To my utter surprise, he smiled, and for a fleeting moment, my heart skipped a beat. His unexpected smile left me startled, but I didn't wear that look for long. I quickly assumed my professional demeanor and led him to the best table with the finest view in the restaurant.
"What would you like to have?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside.
"Well, what is your best wine here?" he inquired, his eyes cool yet filled with amusement, locked onto me.
Wine? I thought, my mind racing to come up with a suitable recommendation. "Well, we have various types, and I don't know what you might like. Shall I just show you a list?" I muttered, my voice soft and weary, almost mirroring the uncertainty I felt.
"Please do, Miss Briggs."
I turned and left to retrieve the wine list from the counter, my heart pounding in my chest and a heavy lump in my throat refusing to budge. My legs felt wobbly as if they might betray me. I couldn't shake the thought that he was here to see me, despite dismissing it as absurd. We had parted on a very sour note, and I couldn't fathom why he would choose this place to meet.
"Here is the list," I said, my voice sounding overly high-pitched, a stark contrast to my usual composure. "Chateau Lafite," he pointed out, selecting one of the most expensive wines on the list, priced at almost $300,000. The mere thought of that kind of money set my mind racing with possibilities. It could secure a future for me and Kate beyond our wildest dreams.
"So, when will you and your business associate be here for the meeting?" I asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from our past encounter.
"On Monday. I still have to get something sorted out. I don't even know if I am going to go through with the contract," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone that left me intrigued.
"The perks of being a CEO," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Something like that," he replied with a half-smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
As his gaze returned to the list of wines, I realized that I had completely forgotten to fetch the wine he had ordered. "Oh, Anna," my subconsciousness berated me. "You need to focus."
Excusing myself, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was silently laughing at my flustered state. Am I really that funny, or was I funny-looking? I thought, but deep down, I knew his interest in me went beyond mere amusement.
I quickly returned with his drink, pouring it out for him as he watched. Then, he finally dropped the question I had been dreading: "Why are you working here? I mean, you got the job."
His voice was low, his gaze intense, and my cheeks flushed even brighter. Why did he have this effect on me? I felt like a teenager who had just been asked out to prom by the coolest guy in school. "Concentrate, Anna. Think and speak!" my inner voice reminded me.
"I just wanted peace of mind," I replied, picking up the wine list again.
"Please, refill the wine," he said softly, raising his glass, and I couldn't help but notice the underlying vulnerability in his eyes. My heart raced as I refilled his glass, and the tension between us grew more palpable. This chance encounter seemed to be about more than just a business meeting; it held the promise of unfinished business, unanswered questions, and emotions that refused to stay buried.