He sat across the room, his brooding presence was impossible to ignore. Their eyes met, and her heart twisted. He shouldn’t be here. Especially not at a secluded restaurant .
He was with someone; a date. Heather knew it was a woman, given the pair of heels under the table.
But there was a waiter taking their order, in the process, he was standing infront of the date. When he shifted, and Heather caught a glimpse of the woman sitting with Caius.
Heather didn’t miss how her dress barely counted as one—tiny and tight, riding up her thighs like she wanted the whole room to notice.
Her legs crossed, and her hand twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger. Her chest pushed up, revealing her front meat. Though her smile was lazy and satisfied, her dress screamed "fuck me." The look said "he might."
She looked at Caius again. His stare hadn’t wavered. His eyes were locked on her — dark and furious.
If he was here with Lauren, why look at her like she was the one caught in the act? Like he was about to storm over, put a bullet through Jake, and drag her out.
Jake’s voice broke her trance. "What are you thinking of ordering?" His eyes flicked to the menu. "I was considering the truffle risotto, but... maybe I should go with something new."
Heather barely heard him. Her focus stayed on Caius and his possessive stare burning holes through her.
"I’ve never tried grilled octopus," Jake mused. "Always been too... stiff to try new things." His words carried the faintest irritation with himself, like he hated how rigid he could be.
"Then try it," Heather urged, forcing her attention back to the table, offering a smile.
The waiter returned to take their order. Jake peppered him with questions about the octopus, the spice level, the preparation — every detail.
Heather’s attention drifted again. Caius still hadn’t looked away. His gaze was heavy, suffocating, simmering with something she didn’t know.
"Where did you go just now?" Jake’s hand brushed hers gently, snapping her back.
"I’ve been trying to get your attention. The waiter’s asking what you want."
She caught Jake’s brief glance toward Caius, but he looked away just as fast.
"I’ll have what he’s having," she said quickly.
The waiter jotted it down and left.
Was he jealous? She’d never seen him jealous or possessive — not with her.
Her phone chimed. A text from him lit the screen. [Leave.]
Heather exhaled as slid the phone aside, and leaned in closer to Jake, just to make sure Caius saw.
Jake’s brows lifted. "Is he always this possessive?"
"I don’t know what’s gotten into him."
Jake sipped his water. "If I saw my wife having dinner with another man, I’d be possessive too. Did you tell him you were coming?"
Jake didn’t comment, but his expression said enough.
"Why are you even married to someone you clearly can’t stand?" he asked.
"It makes my son happy."
Jake paused. "You have a son?"
"Five..." Jake let that sink in. "Do you know who the father is?"
Heather hesitated, dread curling in her chest. "Caius."
Jake leaned back, confused. "I... don’t understand this situation."
"We were married, divorced... then I found out I was pregnant."
Jake’s frown deepened. "Did he know you were pregnant when you left?"
Heather didn’t answer. She didn’t want to talk about the past; some memories were better left buried.
Jake sighed, forcing a smile. "We turned our dinner into a therapy session about your husband. That’s... unexpected."
"I don’t want to talk about him."
"It’ll be hard to ignore those eyes," Jake muttered, his gaze briefly flicking to Caius.
Heather’s phone vibrated on the table again. There was another message, she raised her phone to her face. But it wasn’t from Caius this time — it was a picture.
Lauren, leaning close to Caius in a seductive way. The caption read: One pretty face is all it takes.
Heather only stared at the photo. Caius’s eyes in the photo weren’t even on Lauren. His attention was somewhere else entirely.
She didn’t need to guess where. He was still watching her.
When Heather turned around, she almost flinched. The weight of Caius’s stare pressed against her. It could only be compared to a storm rolling in.
His eyes burned with so much intensity, it made her skin prickle. She could barely breathe under it.
"I’ll be right back," she told Jake, forcing a smile as she slipped out of her seat.
She made her way to the ladies’ room, her heels tapped against the polished floor, her heart pounded a little too fast.
Once inside, she turned the faucet on and let the cold water run over her hands, watching the ripples.
She wasn’t ready to face him. She could still feel his stare even though he wasn’t here.
She looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting a loose strand of hair, as she straightened her shoulders. Her reflection stared back, calm on the surface, but her pulse betrayed her.
The door creaked open behind her. She didn’t have to look to know who it was.
The soft click of the lock turned. The subtle sound of leather shoes stepped closer.
She met his reflection in the mirror. Caius straightened his jacket, jaw clenched, and eyes storm-dark. His energy filled the room before he even spoke.
"You mind telling me what the hell you’re doing here?" His voice was low, though rough.
Heather held his stare through the mirror, keeping her expression calm. "What does it look like? I’m on a date." She turned around, crossing her arms loosely in front of her.
His jaw flexed as he took a step closer. "With him?" His voice dipped lower, almost dangerous.
She shrugged, casual on the outside, but her heart was racing. "Yes. With him. I didn’t realize I needed your approval."
Caius closed more of the space between them, now just inches away. "You don’t belong here with him, Heather."
A small laugh escaped her lips, but it lacked humor. "But you belong here with Lauren?" She tilted her head slightly, biting back the sting building in her throat. "Or are you allowed to play games but I’m not?"
"You don’t get it," Caius muttered, eyes darkening, and his voice was tight with restraint. "Jake isn’t someone you want to be around. He only wants to—"
"To sleep with me?" Heather cut him off, her eyes sharpened. She took a step forward now, boldness creeped into her voice. "Is that all I’m good for? That’s what you think, right? So every man I talk to only wants the same thing?"