Mia sat stiffly in the back seat, her fingers curled around the edge of her coat as the soft hum of the engine filled the silence.
City lights slid past the tinted windows in blurred streaks while rain tapped steadily against the glass. Everything about tonight felt wrong, like she had wandered into a life that was never meant for her.
Lyra had spent hours getting her ready, fixing her hair, choosing her clothes, and repeating the same instructions over and over.
Go in. Act like her. Ruin the night.
It should have been simple.
But the feeling in Mia's chest would not go away.
"We'll arrive in about ten minutes, miss," the driver said, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
Mia nodded faintly, her throat too tight for words.
A second later, the car gave a sharp jolt. The engine coughed, and the vehicle began to slow.
The driver frowned and carefully pulled over to the side of the road.
Mia leaned forward. "What happened?"
"I apologize, miss," he said, already reaching for his seatbelt. "There seems to be an issue with the engine. Let me check."
He stepped out into the rain and opened an umbrella.
Mia exhaled slowly and tapped her fingers against her knee while she waited.
A few minutes later, the driver climbed back inside. He did not look nearly as calm as before.
"It's not looking good," he admitted. "I can call for another car, but it may take a while."
Mia reached for her phone and checked the time.
The restaurant was not far. Lyra had mentioned that it was only a short walk from the main road.
"How far is it from here?" she asked.
"About five minutes on foot," the driver said. "But with the rain…."
"I'll walk."
The words came out before she could stop herself.
The driver blinked. "Miss, I can arrange another vehicle."
"It's fine," Mia said as she reached for the door handle. "It's close enough."
The moment she stepped outside, the rain hit her hard.
Within seconds, her clothes were soaked through. Cold water clung to her skin as she pulled her coat tighter around herself and started walking.
The streets gleamed under the neon lights, puddles reflecting signs and headlights in broken streaks of color. The wind bit through her coat, but she kept moving.
If anything, looking like this might help.
Ruining the date would be easier if she already looked like a mess.
She turned the corner and nearly walked straight into someone.
A man stood beneath a deep red umbrella, his posture relaxed despite the weather. He walked through the rain like none of it could touch him.
Mia barely looked at him until his shoe landed in a puddle and muddy water splashed across her legs.
She stopped.
"Hey!"
The man paused and turned.
Even in the dim light, he was striking. His features were sharp, his dark coat fit perfectly, and there was something about him that made Mia tense without knowing why.
Without a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a stack of cash, and pressed it into her hand.
"Here," he said simply.
Before Mia could react, he had already turned away and disappeared into the rain.
She stared down at the money in her hand.
"What the hell?"
For a second, she thought about throwing it after him.
But she was cold, soaked, and exhausted.
In the end, she shoved it into her pocket and kept walking.
By the time she reached the restaurant, she was drenched.
Mia stopped outside and looked up at the building.
It was the kind of place that made it clear, without saying a word, that not everyone belonged there.
Tall windows reflected the city lights, and a gold sign hung above the entrance in neat, elegant lettering. Inside, everything looked quiet and expensive.
Mia glanced down at herself.
Wet clothes. Mud stains. Hair falling loose around her face.
Perfect.
She took a breath and stepped inside.
Warmth hit her instantly, along with the low murmur of voices.
A host approached her. His expression flickered for a second when he saw the state she was in, but he recovered quickly.
"Good evening, miss. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," Mia said, lifting her chin. "Under Lyra Creed."
Recognition flashed across his face.
"Of course. Right this way."
Mia followed him, brushing uselessly at the mud on her coat.
She spotted him before the host even stopped, sitting at a corner table was the same man from the street.
The red umbrella.
Her steps faltered for half a second before she forced herself forward.
He looked up as she approached, his expression unreadable, though there was a brief flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Miss Creed," he said, standing smoothly to his feet.
Mia hesitated for the smallest moment before taking his offered hand, her grip brief before she sat down.
"You're… not what I expected," he said, his gaze moving over her rain-soaked appearance.
"Neither are you a gentle man as rumored," Mia replied immediately, refusing to let him have the upper hand.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Fair enough."
Mia straightened slightly in her seat.
She wasn't here to be impressed.
She was here to end this.
She picked up the menu, scanning it quickly before speaking.
"I'll have the lobster bisque, the truffle pasta, and the foie gras," she said, not even glancing at the prices.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Hungry?"
"Starving," she replied without hesitation.
He gave a small nod and placed a simpler order for himself before leaning back in his chair, his attention returning to her.
She wanted him uncomfortable and annoyed.
Instead, he only watched her.
"You're different, I mean…..interesting," he said after a while.
Mia wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and met his gaze.
"I get that a lot."
There was amusement in his eyes now, and it irritated her more than it should have.
No matter what she said, he never seemed bothered.
If anything, he seemed more interested.
By the time dessert arrived, Mia realized the night was going completely wrong.
"You've surprised me," he said quietly.
"Have I?"
"Yes."
Mia forced a small smile.
"I try not to disappoint."
That earned a low laugh from him.
"On the contrary," he said, "you've done the opposite."
Mia felt a flicker of unease.
This was not supposed to be happening.
He was supposed to be annoyed enough to leave.
Instead, he was still sitting there, still watching her like he was trying to figure her out.
And she did not like that at all. "I need to do something, something crazy enough to piss this spoiled billionaire off." Mia bubbled in her thoughts with disappointment boldly etched on her forehead.
She was just about to suggest they leave, if only to end whatever this strange tension between them was, when he suddenly coughed.
The sound was low at first, controlled, like he was trying to suppress it, but it didn't stop.
Mia's attention shifted immediately.
He turned slightly, bringing a handkerchief to his mouth, and for a brief second, she caught it…..the faint stain of blood against the white handkerchief before he folded it away as if nothing had happened.
Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than they should have, then she looked away.
"I'm sorry," he said abruptly, his tone no longer as relaxed as before. "I have to go."
Mia blinked, forcing her expression back into place as if she hadn't seen anything. "What? Why?"
"Family emergency," he said, already reaching for his wallet. He pulled it out and pressed the wallet into her hand. "Here, for the trouble, I'll take back the wallet on our next date."
"I'm Cade by the way, Cade Welles", he added.
Mia stared at the money inside the wallet, feeling a mix of confusion and irritation. "I don't need your money."
Cade's eyes softened briefly. "Consider it an apology for tonight. We'll reschedule." And with that, he turned and left the store, disappearing into the night.
Mia's blood boiled, "Did he just say our next date?."