Chapter 10

Jennet froze when she stood in front of a fancy restaurant as mentioned in Luca’s text message. There were well-groomed hosts in a black tux, looking formidable at the entrance of the restaurant. Although she had stayed in the country for years, this would be the first time she saw such a restaurant near her working place.

She frowned. ‘It can’t be right,’ she agonized alone.

This place was too luxurious for a lunch break. Did Mr Tybelg text her the wrong place?

Whisking out her smartphone, she dialled Luca’s phone number. Less than a minute, her call was answered. "Yes, Jennet? Have you arrived?" Luca’s melodious voice greeted her ear.

Jennet looked up to the name signage of the restaurant. Even the name was too fancy to be spelt out. ‘Forget that name!’ she thought.

"Mr Ty…I mean, Luca, did you, perhaps text me the wrong place? I am currently standing in front of a luxurious restaurant. Is this the correct place because I can see there are hosts in black tuxedos standing at the entrance? Or are you somewhere else?" she asked with a troubled expression. Her heart wasn’t at ease. She looked to the left and to the right, searching for any familiar figure among all the passer-by. But, none.

Luca chuckled softly before replying, "Just stay put. I will come to fetch you." Then the call ended.

Jennet slipped the phone inside her handbag and inhaled a deep breath. ‘Great, he's coming! Now, I don't have to worry about getting to the wrong place. It's just impossible he asked me out for lunch at such a luxurious place like this.’

She eyed the hosts and smiled at them. After a few minutes of waiting, she was dumbfounded to see Luca coming out of the restaurant. "Luca..." she gasped.

She exchanged glanced between the name signage and him. She was both surprised and confused.

"Are we really having lunch here?" she asked, still couldn’t convince herself to believe what she saw.

Luca approached her, "Yes." His reply was rather in an amusing tone as he smiled ear to ear.

He escorted her into the restaurant and she was silent all the way to their reserved table. They were seated close to the window, overlooking the street. Like all others, he pulled a chair for her to sit and Jennet sat down without saying anything.

On the other hand, Jennet was in a dilemma. She couldn’t decide whether to place her handbag on the floor close to her feet or to hang it on her chair. Either way, she found it not appropriate. At last, she placed it behind her where she sat.

No one sees the handbag now, she thought and felt good to herself.

Her eyes, then, fell on the selections of silverware laid in front of her. Her big eyes, became even bigger when she look at them. On the left-hand side, there were two types of forks, one big and one small. On the right-hand side, there were two types of spoons as well and a knife. All serve for the different purpose of meal courses as it was neatly arranged on the table.

She gulped silently in her seat. ‘Which one should I use first?’

She glanced towards Luca who sat opposite her, "Luca, I would like to tell you that I am not used to eating at a place like this," she said in a low voice. "I will just embarrass you," she added.

She looked around and said again, "I know nothing about dining etiquette either. Don't be cheated by how professional my clothes are. I am actually not used to all these," she, desperately, explained her situation. She didn’t even hesitate to tell him about the things she didn’t know or things that she was not used to because it would be embarrassing to act like she knows when in actuality, she knows nothing. It would be better, to be honest.

Well, she was used to eating out at the food stall with Marvina. They don't have to watch out for their table manners and most of the time they would use their fingers to pick and to eat their foods, especially fast foods. It was much enjoyable than having to dine properly which was tiring to uphold all of the time.

Her frankness took Luca by surprise. He smiled without feeling awkward, “To tell you the truth, you’re the first person who is frank with me.”

“Eh?” Jennet frowned, “I think everyone is frank enough. Not just me.”

“Not everyone, I’m afraid,” Luca smiled. He had never met someone who was so innocent in how their train of thought works. Most of the women he knew, all acted in front of him. In the end, they embarrassed themselves because of their know-it-all action.

Luca tapped his finger on the table and spoke, “Don’t worry, I am more than happy to share my knowledge with you. Now, as you can see, utensils are placed in the order of use; that is, from the outside in. Appetizers, main courses and desserts, that’s the sequence.” His hand moved as he explained.

"Ohh..." Jennet exclaimed in awe. Luca has always been very kind and patient while explaining things to her. No wonder, everyone feels comfortable with him.

“I’ll show you when they serve our meal,” he added with a sweet smile.

Jennet beamed and said, "Okay, I will copy whatever you do because that’s safer I guess." She chuckled.

Luca chuckled too, "Don't worry too much. I will guide you as always. This is partly my fault too because I was eager to bring you here without knowing your concern.”

Yes, he was partly to blame for not asking about her preference. He thought she was the same as the rest of the women, who would love to dine at a luxurious restaurant because it was comfortable. But, the same thing does not apply to Jennet. She felt so uncomfortable and she was being honest about it too.

"Thank you," Jennet said and smiled. Her boss was so understanding!

Throughout the lunch break, she followed everything Luca does on which fork, knife and spoon he used and so on. The simple lunch hour turned into the most difficult lunch hour in her life!

On the other hand, Luca enjoyed the moment as he watched her helplessly trying to eat properly like him. He found her to be so amusing and her frankness had slowly captured his heart. Although he had known her for five years, back then he was not so attracted to her. However now, he started to look at her in a different light.

The so-called ‘Loveless Woman’ was actually too innocent.

As soon as the lunch break finished, both of them left the restaurant together.

Jennet was about to leave but Luca stopped her by the street. "Jennet, I was wondering if you can consider dating me for real," he said softly with a smile that never faded from his good-looking face.

Jennet froze and so was her mind. Goosebumps crawled all over her body. She was speechless.

She had never thought of anyone ever asking her out for a real date. Not even him!

She cleared her throat and asked, "Luca, can we be just friends?" She was worried and it was shown on her face.

Luca looked back at her. "Why?" he asked.

No woman had ever rejected him in his life. If he said that bomb word, they will immediately fell for him but she was totally different. She refused him instantly!

Jennet looked around, feeling antsy. After a while, she replied, "Honestly, I am feeling so awkward right now. Everything that happened today never crossed my mind. Also, you’re my superior whom I respect at work. So, can we just be friends? Good friends?” She was literary begging.

Luca looked at her. "No, I can’t," he answered with a smile.

"Why?" Jennet asked. Her heart accelerated and her face ashen.

Luca observed her cute face. He felt happy to see her being expressive with him and he wanted to see her other expression that she never showed to anyone before.

"If you want to be my friend then, if I asked you out, you cannot refuse," he said, telling her the conditions to be his friend.

Jennet bit her inner lower lip while pressing her fingernails in silence. She was troubled. If she keeps going out with him, his fans will kill her for real. Even at this moment, she had visualized the furious expressions that his fans might show to her.

"Can we just leave it all behind us for now? Honestly, I can only think about being your friend but more than that, I don't think I can," she replied, saying her rejection all at once.

Luca smiled, feeling broken in his heart. But, he didn’t feel so bad about it. Instead, he said, "Well, I won't pester you with this question anymore. But I hope one day, you can open a bit of your heart to know me even if we start our relationship as friends."

Jennet just smiled. "Okay," she answered. ‘If only I can open my heart that easily...’ She murmured in her mind.

Then, she left to work at lightning speed before Luca could offer to give her a ride back to the company.

As she hurried away, Luca smiled alone, "Well, I will win you one day."

He left shortly after that.

When the man left, Little Veen appeared on the street. He watched Luca’s car as it left the parking area. "Now, Master can be worried all to his heart content," he said and disappeared again.

…