Chapter 20 Ella

Chapter 20 Ella
I woke up feeling brand new, like the world had reset overnight. The morning sunlight streamed through my window, brighter than usual, and somehow, so was I. We quickly dressed and headed to the bus stop, the air crisp and promising.

At class, I slid into my seat, my smile refusing to leave.

“Someone’s smitten,” Sophia whispered beside me, eyes sparkling. I didn’t deny it, my smile only widened.

The lesson was about measurements for blazers and suits, courtesy of Mrs. Claire. Normally, it would be intriguing, but my mind kept drifting back to last night. She mentioned another project, eliciting groans from the students. I, however, thrived on projects. They were tangible, rewarding, and satisfying. I loved seeing my designs come alive.

My phone buzzed under the table. I peeked—it was Edward.

Call me when your classes end.

I replied with a simple, “Ok with a smiley face emoji.”

“Who’s that?” Sophia asked, an amused glint in her eye.

“Edward,” I replied, knowing full well what she was thinking, she’d expected Damien.

The class finally ended, and I dialed Edward.

“Hey,” he answered immediately.

“Hey, you,” I responded.

“I just got to London. I’ll be staying for two days, and I want to take you and Sophia to dinner.” His voice carried a playful smirk. Sophia squealed softly beside me.

“Okay… which restaurant?” I asked.

“It’s a surprise. But you both need to wear dinner gowns—it’s fancy,” he said, the amusement clear in his voice.

“You know I hate surprises,” I replied, rolling my eyes. I wasn’t particularly into fine dining, but I couldn’t refuse. And Sophia would never forgive me if I did.

“I’ll pick you up by 8 PM,” he said, ending the call. I exhaled softly.

“Did he say fancy dining?” Sophia’s eyes glittered. I nodded. She jumped up and hugged me in excitement.

At home, Sophia decided to shower first, and I happily let her. She always took the longest to get ready. I drew a warm bath for myself, letting the water soothe my muscles.

Sophia’s reflection caught my eye as I stepped out of the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror, zipping up an emerald green cocktail dress. The satin shimmered under the soft bedroom light, the color so rich it seemed to glow against her skin. The dress hugged her curves perfectly elegant yet daring, a slit teasing glimpses of her leg as she moved. Her hair fell in soft curls over one shoulder, and as she brushed through it, she gave me a playful smile.

“Do I look okay?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.

“Do you look okay? That’s an understatement. You look ravishing,” I said, grinning.

“You’re making me blush,” she said, covering her face. I laughed.

I quickly got dressed. I looked in the mirror, my red cocktail dress clung as if it had been made for tonight. The off-shoulder neckline revealed just enough, and the velvet shimmered with every turn. I pinned my hair into a low bun, letting a few strands fall gracefully by my face.

“Good thing we bought these gowns along with the short club ones,” Sophia said. I nodded in agreement.

“You look breathtaking,” she squealed.

“We’re definitely turning heads tonight,” she added.

“We definitely are,” I laughed.

A car honked outside.

“Must be Edward,” I said, slipping into my black heels. We did a final makeup check and stepped out. He was by the car door, clad in an elegant black suit, handsome as ever. He greeted us with a smile.

“You ladies look stunning,” he said, opening the door for Sophia first. She slid into the backseat, emerald dress gleaming. He opened the front door for me, and I settled beside in the front seat.

“Can you at least say where we’re going now?” I asked.

“Be patient,” he replied, grinning.

“Nice ride,” Sophia commented.

“Thank you,” he said with a wide smile.

“What song should we listen to?” he asked.

“Stray Kids!!” Sophia and I screamed in unison.

“I can hear you just fine. No need to scream,” he said, covering one ear.

“I’ll connect to the Bluetooth,” I offered. I had my own special playlist of Stray Kids songs. The first track, Chk Chk Boom, started playing. I glanced at Sophia in the backseat; we smiled and sang along, voices echoing in the car. Edward looked at us with a mix of amusement and concern.

“Stray Kids songs have a vibe,” I said.

“You should listen to them,” Sophia added.

“Who are they, anyway?” Edward asked.

“Excuse me?” I was shocked. “You don’t know Stray Kids? The legends of fourth-gen K-pop!” My eyes widened.

“Chill out,” he said, laughing. The rest of the ride was spent educating him about the group—the members, their debut stories and their journey.

The car slowed, stopping in front of the restaurant. My eyes caught the glowing gold letters above the doors: Royale Haven. The name alone felt like a dream. The exterior shimmered under soft amber lights, marble steps leading to tall glass doors reflecting the city skyline.

Sophia stepped out first, her emerald dress catching the streetlights. I followed, clutching my small bag tighter as the cool evening air brushed my skin. I paused, taking it all in—the quiet elegance, the understated luxury. Sophia gasped beside me.

“It’s beautiful… it’s screaming luxury,” she whispered.

Inside, the warmth hit immediately. Crystal chandeliers hung like floating jewels, casting soft light across the room. The scent of roses and fine wine mingled with soft jazz. Tables draped in white linen, each with a flickering candle and a vase of fresh orchids, exuded quiet sophistication.

“Good evening, Mr. Edward, your table is ready,” a polite voice greeted.

We turned to see a waiter in a crisp black suit, smiling courteously. He led us past elegant couples and softly clinking glasses, each step echoing against the polished marble. He pulled aside tall velvet curtains to reveal the VIP section; it was quieter, more intimate, with gold-rimmed tables and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

“This way, please,” he said, gesturing toward our table set for three.

“This place is beautiful,” Sophia breathed. I nodded, captivated by the simple yet luxurious ambiance.

“The best for my girls,” Edward said, smiling.

“I’ll give you time to look through the menu,” the waiter said before leaving. The menus felt more like works of art than paper. My fingers traced the delicate embossed lettering. Every dish sounded heavenly—truffle mushroom soup, seared duck, chocolate fondant. My stomach rumbled in anticipation. I haven’t had French cuisine in a long time.

“There’s so much to choose from,” Sophia whined, laughing.

Edward pretended to study the menu, sneaking glances at Sophia. “Everything looks amazing. I’ll try the salmon and maybe a glass of the signature cocktail,” he finally said.

The waiter returned to take our order. I chose the herb-crusted lamb rack and a French 75, curious to see if it lived up to the hype. Sophia ordered the same. Soon, glasses arrived, catching the candlelight like liquid gold.

We toasted quietly, three of us. Warmth spread through me not just from the drink, but from the company, the lights, the way Sophia’s curls brushed her shoulder as she laughed at Edward’s playful comment. I shook my head; he had to know Sophia was taken, yet he kept stealing glances.

As our first courses arrived, the aroma of truffle and fresh herbs filled the air. Each bite melted on my tongue. Edward and Sophia shared bites, teasing each other, laughing over the richness of the food. Dessert followed and it didn't disappoint. Conversation and laughter flowed freely.

When the meal ended, Edward paid. We rose to leave. Exiting the restaurant, a brief chill brushed my skin, and I felt eyes lingering on me. I glanced over my shoulder—nothing.

“Thank you for honoring my invitation. It was a fun night,” Edward said, smiling.

“I had a nice time too,” Sophia replied, hugging him.

“Me too,” I said, joining in.

“That was a blast,” she exclaimed, collapsing on the couch. “I
enjoyed every bit of it.”

“Me too. It was the best dining I’ve experienced,” I said, and we both sighed in contented agreement.