Chapter 5

Kieran adjusted his collar as he stood outside the restaurant. He was mildly surprised when Lucas had told him where they’d be dining. It was an upscale place, the kind where reservations were booked weeks, if not months, in advance. Kieran knew this well—his dad owned a chain of hotels and restaurants worldwide, and this building was one of them.

Stepping inside, he was greeted by the attendant, whose face lit up with recognition. She didn’t know exactly who Kieran was, just that he was a VIP.

“Mr. Kieran! I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” she said, glancing at the reservation list. “I’m sure I can get you a table—”

“The reservation’s actually under Lucas Salazar,” Kieran interrupted gently.

“Oh, of course! Mr. Salazar’s waiting for his guest. I’ll take you to him,” she said, smiling. “If you’d like, I can upgrade you to a private room.”

“That won’t be necessary, but thanks,” Kieran replied with a polite nod. His gaze landed on the back of Lucas’s head as he added, “Oh, and Hilary? Could you do me a favor?”

“Anything, Mr. Kieran.”

“Can you send a server who doesn’t know me?” he asked. Hilary looked puzzled but nodded immediately.

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

Assured there was nothing else he needed, Hilary returned to her post. Kieran approached Lucas, who offered a warm smile as he noticed his employee’s arrival.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Kieran said, settling into his seat. “I always forget how brutal city traffic is.”

“You’re actually a few minutes early,” Lucas said, glancing at his watch. “I only got here a minute before you. No need to apologize.”

“So, we’re agreed—no more apologies tonight?” Kieran said with a grin, opening the menu. Lucas chuckled and followed suit.

They placed their orders soon after. The server brought their drinks, and a slight awkwardness lingered between them. It was their first time hanging out alone outside work. Kieran could sense Lucas was still embarrassed about his behavior all week, and he wasn’t sure how to ease the tension.

They made small talk—weekend plans, hobbies. Lucas asked if Kieran had watched the football game, to which Kieran admitted he wasn’t into sports. Each topic felt like a struggle to find common ground.

Finally, Kieran decided work might be the safest subject. “If you don’t mind me asking… why’s this presentation such a big deal?”

Lucas’s demeanor shifted, his posture stiffening. “It’s to raise funds for the company, so it’s critical,” he said, taking a sip of his scotch and looking away.

Kieran noticed the evasion. It wasn’t like Lucas to dodge work talk. “You know what I mean,” he pressed. “I’ve never seen you this stressed over one meeting.”

“It’s that obvious?” Lucas asked, meeting Kieran’s eyes with a faint frown. Kieran nodded.

Lucas was always composed at work, but lately, the pressure of this presentation was unmistakable. Kieran knew something deeper was going on.

“I don’t think anyone else has picked up on it,” Kieran said. “But we’ve been working closely, so yeah, I can tell.”

Lucas hesitated, his gaze intense as he weighed whether to confide. “I don’t usually share this with employees, but since you’re working on this with me, you should know how high the stakes are.” He downed his drink in one go, then continued, “This is confidential, and—”

“I’m not going to blab in the break room,” Kieran said firmly. “You can trust me.”

Lucas studied him for a moment, then sighed. “We need another round of funding. Simple as that. The board found an investor, but there’s a catch—they want to bring in their own CEO.”

“What?” Kieran’s eyes widened, indignant. “They want to kick you out of your own company?”

“Not kick me out,” Lucas clarified. “I’d step down as CEO but stay on as founder, just in a different role.”

“Why? You’re doing an amazing job,” Kieran said, his voice rising. “Why would they do that?”

“The investors say if they’re risking their money, they want a guarantee of success. They think an experienced CEO—an older guy they trust—will deliver that better than someone like me,” Lucas said with a shrug.

“Someone like you?” Kieran scoffed. “Someone who built this company from nothing, without a dime from anyone else? Someone who’s dedicated, fair, and actually cares about their employees?”

Lucas chuckled, surprised. “Wow, you sound more pissed off than I am.”

“Of course I am!” Kieran said, leaning forward. “Who do these people think they are? They’re delusional if they think they can just replace you.”

“The truth is, they can,” Lucas said, his tone heavy. “I negotiated with the board, and they gave me six weeks to find another investor. If I can’t, I’ll have no choice. We need the funding to survive.”

“Then we’re not going down without a fight,” Kieran said, his voice resolute. “We’re going to crush that meeting next week.”

His determination brought a small, genuine smile to Lucas’s face. He opened his mouth to respond, but the server arrived with their food, interrupting the moment.

Oddly, the serious conversation seemed to break the ice.

Lucas relaxed, opening up more as the night went on. The rest of the dinner passed effortlessly, filled with lighter conversation. Lucas insisted on paying, despite Kieran’s protests. “This is my apology,” Lucas said with a grin. “And I’m the boss, so my word’s final.” The last part was clearly a joke.

“I’m calling a cab,” Kieran said as they stepped outside the restaurant.

“I can drive you home,” Lucas offered almost instantly.

“No!” Kieran said, a bit too quickly. He wasn’t ready for Lucas to know where he lived. “Really, it’s fine. I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

“I insist,” Lucas said, trying to keep it light. “Cab prices are ridiculous this late, and I don’t pay you that well.”

Kieran gave a dry laugh. “I’m good with a cab, seriously.”

Lucas tilted his head, looking slightly puzzled but respecting Kieran’s boundary. “If you say so,” he said, extending his hand for a shake. “I had a great time tonight.”

“Me too,” Kieran said, taking his hand.

The handshake lingered longer than it should have, their eyes locked with an intensity that felt charged. Kieran unconsciously licked his lower lip, and he could’ve sworn Lucas’s gaze flicked to his mouth for a split second before the valet interrupted.

“Mr. Salazar? Your car,” the valet said.

“Right, uh,” Lucas stepped back, clearing his throat.

“Goodnight, Reece.”

“Goodnight, sir.”

Kieran caught a fleeting shift in Lucas’s expression—a subtle clench of his jaw, like he was holding something back. Or maybe it was Kieran’s imagination. Lucas broke eye contact, walked to his car, and gave Kieran one last look before driving off.

Kieran stood there, watching the car disappear. The dinner had gone so smoothly, yet those final moments were thick with tension. Was he imagining it? He knew he was attracted to Lucas, but was he reading too much into it? Or was there a chance—however small—that Lucas felt something too?