Chapter 199: saturday X

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: saturday X

Damian’s eyes remained on Vivienne.

She was still staring at her screen, a subtle progression of expressions rippling across her face: a soft smile, a sudden flush, and then the tight press of her lips as she tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the corners of her mouth from rising.

His jaw tightened.

What was she thinking about?

What on earth was in that message?

Before he could stop himself, he leaned closer—just enough to glance over her shoulder.

Vivienne didn’t notice.

She was too absorbed in whatever thoughts had occupied her mind.

Damian read the message.

I’ll send you the name later. I have to go change first.

He frowned.

What was that supposed to mean?

He didn’t know what Christopher had written before this.

He couldn’t.

There was only one message on the screen.

And yet somehow, those words were enough to ignite a surge of irritation in his chest.

He looked up, only to realize that they were much closer than he had intended.

Only a few inches separated their faces.

Close enough that he could see the faint flush spreading across her cheeks.

Close enough to notice the tiny movement of her lashes whenever she blinked.

He could count them.

The realization made him pause.

She was breathtaking.

Even when she was smiling at someone else.

Especially when she was smiling like that.

His gaze lingered.

He should have moved away.

Instead, he remained anchored to the spot.

Vivienne was completely unaware of him.

She was thinking about Christopher.

That much was obvious.

The irritation curdled into quiet frustration.

He had been trying all morning to make her notice him.

He had dressed carefully for her.

Waited for her.

Walked beside her.

Carried her bag.

Sat beside her.

Touched her hair.

And now—

She was sitting inches away from him, smiling at another man’s message as though Damian weren’t even there.

His eyes lowered to her phone.

Vivienne began typing.

Damian watched her fingers move across the small keypad.

She was going to reply.

Again.

Something inside him finally snapped.

Before she could finish, his hand moved over hers.

His palm covered her fingers.

Vivienne froze, her eyes widening.

For a brief second, neither of them moved.

Damian could feel the warmth of her hand beneath his.

His heart immediately began pounding.

But he didn’t pull away.

Instead, his fingers closed around the phone.

He slowly took it from her hand.

Vivienne blinked.

"Damian—"

She looked at her suddenly empty hand.

"What are you doing?"

Damian met her eyes.

"I’m confiscating this."

Her brows shot up.

"You’re what?"

He calmly slipped the phone from her grasp.

"Your phone."

"I know it’s my phone."

"Then you understand."

"I was typing."

"I noticed."

She stared at him.

"I wasn’t finished."

"You can finish later."

Preferably never.

Vivienne reached for it.

Damian lifted his hand out of reach.

"Damian."

"No texting during lunch."

"We haven’t even ordered yet."

"Exactly."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Then give it back."

"No."

She reached again.

Damian extended his arm toward the opposite side.

She leaned across him.

"Damian."

"No."

"I’m in the middle of typing a message."

"You can finish later."

"I need to reply."

"You can reply after lunch."

Vivienne reached again.

He moved the phone farther away.

She leaned closer.

Far too close.

Her shoulder brushed his.

Then her arm pressed lightly against his.

Damian’s heart thudded.

Once.

Twice.

Vivienne seemed completely unaware.

She was too focused on retrieving her phone.

"Give it to me."

"No."

"You’re impossible."

"Perhaps."

She reached again.

This time, she was almost leaning over him.

Damian’s entire body went rigid.

He could feel the warmth of her beside him.

He could smell her perfume.

And all he could think was—

This is very similar to the scenes in his dream.

Except in the dream, she had understood what he wanted.

Here...

She hadn’t even realized what she was doing to him.

Vivienne made another attempt.

She overextended her reach.

Her balance shifted.

"Ah—"

Before Damian could react, she toppled sideways, tumbling straight onto his lap.

Her hands caught against his chest for support.

Damian stopped breathing.

So did she.

For one stunned second, neither of them moved.

Every thought vanished from his mind.

Oh, no.

Absolutely not.

He could not let her notice.

"Vivienne..."

His voice came out far lower than he intended.

She looked up.

Their faces were only inches apart.

She blinked, seemingly more surprised than embarrassed.

"I—"

Damian swallowed.

His hand came to her arm.

Then the other.

He gently guided her back toward her side of the bench, careful to make the movement seem completely natural.

"Careful."

Vivienne straightened, still looking slightly bewildered.

"I was just trying to get my phone."

"I know."

His hands lingered for half a second longer than necessary before he finally released her.

He immediately shifted his attention toward the phone in his other hand, willing his expression back into something resembling composure.

Vivienne adjusted herself on the bench.

Then looked at him.

"You could have just given it back."

"No."

Her brows drew together.

"Why not?"

"Because you’re going to keep texting."

She stared at him.

Then shook her head.

"You’re ridiculous."

"Perhaps."

She reached for the phone again.

Damian lifted it out of reach.

"Damian."

"After lunch."

"We haven’t even ordered."

"You’ve made that point."

"Because you’re not listening!"

A small smile threatened at the corner of his mouth.

She was finally looking at him.

Finally arguing with him.

Finally paying attention to him instead of Christopher.

Maybe Julian had been right.

Getting Vivienne’s attention didn’t require some grand gesture.

Apparently, all Damian had to do was steal her phone.

Then—

"Excuse me, sir?"

They both froze.

A waiter stood beside the table.

His gaze flicked briefly between them before settling on Damian’s raised arm.

"Did you need something?"

Damian slowly lowered his arm.

Vivienne immediately sat properly beside him.

"No," Damian said, clearing his throat. "I apologize."

The waiter smiled politely.

"I thought you were calling me."

"No."

A beat.

"Sorry."

"Not a problem."

The waiter opened his notebook.

"Have you had a chance to decide?"

Vivienne looked at Damian.

He was still holding her phone.

She narrowed her eyes.

He gave her an innocent look.

She sighed.

"I’ll decide myself."

"Of course."

Damian slipped the phone into his pocket.

Vivienne immediately noticed.

Her eyes widened.

"You’re still keeping it?"

"For now."

"Damian."

"After lunch."

She gave him an incredulous look.

He couldn’t help the faint smile that appeared.

At least now...

She was looking at him.

And, judging by the warmth still lingering beneath his collar, he desperately needed a moment to recover before she noticed anything else.

--

Tbc