Chapter 6: The Dinner

Since I don't know what to wear, I was putting on the most casual thing that I could ever have. I was wearing a crop top with black jeans. I was doing my hair in a simple braid when I heard the door was being knocked.

"Coming!" I said as I was looking at myself in the mirror before I was smiling at my effort. Now, I looked like someone that will be willing to go on a date with a business tycoon. If life were that simple after all.

I was moving toward the door as I unlocked it and opened it before the butler's disapproving face was in front of me. I smiled at him before he was nodding at me to follow him. I was closing the door before I was following his pursuit.

I was staring at the hallway again as we descended the stairs and we were moving in and out of the hallway before we were entering the large hall that has a long banquet table with sitting for almost 30 people.

"Ah, you're here," Zander said as I was smiling at him before the butler was pulling the chair for me to sit.

"Thank you," I said as I was looking at the butler before he nodded. He went away as I was putting the napkin on my lap before Zander was snapping his fingers and the first course was being served to us.

I was looking at the soup before I was waiting for Zander to take his spoon up first. I saw which one he was using and copied him. He was sipping on the soup as I was looking at him.

"So, have you decided on the condition?" Zander asked me after sometime when we were quiet. I was clearing my throat before I was dabbing my mouth.

"Well, I have but I have more questions regarding the condition," I said as the soup plate was being replaced with the steak plate. I was looking at the Florentino steak before my mouth watered at the sight.

"And what is that?" Zander asked as he was cutting the steak before putting it into his mouth. I was sipping on the Chianti wine, which was the proud product of Italy. I cleared my throat before I was regarding him.

"As you can see, I was not someone from your circle. I don't think I would fit in well," I said honestly before Zander dabbed his mouth with the napkin before I was staring at him. He smiled at me before he was putting his hand on the table.

"And what is my circle, Ms. Ferranti?" He asked as I was looking at him before I was taking a deep breath. Okay, this is the moment I asked that bugging question now.

"Why do you want me to go on a date with you when you are the most eligible bachelor in the world? You could have anyone that you wanted; models, superstars, celebrities. I think they might go nuts when you asked them to date you," I said as I was looking into his electric orbs before Zander chuckled.

Okay, not the reaction that I was expecting.

"And you think I would be happy with that?" He asked. I nodded. He nodded at me before he was cutting the steak again.

"Eat your food, it's getting cold," he said before I was rolling my eyes at him.

"I can eat cold food. It was not different. If the food was good, it will stay good even though it was cold," I said before I was picking up the knife and fork. Zander stared at me as I was arching my eyebrows at him.

"What?"

"Nothing, just something to confirm," he said as we were eating again. I was trying to control my mouth before I was asking unnecessary questions that would put restrained in our fragile, professional relationship.

Even if we don't have one.

I was sipping on the wine before I was talking about the beach that I saw from my balcony. I asked if it was included with the castle that he owned. And I know that question is personal since I was invading his space and all, but I cannot ignore the call of water to me.

I have been growing up near the beach when my parents were alive. I was an Italian woman after all. My father was Italian and my mother was American.

But I chose to leave Italy and stay in France. I don't know what's wrong with me.

Zander dabbed his mouth with the napkin before he was clearing his throat. I was looking at him over the rim of my glass before I set the Chianti down.

"Well, it was a private beach since the castle surrounded the property. If you want to take a swim, you can do it," Zander said as I was beaming at him.

"Really?"

"Yes, after all the problems of the exhibition that will be launched tomorrow night. We can go to see the gemstones that resembled the ones in the files to match up and we will load it to the museum. So, we have to get an early start tomorrow," Zander said as I was cutting the steak and ate it. I was nodding at him.

"Okay," I said before we were talking some more and I was sipping on the wine as the clock stroke 8:30 PM.

"That's our cue for the dinner," Zander said as I was smiling at him. He arched his eyebrow at me.

"What?"

"You said you never had dinner in this house. So how do you know it was the cue for us to leave? We don't have dessert yet," I said as I was hiccuping. Okay, maybe I should stop drinking after 3 glasses of Chianti. But it was that good and I let loose when there was alcohol involved.

"I think that's enough for you tonight," Zander said as he was taking the glass from me. I whined and pouted at him.

"Please, just one more," I said as I was looking at Zander, trying to appeal to him right now. He shook his head.

"No, I don't want you to be drunk and be doing risky decisions afterward," Zander said as I was staring at him. I narrowed my eyes before I was huffing at him.

"Well, you still owe me an explanation for you asked me on a date," I said as I was crossing my arms in front of my chest. I was glaring at Zander before he was amused with me.

"What's so funny?" I asked him before he drank my Chianti, that man was the devil I tell you!

"Urgh, you're no fun," I said as I was standing up from the seat as well as Zander. He was looking at me before I was walking toward the door.

"Do you even know where you're going?" He asked and before I can answer, I passed out.