08: Very good at acting

•Odette•

I could remember something that happened in my first year of college. The school was hosting some kind of event. My class was supposed to host a play and I was the set’s head designer.

About two weeks to the event, we found out that our seniors in their third year were hosting the exact play as us. Same script and knockoff copies of my original designs.

I was livid. So were my mates. I hadn’t seen my parents since I got into college and I had begged them to fly over to the state so they could watch the play and see the largest collection of designs I had made yet.

The seniors were set to perform first. If my parents saw that my designs were the same as theirs when my own class performed afterwards, they would assume I was unoriginal and had wasted their time, even though I wasn’t the one at fault.

I couldn’t have let them be disappointed in me.

So, I had convinced the class rep and had him change the minds of the rest of the class about doing another play. I promised that none of them would have to work on the set and designs along with me. All they had to do was learn the lines of the new script.

Those were the worst two weeks of my life. Coming up with new designs, bringing them to life, and making them in a significant quantity. My hands bled multiple times.

But I did it. The consequence of not creating the best and being the best as a Valmont was my greatest fear.

On the day of the event, my parents didn’t show up. They excused it with the fact that they had a conflict with an influencer who was signed to the company and needed to sort it out that very day.

I was devastated.

At the end of the play during the credits, I had seen someone at the front seat who looked completely out of place.

To this day, I have no idea why he was there. His year and department had absolutely nothing to do with the play. But there Draven Lockwood was, seated front row with the eyes of a lion who had just captured its prey.

He had looked proud, pleased, but unsated. He had this expression that made one think that though he already possessed what he wanted in his hands, he could still milk it for more. Like it was that ‘more’ he was truly interested in.

That look was exactly the same one set on Draven’s face the moment he locked eyes with me when I stepped out of my car at the parking lot of Caesar’s Place.

He had been checking the time on his wristwatch, but after I slammed the door of my car, he lifted his head and saw me.

I flinched on the spot, finding that gaze unsettling and dangerous. If Draven noticed this, he didn’t show it because a wide smile appeared on his lips as he strolled towards me.

“You’re perfectly on time,” he said, picking up my hand. “As beautiful as always, Odette Valmont.” Draven pecked my hand and a strange sensation crawled up my neck.

I quickly retracted my hand back to my side. Draven’s eyes narrowed in displeasure.

Fuck. I messed up. We were supposed to pretend like we were in a relationship. I shouldn’t be pulling back, but I couldn’t pretend to be unfazed when his lips touched my skin and brought on a bizarre feeling.

I could guess that Draven understood my plight as he relaxed his gaze and smiled once again.

“Shall we?” He offered his arm to me. I hesitated for only a second before roping my arm in his.

Draven led the way to the front of the restaurant and we were directed to our table very quickly. I couldn’t help but sigh aloud when I realized that our table was at the center of the restaurant where EVERYONE could see us.

I hadn’t looked at the other guests well but they all had familiar faces to me. They either knew me or they knew Draven or they knew the both of us.

Each of which would be perfect for the plan but God, this entire thing was so awkward.

Draven pulled out a chair for me and helped me sit down, then he settled across from me, still wearing a smile on his face.

But there was a difference in his smile now. Could I say it was… softer?

“You’re very good at acting.” The words flew out of my mouth without thinking and it was balanced between sarcasm and praise.

“Been doing it my whole life.” Draven said casually.

Before I could ask what he meant, a waiter came to take our orders.

“We’ll have the grilled lobster thermidor with a side of seafood ramen.” Draven said for the two of us and my mouth hung in the air.

How did he know that I loved seafood ramen??

“As for wine… We’ll take white. You good with that?” Draven directed the question at me, and I nodded in a state of stupefaction.

“Great. White wine, then.” Draven said to the waiter who nodded before walking away.

“Have you been stalking me?” I said after the passing of a moment.

Draven’s brows furrowed. “Stalking you?”

“How else would you know my exact preference?” I was getting defensive. I knew it. But I had to ask. Underneath the table, my hands were trembling against my knees.

“You flatter yourself too much, Odette Valmont. I just ordered what I liked for two because I don’t like having the other party I’m eating with to have a different dish in front of them. Makes me hungry for their own meal or disgusted by their preference.

“It’s better to just have them eat what I eat.” Draven spoke with a straight expression and a logical tone that made me feel embarrassed for ever thinking that he had stalked me.

“Oh…” was all I could say.

“But I did do some digging up about your past and present to further enlighten me on the subject that is Odette Valmont.” Draven cracked a foxy smile.

“You what??”