Randall wanted to try a nearby restaurant alone. He liked to do it when he's out of places to rethink life. Randall has been pressed to do a pile of work every day, signed every clipboard, go to training, and even plot escape plans with Jon Cho for their spies' business.
"It's hard when you grow up," Randall whispered to himself.
He cut the T-bone steak, pinned it with a fork, and sniffed in its luscious scent. Randall finally tasted it, chewed on the nutty, sweet and sour flavor of the pork meat. He nodded his head.
This main cuisine was what he wanted in the first place.
Randall continued through four steak cuts when someone's voice perked him up. It's a female, elegant and classy, like she's asking a direction towards his…
"Louise Shelton. I'm here for someone's reservation."
Randall instantly clutched the edge of the table, and his heart beat fast. Nervous as he could, he knew that if he stayed here, Louise might see him. Still, he must have forgotten the plan to sway her for a dinner.
Randall might not be that vocal, but he badly wanted to.
With that dinner, it's a first-step.
"Just head straight to that empty table by the center," the waitress instructed.
Randall retrieved the wine bottle, straightened his back, and remained casual, pretending not to know anything about Louise Shelton, or someone even close to her name. Randall cleared his throat, hearing her heels striding on the floor.
He doesn't know what she's wearing, so the moment she walked past ahead, Randall looked up, and it dropped his jaw.
Louise was wearing an off-shoulder fitted dress ending above her knee, accentuating her long, slender legs, and limbs. She's elegant, as lovely as a beauty queen, and her flawless back. Oh… her hair was flowing smoothly to cover half of her bare skin.
Everyone doesn't seem dazed with her presence. For them, it was natural to wear that kind of dress inside a fancy restaurant. But for Randall, who hasn't dated much the moment he became a member of Cassanos, he got awed.
It was awful to think of dating the leader of the inspection team for a hidden purpose.
With the plan he laid out to Leo, it seemed impossible for him not to fall harder.
Gathering up strength to build tension is the first step, but sometimes, Louise's attention always shifted back to work. Nothing can actually state how much time she bothered on social groups or even meeting up with someone.
Word got out that she's a workaholic. Randall completely understood what the gossip meant.
When Louise checked the tag of the table, she halted at the seat and must be confused on why an occupant is missing. Randall has been eyeing that table earlier, but he doesn't have a date to begin with to pay bucks just to sit next to the window.
He preferred to have an alone time in the corner, peacefully watching the people as they go. Randall has a lot to think over, but now, his mind got occupied by no other than that pretty woman named Louise.
He hissed, putting down his fork gently, and wiped the corners of his mouth as he observed Louise sitting down on one of the chairs while looking at her phone. If he had known she'd be here, he'd switch restaurants.
Randall isn't ready to get caught up with the woman he hit on a week ago.
He raised his hand, calling the waiter quietly, and after a split second, someone approached him. Randall ordered him to clear the plates around, and the server nodded silently.
"And, I'd like to check my tab later," he reminded.
Randall slid out of the booth as the waiter piled up the plates on a huge container by the cart. He buttoned his coat, took deep breaths, straightened out the crease of his hair, and walked casually towards the table.
Louise turned to the window, but as soon as she averted her attention away from the parking lot, Randall met her eyes. He intended to do that, for them to be familiar with each other's face.
Randall planned to walk inside the bathroom, see if he can hold out a few seconds before approaching her. Randall halted in his tracks. Louise parted her lips slightly, putting down her phone.
"Ms. Louise Shelton?" He took a few steps, checking her face, pretending to just see her now. Louise displayed a beam, unexpected, as if she's skeptical around someone who saw her outside of work.
"Mr. Randall Cross?" She immediately stood up, and offered her hand.
Randall got astonished by the sudden change in her formal introduction. The last time he remembered, Louise snorted coldly when he tried to ask her for dinner. Now, when people's eyes barely fleet in their direction, she's like a mewling cat hoping to possess its owner by her scent.
Randall got along with her tactics, and clasped her hand, squeezing it gently. For the first time, they touched, and Randall must be knocked out of sense since his heart rate soared up high.
"It's nice seeing you here. Have you had dinner?"
It's rare to see Louise leading the conversation. Randall furrowed his eyebrows.
"You seemed…"
Louise put on the widest grin as if she's acting to someone keeping an eye.
"I'm asking you if you had dinner."
That's when he got suspicious. He squint his eyes towards her.
Randall always gone to this fancy restaurant named Chloe's every now and then, to suppress his frustration over Zella and Leo's blossoming love story. Ever since Randall hit Zella by the hood of his car, he couldn't help but to feel guilty.
It's not because of his reckless driving, but because he's the reason why the Cassanos were in this tight position.
They couldn't move without an order from Leo. They shouldn't plan with dangers of Zella picking up an ear and finding out their real job. Last, they shouldn't say anything that will leave them on an undefended position that everyone might attack with.
It's always the three of those reasons making it difficult to carry out a mission.
"Can we stop being a pretend here, Ms. Louise Shelton?"
Randall is being tailed. Louise's tactic on sitting down on that center table with him on near sight was enough to trap him. Randall is clever, too. Making fun of their jobs must be prestigious opportunity for Louise, as the leader of this…
He swiftly roamed around his eyes. Randall saw a woman on a leather jacket and fake red wig shifting in another direction quickly. With fast eyes, he knew exactly what Louise is up to.
"Wow, you're really the leader of the inspection team when you let your member wear a fake red wig across my table, pretending to be…"
Louise took a stride and covered his mouth with her hands. Randall leaned back, avoiding his touch, but it's impossible to do so. Louise's palm stayed intact, sealing his lips.
Randall swallowed.
He's too close to Louise. It's the closest they can ever be.
"Stay quiet, will you?" she warned. Randall couldn't talk at all.
How can he retaliate when the woman she liked is initiating a move to him?
Their eyes stared at each other for a long time. It was steamy, the tension kept on rising. Randall blinked several times. Louise turned in the red wig woman, and shook her head. Randall wanted to move his lips, but that would be discourteous.
It's better to stay frozen. Louise turned back to him, and glared.
"I have no choice. You have to follow me out," she mumbled.