Tiffany’s POV
Tiffany followed Shawn into an Italian restaurant she had never been to before. Apparently, it was still really new, so they didn’t need a long-wait reservation like most other eateries scattered around their high-end area.
Aside from being annoying to her when she wanted to roll down his car windows for some fresh air, he hadn’t spoken to her since they’d left the house.
Now, she followed behind him, watching the taper of his broad shoulders into his narrow waist as he walked, being led to an unoccupied table in the far corner of the room by a cheerful waiter. The atmosphere was much better than the first restaurant she visited with Shawn. In fact, it was maybe a little bit too good.
Tiffany looked around warily, feeling a shiver run up her spine. From the decor to the music playing, everything screamed romance. She almost cringed at how obvious it was. Almost every table they passed was occupied by pairs of lovey-dovey couples holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes.
Tiffany cringed internally, trying not to let her thoughts show on her face. Did Shawn bring her here hoping that she would feel what? Special? After humiliating her last night? What was he trying to do?
Shawn’s POV
Shawn’s eyes widened as soon as he stepped into the restaurant. What the hell?
He hadn’t ever been there before, having heard of the newly-opened restaurant just this afternoon from Rachel. In the past, she had always picked their meeting locations, and they had always been classy and high-end, even if sometimes they weren’t really to his tastes. But, since he supposed that was what girls liked, he had decided to bring Tiffany here.
Rachel must not have gone in yet. She’d probably just heard about it from a friend and wanted to try it out, or else she wouldn’t have picked out such a place for them. Everything was quite obviously a set-up for lovers going on a romantic dates.
The waiter finally led them to their table, and they took their seats directly opposite each other in the love-filled atmosphere. Shawn clenched a fist on his knee under the table. Rachel would definitely hear from him after this. She needed to vet her recommendations more thoroughly from now on.
After they ordered, Shawn cleared his throat after a sip of water and leaned over the table. It was time to get down to business.
Before he could begin, Tiffany suddenly spoke up.
“Why am I here, Mr. Gold?” she asked, in that clippy tone of hers. The stern effect she was probably going for, though, was ruined by the soft quality of her voice.
Shawn repressed the urge to roll his eyes. Their food came, the restaurant surprising him with its swiftness. He signaled to the waiter to fill both his and Tiffany’s glasses with red.
“You’re here,” he told her, just as sternly, “For a discussion.”
Tiffany leaned back, crossing her arms as a single brow went up. “And what sort of discussion is that?”
Shawn waited to take a sip before answering her. When he had swirled the wine around his mouth and swallowed, he said, “A discussion about our… arrangement, as it may be.”
Tiffany leaned forward now, maintaining eye contact with Shawn. “Our arrangement?” she asked venomously, “What makes you think I would want any such arrangement with someone like you?”
It was Shawn’s turn to raise a brow in incredulity. “You don’t look too stupid, so I’ll just assume that you’re a really good actor.” The look in his eyes turned hard to match the fiery one in Tiffany’s. “I would suggest you don’t act too well, though. Don’t forget that you have a lot to lose, and I’m not to opposed to letting you lose it.” That was a rule of haggling. Always make them think all the cards were in your hands.
“I have a lot to lose?” The little Miss Dion actually had the gall to laugh, and a spark of rage ignited in Shawn’s chest, quick as a flint. “Do you really think I would believe you’re not getting anything out of this? I know your number, Mr. Gold. Everyone knows how long you’ve just been dying to get that Chairman position, and now that it’s finally within your reach, would you really just let it go? Do you expect me to believe that? You should be begging me to marry you.”
She stopped speaking, eyes wide as if she couldn’t believe the words that had just left her mouth, almost as much as Shawn couldn’t. For a moment, Shawn thought she would apologize, but instead she stubbornly jutted her chin outwards and remained silent.
Shawn stared at her, and she stared back, defiant.
So this was the real Miss Dion. She had finally revealed her true colors. Well, if that washow she wanted to play it, then Shawn would show her what he was really made of.
Tiffany’s POV
Fucking hell.
Tiffany wanted to hit herself. Why the hell did she say all that?!
One moment she had been drinking wine, and all had been fine, but the next thing she knew she was telling Shawn that he should be begging her to marry him. She had never been that rude to anyone before! What was it about this man that just awoke her inner rage.
She wanted to cover her face in shame, but she resisted, jutting ger chin out as if she was proud of every word she had said.
And afterall, why shouldn’t she be? There wasn’t a word of what she said that had been a lie. Shawn shouldn’t be here acting like he was doing her a favor, as if he didn’t have anything to gain as well. Tiffany didn’t take handouts.
Shawn stared at her, and she glared back at him. She had nothing to be ashamed of. He started it, and she had simply fought back.
From the look of it, she had hit the nail on the head. For a moment, she thought he would get up and walk out again, but to her utmost surprise, he suddenly burst out in a low chuckle.
Her ears tingled at the pleasant musical quality of it, even as her pulse jumped at the slight hint of danger she could detect.
Shawn shook his head as he smiled, displaying his gorgeous white teeth. Even though he was laughing, his eyes remained cold and hard. Tiffany matched the stare second for second.
“Well, well, well,” Shawn said, still shaking his head as if amused, “News does travel fast. Well, I won’t pretend, you got me there. Fine.” He raised his hands in mock surrender, the smile slipping off his face as suddenly as it had come.
“You’re right, we both have a lot to lose,” he continued more seriously, “And I know you. I can read you thoroughly. You may act proud, a shallow pretense, but in the end all you want is what you can get. But that’s completely fine by me. So how about we both help each other get what we want? Just don’t do anything to fuck this up.”
Tiffany was clenching her fists so hard that she was sure that there would be deep imprints of her nails in her palms were she to check later.
He was asking her not to do anything to fuck it up? How ridiculous! Since she had met him, he had been acting like he was doing everything in his power to try and fuck everything up.
But still, this was something important, and she wouldn’t let him ruin it for her. She was more mature than that.
Tiffany breathed out, smoothing back her blonde hair with her palm. She picked up her spoon and began to scoop up the pepper soup she had ordered, momentarily ignoring Shawn while she ruminated on her own thoughts.
She let him wait, and after she was done with her soup, she looked up only to find him looking at her with distaste. He had only had a few bites of his pasta in Tiffany’s opinion the plate was still half full – but he seemed to be done with it already. She wrinkled her nose in distaste of her own.
Deciding his eating habits were none of her business, though, she leaned back again, dabbing the sides of her lips with a napkin. When she was done, she finally faced him fully on, ready to talk.
“First,” she said with a faux sweet smile, “I have a few conditions. If you don’t want me to fuck it up, that is.”
Shawn leaned forward seriously, as if it was an important business meeting, which it actually was, if Tiffany thought about it. “I’m listening,” he said.