Her Forbidden Love

CHAPTER 2

La Dolce Vita Ristorante
45 Via Eleganza
Los Angeles, CA 90210

8:30p.m.

NIKOLAI'S POV:

Ten minutes later, we finally arrived at the restaurant, an Italian place called "La Dolce Vita Ristorante," which translates to "The Sweet Life Restaurant." I had only been here once before, but the service was impeccable and the food was to die for, so I decided to bring Vee here. She absolutely loved Italian cuisine.

As we stepped inside, we were greeted by the warm ambiance of the restaurant. The decor was a blend of classic Italian elegance and modern luxury, with rich mahogany furniture, soft lighting from crystal chandeliers, and tasteful artwork adorning the walls. The aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces filled the air, creating an inviting atmosphere.

We arrived just in time for our reservation. The host greeted us with a warm smile and checked our reservation. "Your table is ready," he said, gesturing towards the dining area. "Someone will be here shortly to escort you."

We followed him through the beautifully arranged tables, each adorned with crisp white linens and delicate floral centerpieces, until we reached our table. The host informed us that our waiter would be with us shortly. Vee looked around with a delighted expression, clearly pleased with my choice of restaurant.

"I'm impressed, you really outdid yourself, Nick," she said as I pulled out her chair.

"Only the best for you," I replied with a smirk, sitting down across from her. "Plus, I knew you'd be putty in my hands with some good Italian food."

She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "You know me too well. Keep this up, and I might just forgive you for eating the last of the tiramisu last week."

"Oh, that was a crime against humanity, I admit," I said with a mock serious tone. "But can you really blame me? It's your fault for introducing me to the good stuff."

Vivianne shook her head, still smiling. "I'll let it slide this time, but only because you've brought me to this amazing place."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Mrs. Ivanov," I teased.

A minute later, our waiter arrived. "Good evening. I'm Samantha, and I'll be your waiter for tonight," she said with a smile. "What drinks would you like to start with?" she added, handing us the drinks menu.

"I'll have a glass of Yvonne's classic red wine, please," Vivianne said, handing back the menu.

"And you, sir?" Samantha asked, turning to me.

"A glass of wine as well," I said, returning the menu. As Samantha walked off to get our drinks, another waiter came and brought us some appetizers.

We thanked him, and Vivianne immediately dug into the appetizer. "This bruschetta is so good!" she exclaimed, swallowing a bite and quickly offering me one.

I took a taste and nodded appreciatively. "Not bad at all," I said, looking at her with a chuckle.

She glanced up, intrigued. "What's so funny?" she asked, grabbing another bruschetta.

"Your face," I replied with a grin. "It looks like it's having an orgasm."

Vivianne laughed, her eyes sparkling. "This is way better than a fucking orgasm," she said, taking another bite with a satisfied sigh.

Sometime later, our drinks finally arrived. Samantha set the wine glasses in front of us and poured the wine, then asked, "Would you like to order now, or do you need another minute?"