Chapter 5

• ELOISE
• Adam said I should be at the restaurant by eight, but where was he? I scanned the place, growing more impatient as the minutes ticked by. It was already eight-fifteen, and there was no sign of him.
• And speaking of my new bosses, Zoey was the other managing director for marketing but didn’t come to the office. I had a feeling Chase told her about me being in the company. I knew our paths would cross again, but did it have to be like this?
• “Good evening, Ms. Walker,” another voice suddenly said, interrupting my thoughts. It was the maître d. “Mr. Sebastian is waiting for you, miss. Let me take you to him,” he said, showing me his usual smile like last night.
• “Where is he?”
• “If you would kindly follow me, miss.”
• I nodded and followed him as he led me upstairs to the restaurant’s second floor.
• And there was Adam, standing right by a table in the center of the room. The whole place was adorned with fancy linens, curtains, and flowers in every corner. The tables were set with elegant candlelight.
• “Here you go, miss.” The maître d’ gestured towards the table.
• “Uh, yeah... thanks,” I mumbled, surprised by the grandeur of it all. But where was everyone else?
• I walked over to Adam, who had a look on his face like he was about to propose or something, even though I knew that wasn’t the case. I wondered what he was up to.
• He greeted me with a sweet smile. “Please, have a seat, Eloise.” He pulled out a chair for me, making me feel like a princess being attended to by a prince charming.
• He poured a glass of red wine in front of me, just like the one he had given me the other night.
• I couldn’t understand why he went through all this trouble just to talk about Chase and Zoey. The table was set, and dinner was already prepared.
• “I’m a bit confused about what’s going on,” I admitted, furrowing my eyebrows.
• His lips twitched, but he maintained that charming smile. “Drink,” he offered, gesturing towards the glass. Then he settled into the chair next to me. “Trust me and follow my lead.”
• I panicked. Follow what? “They’re coming here, aren’t they? You invited them too?”
• Adam chuckled, which carried mischief and amusement.
• “Yes. I rented the whole place.”
• I gripped the cushion of the seat tightly. “Why would you do that?”
• “We’re just going to have a little chat. Don’t you want to see the look of confusion or maybe even anger on their faces?” He grinned as if it was all a big joke to him.
• I let out a sigh. “No, because I’m not ready for that. I’m going home. You never told me this was your plan. Look at you…”
• He grinned playfully. “What do I look like?”
• You looked like someone who was going to propose. “Whatever, I’m out of here!”
• I couldn’t face them, not now. Chase, maybe, but Zoey was a different story. I didn’t know what I could do then—maybe scratching her face? Pulling her hair? Anger surged through my veins.
• I stood up from my seat.
• Adam casually crossed his legs and smirked, looking up at me. “Running away, are we? You can’t run forever, Ms. Walker.”
• Was that what I had been doing? Running?
• Perhaps. I left New York and put up with my father’s whims because of them, which I absolutely hate.
• “Let me tell you something,” he continued. “Zoey is with me.”
• I paused, trying to process his words, but I couldn’t understand them.
• “W-what?”
• He shook his head, still smirking. “I knew Chase from Columbia before he worked for me. He was an acquaintance of someone I knew, but we weren’t close.”
• I furrowed my brow. That must have happened after I left Columbia and went to Scotland instead.
• Or was it? The timeline was a bit fuzzy. I knew Zoey had a habit of flirting with different guys. Ironically, she had applied to Columbia to follow me so we could be together.
• But what the hell did she do this time?
• “Who was she dating first?”
• “It was me. She didn’t know I knew Chase at first. It was actually just a coincidence.”
• “And?”
• “As I said, it’s complicated. Sit down, Ms. Walker. My neck hurts talking to you this way,” he commanded in a tone I oddly didn’t want to resist.
• Quietly, I obeyed. I suppose I wanted to hear the rest of the story, too.
• “But Chase and I had to collaborate on a major college project our senior year, and that’s when we became friends. We were both oblivious to our common connection with Zoey. But one day, she temporarily ended things with me. She told me she got pregnant with his child. Chase then introduced Zoey to me without knowledge of our history.”
• Typical Chase. Always clueless. I clicked my tongue.
• “And he still didn’t know about you and Zoey. Wait, but you said it was temporary... Please, don’t tell me you two are still...” I clasped my mouth with my palm.
• “It’s complicated,” he repeated, and I was growing tired of that word.
• “So, you’re saying this to me because you want her for yourself?”
• He shrugged. “Something like that.”
• I cringed with a pang of jealousy piercing my chest. Deep down, I’d always been aware and reluctantly accepted that men were irresistibly drawn to Zoey. Her beauty, I had to admit, was ethereal. With her golden locks, tall stature, and slender figure, coupled with the way she effortlessly commanded attention, she was undeniably the perfect choice.
• But still…
• “That’s so messed up. Why am I even having this conversation with you? I shouldn’t have bothered coming.”
• “It’s all too damn coincidental, don’t you think? Finding you right next to Chase in the office and now here at the same restaurant where we first met.”
• “A sick twist of fate. I want no part in this, Mr. Sebastian.”
• He flashed a playful smile. “Please, call me Adam.”
• “Whatever you’re up to, I’m out of here.” I made another attempt to leave, but he stopped me.
• “I’m certain Chase still wants you.”
• I clenched my teeth. “I’m not interested.”
• “Of course you are. He kept talking about his ex-girlfriend, who got away. He even planned to propose until that damn pregnancy.” Adam’s words crashed over me like a tidal wave, revealing a side of the story I never saw coming.
• “I don’t buy it,” I retorted.
• “That’s your choice, but don’t you want him back? I can make that happen.”
• I couldn’t give a direct answer. The truth was, the thought had crossed my mind countless times. Chase haunted my dreams over the years, and I often woke up with a painful ache in my heart, yearning to reach out to him and let him know I still couldn’t forget about him. I foolishly imagined him back in my arms, envisioning a future together, building a family. I was still such an idiot.
• “What exactly do you want me to do?” I blurted out.
• Adam’s smile grew wider. “Just follow my lead and trust me. Oh, I just love a freaking good game.”
• At exactly nine o’clock, Chase and Zoey arrived. Chase had changed into a tailored gray pinstriped suit, looking as painfully handsome as ever. Zoey clung to his arm, radiating a newfound beauty. Her silky blonde hair was shorter, and I admit it made her even more classy. She wore an exquisite Louboutin baby pink floral dress and a pair of designer stilettos that emphasized her ass even more.
• Her eyes widened upon seeing me, and a playful smile danced on her lips.
• “Oh my God.” Her gaze scanned me from head to toe. “So it’s true. Chase did find you.”
• Found me? I scoffed. As if he even tried.
• I mustered a sarcastic smile. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
• She chuckled mockingly. “How could I forget?”
• “Zoey,” Chase cautioned.
• “Alright, guys, have a seat.” Adam motioned for them to join us.
• Chase sat across from us, looking uncomfortable and fidgeting. He kept staring at me, but I avoided his gaze.
• “I didn’t know you knew Eloise, Adam. How did that happen? Care to tell us?” Zoey asked, sounding both irritated and confused. I still didn’t fully understand the fucked up relationships between these people. It felt like I was the only stranger at this damn table.
• I suppose Adam had omitted some important details, making the situation even weirder.
• “How about we dig in first? I ordered fresh dishes since you’re fashionably late,” Adam remarked, checking his wristwatch.
• Chase remained silent as the servers replaced our plates with new ones. I observed Zoey pouring wine into Chase’s glass while he fixed his gaze on me.
• I wished I could throw wine in his face. That would be the best gesture he deserved.
• “Eloise, would you like this?” Adam picked up the pasta plate and served some onto my plate. “And how about this?”
• I simply nodded and smiled a little.
• “How could you skip dinner for days without me?”
• What was he talking about? What days? I discreetly kicked Adam’s foot under the table, and he let out a low groan.
• The two of them watched us suspiciously. Zoey began eating silently while keeping her eyes on us.
• “I’m still confused about what’s going on here, Adam. Why did you call us here?” Chase finally spoke. His jaw clenched as he observed our interactions.
• “For dinner, of course, but we’ll get to the other thing. It’s important to me you two are here,” Adam replied, casually munching on his steak.
• “So, Eloise, my dear cousin, are you married?” Zoey asked.
• I clutched my fork tightly. “No, and don’t call me your dear cousin because I’m clearly not.”
• “I think we can all agree on that,” she responded with a fake grin. “How about a boyfriend?”
• I slammed my utensils down. “Zoey, do you have a problem with me?”
• “Sorry, I almost forgot that relationships aren’t your thing. I mean, they aren’t for everyone, right?” She glanced at the two men sitting with us, then skewered a large piece of steak with her fork and took a bite.
• Adam took a deep breath, reached for my hand under the table, and squeezed it tightly.
• “Not entirely true, is it, love?” He held our intertwined hands in the air. “We’re together.”
• I stared at him, wide-eyed, nearly choking on my food.
• “What?!” Zoey exclaimed.
• Chase scowled, tilting his head while Zoey set her utensils down.
• “Don’t you want to tell them that relationships are our thing? It’s about time we let them know since they seem eager to hear it. I’m also surprised you know them. Why didn’t you tell me?” Adam flashed a charming grin as if urging me to play along with his little game.