He sighs constantly, barely picking up the menu at all. The atmosphere is so dull that I begin to regret changing my mind about going back home. I know he'd feel more relaxed when we're alone than in the public where all eyes will be on us. Though I'm not bothered about homophobia, he seems uncomfortable with all the side talks and mutters. He didn't even allow me to open the door for him. Humph.

I'm too busy watching him to even pick up my menu and decide what to eat. I'm content just looking at him, memorizing his gestures and little details. How his messy hair matches the colour of his eyes, the way his lips curl into a frown as though staring the menu offends him. His shirt is old so that's why they fit him perfectly. He must have had it large a few months ago. I fight the urge to lean downwards and caress his legs with my hands. And to think he's wearing tight chinos.

He gives off a silent hiss, letting the menu down to glance around at the restaurant. How classic of me to book us at this old-fashioned place. There's no good music to lighten up the mood, the waiters all snooty and delaying and the food zero quality. I can't even think about ordering a glass of water. Across from us sits an old lady, her face scrunched up as though she's about to puke as she manages a few dabs of bread down her throat.

“I'm so sorry for bringing you here,” I apologise for the upteenth time, wishing for a warm smile from him at least to serve as an indication he'd heard. Instead he keeps his eyes down, toying with the hem of the pudgy pink tablecloth which smells like onions. “I didn't know this place would be much of a let down as this,”

“Of course you knew, you just want to punish me for challenging you back at my house,” he glares and I imagine smoke puffing out of his ears.

“That's not true. In any case I was trying to impress you. I didn't — ”

“You brought me here to impress me?” he blinks, incredulous. Damn, bad move Smith.

“I'm so sorry. Let me make it up to you. How about a Chinese cuisine for a change?”

He huffed. “No thank you. The second we walked in here, I lost my appetite,”

“I want to know more about you. How else are we gonna talk it out? You need enough rest once we get home and you'll be gone in the morning so I may never have a chance after today. Throughout the week, my schedule's tight,”

“I don't still understand what you want from me. Why are you doing this? Is it some sort of payback for what Mark owes you?”

I shake my head. “Far from it. Mark and I have strictly been platonic businessmen. There's no way I'd accept his worker as collateral,”

His shoulders relax more at my words. “Let me believe you. All these is so sudden to be real. I mean one night I'm taking a delivery, the next I'm seated with one of the most eligible and richest bachelors in the whole city.” he chuckles shyly at the last part and at the sound of it my toes curl. Now that's a turn-on.

“Try not to think of it too much then maybe you'd not see things that way again. This is all normal. Welcome to twenty first century dating,”

“If you see this as normal, does that confirm you being a player?” he archs his brows, tilting his head slightly.

I smile.

“No. I'm too busy working to flirt around with anyone. I'm so experienced in the business world that I can tell when a deal or situation is headed for the right direction,”

“Is that what getting me to date you is all about? Do you see this as just a deal?”

“Trent,” I say softly, grasping the long linen tablecloths firmly. “If you keep seeing my affection that way, I'm gonna forget about taking things the calm way and have you up in my apartment all night screaming as I pummel you to oblivion,”

His cheeks go hot and he looks down in an attempt to conceal this. Come to think of it, that's a good threat. It'll change his perception of me, yes but for now I have to make the details known to him.

“The reason I want you is because the minute you walked out of that damn building site towards me, my whole world flipped upside down. I felt something in me awaken and I have no idea how to control it or stop myself from getting closer to you, that's why I tried all I could to get through to you. And even though the circumstances surrounding this deal isn't clear to me nor in your favour, I'd do anything to have you with me,”

The waiter finds now the right time to come take our orders. Trent nods as though I've just explained something huge.

We both order for bottled water only since we'd soon be leaving anyway to my place where dinner's already set. I placed a call a few moments ago to Yna, telling her to wind up steaks and I have a visitor staying over.

“So what do you say? Find the soulmate crap credible?”

He shrugs before saying. “I don't believe in those things,”

“Come off the edge. You're lying,”

I've been having a budge all week concerning Mark. The more I look into his dealings and business proposals, the more reluctant I am to work on it. But Trent's worth more than any money or contract I can acquire. I'd give up my all for a chance with him. It might take some time for him to fully accept me as a potential lover but I've never been known to give up so easily.

“I rarely lie,” he reaches out for one of the bottles the waiter just drop and turned the cap, gulping it all in one full drink. I watch his Adam's apple bob as he sets the empty can aside. “My theory on soulmateship still stands but I might consider your point too. It is a feeling,”

“Of course,” I beam smugly, the region below my belt tightening. Boy, it's gonna be a long night.