Dinner worth of small fortune.

Her awakening was far more tolerable, thanks to those pills she took before. Removing her helmet, she quickly jotted down the address on a scrap of paper and hurriedly washed her face, applying a touch of makeup to cover her exhaustion before rushing out the door.

Anna hastily put on her only dress and leggings, ingeniously tucking up the skirt and wrapping it around her waist, then cleverly covered the top with an old shirt.

Determined to pass unnoticed through her district, she planned to remove the cover after a few blocks.

As she raced through her neighborhood, Anna discreetly stashed her leggings and shirt into her purse after boarding the bus, ensuring her transformation went unnoticed.

As she rounded the last few corners, the sight of the restaurant came into view. The realization that she was running late sank in.

The poised woman at the entrance inquired sternly, "Excuse me, but do you have a reservation?" halting her in her tracks with a firm tone.

"I'm about to meet with my date here. I'm late so he might already be here," She smiled and looked around the restaurant lobby.

"His name?" She asked with obvious distrust.

"Dean Miller," Anna replied and forced another smile on her lips.

That woman instantly recognized the person she was meeting with without even checking the guest list.

"But of course, please follow me, miss. Mr. Miller is already eating," Her whole aura changed as she walked her through the restaurant. Of course he has the best table.

He saw her coming and froze.

"I'm sorry for being such an unbearable mess today, I really didn't want our relationship to compromise your career in a negative way. Is your dinner invitation still valid?" Anna purred and smiled gently.

He nodded, hinting at the seat in front of him.

Anna was relieved. It was effortless, almost as if he were a naive animal in heat.

"Was it all an act?" He asked with suspicion "But why would you tell me all those things in my office?"

"I'm probably watching too many detective movies, but I thought there might also be cameras like they are in the lab, or maybe even some bug, I'm sorry for that, was it too much?"

"When you put it that way, it was a really reasonable thing to do," With a nod, he set his fork aside and summoned a waiter to their table effortlessly, capturing his attention with just a single glance.

"Take it away and make a new one for both of us. I want to eat it together with her," He let him throw out a perfectly fine steak and turned back to her: "What would you like to drink, dear?"

"May I have sparkling water? I don't drink alcohol, I have more fun with my head clear," She smiled again and he nodded in approval. As soon as the waiter left, she slowly reached out her hand and waited for him to hold her.

Despite her efforts to maintain a calm facade, every fiber of her being urged her to flee. Tameka's words echoed in her mind, reminding her that she couldn't afford to be picky in her current circumstances.

"I really was so scared you might get yourself into huge troubles. They might say you hired me because we already dated and that would be a conflict of interests. Or something like that," She said and forced herself to continue "I struggled to express my emotions, as I tried to resist developing feelings for you. It caught me off guard and I became overwhelmed," She whispered and smiled with lowered eyes. However, these words weren't intended for Dean; they were meant for Bugak, lending them an air of authenticity.

He squeezed her hand tighter.

"I'm glad you told me. But we can date publicly now..," He wore a smile that sent shivers down her spine. "I have already hired someone for your position, you said you are quitting," He shrugs his shoulders.

With a determined effort to conceal her horror, Anna resolved to endure this dinner, convincing herself to eat whatever she can, before she gets out of here.

"Does that mean that we are dating officially before we even talked to each other for thirty minutes straight?" She laughed quietly and tilted her head to the side.

"I guess so," He smirked and sipped from his low glass "I like your dress, it suits you. They are simple, yet very appealing,"

Anna was unsure whether the comment was intended as an insult or a compliment.

"I like simple things. They attract me more than extravagant ones," She said with a soft smile and looked down to examine the fabric "Is it too minimalistic for this place?" She asked, tenderly tracing the soft material on her ribs, right below the place where her breast surged up.

His eyes were transfixed, captivated by the graceful movements of her fingers as she hoped for.

"No, they are perfect," He murmured and looked away.

The sparkling water arrived swiftly and was soon accompanied by their meals, much to their delight.

As she savored each bite, her face betrayed her deep satisfaction, he found great amusement in her attempt to appear unimpressed by the taste and exquisite presentation of the dishes.