Samantha turned around but saw no one.
"I don't see anyone."
"I thought I saw him..." James frowned. His phone vibrated, and he answered.
"Where are you? ... What? Can't you make it? But you said you were almost done with work... okay, bye."
He hung up and looked apologetically at Samantha. "He couldn't make it. That was his PA. He's working on an important project."
Samantha tried to hide her delight but scoffed before she could stop herself, quickly covering her mouth.
James chuckled. "What? You don't believe David's hardworking?"
Samantha stayed quiet.
She knew a different Dave from the one in the tabloids and the gossip from Catherine and Natalie: the party trooper, the drug addict, the playboy, and the weirdo. Parents always saw the best in their children, even when everyone else in the world knew otherwise.
"I never said that, sir. I just remembered something else. I'm sorry."
James stared at her for a while without saying anything. "Okay. I'll believe you, but I'm sorry you wasted your time."
"My time wasn't wasted. I met you, sir." Samantha smiled.
"Don't call me sir; call me Dad. You're more or less a daughter to me now."
"Da-Dad?" Samantha pulled a face.
James laughed. "Don't worry, take your time. We have a lot of time to get to know one another." He looked up and saw three waiters approaching with the food. "I asked your father about your likes and dislikes. I hope you love it."
The waiters placed the row of food on the table. Everything looked beautifully presented and delicious.
"This is beautiful," Samantha said, a catch in her voice.
"I'm glad you love it."
James's phone vibrated again. He looked at it and sighed. "I'm sorry, Samantha, but I need to leave now. I have an important meeting."
"No problem."
"When you're done, the driver will take you back."
James stood up to leave. Samantha stood up as well. He pulled her into a sudden embrace, catching her off guard.
"Welcome to the family."
He pulled away and walked out of the restaurant. Samantha stared at his retreating figure, stunned. She turned back around, sat down, and focused on the food in front of her. Seeing the food reminded her how hungry she was, so she ate.
[|]
Samantha stepped out of the restaurant feeling refreshed. She walked down the stairs toward the waiting car. A man was walking into the restaurant. She noticed him.
"Chris?"
The name left her lips before she could stop it. He paused at the sound of his name, surprised.
"You?"
"Wha–what are you doing here?"
Chris scoffed and rolled his eyes. "What? Surprised to see me after disappearing on me?"
"Wha—what are you doing here?"
Chris scoffed and rolled his eyes. "What? Surprised to see me after disappearing on me?"
"Are you stalking me?" Samantha asked, taking a step back from him.
He laughed. "What? How the hell could I be stalking you?"
"You're saying you just happened to come here? To The Manor, after I left you last night, and I'm not supposed to be skeptical?"
"Seeing you here is a coincidence. Whether you choose to believe that or not is none of my business."
Samantha nodded to herself. "Okay, got it. It was a coincidence," she said more to herself. "Let it stay that way. Let's never meet again. Have a great life...bye."
She turned quickly and headed down the stairs. A hand stopped her as she reached the second-to-last step. A strong arm spun her around, and she found herself facing Chris's angry eyes.
"And who said you could leave?"
Samantha swallowed hard. This wasn't the gentle lover from last night. His voice was full of rage, but she wasn't about to be bullied.
She yanked his hand away. "Who the hell do you think you are, grabbing me like that?"
Chris chuckled, a dark, dangerous sound. "I saw you dining with the billionaire James Rice. Wait... is he your sugar daddy?"
"I knew it. You were stalking me. How long have you been following me?" Samantha's eyes narrowed. "You figured out who I was and planned to blackmail me? You think I'll let you get away with that?"
"Answer the question I asked," he growled.
She shrugged. "I don't want to."
"I thought we had something together," he moved closer, his voice lowering, "We got married!"
Samantha's eyes widened. "That was fake."
His eyes narrowed, and his fist clenched. "It didn't feel fake to me."
"But it doesn't matter," Samantha began. "You asked why I was dining with Mr. James Rice? Well, I'm getting married to his son."
"WHAT?" Chris asked, stunned. "You were-"
"Yes," Samantha cut in, nodding. "I was with you in Las Vegas, but it was nothing. It meant nothing."
Chris's eyes darkened. "Nothing? You're saying what we had was nothing?"
Samantha clenched her jaw and moved closer. "Read my lips: nothing. It was nothing." She needed to shut this down quickly. "You're a good-looking man, Chris. What we had was a one-night stand that lasted a bit too long. I chose you because you looked like someone I'd never cross paths with again."
"You have audacity!"
"Audacity? That's not me; that's you." Samantha laughed and took a few steps back, eyeing him from head to toe. "You're the one who caught feelings from a fling. Who really has the audacity here, sir?"
"Wait," His voice softened. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "We had something. I was your first. I don't know if what I feel is love, infatuation, or if I just miss you... but I want to explore whatever it is...with you."
Samantha stared into his eyes. Their clarity made her chest tighten. His touch felt warm, and he sounded sincere, but the image of her father lying in a hospital bed flashed in her mind. She stepped away.
"Chris," she said calmly.
"Yes?"
"This is a business marriage. A lot of people's lives are riding on it — jobs, futures. Yes, we had something. I knowingly did it. I wanted to lose my virginity to a stranger in Las Vegas. Honestly, any stranger would have been fine. It just happened to be you. It... it didn't make you special to me. So forget you ever met me. I'll do the same."
Chris turned around and then looked back at her, his eyes filled with tears. "That man... do you love him?" He waved a hand dismissively before she could reply. "It doesn't matter who you love if you think you can marry someone else after what we shared. You don't know me yet, Sam. But you will."
"Wh-what?" Samantha's eyes widened in fear. "Are you delusional?" She slapped her palm against her forehead repeatedly. "Chris, what we had was a fling."
"STOP! Stop calling it that!"
"Bring your FUCKING voice down!"
Chris stepped closer, leaning in so he was at eye level. He whispered, "I said, stop calling it a fling."
"Fling. A fling. I said Fling!" Samantha shot back, her face tight with anger. "What are you going to do about it?"
He glanced at her lips and smirked. Samantha caught the look and instinctively stepped back — only to trip and fall. He caught her in mid-air, and she landed against his chest, her feet off the ground, body pressed tightly to his.
He stared into her soul. She swallowed hard. The feel of his solid body against hers was so...
"No!" She pushed away from him. Surprisingly, he let her go. She looked up, glaring. "Leave me alone!"
"You were falling. I helped."
"Whether I fall or sink, it's none of your business. I'm getting married in three weeks, and nothing will stop that."
Chris chuckled darkly. "Are you sure about that?" His eyes glinted dangerously.
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," Samantha snapped.
"That doesn't matter," he said, his voice low and ominous. "Because I'm now in New York...and so are you."