Chapter 10 Leave me out of this

Nina met Sulia's hostile eyes and felt a sinking dread. Lucien Gray is nothing but bad luck, she thought bitterly. Why does trouble always follow him? All she wanted was to do her job and avoid any unnecessary conflict, but now she found herself caught in the middle of Sulia's misplaced jealousy.

Sulia's sharp gaze bore into her, making Nina's stomach twist. What did I do to deserve this? She wasn't involved with Lucien, and she certainly didn't want to be. The last thing she needed was someone like him causing more chaos in her already difficult life.

Glaring at Lucien, Nina quickly tried to distance herself from any connection to him. "No, no, no! I don't know Gray, and I've never met him!" she blurted out, her voice tinged with desperation. She didn't want this arrogant man ruining her peace any further. But Lucien's reaction was far from what she expected.

His eyebrow arched slightly, his dark eyes narrowing as if challenged. He was clearly not used to being dismissed so easily, especially not by a woman. Is she serious? he thought, surprised. Most women would jump at the chance to win his favor, yet this one seemed determined to push him away. His lips curled into a slight smirk. Is this a game of hard-to-get?

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon," Lucien said, his voice low and taunting, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he studied her reaction.

Nina's pulse quickened, her hands instinctively moving to put distance between them. "What are you talking about, sir? I don't understand!" she replied, trying to edge away from him. His imposing presence made the air feel thick, and she struggled to breathe under the weight of his gaze. I hate arrogant men like him!

Lucien crossed his arms casually, blocking her path with his body. He watched her futile attempts to escape with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "Don't understand?" he said, his tone mocking. "Then how do you know my last name is Gray?"

Nina's heart skipped a beat. Damn it! She had said too much. In her mind, she cursed him silently. Who cares if your last name is Gray or Charles? Just get out of my way! But outwardly, she forced herself to play innocent, her eyes downcast, her voice soft. She wanted nothing more than for him and Sulia to continue their flirtation and leave her out of this mess.

Sulia, sensing something off with Lucien's behavior, couldn't bear it any longer. She needed to reclaim his attention. She wasn't going to let some insignificant waitress steal the spotlight. "Can't you see my glass is empty?" Sulia said sharply, pointing to her wine glass while giving Nina a disdainful once-over, her gaze lingering on Nina's worn sneakers.

Nina quickly snapped back to her duties. She grabbed the pitcher and poured water into Sulia's glass, her movements stiff and mechanical. She could feel Lucien's eyes on her the entire time, his gaze burning into her. What's so fascinating? she thought bitterly. Have you never seen a waitress pour water before?

As she filled the glass, her hands trembled slightly under the pressure of the moment. She forced herself to breathe, relieved that her task was almost over. She was just about to excuse herself and switch tables with her coworker Jennie when Sulia's voice, icy and commanding, stopped her in her tracks.

"Pass me the glass," Sulia demanded, her tone dripping with arrogance.

Nina handed it over carefully, but before she could release her grip, Sulia yanked it deliberately. The glass slipped from their hands and crashed onto the floor with a loud "clink!" Water splattered across Sulia's expensive dress.

Before Nina could even react, Sulia's hand whipped across her face, the slap resounding through the restaurant. The sharp sting of the slap left Nina momentarily frozen in shock.

"How dare you!" Sulia shrieked, her face twisted with rage. "Do you know how expensive this dress is? You couldn't afford to pay for it even if you worked here for three years!"

Nina's cheek throbbed painfully, but it was the humiliation that hurt the most. She stood there, stunned, as the entire restaurant seemed to hold its breath.

Sulia grabbed onto Lucien's arm, batting her eyelashes coquettishly. "Lucien, look at what she did! My dress is ruined. You'll take me shopping for a new one later, won't you?"

Lucien looked down at Sulia with a cool expression, his eyes unreadable. There was something in his gaze that made Sulia falter, a flicker of panic crossing her face. What's wrong with him today? she thought, biting her lip nervously. He wasn't reacting the way she had expected. He wasn't paying attention to her at all.

Instead, Lucien's gaze returned to Nina. Sulia's heart sank. No. This can't be happening. He's supposed to be mine. This little waitress can't come between us! Desperation clawed at her, but Lucien's indifference only fueled her growing fear.

Nina, still reeling from the slap, met Lucien's eyes with a fiery glare of her own. She wasn't going to let Sulia-or Lucien-bully her into submission. Who do they think they are? But deep down, she felt a growing sense of dread. This situation was spiraling out of control.