Sabotaging Blind Date: Mission Possible

Ivy stepped into the lavish ambiance of the Clover family's five-star hotel restaurant, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floors. The opulent surroundings exuded an air of sophistication and luxury, setting the perfect stage for her dreading date. Her eyes scanned the elegantly appointed tables adorned with flickering candles and pristine white linens.

Almost instantly, she caught sight of her blind date, Roland Cornell, who was seated at a table near the panoramic windows overlooking the city's night view. He looked dapper in a well-tailored suit, his gaze fixed on the view outside.

"Let's see if he will be a friend or a foe," Ivy muttered to herself before she gracefully approached the table. The soft glow of the ambient lighting reflected in her eyes, adding an extra sparkle to her demeanor.

As she approached the table, she heard him speaking to someone on the phone. Her brows curved when she picked up a few words he mentioned.

"Roland?" Ivy spoke softly, announcing her presence as she neared the table. If she didn't interrupt him, she was confident that more exciting things would blabber out of his mouth.

Her sudden appearance made him jolt from his seat, causing a visible startle that momentarily silenced the words he had wanted to say to the person he was on a call with. Despite his swift attempt to conceal his conversation, Ivy caught fragments of his dialogue.

His eyes widened slightly in shock and concern as he registered her presence, realizing she might have overheard what he said. At this moment, he felt like someone had smashed a pie tray into his face. It was too embarrassing to be caught red-handed.

"This will be fun," Ivy muttered under her breath, summoning a feigned enthusiasm as she settled into the seat opposite of him. Her words were laced with a hint of sarcasm, covering up the irritation she felt after overhearing his disparaging comments about her family's business. 

"You are...Ivy?" He hesitated, the words faltering slightly as they left his lips. There was a momentary pause as if he had intended to convey something polite, yet the words seemed lost in his throat.

Ivy discerned the underlying tension in his voice, understanding the cause behind his reaction. After leaving her home, she devoted a considerable amount of time preparing for this date. In addition to that, none of her blind dates had seen pictures of her before their dates. Every first impression would depend on her mood and how she wished to dress up. Today was not an exception.

"Yes, I am. Nice to meet you. I'm Ivy Hui-Clover, the youngest daughter in the Clover family," Ivy responded calmly, her voice measured and composed; years of experience had honed her ability to hide her emotions. From a young age, she had been coached on concealing her thoughts in front of strangers. Though she often allowed her feelings to surface in front of her family, it was a starkly different scenario with strangers—especially those who spoke ill of her family behind their backs.

As their date continued, Roland made concerted efforts to impress Ivy with his knowledge of various business ventures. He delved into intricate details, hoping to captivate Ivy's attention with his insights and expertise. However, he failed to notice that his words barely resonated with her.

Ivy appeared disengaged. Her attention was divided between devouring her food and contemplating her thoughts, seemingly preoccupied with something in her mind.

"Ivy? Sorry, am I boring you?" Roland's voice quivered slightly, and uncertainty became evident as he sought Ivy's attention. The sudden realization that she was not listening to the words he uttered made him feel a mixture of frustration and discomfort. 

His throat felt parched from the continuous effort of trying to impress her. Despite his unease, he still concealed his emotions with a forced smile. His fists clenched involuntarily on his lap, indicating his inner turmoil.

"Here's your Turkish Brew, sir. Enjoy." The waitress approached the table, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of Turkish coffee. She placed it delicately on the table before leaving the two alone.

Roland eyed the coffee with disdain, showing apparent dislike to it. He regretted his decision to act like an adult. Suddenly, he remembered a tip he heard from his friends to balance the bitter taste. He reached for the salt shaker and began sprinkling salt into his drink.

"You know, if you don't like the taste of coffee, you can order something else. I ordered soda because I like it, not because it will make me seem like a bubbly girl," Ivy saw the hesitance in his gaze just now. Though she had plans to sabotage their blind date, she still wanted him to have a decent meal. After all, one should not waste food.

"Oh, I am sure about it! I always get this coffee. It is my favorite, and my tip is to add more salt. It will give it a unique flavor." Roland did not keep an eye on the amount of salt he poured into his coffee. 

Ivy watched his actions with curiosity, raising an eyebrow as she saw the excessive salt melt into his coffee. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Very! I'll give it a taste now." Roland added another half a teaspoon of salt, thinking it would counteract the bitterness. He courageously took a huge sip as he brought the cup to his lips. And that was when he realized he had added too much salt. 

As he took a sip, his expression contorted in a grimace. The overly salted coffee was unbearable, mainly when the first sip contained all the salt he had not yet given a thorough stir to. 

He inadvertently spat it out with a sputter, causing the liquid to spray across from him. 

Reacting quickly, Ivy, anticipating the mishap, swiftly lifted the tablecloth, creating a makeshift shield to prevent most of the coffee from splattering onto her. Despite her quick action, a few drops skydived on her face.

"I'm so sorry!" Realizing his embarrassing mistake, he quickly apologized. After spitting the content out of his mouth, he dipped his tongue in a glass of iced water on the table. He let his tongue swim in the ice water to eliminate any salt that was left.

Ivy wiped off the coffee stain using a napkin. She laughed lowly, "I know I didn't put enough bronzer on today. I guess the coffee stain can add to it."