The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 21

Aveline

"Of course," Orion said smoothly. "Chinese cuisine, then? There's a place in Chinatown I think you'll like."

Twenty minutes later, we were seated in an elegant restaurant that managed to be both intimate and sophisticated. Red lanterns cast a warm glow over dark wood furnishings, and the subtle scent of jasmine tea and soy sauce filled the air. Under different circumstances, it would have been lovely.

Instead, I felt like I was dining with a predator.

Orion had been nothing but polite and charming since we'd arrived, pulling out my chair, asking about my preferences, making pleasant conversation about the menu. But there was something in his eyes—a calculating quality that made every smile feel like a threat.

Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe the stress of keeping my secret was making me see danger where none existed.

Or maybe he already knew exactly who I was, and this dinner was some elaborate form of revenge.

"You know," Orion said, settling back in his chair with casual elegance, "I imagine you've heard stories about me. About the family business, about how we handle... difficulties."

My chopsticks nearly slipped from my suddenly sweaty fingers. "I don't really listen to gossip."

"That's probably wise," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Though I should probably clarify—the rumors about us being ruthless in business are largely exaggerated. I'm actually quite reasonable, as long as people are honest with me."

The emphasis on 'honest' made my throat feel tight. "That's... that's good to know."

"I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt," he continued conversationally. "Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how they handle the consequences."

Before I could respond, Orion suddenly leaned forward and placed his hand on my back, just between my shoulder blades. The contact sent an electric shock through my system—part fear, part unwelcome physical memory.

"You know," he said quietly, his face closer to mine than it had any right to be, "I have the strangest feeling we've met before. Something about you is so... familiar."

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could barely manage to choke out, "I... that's impossible. I would remember."

"Would you?" His dark eyes seemed to look right through me. "Sometimes the most significant encounters happen when we're not quite ourselves."

For a moment, I was certain he knew. Certain this was all an elaborate trap and I was about to be exposed as the woman who'd assaulted him in his hotel room.

Then he pulled his hand away and leaned back with a self-deprecating smile. "Sorry, I must be imagining things. Probably just wishful thinking—I don't meet many people who care about Ryan the way you do."

The food arrived before I could process what he'd just said, and I'd never been more grateful for a distraction. The server placed dish after dish on our table: perfectly prepared Peking duck with paper-thin pancakes, delicate steamed dumplings that looked like tiny works of art, fragrant jasmine rice, and vegetables that had been stir-fried to crisp perfection.

"To Ms. Reeves," Orion said, raising his glass of sparkling water, "for giving my son something I never thought he'd have—genuine happiness in learning."

I clinked my glass against his, trying to ignore the way his fingers briefly brushed mine. "He's a wonderful student. Any teacher would be lucky to work with him."

"I don't think that's true," Orion said seriously. "I think Ryan is lucky to have found you specifically."

We ate in relative quiet for a few minutes, and I started to think maybe I'd been overreacting. Maybe this really was just a grateful father taking his son's teacher out for a thank-you dinner. Maybe I was letting my guilt make me paranoid.

Then Orion's phone rang.

His expression changed the moment he saw the caller ID. His already cold expression turned arctic, the shift so chilling it made my skin crawl. 

"Excuse me," he said, answering the call. "This is important."

He lowered his voice, but not enough. In the quiet restaurant, I could hear every word clearly.

"Yes?"

A pause. His jaw tightened.

"Is that so?"

Another pause. His fingers drummed once against the table, the only sign of his growing anticipation.

"You're certain?"

His lips curved into something that might have been a smile on anyone else's face. On his, it looked like a death sentence.

"Good."

The single word carried so much satisfaction it made my stomach turn.

"Where?"

A longer pause. That terrifying smile widened.

"Perfect. "

His voice dropped to a whisper that somehow sounded more menacing than a shout.

"Tonight. Don't make me wait."

My chopsticks shook in my hands. The food in my mouth turned to ash. Every survival instinct I had was screaming at me to run, but I was frozen in place, my legs suddenly feeling like jelly.

He was talking about Catherine. Had to be. They'd investigated her claim about owning multiple rings like mine, discovered she was lying, and now she was going to "pay the consequences."

Tonight.

I started eating faster, desperate to finish this meal and get away from him before he decided I was suspicious too. Or before he got another phone call confirming that Catherine didn't actually have any rings, and started wondering who did.

"You have quite an appetite," Orion observed with amusement, having ended his call. "I'm glad you're enjoying the food. I hope this means you'll continue to be very dedicated to Ryan's education. I believe in rewarding people who serve my family well."

There was something in his tone that made that sound less like a promise and more like a threat.

Before I could respond, he leaned closer again, close enough that I could smell his cologne and see the exact shade of his dark eyes.

"By the way," he said softly, "did you like the perfume I sent? The Jardin de Roses?"

My heart stopped. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face, and God help me, even terrified out of my mind, I couldn't deny that he was devastatingly handsome. Every angle of his face was perfect, from his strong jawline to the way his dark hair fell slightly across his forehead.

"It's... very generous," I managed, my voice coming out higher than normal. "But I can't accept gifts from parents. It's against academy policy. If you really want to thank me, just spend more time with Ryan. That's all he wants."

"Hmm." Orion studied my face for another long moment, then finally leaned back. "You're probably right. Though I do enjoy giving gifts to people I appreciate."

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette case, the movement casual but somehow predatory. "Do you mind if I smoke? I know it's a terrible habit, but I find it helps me think."

I shook my head, not trusting my voice.

He lit the cigarette with practiced ease, took a long drag, and exhaled slowly. The smoke curled between us like a barrier, and when he spoke again, his voice had a distant quality that was somehow more frightening than his earlier intensity.

"I'm afraid I'll have to cut our evening short," he said, almost to himself. "Something has come up that requires my immediate attention."