During our journey, the car was silent except for the engine's hum. I felt confused and scared from the start, too afraid to ask where we were headed.
In the end, I could only gaze out the window, enjoying the view of the tall, orderly buildings. Occasionally, I noticed the busy drivers and pedestrians engrossed in their affairs.
Eventually, Mr. August's car entered the area of a luxury restaurant famous in the city. I never expected to dine at such a place. Even when I was dating John, he never took me to a high-end restaurant like this. I felt nervous and uncomfortable. Inside, there must be many classy, wealthy people enjoying delicious meals.
"Should I just refuse?" I thought about declining, but the cold, impassive expression on Mr. August's face made me fear potential trouble. I felt odd because our relationship was just a pretense.
Mr. August entered, and I followed him, walking beside him. A waiter, seemingly already familiar with him, immediately led us to a table. The waiter pulled out chairs for us to sit, which made me feel uncomfortable and awkward. Of course, this was different from Mr. August, who was used to such situations.
"You'll need to get used to this, Miss Ellena," Mr. August's words put pressure on me and kept me alert. I didn't want to cause any trouble this time.
I remained stiff and tried to control my breathing to avoid showing the awkwardness and fear I felt. However, my demeanor seemed to attract Mr. August's sharp gaze.
"Why is Mr. August looking at me like that? Doesn't he realize it's making me even more scared and want to leave?" My heart raced with anxiety, and Mr. August's cold demeanor felt like overwhelming pressure.
I tried to shift my gaze around. There were many people calmly enjoying their meals, some quietly discussing work. The wealthy people's demeanor was clear—they had a well-mannered and orderly way of conducting themselves.
"Why are you so quiet, Miss Ellena? Don't you want this? Do you want to leave and cancel everything?" Mr. August's question made me look at him in surprise. It seemed my thoughts were evident on my face.
"No, Mr. August." I answered hesitantly, trying to cover up and avoid what I didn't want to happen. For now, this was all I could do to fulfill my promise to Mr. August.
Just after I answered, the waiter began serving food at our table. I saw an expensive menu being presented. The aroma of the food was detectable even though the waiter hadn't removed the cover yet.
"Oh my. This meal must cost as much as my monthly expenses. Wealthy people always spend money on food like this; it's just the norm for them. But not for me. I need to think carefully before putting it in my mouth because it feels like a waste." My mind was restless seeing the expensive dishes in front of me. Mr. August was serious about his choice of menu.
"Eat up. Didn't I say you need to get used to this?" Mr. August repeated his words, as if he knew I would struggle to accept this situation. This left me confused, with no choice but to comply.
Although I had never dined in such a place before, I knew how to eat politely like the wealthy. They always used different utensils for each course. Moreover, I used Mr. August as a guide during the meal. I secretly observed how he ate and enjoyed his food.
Initially, I found their dining manners complicated. But once practiced, there was a reason why dining etiquette was so important. I moved carefully to avoid mistakes. This lunch was truly surprising as it was the first time a CEO invited me.
After finishing one course, I reached for a glass of water to help clear the food stuck in my throat. However, during this, I heard Mr. August speak. "Our relationship will become known to everyone." I choked on the water and started coughing.
I grabbed a napkin to cover my mouth, while my gaze remained fixed on Mr. August, who continued to eat calmly. "What does Mr. August mean? I'm confused by that statement. Everyone?" I had many questions and needed an explanation.
Mr. August remained calm, as if this was normal. I waited for him to finish chewing before continuing. His statement made me stop eating, despite my previous interest in the meal.
"Why is he so calm about saying that? What does he mean by it? Oh my, why does he remain silent and continue eating without any explanation?" My thoughts were tumultuous, my calmness from earlier replaced by anxiety.
I waited until Mr. August spoke again. "I will let everyone know about our relationship." I couldn't believe his words. It felt like a lightning bolt striking in broad daylight—shocking and electrifying.
Mr. August seemed serious about his statement. His face showed no sign of joking about it. I was still confused about his intentions, especially regarding our pretense of a relationship.
"Does this include the office staff?" Mr. August's statement felt like my world was collapsing with the news he intended to share publicly. If it were true, what would I say to everyone? There would surely be much discussion about us at the office.
The gossip about Mr. August was not over, and now he would spread news about our relationship due to an agreement. I wasn't sure they would take this news well, considering I was one of those who heard the rumors. Now, I was the proof to cover up those rumors.
"What is Mr. August's real plan? Can he really handle people talking about him behind his back?" My mind was tortured by Mr. August's shocking statement.
Mr. August glanced at me briefly before enjoying the dessert in front of him. It seemed he didn't care about my question, whether it included office employees.
Mr. August must have thought through this thoroughly. However, I couldn't accept that the woman by his side was me. I wondered what Mina would say about me. Until now, Mina never knew who my boyfriend was or how we were related.
"Mr. August—" I tried to call him, hoping to get his attention. I was eagerly waiting for his response.
Unfortunately, Mr. August ignored me and continued enjoying his meal. He made me wait like a fool. His silence even made me lose my appetite.
When Mr. August finished his lunch, he looked at me sharply, his demeanor as cold and tense as ever. Briefly, he answered, "Yes."