Chapter 8 Not The Strongest Soldier

CHAPTER 8 - NOT THE STRONGEST SOLDIER

Ria was escorted by the restaurant staff to a private room at the back of the establishment. The room was dimly lit, with a single chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the elegant furnishings.

A man was seated at the table, his back to the door. As Ria entered, he stood up and turned around, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit that screamed luxury, and his confident demeanor exuded an aura of sophistication.

Ria's initial bitterness about the blind date evaporated instantly. She was pleasantly surprised, and a small smile played on her lips as she took her seat across from him.

"Hi, I'm Ria Zevon," She said, extending her hand. Her skin flushed, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

He beamed, his charm immediately putting Ria at ease. "Hi Ria, I'm Jay Rees," he replied, gently shaking her hand. His touch was warm, and his voice radiated a soothing warmth that blanketed her stomach.

As Jay pulled back his chair and sat down, Ria caught a glimpse of his broad shoulders and well-groomed appearance. She couldn't help but admire his refined sense of style.

'Good Lord, is it legal to be this handsome?' Ria said to herself, admiring his beauty.

His face could even rival the members of Diadem.

As a designer, Ria could also tell that his stature was better than that of some famous models in the industry.

'God, I'm not your strongest soldier' She said to herself while looking at the pic of Luca she used as her wallpaper.

In her heart, Diadem has always been number one. But someone she just met was trying to usurp that position. She was mesmerized and annoyed at that fact. But, she couldn't let that happen.

"I hope the timing wasn't too inconvenient," Jay asked, trying to alleviate any potential tension. "I know blind dates can be tricky."

"Couldn't be better" Ria replied through gritted teeth.

Jay chuckled, the delightful sound lifting the atmosphere around them. "No worries, Ria. I find the unexpected quite thrilling. And besides, my grandfather has always had great taste, so I trust his choice."

The compliment caught Ria off guard, and a smile tugged at her lips. It was refreshing to meet someone so positive and open-minded.

"That's very kind of you to say," she replied, stealing a glance at her phone before refocusing on Jay.

As the evening unfolded, Ria discovered that Jay was the CEO of Rees Corporation.

It is one of the largest corporations in the country involved in technology and real estate.

The more she listened to him talk, the more she was amazed.

At that moment, she decided to give him a chance if he decided to pursue her. After all, he fits her standard. He was young and rich, tall and handsome, moreover, he had charisma.

He regaled her with tales of breathtaking locations he had visited and spoke passionately about the cultures he had encountered. Their conversation intensified when they discovered a mutual love for literature, bonding over their favorite authors and exchanging recommendations for future reads.

Soon, Ria found herself captivated by his charm and charisma. They chatted about various topics, from their hobbies to their favorite foods, and Ria found herself enjoying the conversation more than she had expected.

The food was served, and they continued their conversation over the delicious meal.

Suddenly, Jay asked her a question that caught her off guard.

"Is that your boyfriend?" he asked, pointing at her phone which was lying on the table, displaying her wallpaper.

Ria looked at her phone and saw the picture of Luca.

She was taken aback by Jay's question, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. She simply smiled, not answering his question.

This led to a misunderstanding, and Jay assumed that the man in the picture was indeed her boyfriend.

He looked slightly taken aback but quickly masked his surprise with a polite smile.

Ria, oblivious to the misunderstanding, continued to enjoy her meal, unaware of the confusion she had just caused.

After the meal, Ria was ready to go home, after all, it was getting late. They exchanged contacts and went out together.

Ria waved goodbye to him and got into her car.

When she got home, the old man who was working in the living room asked her how the date went.

She brushed him off with a summary and quickly went into her room.