Chapter 4 – The Dinner That Changes Everything

The rain had been pouring all afternoon, painting the city in silver streaks. Mia was in her office, finalizing the campaign drafts for the Makati project, when her phone buzzed.

Ethan: "Client dinner tonight. 7 PM. Armani’s. You’ll be there, right?"

She stared at the message, debating whether to reply. Officially, yes—it was part of the contract to attend important client functions. But something about dinner with Ethan, even in a professional context, felt… dangerous.

After a full minute, she typed back: "I’ll be there."

7:10 PM – Armani’s Fine Dining

The restaurant was softly lit, each table adorned with flickering candles. The low hum of jazz music floated in the air, mingling with the scent of aged wine and freshly baked bread. Mia entered in a sleek black dress, her hair pinned up elegantly. She spotted Ethan immediately.

He was at a corner table, speaking with two older gentlemen clearly the clients. When his eyes found hers, his expression shifted almost imperceptibly. Pride. Admiration. And something deeper.

“Mia,” he greeted, standing to pull out her chair.

She hesitated for half a second before sitting. “Ethan.”

The dinner began with polite conversation—project updates, market trends, client expectations. Mia kept her tone professional, careful not to let their personal history seep into her words.

But Ethan… he had a way of making even business talk feel intimate. He would lean slightly closer when she spoke, listen with complete attention, and occasionally let his gaze linger just a heartbeat too long.

Halfway through the meal, the clients excused themselves to take a call, leaving Mia and Ethan alone at the table.

“This is nice,” he said softly.

She arched a brow. “It’s a business dinner.”

“Still nice,” he replied with a faint smile.

Mia took a sip of wine, trying to steady herself. “Why are you really doing this, Ethan? Don’t say it’s just about the project.”

His expression shifted, the charm fading into something raw. “Because I missed this. Sitting across from you. Talking to you. Even just… being near you.”

She set her glass down. “You can’t just walk back into my life and expect me to forget everything.”

“I’m not asking you to forget,” he said. “I’m asking you to see me now. Not the man I was five years ago. The man who—” He stopped himself, glancing away briefly before meeting her gaze again. “The man who learned the hard way what really matters.”

Mia’s pulse quickened despite herself. She hated how easily his words could still reach her.

“You had your chance, Ethan,” she said quietly. “You let me go.”

“I know,” he admitted. “And I’ve regretted it every single day since.”

The clients returned, and the conversation shifted back to business, but the air between them remained charged.

After dinner, Ethan offered to walk her to her car. She considered declining but decided it would be more awkward to refuse in front of the clients.

The rain had lightened to a mist, the streetlamps casting halos of light on the wet pavement. They walked in silence until they reached her car.

“Thank you for coming tonight,” Ethan said, his voice low.

“It’s my job,” she replied, unlocking the door.

He stepped closer, just enough that she could smell the faint scent of his cologne. “And what if I said I wanted to see you again… outside of work?”

Mia hesitated, her hand on the car door handle. “Then I’d say that’s not a good idea.”

His lips curved into a faint smile. “Not a good idea… but maybe one you’ve thought about?”

She shot him a sharp look. “Goodnight, Ethan.”

He didn’t stop her from getting in the car, but as she drove away, she could still feel his gaze lingering on her.

Later that night

Mia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She told herself it was just a dinner. Just business. But the truth was harder to ignore.

The way Ethan looked at her tonight… it wasn’t the same as before. There was no arrogance, no assumption that she belonged to him. Just quiet persistence. And it scared her more than she wanted to admit.

Because part of her feared she might still want him, too.

To Be Continued…