A Deal With The Millionaire

” And, that’s all? ” Mira asked and she nodded. Mirah sat up and stared intensively at Layla which got her into confusion. ” What? ” She was forced to ask.

” Do you think the seer might have said something that really doesn’t sound right but Shane felt like it was the truth?, and it probably is the truth but then you don’t know? ” She asked.

” I don’t know, I’m really confused ” She said and in a swift, was up on her feet.

” You’re not hungry? ” Mira asked but she shook her head and walked away, approaching the stairs.

****

* Next Morning *

Layla looked at her reflection in the mirror one more time before walking away. She felt uncomfortable as usual in the cover makeup but she had no choice.

She can’t appear as Layla on a date with Shane, the media might find out.

She walked down the stairs elegantly and Shane’s eyes landed on her and he suddenly lost himself staring at her even without knowing, until Claus tapped him softly.

He looked away and when Layla finally got to them, he began walking away while Layla rushed over to him and interlocked their hands, taking him by suprise as he looked at her confusedly but she only smiled as they continued their walk out of the mansion.

They successfully got into the car and the driver drove them off to their destination.

Layla suddenly thought of clearing the air about yesterday,, she cleared her throat lightly and that got Shane’s attention. He turned to her.

” About yesterday… ” She started with a pause to study Shane’s look but he only stared on at her.

” I really didn’t understand anything the lady had said, so I don’t think there’s any need for you to suddenly act nervous around me,, you should just go back to the normal you ” She said slowly and looked at Shane who stared at her without saying a word. He suddenly raised his brows slightly after he had processed everything she said,,

” What made you think I was nervous yesterday? ” He asked and she scoffed before looking away.

” You don’t have to pretend, I saw how nervous you were,, you didn’t even say any word again to me ” She explained cutely and he chuckled at her cuteness.

” Alright ma’am ” He teased and that sent a blush to her cheeks as they reddened immediately. She looked away swiftly but he had caught her, he chuckled silently before he looked away.

***

Some guards directed them into the restaurant while Layla kept looking around as they led them to a reserved seat.

Shane sat down and Layla did the same, her eyes still roaming around the environment they were seated.

Shane noticed this,, ” You don’t like this place? ” He asked and she looked at him and then shook her head.

” No, I’m just wondering why we’re the only one here ” She said more like a question.

” Oh,, I booked this place alone for us ” He replied and she nodded thoughtfully.

” Thanks ” She said with a smile to a server who brought their already ordered food.

Layla noticed Shane’s gaze on her and she turned to him with a slightly raised brow.

” Um,, nothing ” Shane replied, looking away from her. He had been staring at her,, ” I’m just wondering if you’re really okay with this place? ” He asked and she smiled before responding,, ” Of course, I am.. it’s nice ” She replied, looking around once again.

With that, they dig in immediately and began eating in silence.

The TV screen popped up and what was going on caught Layla’s attention.

It was an interview with Brielle that had happened in the past. She kept on staring at Brielle in the recorded interview and couldn’t help but comment on her irresistible beauty. ” She’s pretty ” She commented unconsciously and that got Shane’s attention.

He looked at her before turning his head to what she was staring at her. His eyes met with Brielle on the TV screen and he stared for a while before looking away.

” Yeah, she is ” He said and Layla snapped out of her thoughts,, ” Huh? ” She asked absentmindedly,, ” Oh yeah, she’s pretty ” She said again and Shane smiled lightly.

” But, do you think I’m more prettier? ” She blurted out without thinking. Shane’s confused look made her realize what she had just said.

” Oh, I’m sorry ” She muttered, biting her lips slightly.

Shane looked away with a silent chuckle and she pinched herself secretly.

” What’s wrong with you!? ” She snapped at herself silently.

” Your natural look is prettier ” He suddenly said and she raised her head in shock only to meet with his intense gaze on her.

She finally processed what he had said and her lips crept into a secret smile and her heart lept for joy.

” Thanks ” She mumbled and he smiled lightly.

Shane realized he had been smiling often eversince he had met her and wondered the reason for that, but he loves the feeling anyways.

” So, what’s your favorite food? ” Layla asked without looking up as she chewed her food.

” Um.. I don’t really have one, but I love Chocolate truffles.. probably cause they have lots of chocolates in it ” He said and she chuckled before a light gasp escaped her lips.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

” Chocolate truffles?? ” She asked unbelievably and he nodded.

” Wow, I love them too,, they’re my favorite.. I mean were my favorite ” She corrected and he raised his brows.

” How?… ”

” I loved them as a kid,, I always eat them a lot,, that was when dad’s business was still going on well,, we were a bit rich then ” She said, cutting him off and he nodded.

” What happened to his business? ” He asked anxiously.

” I.. I really don’t know, it just collapsed or something ” She said and he nodded, not wanting to bother her about it anymore.

” So, where do you think we should go after this? ” Shane suddenly asked and she raised her head and stared into space for a while like she was in thoughts.

” Let’s go to amusement parks or let’s go watch operas like Royal Opera House at cinemas,, or we could go to zoos ” She suggested and he nodded thoughtfully.

” Alright, we’ld do any of that ” He replied and she smiled lightly before continuing her meal.”

” So, have you ever been on a date with Brielle here? ” Layla suddenly asked and Shane shook his head.

” No, you’re the first lady I’ll ever bring here ” He said and the thought of him calling her a lady sent a blush to her cheeks but she tried her best to hide it.

” So, you’ve never gone on a date with Brielle? ” She asked and he shook his head .

” Well, we both went on a date in the past, but ever since we both established our companies,, we haven’t really had a time to go on one, or let’s say she didn’t have the time to ” He responded and she nodded.

” But I’ve gone on lots of dates with my past girlfriends ” He suddenly said and she raised her head in a swift, looking at him in suprise. Shane noticed the look on her face and he raised his brows slightly.

” You had other girlfriends apart from Brielle? ” She asked, still wearing that suprised look on and he nodded.

” But.. I thought you were bethroed to Brielle right from birth? ” She asked.

He smiled lightly before shooking his head, ” No, it’s all a contract marriage, we only decided to date so it wouldn’t be a loveless marriage between us ” He explained and she nodded, understanding what he had said a bit.

” So, when were you guys informed? ”

” When we were in college, I was 20 then ” He replied, as he sipped from the cup he was holding while Layla kept on staring at him.

” So?… How many exes do you have? ” She asked and he chuckled,, ” Is this some interogation session? ” He asked and she smiled.

” Ofcourse not, I’m just curious ” She said, lowering her head while she picked up her cutlery.

Shane smiled before deciding to talk,, ” Well, my first girlfriend was when I was 16, I was in highschool then… and we broke up when I was 18,, and some months later I had another girlfriend and we went our separate ways when I was 20, and it was then dad informed me about the contract marriage,, I was a bit glad, at least I wouldn’t have to face another heartbreak before I finally would be able to settle down, since it was a contract marriage, we would be together for life… ” He paused as he took a glance at Layla to study her expression but she had that curious look on that urged him to continue and he did.

” So, we both decided to date for some years so as to get used to each other and probably fall in love and we did,, it happened and here we are, waiting to get married ” He explained with a little smile on his face. He looked at Layla whose gaze was focused on his face as she stared at him endlessly.

” So, have you ever heard a?… ”

” Are you… still in love with her? ” She suddenly blurted out without thinking, cutting him off.

T B C