As we approached the candle-lit table, my thoughts raced. How much effort had Carter really put into this? How was it even possible to book the entire Rose Garden on such short notice? The lengths he had gone to... I wasn’t sure if I should feel flattered or a bit uneasy. Carter pulled out a chair for me, his gaze meeting mine for a brief moment before I sat down. Once I was settled, he took his place across from me. “I missed you, Lina,” he said, breaking the silence. I blinked, caught off guard by his words. Missed me? We had just seen each other yesterday. I opened my mouth to reply, but then I thought I heard him whisper something, and I wasn’t sure if I caught it right. "A day apart is too much," he murmured, or at least that’s what I thought I heard. But no, that couldn’t be right. I must have misheard him. There was no way he could mean that… could he? Before I could think about it any longer, Carter raised his hand, and out of nowhere, a waiter appeared to serve dinner. The food was exquisite, just as I had expected, and Carter had clearly gone to great lengths to make sure everything was perfect. We engaged in light conversation as we ate. Just small talk, nothing too serious, but Carter seemed genuinely interested in everything I said. He asked about my work and my company, and I found myself sharing more details than I had planned. His undivided attention was both comforting and a little unsettling. By the time dessert arrived—an assortment of delicious treats—my resolve was starting to weaken. Chocolate cakes, pastries, ice cream, strawberries, and my ultimate weakness: hot chocolate. Carter had clearly done his research. I gazed at the tempting display in front of me, my mouth watering despite myself. Just as I reached for a chocolate pastry, my phone buzzed. Work. It felt like a lifeline in this overly romantic atmosphere, and I jumped at the chance. “Sorry, I need to take this,” I said, standing up from the table.

Carter nodded, a knowing look in his eyes that suggested he understood my intentions. I stepped away slightly, pressing the phone to my ear and allowing myself to get lost in the familiar rhythm of business talk. It helped ease the tension that was building inside me. Once the call was over, I returned to the table but didn’t make any effort to engage Carter in conversation. I simply sat there, nibbling on some chocolate cake and sipping hot chocolate, trying to find my balance again. Carter, for his part, didn’t seem to mind the quiet. He watched me instead, his cheek resting on his palm, a glimmer of something unreadable in his eyes. I felt his gaze linger as I pretended not to notice, focusing on the dessert in front of me. I couldn’t tell if it was the chocolate or the intensity of Carter’s stare, but something about this evening was starting to feel perilous. Too perilous.