Page 38 of A Win-Win Situation
"So, what’s the plan for today?" Sophie asks.
"I‘m not entirely sure. He told me he would pick me up, and then we’d head to the town hall to get it over and done with. Afterward, I think we’re coming back here," I explain.
"Okay, so we’ll see you after?"
Oh, I thought they would be leaving for the airport soon.
I furrow my brow, asking, "Don’t you have a flight?"
The smile on Adeline’s face broadens. "We managed to switch to the evening flight."
I exhale, relief washing over me as a grateful smile plays on my lips. "I can’t believe you did this for me."
"Don’t be ridiculous." She laughs. "We tried to extend it further, but there are no flights tomorrow, and our jobs declined our requests for an extended vacation," Adeline huffs out the last part.
"It doesn’t matter. Just having you for a few more hours means everything to me."
As happy as I am at this moment, realization seeps in.
I’ll be completely alone after this evening.
While I waitfor Lucas to arrive, I try to distract myself by taking in my surroundings.
The lobby is bustling with activity as guests check in and out of the hotel. As I watch them, I try to imagine their stories—the tired family with kids in tow, the couple who look like they're celebrating something special, the businessman tapping away on his phone like the world depends on it.
But my mind keeps going back to Lucas. Every so often, my gaze drifts towards the entrance. It's like a reflex, really. I tell myself it's because I'm eager to get this over with, but deep down, there's a little flutter of nerves that I can't ignore. Is hegoing to act like he did yesterday? Will he smile some more? Maybe I'll just crack a joke to see if he's capable of it.
Finally, I catch a glimpse of a familiar figure making his way toward me.
It's him, looking every bit as dashing as I'd expected—he exudes an air of authority. He's dressed in a sharp, black suit paired with a crisp white dress shirt, and to complete the look, a stylish, black bow tie. He looks so handsome.
As he gets closer, I remind myself that this is just a business deal—a transaction. But no matter how hard I try, my heart seems to skip a beat or two.
It’s because of the situation we’re in,I tell myself over and over again.
His face is expressionless, devoid of any emotion or warmth. They say"don’t judge a book by its cover," but he’s like a book without any damn pages: expressionless and unreadable. I was secretly hoping for a smile, a small sign of approval, but I guess that’s too much to ask for.
However, he proves me wrong when he reaches me. He greets me with a small, yet soft, smile. "You look beautiful." This time, his compliment sounds genuine.
"Thank you." I smile at him. "You look quite handsome yourself."
"Are you ready?" he asks. I quickly nod and together, we walk towards his car.
We make our way to the town hall, the silence in the car almost suffocating. I try to break it up with some small talk but it’s like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon. Lucas seems lost in his thoughts. His jaw is clenched so tightly, I half expect to hear the sound of grinding teeth.
I glance at him, concerned and uncertain about everything. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he sighs deeply and speaks, "I never thought it would come to this." The strain in hisvoice is evident. I've been so immersed in my own feelings that I forgot about him. He must be grappling with a whirlwind of emotions as well.
"Neither did I."
He nods, but the tension remains and the silence continues. I take a moment to study him out of the corner of my eye, noticing the lines of worry etched on his face and the way his hands hold the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip.
When we arrive, the gravity of the situation hits me. This is it—the moment when everything changes, whether it’s for show or not.
We sit for a moment, staring at the imposing building, and just as I’m about to open the door, Lucas stops me, his hand gently touching my arm.
"Wait." He reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a box. "I asked Camille to return to the jewelry store and find a more suitable ring for you."
Ah, yes, the grump is back. But seriously, why didn't he just go get the ring himself? Before I have time to ask him, he distracts me by opening the box. I blink in surprise at the sight of the solitaire ring nestled inside, the same one that caught my eye in the store.
