The Spy

Chapter 03

Lycan's POV
   As I trudged through the evening, exhaustion from today's grueling meeting still lingered. But I had no respite, courtesy of my parents' insistence that I escort Clara to dinner. Clara, the daughter of my mother's best friend, had been thrust into my life since childhood, our mothers hoping we'd form a lifelong bond. To me, Clara was always just a sisterly figure, a familiar presence but nothing more. However, recent interactions had left me sensing a shift in her demeanor, hints of feelings beyond friendship that I couldn't ignore. And if I'm honest, my mother's not-so-subtle hints suggest she's rooting for something more between us.
    I was aware that she had her heart set on a fancy dinner at a high-end restaurant, but I had other plans. I decided to take her to this quaint ice cream shop instead, a deliberate choice that seemed to catch her off guard. Though she attempted to mask her disappointment with a forced smile, I could sense her discontent. The subtle tension in her body language and the faint hint of surprise in her eyes betrayed her true feelings, making it clear that this was not the evening she had envisioned.
   I was relieved to see her disappointment, as it suited my intentions perfectly. I wasn't trying to impress her or give her false hope; I simply wanted to make it clear that our relationship was platonic. By inviting the driver to join us, I deliberately downplayed any romantic connotations, ensuring that the evening wouldn't be misconstrued as a date. My goal was to establish a clear boundary, leaving no room for misinterpretation: Clara was a friend, and nothing more.
    As we entered the ice cream shop, all eyes turned to us, and I felt a surge of discomfort. I'm not one for being the center of attention, and I doubt I'll ever grow accustomed to it. I scanned the room, my gaze lingering on each face until they looked away, except for one person. A woman, partially hidden from view, was chatting with the cashier, seemingly oblivious to the commotion we'd caused. Her profile suggested she was stunning, and the cashier's flirtatious demeanor only added to my observation. I dismissed the thought, focusing on finding a seat. I instructed Clara to place our order, but she hesitated, suggesting my driver could do it instead. I replied,
"It's been a long day for both of us, but you had a lighter schedule. Besides, it's a simple task – just tell the cashier what we want."
Clara bristled, "I'm not a child, I can handle it."
I smiled and added, "Great, then get me vanilla ice cream. Jason, what flavor do you prefer?" My driver looked taken aback but stuttered out a response. I turned to Clara and said, "Off you go, then."
   Clara rose, visibly irritated, and went to place our order. She returned with two vanilla ice creams and one strawberry, and we ate in silence until she broke the quiet.
"So, why did you decide to bring me here for dinner?" she asked, her tone laced with annoyance. I retorted,
"What's wrong with this place?"
Clara hesitated, "Nothing, it's just..."
but I cut her off, "If there's nothing wrong with it, then that's good. Finish up, we're leaving."
I stood and walked out, Jason following closely behind, leaving Clara alone. As we exited, I noticed the woman from earlier getting into her car and driving away. A plan began to form in my mind – a way to get my mother off my back about Clara. I smiled to myself, intrigued by the possibilities.