Chapter 54

Chapter 54
Lila's POV

My desk was full of papers, just how I liked it, neat and easy to understand. My life usually felt the same way, planned and clear, then Jake Ramirez came along.

First, he called after our work talk, I quickly said I was busy. The next time, he left a message about an "important legal matter" that was really just about a new Italian restaurant, I almost hung up. Almost.

Then flowers arrived. Bright orange roses. Crazy. The card said, "Thought your office needed some sunshine. - J." I rolled my eyes, but a tiny smile, one I didn't want, showed up on my face. They were too cheerful. I put them on my desk, and they just sat there, a big sign he wasn't giving up.

The next morning, as I was sitting down with my perfect coffee, my assistant told me, "Mr. Ramirez is here, Ms. Dubois. He has coffee."

I sighed a little inside. "Send him in."

Jake Ramirez walked into my office, looking too happy. He held two hot coffee cups. He wore a neat blue shirt, sleeves rolled up, looking easygoing. This always felt strange next to my organized world.

"Morning, Financial Queen," he said, a playful smile on his face. He put a coffee cup on my desk carefully. "Thought you might need a good start to the day, my treat. No old office coffee for you."

I looked at the coffee, then at him, raising an eyebrow. "Are you following me, Ramirez? This feels a lot like following."

He put his hand over his heart, acting hurt. "Following? Never. Just... paying attention. I noticed you do the same thing every day. Same coffee shop, same order. That's just being observant, Lila Dubois. A good trait for someone who finds things out." He winked.

I picked up the cup and took a careful sip. It was exactly how I liked it. He was annoying. "Observant, or just annoying and won't quit?"

"Why not both?" he asked, pulling up the chair across from my desk without asking, making himself comfortable. "But really, how are you? That whole Evan thing is done. You were very strong. Even I was impressed." His voice changed, becoming truly thankful.

I put the coffee down, a little surprised by his honest words. "It was a messy case. Glad it's over. Sienna and Daniel deserve some peace."

"They certainly do," he agreed, his eyes softening when he talked about Daniel. "Speaking of peace, have you actually taken any for yourself? Or are you already planning your next money battle?"

I narrowed my eyes. "My work is my peace, Ramirez. It's planned. It's clear. Not like some people."

"Ah, being clear," he said slowly, leaning back. "Overrated, wouldn't you say? Where's the fun? The unexpected things?" His eyes sparkled. "Like this coffee. Unexpected, but clearly good, right?"

I let out a small laugh, one I didn't mean to. He had a point. "It is good coffee," I agreed. "But it doesn't change that I have tons of work."

"I'm sure you do," he said, standing up, sounding a little sad. "And I'm sure you'll finish it perfectly, like always. But," he stopped at the door, turning back to me, "you said you'd think about dinner. No more excuses, Lila Dubois. Just one dinner. No work talk, unless you really want to. Just... a break. From numbers. From chaos. From me being annoying and not quitting." He smirked.

Inside, I felt a low hum of worry. Part of me, the smart, careful part, wanted to shut him down, to go back to my papers, to my safe, planned world. But another part, a curious, almost daring part I rarely showed, was definitely interested. His charm was annoying, yes, but it also... made me feel at ease. And behind his jokes, there was true warmth, a surprising depth. He wasn't just flirting; he was actually seeing me, noticing my work, my brain, not just how I looked.

I sighed, a small sound that meant I was giving in. "Fine," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "One dinner. But if you're late, or if you talk about digital money, I'm leaving."

His face lit up, a real, bright smile that somehow made the orange roses look less silly. "Deal. How about Friday? Seven o'clock. I'll pick you up. Unless you'd rather meet, Ms. Dubois."

"I prefer to meet," I said right away, already thinking about how I'd leave if things went wrong. "Text me the place. Somewhere quiet. No loud music."

"Got it," he agreed, a knowing look in his eyes. "Quiet. No digital money. Just us. See you Friday, Lila Dubois." He nodded, sure of himself, then left. He left behind the faint smell of his cologne and the clear fact that I had a real date.

I stared at the closed door, then at the orange roses, then at the perfectly good coffee. I had said yes to a date. With Jake Ramirez. 

The man who was everything I usually avoided. But, a strange feeling of waiting, surprisingly nice, started to grow inside me. 

This was new. And surprisingly, I didn't mind it.