"Miss Lily," Kyle said, his deep voice steady, as he stared at her with a hint of surprise. But he quickly regained his composure, his expression smoothing out into a calm, neutral mask.
Lily stuttered, her eyes wide with surprise, as she rose from her seat. "M... Mr... Kyle," she faltered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"What a surprise," she said, attempting to compose herself, though her voice still trembled slightly.
Kyle's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "What are you here for?" His tone was calm, but his gaze betrayed a hint of wariness.
Lily's smile faltered for a moment before she replied, "Well... I'm here on a date."
Kyle's gaze darkened even further as he realized the truth. He was her blind date. Max had set them up without telling either of them. Kyle felt a mix of emotions: surprise, annoyance, and a hint of curiosity.
"Have a seat," Kyle said finally, his voice still calm, as he motioned for Lily to sit back down.
"You are also here for the date?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowing slightly in confusion.
"Yes, and surprisingly, I'm the date Max set for you," Kyle responded, a hint of dry amusement creeping into his voice.
Just then, the waiter walked towards their table, interrupting the awkward moment. "Good evening, sir, ma'am. Here's the menu," he said, handing them each a menu.
Lily's eyes widened as she looked at Kyle, her face a picture of surprise and embarrassment. Kyle, on the other hand, looked calm and collected, his eyes scanning the menu with interest.
"I'll go with only water," Lily said, handing the menu back to the waiter, her eyes avoiding Kyle's gaze.
Kyle chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and said, "We'll have these," as he pointed to several dishes on the menu, including the chef's special, a seafood platter, and a bottle of fine wine. "We'll start with the appetizers and then move on to the main course."
Lily's eyes widened in protest. "There's no need, I'll just take water," she said, her voice firm but polite.
Kyle's smile never wavered. "I insist," he said, his tone gentle but firm. The waiter, sensing the subtle tension, slightly bowed and left to place their order.
As they waited for their food to arrive, Lily began to shyly talk to Kyle, shyness evident in her downcast eyes and hesitant smile. But as they conversed, she slowly began to open up, her words flowing more freely.
Kyle chuckled at her boldness, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he listened to her lively conversation. He was taken aback by her uniqueness - most girls he met were either intimidated by his powerful aura or were only interested in him for his wealth. But Lily was different, and he found himself captivated by her carefree spirit.
As she continued talking, Kyle couldn't help but study her facial features. Her bright, expressive eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and her smooth, creamy skin glowed with a warm, golden light. But it was her lips that truly caught his attention - soft, pink, and invitingly kissable. Kyle felt a sudden jolt of attraction, his gaze lingering on her lips as he imagined the sweetness of her kiss.
Despite his usual reserve, Kyle found himself wanting to hear more of her laughter, to see more of her bright smile. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers.
Lily's words trailed off as she realized Kyle had fallen silent, his gaze fixed intently on her. She felt a flutter in her chest as she wondered if she had said something wrong. Her eyes dropped, and she fidgeted with her hands, her face growing warm with embarrassment.
"I talk too much, I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
But to her surprise, Kyle's response was immediate. "No, keep talking, I like it," he said, his deep voice low and smooth.
Lily's eyes snapped back up to his, confusion etched on her face. "Huh?" she breathed, her mind struggling to process his words.
Kyle's gaze darkened, and he looked away, his jaw clenched in a subtle gesture of self-reprimand. But it was too late; the damage was done. The air was charged with tension as they stared at each other, lost in the depths of each other's eyes.
The spell was broken when the waiter arrived with their order, the clinking of dishes and the aroma of food snapping them back to reality. Kyle cleared his throat, his eyes never leaving Lily's face, as he gestured for the waiter to set the food down.
As the waiter departed, Kyle's gaze lingered on Lily's face, his expression unreadable. Lily, still feeling the weight of his gaze, looked away, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Lily gasped as she opened the dish, her eyes widening in delight. The aroma of the food wafted up, making her mouth water in anticipation. She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent, before finally taking her first bite.
"Let's eat," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
They both began to eat in utter silence, the only sound the clinking of utensils on plates. Kyle would steal glances at her from time to time, his eyes locking onto hers before quickly looking away. Lily, oblivious to his gaze, continued eating, her expression serene.
As they continued eating, Lily broke the silence"What do you do for a living?" she asked, her voice casual.
Kyle's response was immediate, his voice low and even. "I'm a Mafia."
Lily's fork halted mid-air, her eyes snapping up to meet Kyle's. She looked like she had been punched in the gut, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock.
"What did you say?" she asked, her voice trembling, unsure if she had heard correctly.
Kyle's gaze met hers, his eyes cold and unyielding. "I don't like to repeat myself, I'm sure you heard what I said."
Lily felt a chill run down her spine as she clenched her fists, her hatred for the Mafia simmering just below the surface. She had lost loved ones to their brutality, and the thought of being in the same room as one made her skin crawl.
"I'm sorry... I don't think I can do this anymore," she said, her voice firm, as she pushed her chair back and stood up.
Kyle looked confused, his eyes narrowing as he watched her quickly gather her things and make a hasty exit.
"Hey wait...." He ran after her and stopped her. "Is something wrong?" He asked
"I'm not feeling too well" she replied
"Then let me take you home" he said
She shooked her head "its okay I'll take a bus"
"I'll take you home" he said in an authoritative voice
She sighed as she agreed and she has no strength to argue with him hence they entered the car and left.
The car ride became silent, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the occasional passing of cars. Lily looked outside, lost in her thoughts, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the window. Kyle, on the other hand, couldn't help but glance at her, his eyes drawn to her profile. He wondered what had happened, what he had said wrong. Why had her mood changed so suddenly?
As he thought about these things, he felt something awkward inside him, something that made him want to reach out and touch her, to comfort her. It was a feeling he had never experienced before, and it left him feeling unsettled.
A few minutes later, they reached Lily's apartment, and Kyle pulled up outside. They both got out of the car, the cool night air enveloping them. Lily looked up at him, her eyes avoiding his.
"Thank you, Mr. Kyle," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, before turning and walking away.
Kyle sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment, before getting back into the car and driving away.
Lily entered her apartment, tears falling from her eyes as she remembered the painful past. She entered her room and lay on the bed, crying uncontrollably as memories flooded her mind.
Little Lily and her parents were laughing and chatting happily in their cozy living room. The sound of rain pattered against the windows, creating a warm and snug atmosphere. Her father, a kind and gentle man with a warm smile, was telling a joke, making her mother laugh. Her mother, a beautiful woman with long, curly hair and bright, sparkling eyes, was sitting on the couch, Lily snuggled up beside her.
Their laughter echoed in the room, filling it with warmth and joy. But it was cut short as they heard a loud knock on the door. Curiosity held them as they wondered who it was.
"Who is it?" Lily's father asked, but got no reply.
He peeped through the hole in the door, and his eyes widened as he saw who it was.