"You haven't touched your food, yet." He noted, staring straight at the lady in front of him. "Why?"
After he had initiated for them to have breakfast together, before they further carry out their discusion about the contract, Navier had first opposed. "No its alright, I already had breakfast." It was tragic that he saw through her lies.
"We may have just met, but since you will bear my family's name in the nearest future." He had told her, while holding the menue. "I will let you in on a secret. I don't like liars." He informed, which she immediately apologized for.
She had not meant to lie in the process, in all honesty, she just couldn't afford the meal, and didn't know what to order. Everything looked expensive, even the glass of water!
Although the man had assured her that he'd pay for the both of them, she still didn't want to inconvenience him much further than she already has.
He already signed the contract, that alone was enough for her. Not paying heed to her protest, he ordered for the both of them, leaving the poor lady without a choice.
And now here they are, bathed in silence, facing each other. "I hope you can forgive me for killing your apetite." she stated not making a move to touch the dish. "Everything just looks extremely nice." Navier confessed in her deepest sincerity.
The tall man sighed, before clinking his champaign glass with the fork he held, immediately the waiter appeared to take out the dishes, leaving them all to themselves again. "Well, there's no need to force you to eat."
"Since you have no appetite, we might as well get into it." He crossed his leg over the other under the table.
Navier watched as he signaled with a nod to someone she didn't see, but a few seconds after his gesture, the same man appeared holding another briefcase.
'Is that another file? How many more is there?' Navier wondered, staring as the man opened the box before her to slip out some papers.
He passed her one before sending his guard away. The lady couldn't help but ask. "What's this?"
"Those are my rules and conditions for the contract." Was his blunt response, "Feel free to oppose if they don't suit your taste." He leaned back on the comfy seat to stare at her as she scanned through the papers.
'I wonder what her expression will be.' He slightly smirked as he kept surveying her face.
Indeed, the rules were absurd, each one cruel than the next; it was unbelievable. "I have a question." She called for his attention.
"What is it?" He knew what he was doing, he knew very well that his rules were absurd himself. There was no woman who read his conditions that didn't protest against them. 'I guess she too is no exception.'
"What do you mean by no communication, whatsoever?" Navier threw him baffled look.
"I like my privacy." Just like that, he sent out his silent missile.
"What if I need someone to talk to?" She insisted, "Isn't that what couples do? They communicate with each other." She pointed out.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." She didn't know if he was mocking or encouraging her, but it felt painful to hear.
"But..." Navier stuttered, and he immediately cut her off.
"Listen." He called, finally leaning on the table, giving the lady access to properly stare at his face.
"The rules aren't the most essential part in this contract." He informed which left a perplexed frown on her pretty face.
"The most essential part of this whole thing is how well you convince my family about our relationship, although its only a pretense." He said seriously.
"If you pull that off, perfectly- erasing all signs of doubts from their minds, I will grant you all your wishes."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. I'm a pretty great actor." She boasted proudly in front of him.
"I know." Navier froze at his statement. "I read your file."
'What made you think I agreed to this insane idea of yours?' He thought, flashing his mischievous smile at the lady who suddenly felt cautious.
"What?" Navier unintentionally swallowed hard. 'What did he just say?' For the first time since she got there, she felt a sense of uneasy wash over her, that she stood stiff under his gaze.
"We should stop here for today." He glanced at his watch. "We will continue this discussion at my place, when I pick you up tomorrow." He ushered as he got up from his seat, but Navier didn't move from her spot.
"Are you the one that booked the whole building?" She meekly asked, not looking his way.
"Hmm?" Surprised by her out burst, he smirked inwardly. "Is that what the attendant told you?" He slightly tilted his head.
Her silence left him to draw his own conclusion. "Booked, huh?" He repeated, clearly amused, before grabbing hold of her face while leaning in; startling the lady who now stared into his green orbs with wide eyes.
"Orange." he called out to her while they were still breaths away from each other. Navier dared not to let out a single breath as he spoke to her so closely.
"I own this building." He affirmed in all seriousness.
His words repeatedly echoed in her mind. 'Own... He owns the building. Wait...he owns the building?!' The truth shocked her to the chore that her tongue turned numb at her current realization.
'Navier Romanoff, what have you done?!'