Chapter 19.Temptation
Mia’s POV.
As the class came to an end, I gathered my belongings and prepared to leave the classroom. Sheena and Joanna, my two lively friends, were beside me, already discussing their post-class plans.
“What’s the plan, girls?” Joanna asked with an eager gleam in her eyes.
Sheena, the bubbly one, chimed in, “Let’s go watch a movie! It’ll be so much fun!”
However, I had other responsibilities weighing on my mind. “I’d love to, but I have to head back to the dorm to finish today’s assignment,” I informed them regretfully.
Joanna’s expression shifted to annoyance, and she tried to persuade me, “Come on, Mia. You can do your assignment later. We’ll be back from the movie in a few hours. Don’t ruin the fun, babe.”
“Guys, seriously, I’m not interested in…” My words trailed off as I caught sight of him standing in front of me, leaning against his car.
I blinked a few times to clear my vision. Maybe I was daydreaming. But no, he was there, real and alive. He smiled as he looked in my direction. I glanced around, but there was no one else. He was looking directly at me. I decided to ignore him and kept walking. Then he called out my name and jogged toward me. I continued to ignore him and kept walking without stopping.
“Hey, wait. I was calling your name,” he complained, sounding slightly irritated, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes in response. His persistence was testing my patience.
“Really? I thought you were calling some other girl,” I lied bluntly, trying to mask the unease I felt deep inside. I didn’t want him to know that his presence affected me more than I cared to admit.
He narrowed his eyes at my retort, seemingly unconvinced by my casual response. “That’s funny,” he replied, his tone slightly playful.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
“By the way, what are you doing here? Do you want to enroll in some courses?” I mocked, attempting to regain some semblance of control in the situation.
His intense gaze never wavered as he stared at me for a few seconds, leaving me momentarily breathless. “You’re something… Mia,” he finally said, his words making my heart race even faster.
Forcing myself to remember how to breathe, I swallowed the lump in my throat and decided to walk away, heading towards my dorm. However, he wasn’t ready to let me go so easily.
“Wait, I’m here to meet you,” he called out, his voice urging me to stop.
“Why?” I asked, my tone perhaps a tad too sharp, but I couldn’t allow myself to appear vulnerable in front of him.
“I want to take you to lunch,” he said, shrugging his shoulders casually.
My eyes widened in genuine surprise. Logan Mancini, someone so well-known and sought-after, was asking me to have lunch with him. My heart pounded in my chest, but I tried my best to hide my excitement.
“I… I’m busy, and I need to get back to my dorm. It would be better if you asked someone else to join you for lunch,” I stammered, my nervousness betraying my true feelings. The flutter in my stomach was undeniable.
But he didn’t give up easily. With a hint of determination in his eyes, he insisted, “I want you to have lunch with me, Mia. Not any other girl. May I have the pleasure of your company?”
His charming smile was hard to resist, but I refused to let myself succumb so easily. Ignoring his advances, I continued walking, trying to put some distance between us.
I heard him sigh, and the sound of his footsteps following me grated on my nerves. To my annoyance, he had even gotten into his sleek black Lamborghini and started honking persistently, drawing attention to our unusual exchange.
Unable to bear it any longer, I finally stopped near his car window and tapped on the glass. “What do you want?” I shouted, my frustration evident.
“I want to have lunch with you,” he replied, his mischievous smirk somehow both infuriating and intriguing.
As much as I wanted to decline his offer again, a mix of curiosity and a tinge of excitement got the better of me. Against my better judgment, I reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat, feeling the warmth of his cologne enveloping me as he leaned over to fasten my seatbelt. My heart fluttered, betraying the inner turmoil I was experiencing.
Throughout the drive, I remained silent, lost in my own thoughts and emotions. We eventually arrived at a luxurious restaurant, known for its exclusivity and lavish atmosphere. It was a place I had only dreamt of dining at, and I couldn’t believe I was here with Logan Mancini.
Stepping out of the car, he swiftly walked to my side, opening the door with a graceful flourish. I blushed at the gesture, feeling a mixture of flattery and unease. His attention was overwhelming, and I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond.
With my hand hesitantly extended, he gently held it in his large, confident palm, sending a shiver down my spine. His touch was electrifying, and I tried my best to maintain my composure.
As he led me inside the restaurant, I couldn’t help but notice the air of authority he commanded. The staff seemed to recognize him, and we were guided to a private chamber, away from the prying eyes of other diners. My curiosity intensified; he had clearly planned this carefully, and I was eager to see what he had in store.
So, I decided to play along, to wait and see what would unfold. As we entered the private space, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that this lunch was about more than just a casual meal. Logan Mancini was a man of power and influence, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he wanted from me.
“Do you like the restaurant, Mia?” he inquired, his tone implying that fine dining was a regular occurrence for me.
I simply nodded in response, uncertain of the appropriate words to express my thoughts without sounding mocking.
As the service staff approached to take our orders, Logan gestured towards me and said, “Ask the lady. She will order for both of us.”
Surprise and shock mingled within me, leaving me utterly bewildered.
How on earth was I supposed to know Logan Mancini’s food preferences? I couldn’t help but wonder in frustration.
“Do you really expect me to order for you as well?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course, I want to see what you’ll choose for me,” he replied with a mischievous grin. I blinked, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind his words.
After contemplating for a moment, I decided to order some pork and an Italian salad, stealing a glance at his face to gauge his reaction.
His lips curled up in a smirk, and he remarked, “Good choice, Mia. That’s why I wanted to have lunch with you.”
A frown crept onto my face. Why was he suddenly being so sweet to me? I knew that Logan Mancini was notorious for never trusting a girl. He was dangerous and the rumours were that he was connected to underworld.
“What do you really want, Mr. Mancini? Spare me the nonsense. I want the truth. I’m tired of your games,” I retorted, my voice filled with annoyance.
“I want to get to know you, Mia. There’s something different about you,” he replied, his expression turning serious.
“We’re just not compatible, Mr. Mancini. You’re making the wrong choice this time. You should reconsider your decision,” I challenged him, my voice filled with conviction.
“I never regret any of my decisions, and I’m certain I’m not wrong this time either,” he replied confidently.
I sat there in silence, knowing that a difficult battle lay ahead, and my heart was on the line.
Finally, the lunch came to an end, and he drove me back to my dormitory.
“Thank you for the delightful lunch, Mr. Mancini,” I said politely, extending a courtesy.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mia. So I suppose I’ll be seeing you around,” he said, winking at me. I blushed, the realization dawning on me that Logan Mancini was flirting with me.