Chapter 23 The Restaurant
Lana's POV
I went inside my apartment with a heavy heart. I would prefer not to be stuck in this place, but where do I go? I placed my car keys on the coffee table and then there was a knock on the door. It could be Cynthia or Arden, which I hope it was. I walked to the door, opening it and I was surprised.
"Daniel?" I asked with surprise. He smiled at me, and he looked even more handsome than when I last saw him.
"I thought that I could surprise you. I asked your dad for the address which I didn't want you to know. Although, your dad warned me not to touch you." he said.
I grabbed him and I just hugged him. Closing my eyes, my friend was here. He held me tight. I felt the tears sting the back of my eyes and I blinked them back. "I missed you," I said as I pulled away, but then a tear escaped, running down my cheek.
"Hey, its only me," he said as he wiped the tear away with his thumb.
"Come in," I said as I moved out of the way.
"I saw what just happened here. Is this your boyfriend?" Cynthia asked as she stood in the doorway now.
"Yes," I said, it is better that she knows that Daniel is my boyfriend instead of Arden, but Daniel looked confused and I gave him a stern look. He knows that it means to play along.
" I'm Daniel," he smiled at her.
"I told you that I would meet him soon," Cynthia smiled. "Finally! I want to go out tonight. Perhaps we can go eat somewhere. I don't want to go alone though," she said.
"I could use the evening to go out," I stated.
"That is a plan. Lana, please where a dress," she said. "I am tired of seeing you in pants," she walked out the door.
"What was that about?" I sat on the sofa and Daniel joined me.
"She thought that I have a boyfriend and she is suspicious of our professor. There might be something going on between us. Please don't tell anyone," I said.
"Well, you should be careful. If it gets out then there are serious consequences for both of you," he warned.
"I know. We are being careful. So how is college?" I asked.
"I love it, graphic design is my everything," he smiled.
"I wish that I could say the same thing," I replied.
"You will do great."
"How long are you here for?" I asked.
"A week. Your dad allowed me to fly here in his private jet and then he said I could use the car."
I smiled. "My dad likes you."
"I try to be in his good books." he shrugged.
"You can stay in the guest bedroom, but let me get ready for our plans," I said as I got up from the sofa and I went to my bedroom.
The three of us walked into a fancy restaurant which was huge. Daniel held my hand as we walked towards a table, my hair was up in a tight neat bun. I had a black dress that flared out from my tiny waist all the way to my mid thighs, the top part covered my cleavage which I could tie at the back of my neck. I had on a black pair of stilletos.
Daniel was in black jeans and a white t-shirt, black blazer and black converse sneakers. His hair was out of his face and slicked to the back. Cynthia also had on a dress, but a purple, sequenced dress with nude heels. She led the way. The restaurant was nearly empty, except for a large group of people. It was probably a party.
Daniel pulled a chair out for me, his hand was against my lower back and then I sat down. Cynthia was sitting across from me as Daniel took the seat beside me. I was happy because my friend was here. "I love to see Lana so happy," Cynthia said.
"Me too," Daniel replied and I smiled.
"Isn't that Professor Moses over there?"Cynthia asked as she pointed in the direction where he was and I looked ahead of me. He was there with professor Stringer sitting next to him and the other professors were talking and laughing. He looked at professor Stringer as I saw she moved closer to him and she had a playful look on her face.
Arden's jaw clenched and then he looked ahead...straight at me and his eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Daniel and then his jaw clenched. I was jealous because her hand was on his arm as she leaned in closer to him and whispered something into his. He never took his eyes off me until I looked away.
"Lana and I go all the way back to high school. We were friends until...we fell in love," Daniel said, smiling at me. He was just making up that part except the high school part. The waiter took our orders.
"You should come over more often," Cynthia said.
"I think I should."
"Not when my dad comes over, because you know what will happen" I smiled.
"Gosh, can that man get any hotter?" Cynthia fanned herself. "The club is where we will be going to after this, I want to be f^cked by a hot guy." she said.
Daniel chuckled, "I like your friend," he said to me.
"I guess everyone does."
The waiter placed our drinks down on the table and then Arden was standing in front of us. He was looking at me like I was his prey. "Professor Moses, nice to see you out and about," Cynhia said.
"I wanted to see how you girls are doing," he replied as he tried to act professional, his jaw clenching.
"We are good and this is Daniel, Lana's boyfriend," Cynthia said.
"Is that so?" he asked as he looked at Daniel with a serious, darkened look.
"Finally meeting the professor that teaches my girlfriend," Daniel smiled at him and I took my glass of water because I do not drink alcohol and I took a sip. Arden shouldn't think that Daniel is literally my boyfriend.
Arden's eyes were on me, and I could feel the intensity. I placed my glass of water down. "You kids have fun," he said, and then he walked away.
I let out a breath and Daniel smiled at me, a smile that said he knew. The rest of dinner was intense, as I would catch Arden looking my way and that didn't help the fact that Professor Stringer was next to him, although she was talking to the other professors. But what seemed to make it worse was when Daniel was being playful with me, in return, I would laugh and smile. It was also to put up an act for Cynhia.
I needed to set this straight, so that Arden wouldn't think that I had lied to him about not having a boyfriend.