed. "It's a promise then."

Zhane blinked. "So . . . are we . . . good?"

"We're good," I said and sipped my tea.