Sophie stood behind the counter of the restaurant, nervously clutching the tiny package that had arrived earlier that morning. The discreet brown envelope was delivered without any markings except a plain white sticker with her name. Opening it cautiously, she found an assortment of gadgets—a USB encryption key, a high-tech pen, a tiny recorder, and a tracking device.
All small enough to fit in her pockets, the items felt heavier than they should. Sophie hadn't told her mother or brother about the mysterious person who seemed more interested in taking down the Carringtons than helping her. She kept telling herself that it was safer that way.
She slipped the gadgets into her pocket just as the breakfast rush began. By the time the restaurant was in full swing, it was flooded with people chatting casually over their meals. Sophie sat at the counter, staring blankly at nothing in particular.
Then the doorbell chimed, and a sudden hush fell over the restaurant. Sophie's gaze snapped to the door, and her heart dropped into her stomach. Damien Carrington stood in the doorway, exuding his usual aura of unshakable confidence.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned toward him. He walked in, his strides purposeful, and headed straight for Sophie. She wished, in that moment, that the ground would open up and swallow her whole. She wasn't used to being the center of attention, let alone under the watchful gaze of the city's most powerful man.
When he stopped in front of her, the murmurs grew louder.
"What are you doing? You're gonna get me in trouble," Sophie whispered, her cheeks flaming.
"What do you mean? I'm here to grab a snack," Damien replied, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk.
"We don't sell snacks here."
"Who said anything about buying snacks?" He winked, making her cheeks burn even hotter.
"Please just go. You're making people stare."
"I'll go if you come with me. You know I owe you dinner."
"No one eats dinner in the afternoon."
"Then let me take you out for lunch."
"I can't just leave. I'm on duty."
"I'll talk to your manager. I'm not one to break promises, so please help me keep this one."
"You're just going to keep coming if I say no, aren't you?"
"You're absolutely right."
Sophie sighed in exasperation. "I can't walk out with you. There'll be too many eyes staring. Just take a drink and wait for me outside. I'll meet you there in a bit."
"Promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
Damien bought a drink, trying to give the impression that he was just another customer, then left. Sophie took off her apron and asked a colleague to cover for her. Promising to return soon, she headed outside.
---
Damien was leaning casually against his car when Sophie approached.
"I'm outside as you wanted. So, where are you taking me for lunch?" she asked.
"It's a surprise," Damien said, leading her toward a large, elegant restaurant nearby. Sophie had seen it before but had never dared to enter, knowing a meal there likely cost more than her monthly salary.
"Why here?" she asked.
"It's cute, and they have amazing steak. You're not vegan, are you?"
"I'm not."
They took a seat inside, and a waiter brought them menus. Sophie chose something simple—a Caesar salad and iced tea—while Damien ordered an elaborate surf-and-turf dish paired with a glass of wine.
As they waited for their food, Damien leaned forward, his tone turning playful. "Sophie, I'd like to ask you something important."
Her pulse quickened. Had he figured out her secret? Did he get information that she was around him only because she wanted to get him convicted and then decided to ask her why she was doing it?
"What's that?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Would you rather have beef or turkey?"
She blinked. "How is that important?"
"I want to know what to serve on our wedding day."
"Wedding day? Slow down, champ."
"I think it's obvious that I like you," Damien said with a grin. "There's something about you I haven't seen in anyone else."
"Why me? You're Damien Carrington. You can have anyone you want. Why settle for someone like me who doesn't like you back?"
"Many people don't like me, actually. But I've learned not to let that bother me. No matter how good or generous you are, there will always be enemies."
Sophie scoffed. "You? That's a lie. I'm sure everyone wanted to be your friend growing up."
He hesitated, his expression softening. "I didn't know I was a Carrington until I was a young adult."
"What? Why?"
"I was born out of wedlock. My dad didn't know I existed until his car hit my mom and me. She didn't survive, but I did. He found out when he wanted to donate blood to me to save my life that we were a perfect match. He must have made me with my mom under the influence of alcohol."
"That's… intense," Sophie said softly.
"It's a long story," Damien replied, shrugging off the heaviness. "But that's not why I like you. I like you because you're complicated. You're always surprising me."
Sophie looked away. "You should avoid me. You'll regret it later if you don't."
"Why?"
"No reason. I'm just not a good person to befriend."
"Neither am I. Let's be bad together."
"You always know what to say."
"If speaking was all I had to do to have you then I would gladly talk for hours."
"Unfortunately,it takes more than that to get a lady interested in you."
As their meal ended, Damien leaned back. "There's a dinner party tomorrow night. Everyone's required to bring a plus-one. I'd like you to come with me. I don't have any other friends to come with."
"Damien, I can't—"
"Please. You don't have to do much. Just show up, walk on the red carpet, and keep me company. You being there with me would make it feel more like a party and less of an obligation."
"They'll think we're dating."
"I'll make sure they know we're not. I'll even instruct the media to avoid spinning it the wrong way."
Sophie sighed. "Fine, but only if you follow my conditions."
"Conditions?"
"One, no red carpet walks with me, that's too public. Two, introduce me as just a friend to whoever you might want to introduce me to and three, I can leave whenever I want if it gets boring."
"So many conditions for just a party? I guess I have to agree then. So should I pick you up at the restaurant by 8?"
"I won't be at the restaurant tomorrow. I'll be at the office."
"Let me get you back to work before they think you ran off on duty." Damien said with a chuckle.
---
Back at the restaurant, Sophie's phone buzzed with a call from a private number. She stepped into the restroom to answer.
"What did you learn?" a cold voice asked.
"You were watching. You should know."
"We weren't close enough to hear. Why didn't you wear the earpiece we sent you?"
"He just took me out to lunch. He didn't say anything important."
"We learned that he'll be holding dinner tomorrow to meet with his business partners. Will you be attending?"
"Yes."
"Good. Use that opportunity to sneak into his office and plant the recorder. We need intel."
"I don't think I can. He'll be watching me."
"You're a smart girl. Figure it out."
The line went dead.