𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

Chapter Sixteen

............................................

"I'm attracted to you." those words kept replaying on Imani's mind throughout their dinner. His tone when he said it, the slight voice break, and the little lip twitch at the corner of his mouth.

They sat down in a candlelit dinner set for two people. He sat directly opposite, smiling in the candlelit as he watched her eat, a wisp of hair falling on his forehead. Imani wanted to reach out and pull it back, but she refrained, concentrating too much on the contents on her plate.

"I guess it looks better than me." he smiled, amused as he looked into her bewildered face.

"What?"

"The food...it looks better than me."

She stared at him like she didn't know what to say as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"You've spent a considerable amount of time looking at your plate than looking at me." He clarified, making Imani flush with embarrassment.

"Sorry," she said in a soft voice, turning her face to smile into his face. She had a beautiful, shy smile—one of those ridiculously smiles that looked innocent but flirty without too much effort.

"It's okay. Please don't ignore me." Although he said it in an exaggerated needy tone, the earnest yet desperate look in his eyes suggested he was serious.

"I won't," she promised, taking the final spoonful of soup.

He nodded in acknowledgement, ringing a small bell beside him to summon the cook cum  housekeeper,  Francine, to bring them the main course.

Matthew did not speak to Francine during or after their meal. However, it wasn't clear whether he was the reason or her 'strict nanny' look kept him from fraternising with her. She wore her hair tightly tied, her face bare of makeup, and a sportless blue uniform with an apron wrapped around her waist.

She intimidated Imani; the look she kept throwing at her seemed knowing, more than a little judgemental. Like she expected them both to end up tangled up in bed, naked and sweaty.

"Do you mostly eat dinner at home?" she suddenly asked to cover up the feeling of being wrongly judged as well as knowing somewhat, she and Matthew will probably end up naked in bed just as Francine thought.

Matthew shook his head and said, "no. I'm rarely home at a decent hour to eat."

She didn't want to pry, but she was curious before she exhausted herself with scenarios as to why he wasn't home to eat dinner.

"Why?"

"Work," he said simply, intensely looking at her as if he was looking for something specific.

"Work?"

He nodded.

"Work?" she parroted in a doubtful voice. Matthew grinned, looking at her over the top of his wine glass.

"Why? Don't you believe me?"

Imani thought of quirky feedback but stopped herself in case he didn't respond very well to dry humour.

"I believe you."

"I don't think so," he cackled, sounding as if he was both amused and entertained.

"You should; I don't lie."

She raised a brow with an expression that implied she didn't believe him.

"You're such a doubting Thomas," Matthew said with a laugh, leaning back into his chair to allow Francine to place a small piece of chocolate cake in front of him.