Lunch Date...?

Celia blinked her eyes as her thoughts were in a broken process. 

"Mr. Jones--"

A waiter had open their private door and a stroller filled with food followed behind him. 

Celia was cut off by the sudden appearance and waited patiently as the staff left the room before turning her attention to the man.

Noticing their closed distance, she shuffled a little away as Anderson watched her in curiosity.

"Mr. Jones, I don't think were 'close' enough to do physical contact."

"Hmm...but we certainly have a chemistry, a strong bond in other words."

Celia watched him before warning herself not to fall for his traps and remembering the words she had told herself.

"I don't think that applies to me, Mr. Jones."

"Please call me Anderson."

"I reject."

Celia took her hand away from his grasp, no matter how comfortable and warm his touches were, they were still strangers and stood up from the table as she grabbed her purse. Standing at a distance, she firmed her resolve and made things clear once and for all. Not only to save herself from trouble but to prevent any expectations and hurt that would happen later on.

"Today's meeting was merely a coincidence. I did have plans on seeing you sometime this weekend, but anyway, I would like to clarify our relationship. If you decide to get close to me for business-related, I would appreciate your time and effort and if you have any thoughts on working with me, I would feel honored to have a meeting with you. But. If it's not for business, then..."

"You're planning on cutting ties off with me. You don't want me courting you, Ms. Thornhill?"

"...that's not exactly what I meant but...Mr. Jones, in reality, we can't be together even if you have thoughts of courting me as we belong in different worlds. I know my place and what society can do to people, especially a couple, who have different statuses. I know what consequences and things I have to deal with if people catch a whiff of our affair. I know the damage that could happen. I've thought of it and being in business for years, I know the black world of the glamorous wealthy realm hidden within the spotlight.

"It might not impact you, as you are already born in it and have a strong foothold within the business or wealthy realm, but it's different for me. People would label me as a social climber, gold digger, a woman who relied on a rich man to get what she wanted, etc, it doesn't matter how many achievements I hold because my background is different and I don't have the power to protect myself if I have danger knocking on my door. And I am a woman. Women have a different view of society. We're not received warmly instead we are looked down on and shamed for various things and even humiliated for small mistakes that a man could make.

"All I'm saying is...I'm not worth the trouble that you would receive. I'm the type of woman that has a past that I could not chase away no matter how much I try to free or clean myself. I have enemies and make them as well. I'm not like those wealthy girls who have amazing backgrounds, are pure-hearted, or a public figures that the society loves. If you value your reputation in public, cut off whatever thoughts you have and just go and do your own business. Whatever feelings you might have felt, those are just fleeting ones. They won't bring you happiness. I won't bring you happiness but unluckiness and trouble. Do that and you will spare both you and me from the pain. Well then, Mr. Jones, that's all I have to say. Have a good weekend."

Celia put a blank check note on the table as she felt bad with the food, although they all looked appetizing losing her appetite, she chose not to look at it. Turning around, her hand clasped at the doorknob as Anderson paused her from leaving.

"What if I reject your words? What if my feelings are real? What if I really wanted to court you? You don't know my emotions. You're only saying that either because you have been hurt, hard, by the people that you trusted, no one gave or made you feel that you are safe, or no one really thought or acknowledged your thoughts as a person. 

"One thing about me that the world knows, Ms. Thornhill, is that I make enemies left and right. I make trouble come knocking on my door. Society? I don't care about that because they needed me and my name to sell their products or whatever bullshit they have on the market. I love challenges and courting a woman solely depends on my likeness and how my soul responds to that connection.

"You and I have this bond that we both couldn't ignore it. I don't know what sort of past that you have but lemme tell you one thing about me that my enemies have imprinted in their minds..."

Celia turned around as his figure towered over her. Looking right at his bulging chest, her grip tightened before looking up and seeing his eyes had turned darker. She could feel her body shivering and his gaze had turned into danger. Her insides were giving warning signs but at the same time, something about his presence made her safe. Her heart knows that if she's beside him, no storms or danger could make her unsafe but her mind had traveled down a rabbit hole as she remembered how she suffered in her previous lives.

'Never! Never would I give my heart to somebody! I'd rather suffer all alone by myself and adopt a child later on to be family or just be myself till I grow old. It's not that bad, anyway.'