Chapter 5

AMARA'S POV***

Davina picked the restaurant. Of course she did.

The place was warm and classy, the kind of place that smelled like grilled meat, with soft music playing in the background like it was trying not to disturb anybody's peace.

I walked in and immediately spotted her. She waved so aggressively it almost embarrassed me.

“Amara,” she called.

I smiled and hurried over. The moment I got close, she stood up and hugged me tightly like I'd been gone for a year. 

“Girl…” she pulled back, holding my shoulders. Her eyes scanned my outfit slowly, “Look at you.”

“What?” I asked, sitting down.

Davina sat too, still staring. “No, no, no. Don't ‘what’ me. You look… expensive.

I scoffed. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You know exactly what I'm talking about,” she said. Pointing her finger at me like she was about to arrest me. “Your skin is glowing. Your hair is laid. Your nails are clean. Even your aura is looking like… CEO’s side chick.

I almost choked. “Davina!”

She burst out laughing, leaning forward on the table. “I'm not even joking. You look like you've been living a soft life.”

I shook my head. “Soft life where? I've been stressed.

“Stressed people don't glow,” she replied. “Stressed people look like they've been fighting for their life. You look like you've been eating steak and flying first class.”

My mouth opened and closed. Because she wasn't wrong.

The waiter approached and handed us the menus, and Davina barely glanced at hers before she smiled sweetly and said, “Let me get the shrimp pasta and a glass of wine.”

Then she looked at me. “What do you want?”

I scanned the menu. “I'll just take the what she ordered.”

Amara smiled, mischievously and said. “Bills on you.”

“Of course. The bills would be on me.”

She laughed. “I plan on eating every food they serve here.”

I shooked my head. “ You wouldn't dare.”

She winked. “Watch me.”

And we both laughed.

When the waiter left, Davina leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, eyes shining.

“So…” she dragged the word out. “How have you been? Like… got real.”

I didn't answer immediately. Because for real? Fir real, I don't know.

“I've been okay,” I said finally.

Davina rolled her eyes. “That's a lie.”

I laughed softly. “It's not a lie. It's just complicated.”

“Mmmm,” she nodded slowly, the way she always did when she was about to start interrogating me. “Let's start from the beginning. You disappeared. You stopped replying properly. You became busy. You became… mysterious.”

I stared at her. “You're exaggerating.”

“I'm not,” she insisted. “You even started typing like a rich girl.”

I frowned. “Typing like a rich girl?”

“Yes!” She said, “Before you used to text “lol’ and ‘lmao.’ Now you text ‘Noted’ and ‘understood.’ Like who are you?”

I burst out laughing, and Davina joined in, shaking her head dramatically.

“Okay,” I admitted, still smiling. “Work has been…intense.”

Davina's eyes narrowed. And I knew exactly what was coming.

“So…” she said again, voice suddenly softer. “How is your boss?”

I stared at her. I didn't even know why that question made my stomach twist.

“He's fine,” I said, reaching for my water. Davina watched me like she didn't believe me. 

“Fine?”

“Yes.”

“Amara,” she said, slowly. “Don't piss me off.”

I sighed. “Davina…”

“No,” she cut me off. “Because every time I ask about that man, you suddenly forget English.”

I rubbed my forehead, already feeling mubafce heat up.

“It's just work,” I said.

Davina leaned back in her chair. “ Okay, so tell me about your work.”

I hesitated.

Then I started talking.

At first, it was simple things. The schedule. The meetings. The way the office was structured. The way everyone feared him. The way he walked into the room and the whole atmosphere shifted like electricity had entered.

Davina listened quietly, nodding. Then she smiled.

“So basically… “she said, “you're in love.”

I almost threw my glass at her. “Davina!”

She screamed with laughter. “I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But listen to yourself!”

“I'm not in love,” I insisted.

“Then why are you blushing?”

“I'm not blushing.”

“You're blushing!”

I groaned and covered my face. “This is why I didn't want to come out with you.”

Davina leaned forward again, voice lowering like she was about to tell me a secret.

“Amara,” she said. “Does he stress you?”

“Yes.”

“Does he confuse you?”

“Yes.”

“Does he make you angry?”

“You have no idea.”

“Does he make you feel things you don't want to feel?”

I didn't answer.

Davina smiled slowly. “Exactly.”

I dropped my hands and stared at her.

“You don't even know what you're saying.”

“Oh, I know,” she replied confidently. “I know because I know you. And you don't talk about people this much unless they're in your head.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but my throat tightened.

Because she wasn't wrong. And I hated that she wasn't. The food arrived and fot a moment it saved me. The smell alone made me relax.

Davina immediately dug into her pasta like she hadn't eaten all day. I tasted my food and sighed happily.

“This is good,” I murmured.

We ate for a while and the conversation drifted.

Davina told me about how her mother had been nagging her to find a man, about how her landlord was raising rent again like he wanted her to start selling her kidneys.

I laughed until my stomach hurt.

And for the first time in a long time…I felt normal.

Then Davina’s voice softened.

“How’s your mum?” she asked quietly.

My hand paused mid-air. I swallowed and forced myself to keep my voice steady.

“She’s… still there,” I said. “Still fighting.”

Davina reached across the table and squeezed my hand gently.

“You’re strong,” she said.

I shook my head. “I don’t have a choice.”

“I should go see her sometime,” she said. “When I'm less busy.”

I nodded.

When we were done eating, Davina leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

“Okay,” she said. “This was good.”

“It was,” I agreed.

Davina stood up, She stepped closer and linked her arm with mine.

We walked out of the restaurant together, the night air cool against my skin.

And as Davina talked about her plans for the

weekend, laughing and complaining like she always did…

My thoughts drifted to Dorian. I shook my head to focus on what Davina was saying.

Tomorrow's another day to face Dorian.