Chapter 43: I Would Definitely
Rushing downstairs, she found her grandma sitting on the sofa, engrossed in a magazine. "Grandma, bye!" she said before quickly grabbing her heels from the shoe cabinet and slipped them on.
"Have fun, dear.." Grandma Grace looked up from her magazine and smiled at Thea.
She hurried out the door, and the cab she had booked earlier was already waiting, so she hopped in.
The cab pulled up to the elegant restaurant, "Bella Vita", in half an hour. Thea paid the fare and stepped out onto the sidewalk, her heels clicking on the floor as she rushed to the entrance. As she pushed open the door, a warm smile from the receptionist greeted her. "Do you have a reservation, ma’am?" the woman asked, as she scanned the booking list.
Thea smiled and replied, "Yes, the reservation is under Charlotte Wright."
The receptionist nodded and a waiter immediately appeared to escort Thea to her table. As he led the way, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Thea’s captivating beauty. "This way, please, ma’am.." he said, politely gesturing to her seat.
They walked through the restaurant, Thea took in the opulent decor. Bella Vita was renowned for its lavish interior, with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and velvet drapes adorning the walls. The atmosphere was sophisticated and intimate, with soft music playing in the background.The waitress led her to a table by the window, offering a stunning view of the city skyline.
Charlotte had already arrived at the restaurant. Thea took her seat across from Charlotte, her expression apologetic. "Sorry I’m late.."
"It’s okay, I’ve only arrived a few minutes ago." Charlotte replied, her eyes scanning Thea’s outfit. "Wait....Why are you wearing a blouse over your dress? Remove it, let me see how my babies are looking today..."
Thea’s confusion deepened. "I don’t understand.." she said, her brow furrowed.
Charlotte’s smile was playful. "Your breasts, darling," she teased, her gaze flickering to Thea’s chest "I’m dying to see how they look in that dress."
Thea was taking a sip of water from her glass when Charlotte’s words caught her off guard, causing her to choke. Her face grew hotter as she protested, "Charlotte, what rubbish are you talking about?" She coughed, her eyes watering, and added sternly, "And please, don’t refer to them as babies!"
Charlotte laughed. "See, see who’s blushing now! I’m simply giving them a compliment."
Thea’s eyes flashed with irritation. "Why are you so fixated on them?" she demanded. "You have your own, don’t you?"
Charlotte, a stunningly tall and pretty woman, stood up, her long legs and dress accentuating her curves. Her bright smile gleamed with mischief."I have, but not as much as full as you have them. Do you want to check?" she continued to tease her.
Thea’s face flushed brighter , "No, no, I don’t want to check! I am not a pervert like you." She squirmed in her seat, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Charlotte chuckled,"You labeled me a pervert, darling," she teased. "Now, let’s get a better view...take off the blouse," she coaxed, her hands fluttering in a dramatic gesture. "I’m dying to see them in all their glory." she purred.
Thea let out a resigned sigh, knowing that Charlotte wouldn’t be swayed. She thought to herself, "Removing it won’t cause a scene here..." Since they were seated in a private room, away from prying eyes,she slowly slipped off the white blouse, revealing a stunning dress underneath.
Charlotte’s eyes grew wide with genuine admiration, and she breathed, "Now it’s perfect!"
"You’re always so dramatic, but I have to admit, I feel pretty in this dress."
"That’s because you are pretty, Thea. Inside and out." Charlotte sat back down and reached out to pat Thea’s hand.
Charlotte’s expression softened, and she offered Thea a charming smile. "Wear the blouse.." she said, her voice gentle and reassuring. "I won’t tease you...after all, you look stunning with it on." Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she winked at Thea.
"You’re being contradictory, Charlotte..First, you told me to remove the blouse, and now you’re saying I should wear it?"
Charlotte’s grin widened,"Well, Thea, it’s quite simple really," she replied. "If you don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself, you should definitely keep the blouse on. I mean, let’s be real, you’re a conservative person, and I know you better than anyone else."
"Now, let’s enjoy our dinner and catch up. I have so much to tell you!".
A waiter arrived with menus, and Charlotte and Thea began to browse. After a few moments, they placed their orders. "I’ll have the grilled salmon," Charlotte said. Thea smiled and added, "I’ll have the chicken fettuccine Alfredo."
Charlotte whispered,"Have you seen the way the waiter was looking at you?" She accompanied her words with a wink.
Thea chuckled, shaking her head. "You and your imagination.."
Charlotte persisted, her grin unwavering. "I’m telling you, he’s captivated by you!"
Thea’s expression turned stern, and she shot Charlotte a warning glance. "Charlotte, keep quiet. Don’t annoy me."
"Oh, ho! Miss Klein is saving herself for someone special, I presume?"
Thea’s face flushed slightly, and she shot Charlotte a warning glance. "Charlotte..."
Charlotte’s grin faltered for a moment before she relented, "Okay, okay... I’ll keep quiet."
"You’ll fill me in when you finally confess to him, right?"
Thea’s eyes locked onto Charlotte’s, "Why should I?"
Charlotte’s smile was gentle, her voice laced with affection. "Because, Thea, best friends share everything. And we’re more than just best friends – we’re sisters at heart."
Thea’s eyes scanned the room after she exited the washroom, and they landed on a familiar face, causing her to pause in surprise. "What is he doing here?" she wondered, her brow furrowing in puzzlement.
Charlotte emerged from the restaurant’s private room, having excused herself to use the washroom. As she scanned the area, her eyes landed on Thea, who was intently staring at someone and she followed Thea’s gaze, her eyes locking onto the same individual.
She walked over to Thea and asked, "Do you know him?"
Thea nodded subtly, her eyes still fixed on the person.
Charlotte’s expression transformed into one of puzzlement. "How come you know the heir of the Thompson’s family?"
Thea’s eyes never left the man, her mind racing with thoughts. "It’s a long story."
"I’ll hear it, wait... first, I need to come back from the washroom.." Charlotte said, already turning to head off in the direction of the restrooms.
Charlotte returned shortly, taking her seat across from Thea. Their food had already arrived, and Thea seemed lost in thought, her gaze drifting towards the sky. Charlotte’s eyes locked onto Thea’s, and she prompted, "Now, tell..."
"We met when I was young and became friends." Thea explained, noticing Charlotte’s puzzled look.
Charlotte’s expression deepened into surprise. "Really, you know Mr. Thompson from your childhood days, yet you never said anything about it to me at all."
"I...I thought it was not necessarily something to share."
"You know my father complimented him a lot. I have met him previously, along with my father, during a business dinner." Charlotte continued, "He spoke highly of his intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit. I was impressed, but I never knew you two were friends."
Thea listened attentively, her eyes locked onto Charlotte’s, as she mentioned him.
After their dinner was finished, they stood up, they stood up and headed to pay the bill . "Let me pay for it, Charlotte."Thea offered.
"No, today I’m paying. You’ll get the next one," Charlotte said with a grin, handing her card to the waiter to cover the bill.
After settling the bill, they turned to go, but Thea stopped in her tracks at the sound of her name. "Thea?" She spun around to find Ryder standing a few steps away, his gaze fixed on her. For a moment, surprise flickered across his face before he took a tentative step in her direction.
"You are here for dinner?"
Thea nodded, her voice calm. "Yes, I came here with my best friend."
Charlotte stepped forward, a polite smile on her face, and extended her hand to shake Ryder’s. "Hello, Mr. Thompson. I am Charlotte Wright. Nice to meet you."
Ryder nodded his head in acknowledgement and shook Charlotte’s hand. Releasing her hand, he turned his attention back to Thea. "Are you heading home?" he asked, his gaze lingering on her.
Thea nodded, "Yes..."
"Going alone or with Miss Wright?"
Thea’s gaze drifted to Charlotte before responding. "I am going with her.."
"Okay, then I will take my leave. I have something to attend to." Ryder said, bidding them goodbye before departing.
Charlotte couldn’t help but turn to Thea with a whisper of admiration. "He looks so handsome," she complimented, her eyes still fixed on Ryder’s retreating figure. "Others seem to lack something compared to his looks and power."
Thea’s voice was laced with curiosity as she asked, "Your Ryan too?"
Charlotte’s smile was playful as she replied, "Hmm... He too. If I hadn’t been so adamant about being with him, I would have definitely preferred to chase after Mr. Thompson..."
