CHAPTER 40: YOU

HARLEM

He leads me to his Rolls Royce and I get in. We drive silently to a restaurant I wouldn’t have touched with a ten-foot pole with my former financial situation and I realize I’m not exactly dressed according to the number of stars rated on that restaurant.

"Uhh, maybe my outfit isn’t the perfect choice... for this restaurant." I say as a chauffeur walks over to open the door and park the car.

Ezra’s eyes slowly trail from my eyes to my feet. SLOWLY. Heat cascades down my entire being and it’s just so silly how my body reacts to such a... heated look. I squirm slightly and he tears his eyes away and looks into my eyes.

"You look perfect, Harlem. Always." He says and I instantly believe him. Yup, I’m doomed.

I bite my lip and look away as my door is opened by the bowing chauffeur. Talk about a whole new level.

Ezra gets out and hands his keys to the chauffeur who is going to park it and we head inside. The woman at the desk by the door looks at us, Ezra specifically, and smiles at him.

"Mr. Roth, welcome. Where would you like to have your dinner?" she smiles at him sweetly.

"Thanks, Ruth. Secluded please." He says and she nods and leads us into a secluded area of the very full restaurant. Ezra places his palm at the small of my back and gently guides me along. I swallow and follow.

I also notice the name of the restaurant is ’Luce d’Elissa’. One of the top five best restaurants in this part of Germany and insanely expensive. It’s a beautiful Italian restaurant with soft music playing, soft lights and fake vines decorating the ceilings. There’s the faint scent of truffle oil and lemon in the air. It gives off a homely vibe. Like a family restaurant but with a thousand-dollar bill. I used to count coins before ordering takeout, now I’m walking into a place that probably charges for breathing.

We sit down and she drops our menus. From the corner of my eyes, I see she looks at my tattoo sleeve warily and I’m too intrigued by this beautiful place to care "Pretty." I mutter.

"You like the place?" I whip my head to Ezra and he’s staring at me with an undecipherable look and I almost forgot he was here. Almost.

I swallow and nod. He smiles and I can’t look away. "It’s my mother’s place actually." He says fumbling somewhat shyly with the menu.

My eyes almost bulge out of my head. No way. The first time I saw Ezra’s mother, I recognized her immediately from one of the fashion magazines I used to read consistently as a child. She is absolutely stunning and I want to look the way she does now at this age. Funny thing is, I didn’t know she birthed THE Ezra Roth. But I guess it makes sense.

"You’re joking. This place is magnificent. I can’t believe I didn’t connect the dots. And can I just say, I’m so honored to have Mrs. Elissa teach us at the agency. I’m actually a big fan." I say enthusiastically.

He just smiles and keeps staring at me. I get self-conscious and stop talking and he notices immediately.

"I like it when you talk. Whatever you say always feels... real. In a way that’s very hard to come across these days."

I stare at him as my heart beats wildly in my chest. What exactly does this man want from me?

I clear my throat "Thank you." I mutter and stuff my face in the menu. He stares a little longer and then goes to look through the menu. Thankfully. Looking at the menu, I have no idea what I’m looking at so I look for the easiest and more known thing, which surprisingly, I found.

After a while he whispers "Have you decided what you want to eat?" I look up at him and he’s looking at me so softly, I wonder if ’displaced person’ is written on my forehead.

I swallow and nod "I think I’ll go with the cous cous dumplings for starters and then the seafood creamy pasta. You?"

He blinks momentarily shocked and I wonder if something is wrong with my order.

"What?" I ask.

He clears his throat "It’s nothing. I just... didn’t expect you to ask about MY order?"

I furrow my brows about to ask what that means when a waiter comes to take our orders. He orders something that has to do with a ’Risotto al Sole’ that’s supposed to be some kind of saffron infused Risotto.

He sees I’m staring at him "My mom is Italian, so it’s only right her food is."

I nod "Do you speak?"

He laughs nervously "A little. I didn’t grow up there so I have an excuse."

I smile and look away. "First time you’re smiling at me since our vacation." He states calmly with a smirk.

I look back at him. For real? "I didn’t know that." I say, nervously fumbling with my napkin.

"Maybe. But that’s why we’re here. So, you can talk to me about it, Harlem. I know I may have fucked up at some point and I’m willing to let you know but I’m going to need you to also open up to me." He says looking at me intensely. I dare not to break eye contact.

"Why?" I ask.

He blinks like I shocked him. "Why are you interested in me?" I clarify.

He stares at me even more intensely and I hold his gaze.

He leans closer and looking me in the eyes with the intensity and heat of a thousand suns, he says "Because it’s you."

The words linger between us, heavy and electric. Somewhere behind us, a glass clinks, but I don’t hear it. I only hear him. I only see him. Ezra Roth.

I feel my stomach erupt into flames and my face go hot. Am I being casted in a Telenovela without my consent? Because this has to be illegal.

I open my mouth to speak but no words come out. "When I said what I said in The Maldives, I had a bit of an... existential crisis. And I’m not proud of it, and cowardice won for a moment. But I promise you Harlem, you did nothing wrong. I don’t expect an answer from you until when you’re ready to give one. And Harlem? I would love to share a box of red velvet cake with you, if you would let me."

Before I know what I’m saying or even comprehend my guts, I speak. "I’m going to Poland tomorrow for my brother’s wedding. Would you like to accompany me?"

Obviously, my mouth has a mind of its own. I caution my self immediately the words come out, this is the CEO of a billion-dollar company who looks like he hasn’t slept for days and I’m asking him to travel with me for my brothers wedding to flipping Poland. Obviously, I have no humanity and selfishness is taking-

"Don’t overthink it, Tamrin. I would go with you even if it’s raining hail." My breath hitches and I look at him. He’s smiling warmly at me. Surely, this day would haunt me for the rest of my life.