Twenty Nine
Kamille’s POV
Time flew quickly and Friday night arrived in no time. I paced back and forth in my room, uncertainty gnawing at my insides. Was going on this dinner with Chris really necessary? He was my kid’s teacher in school.
As I debated whether to follow through with the plan or not, a message from an unknown number flashed on my phone screen.
Hey Ms Kamille,
Seven pm at the L and S cuisine.
I’ll be here. Whatever you decide,
I’ll understand.
Chris.
How had he managed to get hold of my home line? I wondered briefly, before realization dawned on me. Of course, he would have my parents’ number from the school records. And I had linked my direct line to the home line in case of emergencies.
After reading Chris’s message, I let out a sigh, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination wash over me. Giving another man a chance besides Zeke was something I had never considered before. But Chris seemed like a good person. He had an unsettling look in his eyes, but he still looked like he was sincere.
Finally deciding to go to the dinner, I select a simple but classy dinner gown from my wardrobe. I applied a touch of makeup, keeping it subtle yet enhancing my features. I nodded in satisfaction, when I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
I ordered for an Uber as I hurriedly made my way downstairs, I saw Nanny Dona already in the living room, with the children.
“Hey, Dona.” I said, trying to mask my rush. “Thank you for coming. I need to run along now, I’m running late.”
Nanny Dona nodded with a warm smile. “Okay Ms. Kamille. Go have fun.”
With a quick thank you, I dashed out the door and boarded the Uber. Settled behind the Uber, I checked the time, it was almost eight pm.
Would he still be there? Or he would have been long gone by now?
I arrived at the restaurant with half expectations of still meeting Chris. The chauffeur opened the door of the Uber for me.
“Hey, Ms Kamille.” I turned to see Mr Chris take calm steps towards me.
“Hello Mr. Chris.” I replied, feeling a sense of gratitude. “Thanks for waiting. I didn’t really mean to keep you waiting for long.”
He waved off my thanks. “No problem. I’m just glad you made it.” He smiled and his eyes twinked with excitement. Relief flooded my heart.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Good thing I made it.
As I stepped into the restaurant, I was immediately struck by its sophisticated ambiance. Soft, golden lighting bathed the space, casting a warm glow over the elegant decor. The walls were adorned with tasteful artwork, adding to the upscale atmosphere. Plush, velvet curtains draped gracefully from the windows.
This restaurant was only available for the elite people in London, who would even have to book a reservation. How was Chris a kindergarten teacher, able to afford such a place?
We arrived at our reserved table and Chris pulled out a chair for me. “Thank you.” I said.
Chris smiled. “You’re welcome. Hope you like it here? I thought we’d go somewhere nice for our dinner.”
I smiled. “It’s an amazing choice.”
“Uhh, good time to order our meal?” Chris asked.
I nodded nervously. “Sure, sounds good.” I replied, scanning the menu for options. When the waiter approached, Chris gestured for me to go first.
“I’ll have the seafood linguine, please.” I said, looking up at the waiter.
Chris hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “I’ll just have the steak, medium rare.” He said, his tone casual but with a hint of apology.
I frowned slightly, noticing the slight change in his demeanor. “Is everything okay?” I asked, concern creeping into my voice.
Chris smiled reassuringly. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just have an allergy to certain seafood, so I tend to avoid it altogether.” He explained.
I felt a pang of guilt wash over me. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” I said, feeling bad for not considering his dietary restrictions.
But Chris waved off my apology with a smile. “No need to apologize. It’s not a big deal.” He said kindly.
I nodded, grateful for his understanding. “Well, in that case, I’ll just cancel my order too.” I said, wanting to be considerate.
Chris shook his head. “You don’t have to do that. I can eat steak while you enjoy your seafood.” He insisted.
But I shook my head firmly. “No, it’s fine. I want us to have the same meal.” I said, smiling softly at him.
Chris smiled back, his eyes beaming with gratitude. “Thank you.” He said quietly.
As we waited for our meal, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Chris, paying attention to the subtle expressions that flickered across his face. His eyes sparkled brightly, concealing the sadness and ambiguity that lay in them.
The waiter brought in the wine and Chris poured us each a glass of wine.
Taking a sip of his wine, I stared at Chris across the table, memories of Zeke flooded my mind. His image appeared vividly, his body pressed against mine, the warmth of his touch sending shivers down my spine. I couldn’t help but blush at the thought, the heat rising to my cheeks as I recalled our closeness in the elevator.
Chris noticed my flushed cheeks and mistook it for a sign of being cold. “Are you cold?” He asked, concern etched in his voice.
I quickly shook my head, raising my hand to my cheeks and feeling the warmth radiating from them. “No, no, I’m not cold.” I insisted, trying to suppress the embarrassment that threatened to engulf me.
But Chris wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure? You look a little flushed.” He persisted, his brow furrowing in worry.
I felt my cheeks growing even redder at his observation. “Um, maybe it’s just the cold air in here.” I stammered, my voice betraying my nervousness.
“We could move from this position if you are feeling cold.” He said.
“No, no. It’s alright Chris. I’m really fine here.” I replied.
Chris nodded, seemingly satisfied with my explanation. “Alright, if you say so.” He said, but his gaze held a hint of skepticism.
I forced a smile, grateful for his understanding.
Fuck! I inwardly cursed myself for letting my thoughts wander to Zeke at such a moment. Thankfully, the waiter arrived with our food, saving me from my embarrassed state.
“I hope the food is to your taste.” Chris asked, noticing how little I was eating.
“Oh yes, it is. I’m just a really slow eater.” I responded. He nodded and continued eating.
I looked at him before taking a bite at my steak. I felt warmth at his thoughtfulness. Despite knowing that I was a mother of four kids, he had taken the time to plan this special date for us.
Going to an upscale restaurant with a stunning view from our top-floor table, I couldn’t help but wonder how much effort and expense Chris had gone to in order to bring me here.
We ate in silence for a while, savoring the delicious meal before Chris suddenly broke the quiet with a question. “What do you think about a picnic with the kids?” He asked.
I couldn’t help but smile at the memory. “We have a couple of times back when we were in the states.” I replied, momentarily forgetting that Chris didn’t know about our time in the States.
His surprise was evident as he asked, “You were in the States?”
I nodded. “Yeah, for a while. But I’m originally from here.”
Chris’s curiosity was palpable as he asked, “But you had the kids in the States?”
My eyes flickered at his interest, but I nodded again, sensing it to be genuine. But before he could delve further, he quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry. You can tell me yourself whenever you’re ready. I’m really, really sorry.”
I reached out to reassure him, placing my hand on his arm. “It’s fine, Chris.” I said softly, understanding his concern.
He nodded. “I just want to make you feel very comfortable.” He said earnestly.
I smiled, grateful for his sincerity. “I understand.” I replied.
“Thank you for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.” Chris said, dropping his cutlery.
I nodded in response. “I’m glad I did.” I replied, taking a sip of my wine.
His next words caught me off guard. “There’s something on your lips.” His tone is gentle with a smile playing across his face.
I furrowed my brows in confusion. “What? Where?” I asked, reaching for the napkin to locate the imagined blemish on my cheeks.
But before I could find it, Chris’s hand stretched out, wiping away the smudge with a soft touch. For a fleeting moment, I waited for that familiar sizzle or churning in my stomach, the sensation that always accompanied Zeke’s touch. But to my surprise, I felt absolutely nothing no fluttering, no racing heartbeat, just a calm sense of contentment.
What the hell was I expecting?
I smiled half-heartedly and mouthed a thank you at his simple gesture of kindness. But before I could dwell on it further, the ringing of my phone shattered the moment, jolting me back to reality.
I quickly reached for my phone, grateful for the interruption as I fumbled to answer the call.