Chapter 10 Heartbeat
On the bustling streets of T City, a black BMW zipped through the traffic.
Alison sat quietly in the passenger seat next to Jack, her eyes glued to the scenery outside the window. Everything felt like a dream, surreal and distant.
Jack didn't bother asking Alison where she wanted to eat; he just took her to a chic, romantic Italian restaurant.
They arrived right at the dinner rush, and the place was packed. As they walked in hand in hand, the restaurant was buzzing with people.
Despite the crowd, the hostess immediately noticed Jack and Alison. She quickly approached them with a smile, "Mr. Winston, welcome."
She handed a VIP card to the manager and then led them to a private room with a great atmosphere. "Mr. Winston, right this way," she said politely.
Jack held Alison's hand as they sat down at a cozy table for two, facing each other.
It was then that Alison noticed the setup was particularly romantic, clearly designed for couples.
Once they were seated, Jack casually snapped his fingers and told the waiter, "Two medium-rare steaks and two fruit salads, please."
Alison had never been to such a fancy restaurant before. To be honest, she had never tasted such expensive steak in her life.
But she didn't like medium-rare steak. Just thinking about the bloody appearance made her feel queasy. "Jack, I... I'd prefer a well-done steak."
Jack elegantly picked up the coffee the waiter had just brought, stirring it gently while looking at Alison. "Emily, I remember you used to never eat well-done steak. You said it was too tough, and medium-rare was tender and juicy."
What? Emily used to eat medium-rare?
It seemed Alison had no choice but to go along with Emily's preferences. She reluctantly nodded, "Okay, whatever you say." She clasped her hands under the table, nervously twisting her fingers.
They had attracted quite a few glances on their way in, but Jack seemed completely at ease, as if they were truly a couple, not awkward at all.
The steaks arrived, steaming hot and smelling delicious.
Jack had a great appetite. Even though he had already eaten a bowl of noodles, he eagerly picked up his knife and fork, cutting the steak into small pieces and sprinkling mustard on them, eating with great focus.
Alison was struggling.
Looking at the medium-rare steak, her stomach churned, unsure if she could handle it.
But she had to eat it because she was playing the role of Emily, not Alison.
She clumsily cut a small piece of meat after a long struggle. Jack chuckled, putting down his knife and fork gracefully, and gently placed his hand on her trembling one. "Let me help you."
His voice was warm and magnetic, like a melody, making her heart feel warm. His gentlemanly gesture eased her embarrassment.
She could hardly believe it, but when he skillfully picked up her knife and fork and cut the steak on her plate, placing it in front of her, she suddenly realized how charming Jack's gentle side was, making her heart race.
Alison picked up a piece of meat with her fork, forcing herself to swallow it, feeling nauseous.
She tried to endure it, but halfway through, she almost gagged.
"Not your thing?" Jack asked with a smile, casually picking a piece of meat from her plate and tasting it. "It's pretty good. Want some mustard?"
His smile was so captivating that, for a moment, she felt like his girlfriend, surrounded by love, as if in a beautiful dream.
But she knew it wasn't real.
She awkwardly put down her knife and fork, whispering, "Jack, I'm full."
"Oh, then have some salad. You used to love it."
"Thanks," Alison replied politely, still feeling a strange sense of unease.
Under his watchful eyes, she managed to finish a small plate of salad.
Then, they got up and left together.
Walking through the restaurant's hallway, she quietly followed beside him. Despite her inner turmoil, she got into his car under the gaze of onlookers.
Watching him drive with such composure, like a king, he said, "Emily, you don't seem to be used to this lifestyle."
"No... no," she quickly denied.
He smiled, that smile magnified in her eyes. "Good. By the way, the housekeeper took the day off today. I was going to call you this afternoon, but it seems it doesn't matter now, right?"
"Yeah," she answered softly, "Jack, I can clean the house and cook."
"Do you really want to?"
"Yes, otherwise, I'll be too bored all day."
"Alright, suit yourself. But if you ever get tired of it, don't blame me. I never force anyone."
"Don't worry, I won't," she replied lightly, though she actually wanted to find a job. But now, she was afraid Jack would discover her true identity.
Never mind, just endure it for three months.
The car quickly returned to the apartment. Inside, Jack kicked off his shoes onto the soft carpet, walking casually while unbuttoning his shirt. Suddenly, he turned and asked, "There's only one bathroom. Do you want to go first, or should I? Or, we could go together?"
His direct question made her blush. "You... you go first." She didn't like the ambiguous, intimate feeling, so she let him go first.
He silently walked into the bedroom, and soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. The sound made Alison even more anxious, thinking about what might happen next, making her uneasy.
Although she didn't dislike him, everything they were going through wasn't happening under normal circumstances, so she didn't feel comfortable.
She turned on the TV, hugging a pillow, absentmindedly watching a drama. She felt like the heroine in the show, with a future full of uncertainty and happiness out of reach...
Just as she was lost in thought, a strong scent of body wash filled the air. She turned her head to see Jack standing in front of her, wearing only a narrow towel around his waist. "Emily Bruce, your turn."
He called her by her full name, which didn't sound affectionate but rather distant.
Alison lowered her head, not daring to look at him. She dropped the pillow and rushed to the bedroom bathroom, wishing she could disappear from Jack's sight immediately.
Behind her, the man combed his wet hair, watching her retreating figure with a slight smile on his lips...