Chapter 120 Couples’ Restaurant
"Which parts exactly need to be changed?" She tried to keep her tone professional, her eyes quickly scanning the notes on the document.
"Here, and here." Luca reached out and pointed at the document, his fingertip accidentally brushing against the back of her hand.
Olivia pulled her hand back as if she'd been burned, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks, her gaze becoming more cautious.
Luca felt a secret thrill but kept a straight face. "These parts need to fit a family setting better since it's a parent-child themed interior design project."
"Got it. I'll get the revised version to you in three days." Olivia closed the file, eager to end the conversation as soon as possible.
"Is three days too tight?" Luca asked deliberately, his eyes noticing the faint dark circles under hers. "You look like you haven't rested well. If you need more time, that's fine."
Olivia's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly made an excuse. "No, I can manage. I need to go home in the evening to take care of..."
She stopped mid-sentence, afraid of accidentally mentioning Leo.
A flicker of amusement passed through Luca's eyes, but he pretended not to notice her hesitation. "Take care of what? If you've got personal stuff, we can just grab dinner and talk while we eat. It won't hold you up."
"I..." Olivia felt torn.
She didn't want to have dinner alone with Luca, but he was the investor. Refusing outright would be disrespectful, and if he pulled his funding, her studio would be in trouble.
Plus, he'd just mentioned work details. If the project got delayed, she'd be the one to suffer.
After weighing her options, she gave in. "Alright, where are we eating?"
"There's a new Italian place downtown. The food's great, and it's quiet, perfect for discussing business," Luca said casually, though he'd already booked a well-known couples' restaurant in the city center.
Olivia didn't think much of it, nodded, and quickly walked to the restroom.
She pulled out her phone and sent a quick message to her best friend, Emma: [Emergency. Can you watch Leo tonight? I have to discuss work with Luca and will be back late.]
Emma replied almost instantly: [What? You're having dinner alone with that jerk? He's definitely up to no good!]
[I don't have a choice. He's the investor, and the project depends on him. I'll leave right after we're done.] Olivia sent the reply, took a deep breath, and adjusted her clothes in front of the mirror.
She kept telling herself it was just for work and not to overthink it.
At 6 p.m., Luca showed up right on time at the studio entrance.
Olivia got into the passenger seat, staying silent the whole way, her eyes fixed out the window.
After a half-hour drive, the car stopped in front of a romantically decorated restaurant.
Olivia got out and froze.
The entrance was covered with pink balloons, and a digital screen displayed ads for romantic couple set meals. Soft jazz music played from inside. This didn't look like a place for a business meeting at all.
"Did you book the wrong place?" She turned to Luca, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance.
"No, the food here is really good, and it's quiet. No one will disturb us while we talk business," Luca said, acting innocent as he walked in first.
Olivia had no choice but to follow, though she felt uneasy.
Inside, the atmosphere made her even more uncomfortable.
Every table had candles and red roses, the lighting was dim, and couples leaned close, whispering sweet nothings. The vibe was undeniably intimate.
Luca led her to a window seat as if he'd been here before. A waiter handed them menus with a smile. "Would you like to order our couples' set meal? There's a discount today."
"No, we'll order separately," Olivia said quickly, her cheeks burning.
The waiter soon brought their food, beautifully plated in a romantic style, clearly meant for couples.
Nearby couples kept glancing over, some whispering, "They look so good together. He's handsome, and she's pretty."
Olivia felt restless, wanting to finish the discussion and leave.
"Let's talk about work now," she said quietly, picking up her utensils.
"No rush. Eat first." Luca placed a piece of steak on her plate. "You haven't eaten much. Talking business on an empty stomach won't be productive."
Olivia stared at the steak, feeling uneasy but unable to refuse. She took small bites.
Luca barely ate, spending most of the time watching her with a gentle look that made her squirm.
"Your studio's been doing well lately. Have you thought about expanding?" Luca broke the silence.
"Not for now. I'm fine with how things are," Olivia replied, brushing him off, not wanting to discuss anything beyond work.
"I can invest more," Luca said, looking at her. "If you're up for it, we can work on more projects together."
Olivia's heart stirred. Expanding was her dream, but the idea of being more tied to Luca made her hesitate.
"Let's talk about it later. I just want to focus on this project for now," she said, changing the subject. "Tell me more about the project details."
Luca didn't push, following her lead, though in his mind, he was already planning how to make her rely on his investment and create more chances to be around her.
The dinner dragged on, and Olivia felt like she was on pins and needles. When they finally finished discussing work, she stood up immediately. "Thanks for dinner. I should head back."
"I'll drive you," Luca said, standing up with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
The car stopped at Olivia's apartment complex. She opened the door to leave, but Luca called out to her.
"Olivia," he said, his tone serious, "besides work, we could be friends too."
Olivia paused, turning to look at him, her eyes full of doubt and wariness.
"I know we've had misunderstandings in the past, but that's behind us. There's no need to keep things so distant," Luca said sincerely, though he was already plotting his next move.
Olivia stayed quiet for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I'm really busy and don't have much time for friends."
With that, she quickly walked into the complex without looking back.
Luca watched her disappear into the building, a slight smile curling on his lips.
He knew if he kept at it, he'd eventually win her over.
Back home, Emma had already put Leo to sleep.
"How'd it go? He didn't mess with you, did he?" Emma asked in a hushed voice, her eyes full of concern.
"No, it was just about work," Olivia shook her head, though the restaurant scene still felt odd to her. "But the place he picked was weird. It was full of couples, and he even ordered a kids' dessert. I don't know what that was about."
"He did that on purpose! He's definitely trying to pursue you!" Emma said indignantly. "Don't fall for it. After how he treated you before, he's up to no good now."
Olivia didn't respond, though she felt suspicious too.
Luca's behavior today was strange—too friendly, and he kept finding ways to get closer. It made her uneasy.
"Whatever, I won't think about it now. I need to finish the project," she said, pushing her doubts aside. She grabbed her laptop and got to work.