Just as his tone faded, LIANA replied with a serious expression:
—"She loves you. I hope you love her. And yes, I'll attend."
LEONARD responded, pleased:
—"I just wanted to hear that. I'll be waiting for you tomorrow at my house for a coffee."
—"I don't know where you live. And tomorrow I'm busy," LIANA replied dryly, then casually added, "One question… Are you gay?"
As she said it, she glanced inquisitively at Lucas.
LEONARD let out a soft laugh before replying, amused:
—"If you want, I can prove it to you tomorrow."
—"No need," said LIANA curtly, and hung up.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
—"Who is that man?"
LIANA answered, still serious:
—"A wealthy, good-looking man. A key figure in organizing the annual high society events. He's always invited. But he's promiscuous: every girl he likes, he tries to take her to bed. If it were up to him, he would've had me once or twice already. Though, I must admit, he has influence."
Lucas felt a chill.
—"May I ask why, when he asked that question, you looked at me?"
LIANA smiled.
—"You're handsome… Who knows? Maybe he sees you and falls in love."
Lucas leaned back slightly in his chair.
—"You think too much. God save me from your thoughts. Let's go, or we'll be late for the reservation."
They both left the company and headed to the restaurant. Upon arriving, they walked into the elegant venue and headed to their table. LIANA looked around with a calm smile.
—"The restaurant is nice. I can already imagine how the food will be..."
—"Yes, it's a good place," Lucas replied. "But... can I ask why you look so happy?"
LIANA lowered her gaze slightly, still smiling.
—"I almost never ate in restaurants. I feel insecure doing it. I feel like people are watching me. That's why, when I go out, I try to be accompanied. That way, I feel less vulnerable. Although... I admit that the day I met you, I was eating alone."
Lucas looked at her with a mix of surprise and understanding.
"Even someone like her has insecurities... I didn't expect that, but it's normal," he thought, as she ordered her food with a genuine smile.
—"Aren't you going to order?" LIANA asked.
—"Of course," Lucas replied, and placed his order.
A few minutes later, their food arrived. As they ate, Lucas looked at her with a mischievous smile.
—"Miss… if looks could kill, I'd be dead."
LIANA smiled too.
—"I think I'd be dead too. I don't want to turn around, but... you tell me: who is it?"
Lucas subtly looked.
—"A man. Tall... about my height."
—"So he's quite tall," LIANA joked.
Finally, she couldn't contain her curiosity and discreetly looked over. Upon seeing the man, she thought with a half-smile:
"A cat trying to hunt a phoenix no one has ever tamed."
—"LEONARD is so absurd. But that's not unusual. What is unusual is why he's looking at me so murderously, if he's with AURORA," said LIANA, smiling with satisfaction and cunning. Then she told Lucas: "The guy staring at us is the guy I was talking to on the phone."
Lucas, with a sadistic smile, replied:
—"So that's him..."
—"Don't pay attention. He's on a date with AURORA now," LIANA replied with a smile.
Lucas commented:
—"That young woman is beautiful, but she's with that guy..."
LIANA responded with a cold expression, while eating:
—"Very soon we'll find out that he proposed to her."
—"And what do you think?" Lucas asked.
LIANA answered seriously:
—"AURORA belongs to me, and I'll help her however she wants. But I know she'll suffer in that marriage, even though LEONARD can be a good husband. That's why I let her choose. And she made a good choice, yes... because LEONARD is a man, and he treats women well. She'd have a good financial life. But everything has a price. I guided her, and she accepted. I showed her the good, but not the bad… because then she would've doubted. And I'm not into romantic fairy tales and 'happily ever afters'; I specialize in tragic romance. She will live happily for many years by his side, but that man's thoughts are unstable. He may cheat on her or love her. It all depends on what he chooses."
—"Hmm, if you knew all that... why did you let her choose?" Lucas asked.
LIANA fell silent. It was as if time had stopped in the room. Then she said:
—"She suffered a lot. And a few minutes of happiness are better than a life without any emotion. That's what I think. After all, she belongs to me."
Lucas replied:
—"You're possessive. And tell me, do I belong to you the way AURORA does?"
LIANA smiled with fake innocence:
—"No. You don't belong to me. Because what I truly value is someone capable of listening to me, valuing me, agreeing with what I think... and understanding me like no one else ever did."
Lucas replied with no emotion:
—"I already told you not to flirt with me. Also, that innocent smile you make looks like one of two things: either a threat, or a flirtation. And I need neither."
Meanwhile, AURORA watched from her table as LIANA and Lucas talked. She waved at them from afar, and LIANA and Lucas returned the wave with a smile. Then LEONARD, with a flirty smile, said:
—"Do you know her?"
—"Yes, I know her. More than my friend, she's my benefactor," AURORA replied.
—"And do you know him?" AURORA asked.
LEONARD replied:
—"Yes, I met him by chance. But I hadn't seen that guy before."
AURORA, with a nervous smile, said:
—"I think he's her secretary."
LEONARD, with a flirty smile, said:
—"You know, there are beautiful flowers here… but never a flower as beautiful as you."
AURORA, embarrassed, replied:
—"Men are flattering... liars."
LEONARD said:
—"That phrase sounds familiar."
—"My teacher said that men are liars, but that there are also good men," said AURORA.
—"She's right. And I suppose she's LIANA," said LEONARD.
AURORA nodded.
—"You're as beautiful as her. And thanks to her, I met you," said LEONARD.
—"Thank you..." replied AURORA.
The image fades. LIANA tells Lucas it's time to go, and he nods:
—"As you wish."
They gathered their things and headed home. Half an hour later, they arrived. There was a maid at the door with a robe, and when LIANA arrived, she took it. She took off her clothes and put on the robe.
Lucas, expressionless, said:
—"Isn't there a room to change in?"
LIANA replied:
—"There is, but I always do this. It's a habit. And if it bothers you, I won't do it again."
Lucas said:
—"I don't care, but you know it's bad manners."
LIANA answered:
—"I know it's complicated. I always worry about etiquette and protocol... but I love this," she said, a little annoyed.
Lucas replied:
—"You know? When you get mad and puff your cheeks, you're childish. You look like a panda," he said, walking away.
—"A panda? Couldn't you pick a better animal? Idiot!" LIANA replied.
But Lucas was already far off.
—"I want grapes and scrambled eggs to eat!" LIANA shouted.
Lucas replied:
—"We just had dinner... but of course, orders are orders. And I want strawberries."
LIANA murmured:
—"He's an idiot... but a good butler and secretary."
She went upstairs and entered her room. She looked at it with admiration: it was spacious and incredible. She lay down on her soft bed, but when she tried to sleep, she remembered she was going to take a bath.
She filled the tub with hot water, added salts and body perfumes. While she bathed, Lucas knocked on the door saying:
—"Here are the scrambled eggs and grapes. If you want, I can bring them in."
LIANA, blushing, replied:
—"Come in… but don't look."
—"Okay," said Lucas. He entered without looking at LIANA and set down the grapes and scrambled eggs.
Afterward, he pulled out a notebook and wrote:
> "Her favorite fruit is grapes. And one of her meals, scrambled eggs. What innocent taste for someone like her."
LIANA said from the tub:
—"I can hear you."
—"Goodnight," Lucas replied.