Selina leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her water’s glass.
"So, Mr. Gray. Since we’re both stuck here, having lunch, then we might as well make the most of it, right?"
Gray raised an eyebrow, amused by her reaction. He didn’t even see the girl panic or looked uncomfortable for once.
"You’re awfully calm about being set up."
"I’ve known my grandfather long enough to know he never plays fair," she said with a shrug. "I’m sure he’d stop once he get what he wants"
Gray chuckled. "That;s good then."
"Yes, so just wait a little longer and he won’t bother you anymore."
"I doubt that, but sure," Gray shook his head in disbelief.
Because of what Gray said, the two of them fell into laughter.
The two continued to talk for a few minutes before the waiter returned to take their orders. Selina grilled the sea bass she recommended and Gray followed suit,
As the waiter left, Selina looked at him again. However, this time her gaze was filled with more curiosity than before.
"So," she began, resting her elbow on the table, "aside from saving ky grandfather, what do you actually do?"
Gray glanced down at his drink before answering.
"I run a grocery store."
"A grocery store?" Her eyes lit up with interest. "That’s more interesting than I expected."
He tilted his head. "How so?" His brow rose up, intrigued by it.
"Well, it’s rare. Most guys my age either want to be in finance or tech or trying to build the next big app," she said with a teasing smile. "It’s my first time meeting someone with a grocery store."
"That’s one way to look at it." Gray laughed under his breath.
"Is it your own business?"
"Not exactly," Gray shook his head as his fingers tapped on the table. "It was given to me. It’s a long story."
Selina didn’t press any further when she realized how reluctant Gray sounded. Instead, she nodded slowly. The corner of her lips curled upwards, "It’s sttill impressive."
"You don’t know that yet."
"Oh, I know for sure," she teased out loud, even wiggling her brows.
Gray couldn’t help but laugh at the woman’s antics. She was so different from what he imagined. Adding to that, he didn’t know that they would have a good and smooth conversation like this one.
Their interaction might be a sudden one, but it has been a good time for the both of them.
He didn’t know if they were just lucky or maybe it was also because the two of them did not find anything serious about the setup.
Their food arrived not long after. The waiter served them a perfectly grilled fish plated on top of roasted vegetables, drizzled with lemon butter sauce. The moment Selina took her first bite, she gave him a pointed look.
"Well?" she asked even if her mouth was still half full.
Gray tried his own and raised his eyebrows in surprise. The moment he took a bite, the food just melted in his mouth while the different flavors bursted.
"Okay... I’ll admit. It’s good."
"I told you."Selina leaned back smugly. A smile crossed on her lips as she continued eating.
Gray looked at her again. He was still eating, but her gaze seemed to not leave her.
There was something easy about her. It was like she wasn’t trying to impress him, but was effortlessly doing it anyway.
She was sharp but not arrogant. She was poised but not stiff. She was Bbeautiful, but not just that.
For a moment, Gray forgot this whole thing started as a setup.
The two continued eating, the conversation shifting naturally between them. They talked about food, travel, her work with charity, his rough mornings at the grocery store, and even laughed about how weirdly smooth Conrad had orchestrated the whole meeting.
Just like that, time passed quicker than Gray expected.
Before long, their plates were nearly empty, and Selina had finished her second drink.
Gray leaned forward, a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
"So... what happens now? Do we tell your grandfather this was a disaster?"
Selina smirked. "Mmm. Depends."
"On what?"
"If you’re planning to ask me to lunch again," she said casually, picking up her water glass.
Gray paused for a second, a little caught off guard. Then he smiled. A real one.
"...I might."
Selina lifted her glass toward him. "Then let’s not call it a disaster just yet."
He tapped his glass lightly against hers.
"Deal."
As they finished their meal, the sun was already a little higher in the sky. The conversation between them had softened now. There was also no more awkwardness.
Just two people chatting like they know each other for month.
Selina reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.
"So... do I get to text you sometime, or is this a one-lunch stand?"
Gray let out a breath of a laugh. He pulled out his own phone with a smirk.
"Here. Let’s trade."
They exchanged numbers quickly. There was no dramatic hesitation. It was just a simple exchange, smooth and easy.
Gray checked the time, and suddenly, the relaxed air around him tightened a bit.
"Ah... right. I actually have a meeting in about an hour."
Selina blinked, then nodded.
"Oh, sure. No problem."
Gray stood and grabbed his blazer from the back of his chair, straightening it quickly.
"Thanks for, uh... going along with this."
She looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks for not running the moment you saw me."
"You too," Gray laughed.
"I’ll go now," Gray gave her a final nod before heading toward the patio’s exit. Selina watched him go with that same unreadable smile she wore when she first arrived.
As Gray stepped out of the cafe, the warm sun hit his face. He breathed in deeply, walking toward the car that Daniel had parked just across the street.
"Not bad," Gray muttered to himself, the faintest smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
"That really wasn’t bad at all."
But the moment he opened the car door and sat inside, reality snapped back in.
"Oh, shit. The supplier meeting."
His smile dropped almost instantly.
’Focus, Gray. You’ve got a negotiation to win.’