Chapter 2: Everly

It took me another thirty minutes to reach the restaurant where I was supposed to meet Colt Parker, and as soon as I stepped outside, I was awestruck by its marvelous exterior. It certainly looked like one of those places that served tiny foods on huge white plates and then charged an ungodly amount for them. I'd never been to a place like this, and I could bet my right arm that I would never come here in my life again.

Taking a deep breath, I walked inside and headed straight to the reception. "Good evening, I'm Mr. Parker's guest." I said, tucking my hair behind my ear and smiling, just as Ava had taught me. Although I was petrified and was a second away from breaking into a cold sweat, I could not drop the freaking smile; that was most important.

The host looked at me for a long moment, and it took everything I had to stop myself from fidgeting. "Is something the matter?" I asked again, this time keeping my hands on the reception countertop and obviously with that annoying small smile. I was pretty sure by the time I'd be done, my cheeks and feet would hurt like hell.

"Oh, no, certainly not. You must be Ms. Smith. Mr. Parker has yet to come, and I was asked to take good care of you because you are an important guest to him. Now if you would follow me, I'll guide you to the room that Mr. Parker reserved." He said, his face breaking into a professional smile.

"Lead the way," I gestured towards the main entrance as he awkwardly got up from his sitting place and started towards the hall. Much to my surprise, he changed his route, and I followed him to the back of the restaurant, where there were no tables but instead private rooms. I gulped. Ava had told me about this, but still, even the idea of being in a room with a man I knew nothing about made my stomach knot.

"Here we are." The host stopped in front of a room and opened the door for me, motioning for me to enter.

I nodded at him and took a peek inside the room before entering. I sighed in relief when the room looked nothing like I imagined. Unlike my imagination, the room was well lit, with an elegant white table in the middle facing the window, which gave a view of the beautiful garden outside, decorated with white lights, and a live band playing. I turned to the host, who was still staring at me for some reason. "Thank you so much. I'll call you if I need anything." I smiled. Again.

"Sure. Have a good evening." He looked at me for a moment, gave me a professional bow, and left the room. Was he okay? Did I look weird? Maybe I looked scary. But it wasn't like I could do anything about it, so I just shook it off.

My feet were already starting to hurt, so without wasting a moment, I settled down in the chair and looked around. With everything being so immaculately decorated and with a private bar too, not to mention the beautiful view, I was certain it would cost a small fortune to book a room like this for dinner. I picked up the menu in front of me, and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets, like those cartoon characters. What the heck, why was everything here priced so outrageously?

I shook my head. The ways of the rich were something I'd never understand, even after living with one for five years. It wasn't like I was going to order anything; I'd still just stick to my glass of water for the night. But I'd have to give it that the place was beautiful and the vibe was rich and exquisite; with the faint sounds of music from the band playing outside to the Victorian fountains they had, everything added up to a refined and beautiful experience.

Mentioning the fountains, how much time did I have before that Parker guy came anyway? It wouldn't hurt if I explored the place a little, especially the garden, while waiting for him. And as if on cue, my phone buzzed; it was a text from Ava saying that the little shit would be late. Little shit was what Ava insisted on calling Colt Parker.

My wishes were heard. I grabbed my stuff and, despite my protesting feet, made my way to the door. But before I could reach for the handle, it swung open from the outside, causing me to lose my balance. My hand flung out, and I barely managed to grab the table beside the door, saving myself from an embarrassing and probably hurtful fall.

"Damn, I almost died there," I muttered, only to realize there was someone at the doorway who witnessed everything. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I cursed under my breath as I straightened myself. And when I finally looked up, I saw a huge man standing at the door who was looking down at me with a confused expression. He was dressed in an all-black suit, which was definitely custom made for him given his size and how well it fit him. His jet-black hair was a little unkempt, but with his face, he still looked runway-ready. But what caught me off guard were his eyes; they were a piercing blue, a color I'd never seen before.

After ogling at him for a long time, it suddenly snapped—could it be that he was Colt Parker? Damn, for a fraud and a prick, the man definitely looked great. But what about the text? Maybe he sent it to be on the safer side. Who cared? Focus, Everly; this isn't something to think about now. The judgment day was here. It was finally time to put everything I'd learned over the week to the test.

I exhaled lightly, gathering myself, and pasted the trademark soft smile on my face. "Good evening; you must be Colt Parker. I'm Ava Smith, and my father arranged for us to see each other. It's nice meeting you." I held out my hand, and then it hit me. I had to be a bitch, so I awkwardly pulled my hand back and instead put my bitch face on. "You are late. Do you have any idea how much I could've gotten done in the time I wasted because of you? You don't even value time; there's no way anything will ever work between us. Enjoy the dinner by yourself. I'm leaving." I announced, hoping for him to overlook the glitch in my performance, and tried to walk out, but he held out his hands.

"Let me make up for it, Ava. Please sit down." He smiled. And good lord, was that the most mesmerizing smile I'd ever seen in my life? My breath hitched, and being unable to say anything, I just shook my head.

"Please, I insist." He smiled again, and somehow, fully entranced by it, I found myself nodding and following him to the table instead of leaving. This was not a good start. I had to get myself together, or all my practice would be for nothing.

"So, Ava, tell me about yourself," he said, taking a sip from his glass, and I never knew someone could look so hot drinking water.

I was jerked out of my daze, listening to his voice. Wait! What was wrong with me? I could not let his ostentatious good looks deter me from my goal. Just because the man in question was a beautiful, rare specimen put on earth solely for the purpose of propagation and the boon of mankind, that didn't mean that I could let myself be distracted from my aim. Eyes on the prize, Everly, eyes on the prize. I straightened myself in my chair, cleared my throat, which for some reason was dry, and spoke, "Why should I go first? I waited so long, so you should start."

"That seems fair, so what is it that you would like to know about me?" he leaned forward and looked at me with a mischievous glint in his piercing blue eyes, as if challenging me.

Despite my nerves, I managed to give him my best smug expression as well and leaned forward too, fixing my eyes on the extravagantly large vase behind him. "Aside from how you assumed Colt Parker as an alias after your father, the President of Fresh Foods Enterprise, kicked you out when you made the company lose millions because of your foolishness, and how he was so close to disowning you, but he didn't and only threw you out, aside from these little factoids, tell me everything." I said, with a seductive undertone.

And that's how you do it! With a proud feeling blossoming in my chest, I smirked and looked at his face, but it all came crashing down when, instead of the raging expression that I was hoping for, there was a perfectly calm one. I shook my head. No, he was just good at concealing his emotions, I told myself, and so I continued.

"Anyway, if you don't feel like adding to it, I'll continue. After your tragic yet humorous folly, all your efforts were directed toward trying to win back your father's favor. And during that time, you met my father and somehow crawled your way into his life. But I've got to say you hid your identity pretty well, Oliver Wesley. I mean, even my father wasn't able to find anything on you, hence this meeting. Anyhow, now you're trying to marry me to get your hands on my money and maybe win your father back, which in my opinion is quite pathetic." I shrugged and smiled innocently. "I'm sorry if I said too much."

My job was done, and now I just had to sit back and watch this conman seethe on about his vile feelings, because all that ought to piss him off. Right?

No, wrong! Because instead of rage-filled bellows, I was instead met by a deep chuckle, and the man in front of me smirked, "I feel deeply honored that you know so much about me."

Following him, I chuckled in response, but it didn't sound anything like that. "What can I say? I'm pretty good at finding things not meant to be found."

"I see, so how about we order something before moving forward–"

"Fine by me, but can you even afford this place?" I said, cutting him off a little too quickly, "I mean no offense, but I don't believe your financial situation is good enough for this fine dining experience."

Okay, this should've landed the blow, but again, when I looked at him, he seemed rather amused. What the heck? How thick was his skin?

"If that's the case, how about we go for a walk outside?" he nodded toward the window.

A walk outside? I'd love to, but I had to stay in character. "I'd pass. I wouldn't want my brand new Louboutin getting messed up in that grass."

"Well, I could always carry you," he smirked.

My eyes widened. What the hell was happening? Why wasn't anything working on him? By now he should've begun shouting and maybe destroying the room, if I am not being too dramatic. But here he was sitting all godly with the world's most beautiful smirk, face, and maybe body. Okay, now I'm going off track. How in the world was he so calm? He was calmer than me, goddamn it, and I was the one taking digs.

But wait, calm down, Everly. You practiced for this day, and you're not leaving here until you do everything you learned. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. So, going to my last option, let's run away. Since nothing seemed to work on him, staying here would do me no good, so leaving should be my best choice. Yeah, making a dramatic exit is the last trick in my bag. So, let's get to it.

"Don't get ahead of yourself!" I shouted and got up. "I wouldn't let you lay a finger on me, let alone allow you to carry me. You know what? This whole thing was a mistake. You're nothing but an arrogant jerk and a fraud. I don't want to spend another minute with you here. Don't you dare contact me ever again, jerk face." Grabbing my belongings as swiftly as I could, I stormed out of the room without sparing another glance at the man.