Chapter 32

Lori won't tell us what our surprise is, but we eventually pull up outside Clos Maggiore. It's a french restaurant in Covent Garden. She does their accounts and has arranged for us to have the private dining area all to ourselves. There is a slight stipulation which is that the guys pose for photos with the owner and the chef patron which they will then release at a later date to encourage people to check them out. It's a very clever strategy and win win for the owner. The boys of course agree and we filter in trying not to be seen by the hub of people buzzing around the entrance. 

It's a beautiful place, really romantic with dark wood panel walls covered in quaint paintings and there are white flowers hanging from the ceiling. There is a large log fire burning and gorgeous drapes at the windows. We are seated on a large round table in the centre of the room. I sit with Namjoon to my left and Jimin to my right with Yoongi and Lori opposite us.

We are immediately brought champagne and left with the menus to choose our courses. "This is a brilliant idea Lori" Yoongi says with a gummy smile. "Us Bangtan boys love our food" Namjoon adds. I raise my champagne flute and cheers to Lori. "Cheers" everyone answers.

We all choose the crab to start, the lamb main and the chocolate dessert. There were lots of lovely choices but we all wanted to experience the same thing. Whilst we wait for our starter, Lori let's us know we have another surprise after our dinner. Again we won't know what it is until we get there, but it should be fun. She has out done herself so far, but i'm intrigued as to what it might be.

We eat, drink and get merrier, all whilst listening to the tales of the boys adventures across the world and their interactions with each other at home. There are stories of fights between members over dumplings, slips, trips and over eager fans. Some of the things they are given as presents on their meet and greets is unbelievable. Apparently Taehyung has had boxes with girls hair in, Jungkook has had lots of underwear, but my favourite by far was Jimin getting a turtle in a tank!

As we are waiting for the bill to be brought out Lori asks "is there anything you really want someone to give you that you haven't had yet?"They go quiet and ponder the question. Yoongi jokes and says "The latest Mercedes" and Jimin throws in "a new turtle" before laughing. Namjoon being the really deep and intelligent guy that he is looks directly at me and says "their heart and soul".

"Ah that's sweet" Lori says to him but continues with "I'm sure lots of your fans have given their hearts to you though". "Not the real me, their perception of me. I want someone to really see me and love what they see so much that they will give me all of themselves". He is saying this so genuinely and with so much emotion that Lori and I are flawed. It doesn't take a woman much to melt over a man being sentimental or emotional. He is still looking right at me, and I wonder if that is an invitation to me to relinquish myself to him. The moment is broken Yoongi throwing an after dinner mint at him and shouting "why so serious" which I think is a line from one of his solo songs. We all burst out laughing.

When the waitress arrives with the bill Namjoon takes it and will not let myself of Lori put anything towards it. He hands over a black card and pulls 2 £50 notes from his wallet giving it to the waitress and thanking her for her service this evening. She thanks him profusely and puts through the charge with one of those hand held card readers. Once that's all finalised the owner and the chef arrive for the photo call that's been pre arranged. The photographer snaps a fair few and then the boys ask if they will take some of just us all together and email copies later. He nods and all 5 of us get together for snaps. Yoongi and Lori have one on their own, and I have one with Namjoon and Jimin together and then one with them both separately. I hope they come out nice.

"Ok, let's get the car to come back for us and get to our next destination!" Lori says, seeming really gassed about it. She is infectious when it comes to having fun and by the time the car collects us we are all singing party songs.