The Royal Contract

Chapter 980: A carbon copy

She stared at her date for a few seconds, looking outside the window of his restaurant. She could turn around and head back to her car before he noticed her or go straight to the door and meet him. It was her only two options. But which one to choose?

Eventually, propriety won.

He seemed a decent man and did not deserve for her not to show up. Besides, what was the worse that could happen? They would have a terrible dinner and would not want to see each other again. Would that be so bad? She doubted.

“I am here to meet with...” But before she could finish talking to the hostess at the front of the fancy restaurant, she was interrupted by the manager.

“Ms. Sarah Richmond.” The man called, and when she acknowledged her name. “Please follow me to your table.” Then, the man ushered her inside the room.

She was expecting to see her date in the room, but he seemed to have disappeared somewhere. Then, she followed the man in his black suit as he guided her further to the far end of the restaurant.

It seemed to be a more private area. But a spacious room for only one table. Or it was stripped of the other tables, leaving only one for this particular occasion. But that sounded ridiculous.

.....

No one would do that for her. Although, she could think of one who would go through the trouble of doing that for her. But this man was not the man she loved.

She was also not the same girl as before. The idea was absurd, stopping herself from making a fuss over such a simple matter. It was a mere coincidence and not a date to win her heart.

“Please take a seat.” The man offered, helping her to the chair. “Mr. Martin will be joining you shortly. Can I offer you a drink?” The man picked up the wine bottle from its ice bucket and was about to pour it into her glass, but she declined.

She did not want to consume alcoholic drinks while breastfeeding her child for as long as she could. It was a small sacrifice she would make for her baby and her health.

Although doctors said it was safe in moderation to drink, she still felt she could wait until she had stopped feeding her child with her breast milk.

“Thank you.” She said before the man left her side, giving her a menu to peruse while she waited.

Suddenly, she felt neglected and alone as she stared at the beautifully decorated room. With the other guests, she would have something alive to observe. Instead, she had nothing else to do but stare at the exquisite paintings on the walls. She had to admit. It was boring.

Suddenly, she regretted not having that drink as she waited. Fortunately, she did not have to wait long as her date finally strolled into the room and joined her.

“I am sorry, Sarah. I did not mean to be late on our first date, especially in my restaurant.” He quickly approached her and apologized profusely, taking her hand and planting a gentle kiss on it.

“That is ok. I understand that you are a busy man.” She said as she pulled her hand gently away from him, not comfortable that he was holding it firmly in his.

“I know this is not the first impression I wish to show you.” He continued as he took a seat next to hers. “But you are right. It was an emergency I could not avoid.” He explained, smiling at her apologetically.

“Anyway, have you chosen anything you wish to order?” He asked as he waved his hand in the air. The man from earlier immediately strode to them with another younger man in tow.

“Everything on the menu seems appetizing. Maybe you can recommend something special.” She suggested, wanting to be gracious to her host.

She dropped her menu since she hardly looked at it and handed it back to the younger boy taking their orders. Her date immediately complied with her request and eloquently dictated their orders.

“I hope you have no allergies because we serve the best seafood dishes in town.” He announced when the two servers left them to be alone again in the room but not before he noticed that she declined the wine from the younger wine.

“You don’t drink?” He asked, lifting the wine glass in his hand while looking at her disbelievingly. “This is our finest wine.” He declared with a bit of curiosity in his tone. “I am sure you will love the sweetness and fruitiness of its flavor.”

“I love a fine wine, but I am abstaining from it while breastfeeding my child.” She bluntly stated, not planning to keep that a secret from him.

Besides, it might be best to get this charade over with, knowing he would lose interest in her once he learned that she recently gave birth to a bouncing baby girl.

No single man, who looked like a very eligible bachelor, would want to be tied into a relationship with a woman who had a child out of wedlock. It was better to get rid of that illusion than to believe in a happy ending.

“Oh!” He looked surprised but not appalled. Was that a good sign? She did not know as she kept her eyes focused on him. Where else would she look when there was no one else around?

“Is it a boy or a girl? But let me guess.” He continued after the initial astonishment. He stared at her face as if studying her, showing no sign that he was uncomfortable about her situation.

“A...” She was about to answer him, but he stopped her.

“Wait, don’t ruin it for me.” He protested as he held his hand before him. “I think it is a girl.” He assumed. “A beautiful and adorable girl who looks like you.”

The beautiful and adorable part was accurate, but looking like her, she begged to differ. She believed Luisa had taken most of her looks from her father. That was why it was harder and harder to look at her every day without being constantly reminded of him.

Her child was a carbon copy of her father. An apple that did not fall far from the tree.