Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Lena’s POV

The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the city’s most popular restaurant— Bite Society . I’d heard endless praise about how rich and flavorful their food was, but I’d never had the chance to dine here before. The prices alone were enough to scare someone off.

James pulled over the brake and turned to me with a grin. “I bet you can already smell the food from here.”

“Hmm… maybe,” I replied with a teasing smile.

He laughed, then stepped out of the car and walked around to open the door for me.

“After you, my queen,” he said with a playful bow.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I stepped out and walked ahead of him.

“Hey! I didn’t mean you should walk fast and leave me behind!” he called out, hurrying to catch up. I giggled, enjoying the light-hearted moment.
At the entrance, the security guards gave us a respectful nod and held the doors open. We were guided to the second floor to be seated.

As we walked through the restaurant, I couldn’t stop drinking in the breathtaking decor. Every inch of the space shimmered with elegance and charm. It felt like we had stepped out of reality and into a dream—like we weren’t even on Earth anymore, but somewhere in the stars.

I bet if Rossa were here, she’d be screaming her lungs out in pure joy.
“This place is magical,” I said as we slid into our opposite seats.
“That’s exactly why I wanted you to come. I knew you’d love it!” James replied, his excitement shining through. Honestly, he seemed even more thrilled than I was. Was he just happy to be having a meal with someone—or was he just this excited because I agreed to come with him?
“We should place our order,” he suggested.
I started looking around for someone to flag down, assuming one of the passing staff must be a waitress. But before I could call out, James casually pressed an invisible button on the table. Instantly, a soft glow appeared in the air above us, and I nearly jumped in surprise.
A holographic image of a robot popped up, holding a notepad and pen. Its voice was clear and polite as it spoke:
“Hello. May I take your order, please?”
I blinked at the floating projection, then glanced nervously at James. He just sat there, grinning like it was no big deal. Clearly, this wasn’t his first time here.
“Ladies first,” he whispered, nudging me gently.
I swallowed hard and looked back at the glowing robot still patiently waiting.
“I… I’ll have French fries, beef steak, and a milkshake,” I said, still a little shaky. To my amazement, the robot began scrolling down my order, taking note of every word like a real waitress.
“And you, sir?” it asked, turning to James who was still smiling like an idiot at me. What's this guy's problem?
Seriously, what’s so funny? Just because I was acting like a deer in headlights didn’t mean he had to laugh like it was a comedy show. It’s not like I’d seen a floating robot waitress before. I wasn’t being dramatic—I was amazed. And here he was, laughing like I’d said something hilarious.
Clearing his throat dramatically, James leaned back in his seat like a king settling into his throne. His eyes were still on me when he spoke. “I’ll have chicken steak, salmon fillet, New York strip, and a smooth cocktail.”
The robot nodded. “Thank you. Your order will be delivered shortly.”
With that, the light dimmed and the hologram vanished into thin air.
James burst into laughter. “You should’ve seen your face!”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want.”
A few moments later, a line of waitresses appeared at our table, each one carefully placing our meals down with a warm smile. For a second, I’d half-expected the robot to bring the food out itself but who was I kidding? How would a hologram carry anything?
Once the waitresses had finished, they bowed their heads respectfully and left in the same neat order they’d arrived. I glanced down at the plates in front of me, my mouth practically watering. The smell alone was enough to drive anyone crazy.
Without waiting for James, I picked up my fork and took a bite.
It was heaven.
Now I understand exactly why Bite Society was ranked the top restaurant in the country.
“You might want to slow down,” James warned, watching me with a raised brow.
“Not with food like this,” I mumbled through another bite.
He chuckled and shook his head before digging into his own meal.
After a few minutes, all the plates in front of us were completely empty. I leaned back in my seat, feeling nothing but satisfaction and a deep sense of gratitude for the invitation.
“That was a feast,” James murmured as he lifted his cocktail glass and took the last sip.
“Yeah, it really was,” I agreed, nodding. But just as I did, I felt a sudden rush of pressure in my stomach, a strong, urgent need to pee.
Without a word, I shot to my feet.
James noticed instantly. “Are you okay?” he asked, rising with concern and reaching out to steady me.
I dodged his touch, legs pressed tightly together. “I need to pee,” I whispered frantically.
He blinked. “You said what?”
“I said I want to piss!” I snapped, louder than I intended, my voice straining with desperation drawing the attention of others in their tables. 
His eyes widened slightly, startled by my bluntness, but he quickly composed himself and pointed to a hallway across the floor. “Take the elevator and go to the fourth floor. Restrooms are in the left turn.”
Before he could say another word, I bolted.
I rushed into the elevator and slammed my hand against a button—I wasn’t even sure I’d pressed the right one. I just needed to get there fast before anyone else showed up.
When the elevator stopped, I didn’t check the floor number. All I cared about was relieving myself. I took the turn just as James’s description and sprinted inside, picked the fifth stall I saw, I locked myself in.
“Ah… ah…” I sighed in deep relief as I emptied my bladder. “This is good. I should visit—”
Before I could finish my sentence, the restroom door slammed open with force, making me flinch!