Chapter 3– The Talk.

Sam’s POV

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My body tensed the moment he got into the car.

My knee bounced uncontrollably as I turned toward him.

His eyes were already on me.

Completely relaxed, he leaned back against his seat before nodding toward me.

"Put your seatbelt on."

I glared at him, tilting my head.

"Speak."

He took a drag from his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke.

It drifted straight into my face.

I held my breath, but it didn't stop the embarrassing coughs that escaped me.

"You look tired."

He started the engine.

"Let's talk over dinner."

I stared at him as the car pulled away.

My brows furrowed.

A disbelieving scoff left my lips.

"Are you crazy?"

My voice boiled with irritation.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?"

I turned fully toward him.

"Are you fucking playing with me?"

He calmly took another drag from the cigarette, steering with one hand while resting comfortably against the driver's seat.

Then he looked at me.

A small smirk curved his lips.

"It's just dinner, sweetheart."

His voice was low.

Dangerously calm.

It got under my skin.

I glared at him, my heavy breathing filling the silence inside the car.

His lips twitched again before he returned his attention to the road.

I looked away, turning toward the window.

I didn't know why I was here.

Why I had even gotten into this damn car.

Why I was letting him drive me anywhere.

Or why I was somehow agreeing to have dinner with the man who had just destroyed my life.

But I needed answers.

Answers about Andrea.

About last night.

And then...

It would all be over.

•

The restaurant was enormous.

Strangely empty, too.

Apart from the waiters greeting us with polite smiles—some even strangely bowing slightly—it looked like the entire place had been cleared out.

They guided us toward a table in the center of the room, soft lights surrounding it.

I frowned.

Nicholas pulled out the chair opposite him before looking at me.

"Sit."

A curse sat on the tip of my tongue.

Before I could say it, one of the waitresses gently pulled the chair back for me with a warm smile.

I forced one in return before sitting down.

My eyes wandered everywhere except toward the man across from me.

The restaurant was breathtaking.

Expensive.

Every tiny detail looked carefully chosen.

Soft piano music drifted through the room.

It was the perfect place to bring someone you loved.

...

I wonder if he brought her here.

If they sat at this exact table while they laughed...

Kissed...

And—

"You like the place."

His deep voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked up.

He leaned comfortably against his chair, his legs spread slightly beneath the table. The top three buttons of his suit jacket were undone.

A glass of wine rested in his hand.

He slowly swirled it before bringing it to his nose, taking in the aroma.

Then he took a sip.

His eyes never left mine.

"Good wine."

He gestured toward the untouched glass in front of me.

"Have a taste."

I straightened in my seat.

"Why the hell did you send me that video?"

My voice came out quieter than I'd intended.

He tilted his head ever so slightly, his mouth opening to speak—

"Good evening, gentlemen."

The waiter approached with our food.

"Please allow me."

He carefully placed each plate onto the table.

I never looked away from Nicholas.

He simply took another slow sip of his wine.

"Please enjoy your meal."

The waiter smiled before walking away.

The moment he disappeared, I opened my mouth to speak again.

Nicholas raised a single finger.

Somehow...

It shut me up immediately.

"Eat."

His voice remained calm.

"Then we'll talk."

My jaw tightened.

Who the hell did he think he was?

Ordering me around like I was some child.

But...

Weirdly...

I didn't argue.

Maybe because I already knew arguing with him wouldn't get me anywhere.

Or maybe because the smell of the food had already made my stomach growl twice in less than a minute.

I shot him one last glare before looking down at the dishes.

Everything looked elegant.

Foreign.

Too pretty to even eat.

Fine.

Just one bite.

That was it.

I picked up my fork and tried the dish that looked the most familiar.

The flavor melted across my tongue.

I took another bite.

Then another.

And another.

By the time I finally put my fork down, nearly half the food on my plate was gone.

I quietly wiped the corners of my mouth with my napkin, pretending not to notice how embarrassing that probably looked.

When I looked up...

He was watching me.

Still.

A single grape rested between his fingers before he popped it into his mouth.

His eyes had barely left me the entire meal.

I set the napkin down and took a slow breath.

Straightening my shoulders, I met his gaze.

"Why did you send me the video, Nicholas?"

This time my voice came out steadier.

His fingers tapped lightly against the table.

"I wanted you to see it."

My teeth clenched.

"Why?"

I leaned forward.

"To humiliate me?"

He reached for the wine bottle and poured himself another glass.

The soft sound of wine filling crystal echoed between us.

He lifted the glass.

Looked at it.

Then looked back at me.

"She needed to be gone."

He leaned back into his chair, lazily swirling the wine again.

Confusion washed over me.

"I don't..."

I frowned.

"I don't understand."

He brought the glass to his lips, taking another slow sip before setting it back down.

His expression was more serious than I'd seen all day.

"So I can have you, Sam."