Chapter 23

Chapter 23

They finally arrived at the fancy restaurant that's lavishly decorated, combined with the low lighting making the atmosphere romantic, the fresh flowers, taste full artwork, candle light and classical music wasn't an exception.

Cole led her to a table that was decorated with linen, table cloths and napkins. She sat down still scanning her eyes through the restaurant. She has never been to such an amazing place before neither had she seen one aside from books and television.

Oh, no wonder he had sent her the dress, she'd have been looking stupid if she had dressed plainly to such a place.

She wasn't less excited that he had urged her to remove the morflar.

She snapped out of her thought when the waiter requested for her order. She wrote down her order and was suprised when Cole ordered for the same thing.

"Thanks for bringing me here" she appreciated breaking the awkward silence that had filled their table.

" The dress suits you" he complimented ignoring her appreciation.

Her face suddenly flushed pink as a result of his compliment, she just couldn't help it each time she's with him.

How weird.

Cole chuckle, he loves seeing her blush each time he talks to her, if complimenting her will make her do that always, then he will always do that just to see her pink coloured cheeks.

"You look cute when you blush" he complimented again teasing her. Her next action made him laugh hard as she buried her face on the table using her Palm to cover her face. He couldn't help but laugh hysterically, he wasn't sure he had laughed that hard In months. She wouldn't cease from suprising him.

One minute, she's acting all matured -bold, next she's acting all babyish- shy.

" Wait....you haven't been complimented by a guy before?? He asked dazed at her frequent blush.

" Of course, I have" she snapped making Cole flinched at her sudden reply.

She wanted him to see her as a pro not a newbie.

"Countless times" she said slowly lifting her head up to meet his. Truthfully guys had always complimented her but not that sort of compliment where they see her as a true beauty, they had always seen her as a nerd. As a matter of fact they had nickname her 'wasted beauty' back then in school.

" Do you always blush like this when they compliment you" he taunted, teasing her knowing she's putting up an act of being a pro.

" No, that would be embarrassing" she nodded shaking her head in disapproval forgetting she had wanted him to see her as a pro.

" Oh!" Cole grinned noticing she hadn't realized the mistake she made, deciding to use it to tease her.

" You don't get embarrassed when I compliment you." he said teasing her.

" No, I don't. Yours is quite different from them" she said truthfully.

"Wow!" That means I'm the only guy capable of bringing that side of you" he teased again seeing she's playing the game fairly now.

"What! Hell no, I just told you there are other guys" she almost half yelled but lower her voice when she realize where they was and she was with her boss.

" But you just said you just said you don't blush whenever they compliment you as a matter of fact you had called it embarrassing. But you don't get embarrassed when your face flush pink around me" he taunted seeing how prickled she had become.

"What! I did say that?". How naive of her, she wasn't good at lying at all.

Now, he must be feeling all high and mighty for being the only one to bring out that side of her.

" You know what? Let's just drop this conversation, it isn't a nice one for such occasion". She said praying he would stop without arguing.

"Oh! I see......you just don't want to admit" he drawled taunting her more, prickling her temper more. He'd never noticed she had such temper. She's just so complicated that he can't study the whole of her.

She was almost screaming at him to drop it when the waiter dropped their order on their table and then realization dawned on her that she was almost screaming at her boss.

"So do you like this place" he asked noticing how badly she wanted him to change the conversation.

She nodded her head disapprovingly but suddenly muttered " I don't like it but I love it. This actually my first time in being in such a place" she said sincerely.

Her first response somehow got him apprehensive but he relaxed when she said she love it not like. How funny.

"Seem the other guys don't take you outing" he teased her again offering her the wine the waiter had poured into their glasses. He took a sip from his and urge her to do same and she obediently did.

"Well, I'm glad you like it."Manette had become his favorite restaurant.

"So tell me about yourself" he added his tone changing, now serious taunting and teasing kept aside.

"I....erm..erm..er.." she stuttered not sure of what to say without bringing her sister into the conversation.

" I'm currently living with my bestie, Jacqueline and she's my only friend and relation."

"Oh! So sad" he drawled heaving a deep sigh of relief then gulp down the content of his drink at a go before speaking up.

" Seems we're on the same boat"

She saw his jaw tighten.

Suprised at what he meant by that, she creased her eyebrows

"Do you mean__"

" Yeah" he nodded sadly cutting her off.

" I also don't have any relative aside Leonard my right hand man."

"Oh! " Tracy mouthed curious to ask what had happened to them but his expression told her he wasn't ready to explain so she held her curiosity.

"Then we are birds of the Same feather" she said smiling breaking the awkward tension trying to make a joke out of it not sure if he was going to laugh at her dry joke.

Suprisingly, Cole chuckled also.

"Then we must flock together" he grin winking at her and she blushed.

" Oh! You are blus____"

" No, I'm not" she snapped cutting him off.

"Yes, you are" he said admist laughter.

" I said, I'm not"

"But___"

"No but, I'm not" she cut him off again.

"Oh, I see...." He mouthed trying hard not to laugh.

" You see what?"

" Nothing just continue eating"

" That's what I am doing"

" Oh..... I see"

" Stop poking fun at me"

" I'm not, have you gone out on a date before" he suddenly questioned trying to change the conversation.

" Huh! Had he noticed her inexperience. She thought.

" Is it that obvious?" She found herself asking.

Is she kidding him. Like she seriously hadn't gone out on a date before. That explains why she was still a virgin.

" What's obvious?" He asked feigning ignorance as though he didn't know what she's asking him of.

" Nothing, nevermind. How about you have you?".

" Yeah" he replied

" Countless time" he said using her word.

" With whom? Your girlfriend?"

" Yeah" he replied.

Her heart sank. " Oh, I see......." she mutterd using his word also.

" Do you still love her?" She found herself asking.

Cole suppressed the laughter that was about bursting out.

Was that jealousy he had seen coming from her. He thought.

"She's my Ex, so I don't" he said and he could swore he saw her breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing. (+_+) ALICIA(+_+)

Damn! Cole to had figured out her plan. He must have finally figured out that it was her all along at least that must have made him known that she was ahead of him and very soon she is going to end his story.

She had gone out to eat in a camouflage not wanting to be recognized. She had always been indoor planning new strategies but today she's taking a day off to relax and she had a suitable restaurant for that ' MANETTE'.