Chapter 24 Our First Date
Sonia’s POV
“Sonia,” a voice greeted me, and I turned to face the person.
It was Lucian.
He stood beside a sleek, black car that probably cost more than my entire life’s earnings. He wasn't in his usual strict CEO mood, his face looked relaxed, his tie was slightly loosened, and the top button of his shirt was undone. He looked tired. His eyes, however, were sharp, flicking from my face to Angela’s, who had gone utterly still beside me. Taking care of the rumors must have drained him out.
“Lucian,” I said, my voice a little too high. “I wasn’t expecting you. Daniel said you had an important meeting to attend.”
“I cleared my schedule,” he deadpanned, as if that explained everything. His gaze settled on Angela. “Miss Angela, nice to see you here.”
Angela, for once in her life, seemed speechless. She recovered quickly, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her face. “Mr. Smithfield. I was just ensuring my best friend got home safely. But it looks like she’s in… capable hands. Well, we both have a lot planned out.”
The way she said “capable hands” was filled with suspicious meaning. And I wanted to vanish into thin air because I knew the unholy thoughts going on in her head.
“Thank you for your concern, but you might have to shift your plans to another day. I have a date with my wife,” Lucian replied with a calm voice, and I furrowed my brows, wondering what he was talking about. Angela also looked surprised.
Lucian opened the passenger door and stretched out his hand to me. “Sonia?”
It wasn’t a request. It was a command, softly spoken but undeniable. This was part of the act, the public performance we had to maintain. The devoted new husband is picking up his wife from work. Somehow I wished it was real, but deep down I knew it never would be.
I turned to Angela, an apology in my eyes. “I’ll call you, okay?”
Angela didn't look offended, if anything, she looked impressed. “Oh, you bet you will,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with unsuppressed glee. She secretly gave me a thumbs-up and brought out her phone. “See you later,” she waved at me before leaving, but her attention was on her phone. She must have received a lot of messages after my announcement.
With a sigh, I slid into the luxurious leather seat. The door closed with a quiet, expensive thud, sealing me in a bubble of silence and Lucian’s faint, clean scent.
He got in on the driver’s side, and the engine purred to life. We pulled out of the parking lot, and dozens of workers looked at the car with jealousy.
Our ride back home was awfully quiet, and I knew I had to do or say something.
“That was Angela, my friend,” I said, for lack of anything better to say.
“I am aware,” Lucian replied, his eyes focused on the road.
“She is suspicious of our relationship,” I replied with a smile, putting all my energy into making the atmosphere bearable.
“Sonia, most people with a functioning brain would be.” He glanced at me. “The phone call. With Michael. The entire floor heard your end of it.”
My cheeks turned red in embarrassment. “He asked if I was a virgin. What was I supposed to say?”
Lucian frowned, giving me a grimace. “You were supposed to hang up on time. He’s irrelevant. Engaging with him is a strategic error. It gives him power. Also, it can ruin our plan. If you had slipped up while talking to him, everyone would have known.”
I bowed my head because I knew that he was right. “It felt good to tell him off after everything he and Georgia did,” I admitted, a rebellious part of me surfacing. “But, don't worry, I won't pick up his call next time.”
“Feelings are a luxury we can’t always afford,” he said with a cool voice. “Not with people watching our every move.”
I fell silent, staring out at the passing city. He was right, of course. I'd come to realize that this was a chess game, and I’d moved a pawn recklessly. But sometimes, it was hard to remember I was a player and not just a piece.
“Where are we going?” I asked, noticing we weren't heading towards his mansion.
“On a date,” he said simply.
“A date?” I stuttered, looking at him with raised brows.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to a breathtaking beach. The sand was like water, and the sea was clear like crystal. The sun shone directly over the beach, giving it one of the best views there is. I'd never seen anything like this, and I stared in awe.
“This is… a date?” I stammered.
“Yes, our date,” he corrected, his tone leaving no room for argument. “For the duration of our agreement. We have to act like real couples, and since the media are still all over us, we can't avoid fumbling. So, like every normal couple, we'll go on a date, walk, or dinner.”
Normal couple. Why does that sound scarier than it should? I imagined what normal couples do, and my thigh became wet and itchy. I had to tighten my leg.
“What are you thinking about? Let's go, our spot is ready,” Lucian said to me, and we both came down from the car. He was right because the minute my leg touched the warm sand, paparazzi began to take our pictures, and the white light kept flashing on my face.
Just like before, Lucian seemed unfazed by this, and he gently guided me to a decorated side of the beach. Security guards were arranged in front, and they stopped the paparazzi from entering.
“Finally some fucking privacy!” I smiled and looked around in admiration.
Lucian really went all out, the beach was decorated like a mating room, and my name was written all over the balloons. Different unique dishes were on the table, and I was impressed.
I looked at the beach, enjoying the scenery. Suddenly, I felt a strong hand wrapped around my waist from the back, and a hot mouth breathing on my neck.
“Hey, baby.”