“Please,” Solane begged, practically dragging you across your living room, eyes wide like she was asking you to donate a kidney.
You crossed your arms. “No. Blind dates are how people get murdered.”
“This isn’t a blind date—it’s a double date,” she countered, pulling at your arm. “With me. And Leo.”
You gave her a look.
“And who’s the mystery man?”
“Leo’s friend,” she said, too casually. “He’s... nice.”
“Nice?” You narrowed your eyes.
Solane shifted. “Okay, rich. Very rich. Successful. Handsome. Quiet. But in a powerful way. Like he could ruin a stock market with a phone call. Just come. You don’t have to marry him.”
You groaned, already knowing you were about to say yes.
You regretted it the second you stepped into the rooftop bar.
Until you saw him.
Tall. Sharp. Charcoal blazer and dark shirt, no tie. Wristwatch that cost more than your apartment. And eyes—dark, unreadable, and locked directly on you.
Xavier Castillo.
The Xavier Castillo.
CEO. Billionaire. Cold-blooded in courtrooms and boardrooms alike.
And the man sitting across from Leo like this was just any other Thursday night.
He stood when you approached, towering and unreadable. Then his eyes swept down over your outfit—black halter top, long satin skirt, heeled boots—and lingered. The corner of his mouth twitched.
“Xavier,” he said simply, offering his hand.
You shook it. “Yeah. I know who you are.”
He smiled. Barely. “And I know who you are.”
"Is that so?" You grin.
The dinner was fine.
Solane and Leo were cute. Loud. Talking a mile a minute.
You and Xavier?
Not so much.
You kept stealing glances. So did he.
His hand grazed yours once when reaching for the wine. You didn’t move.
“So,” he said during dessert, eyes on you. “Do you always go on dates you don’t want to be on?”
You blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I can tell,” he added. “You didn’t want to come tonight.”
You shrugged, a smile curling at your lips. “You’re not exactly Mr. Bubbly either.”
“True,” he said smoothly, leaning forward. “But I changed my mind five minutes after you walked in.”
The tension was unbearable. Delicious.
Even Solane noticed. She bumped your shoulder under the table and whispered, “You're welcome.”