Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the restaurant entrance. A group of men, clearly bodyguards, flanked a man as the manager rushed toward him.
He walked with calm, confident steps, commanding respect without a word. Then I saw his face…
My heart skipped. For a moment, it felt like my soul left my body. I couldn't move, I just stared. Those blue eyes… the same hair. I thought I must be imagining it.
No… it can't be. Anyone could have blue eyes and a tattoo like that… but deep down, I knew I was lying to myself.
Then he turned, as if sensing my gaze. I froze. Those eyes so piercing I could have gotten lost in them. Just for a few seconds, then he looked away.
I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath.
"Claire?"
I'd been so lost in my thoughts, I hadn't noticed him enter.
"Yes?" I replied to Richard, forcing my composure.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern in his eyes.
I sipped water to calm my nerves. "I'm fine. Just lost in thought," I said, offering a small smile.
Then I caught Florence's knowing glance. Great. When did she even come back from the restroom?
"Come on, let's dig in," she said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze under the table.
"I need to use the restroom," I said, standing, offering a smile to ease any concern.
As I walked, I realized I had no idea where the restroom was. Perfect.
A waitress approached. "Excuse me, could you show me where the restroom is?"
"Of course," she said, leading the way.
Once inside, I splashed water on my face and stared at my reflection.
Am I seeing things?
He looked just like the man from my memories… the man I had been dreaming about for a month.
The door opened.
"Girl, what's wrong?"
I relaxed slightly, it was Florence.
"Nothing much… just some thoughts," I said, avoiding her eyes.
"You think I'll believe that? I've known you a long time, and this is the first time I've seen you freeze like that. You don't get scared unless something hits your nerves. You look pale spill it, now," she said, arms crossed.
I hesitated, then whispered, "I think I saw my baby's father."
Her eyes went wide, and she grabbed me in a tight hug. "Florence, you're crushing me!" I gasped. She quickly let go of me.
"Holy moly… are you okay?" she asked, eyes dropping to my stomach.
I nodded.
"So… where is he?" she pressed. "I just left you for a few minutes, and everything changed. Tell me!"
"He's here… in this restaurant. I think. I'm not sure if my brain is playing tricks on me," I said, hand on my stomach.
"In this restaurant? Wow. What makes you think it's him?" she asked, hands on her hips.
"The tattoo, his eyes… when he looked at me, his face matched the one in my dreams. But I need time," I admitted.
"Take your time. This is a lot for one day. Let's go back before Richard starts looking for us. We can talk later," she said, squeezing my hand.
"Yeah… let me just fix my face," I said, touching up a little. Sleep and calm were long overdue.
When we returned to the table, Richard was waiting.
"Sorry about that," I said, taking my seat.
"It's alright," he replied with a smile.
"So, who was that man the manager personally attended to?" Florence asked, curiosity piqued.
I glanced at him too, intrigued.
He dabbed his lips with a napkin, placing it back on his lap before answering. "He's the richest man in this country and among the top hundred globally. He also owns this restaurant."
I blinked. That was… a lot.
"Why haven't I heard of him?" Florence asked.
"He's low-key. You probably know his name, just not his face," Richard teased.
"Which…?" Florence leaned forward, both of us eager.
"Adrian Kings. Does it ring a bell?" he said, returning to his food.
"What?!" Florence and I exclaimed in unison.
"He's very private, rarely seen at gatherings. Now, back to our meal," he added with a laugh at our expressions.
"Holy molly…" Florence whispered, drawing curious glances from nearby tables.
"Florence, people are staring," I whispered, trying not to laugh.
Where on earth would I ever meet a man like that?
By the time we finished dinner, I had calmed down.
"Thanks for the meal," I said as we stepped outside.
"It's nothing. Here's my card call me when you get home," he said, handing it to me.
"Alright," I replied, glancing at the card. Richard Franklin.
"I hope to see you again," he said before heading to his car.
I smiled.
"Wow… do you know his family is now among the top three richest in this country?" Florence asked, staring at his black Range Rover.
"I didn't know that," I said.
"Girl, you were just approached by a rich kid not just any rich kid, but the heir of the Franklin Company," she said, eyes shining.
I laughed nervously, shaking my head but deep down, I knew nothing would ever be the same again.