WHAT IF?

12.

ETHAN

She looks ethereal.

Her light floral summer dress complements her delicate features perfectly. The dress is a flawless shade of sunset, as if made for the occassion. Her hair tied in a loose bun. Looks like someone was in hurry, or rather, was much excited for the date. Nevertheless, I couldn't restrain myself from looking towards her for much long. My gaze turned towards her every second, as if they couldn't get enough of staring at her for so long already and that made it hard to drive for me. I chose to drive myself instead of a driver. I don't have time to bother about anyone else poking their heads in my life right now.

Les Teintes Royales is a world wide known restaurant. The luxurious ambience, high class service and the taste here is phenomenal. It is, undoubtedly and undebatedly, the best in the world. Even the high class have to stand in line and struggle for a chance to come here since, there is no other restaurant like this anywhere.

A restaurant ambience with all black, well cushioned, couches with expensive round black sandalwood tables, glassware set neatly on them, sombre yellow lighting, ceiling to floor windows and beige walls - money and class pools from each and every nook and corner of this place. I made a call and managed to book my restaurant for the evening.

Yes. My. Restaurant.

Father gifted it as a business opportunity to me for my birthday last year. Now, I am its owner and run that place and I fucking love it when I see people draining all their money just to spend some time here, and click a selfie of themselves to post on social media to boast of their notes they spent on getting a picture clicked.

I shake my head slightly and shrug away the thought. As far as her suspicions would go of how did I manage to get a table here, she knows I am rich. She'll think I spent my money to book one. Easy.

We reach in front of the restaurant and the chauffeurs open the doors. I step out of the car and make an extra effort of going over to her side and offer my hand before she steps out. She looks at me with a smile and places her palm delicately on mine.

She looks impressed. She will definitely be swooned by the end of the day. She pauses in her tracks and her eyes widen in surprise as they lift up to read the name of the restaurant.

She looks at me, "You didn't have to do this, Ethan. This is so expensive, even for you," she starts shuffling in her place, might be in hesitation, blows put a breath and continues, " Is there any chance we can go back? I really don't think this is necessary." She mutters under her breath, "I didn't even dress according to the place."

I couldn't hold back my amusement at her remark. I chuckle, " Hey, don't worry. You look absolutely gorgeous. And don't think about the expenditure. Everything's on me tonight. Enjoy yourself." I smile at her reassuringly. She overthinks a lot.

She reciprocated the gesture by a rather tight smile and looks down.

What is she so embarrassed about? She looks great! Had I been her, I would have wanted to dress exactly the same way she did. In fact, I'd rather have women who come here dress like her than the ugly things they adorn themselves with. Their attires make me want to puke. Their dressing sense does not match with this beautiful place at all.

Not even an iota. At least she looks decent enough to be around here.

I nudge her softly and hold her palm, wrapping my fingers around hers and walk her in.

We enter the majestic place with her hand wrapped around mine. She couldn't help herself but raise her head a bit as she takes in the view in front of her. Her eyes scrutinize the interior. She then looks down and a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips.