"I'm not," I respond lowly, rolling my eyes away from the smirking man in front of me.

"If that's true then how about I get her number after this. I mean, if you don't mind," he challenges sarcastically as he lays back in his chair a little more casually. His arms resting in the leather armrests on both sides of the chair.

"You wouldn't," I challenge back, squinting my eyes at the man before me. My exterior showing a great deal of confrontation while a wave of insecurity passes through me, internally.

He probably would.

The subconscious thought lingering a little longer before The insecurity runs through to my core. I can sense the muscles in my face tense like they usually do when I start thinking. Crap. I know I look stupid right now. I try to slowly cover up my expression with a sorry attempt at a poker face. Come on, Jules.

Victor leans in, obviously amused by this.

"Babygirl, you really are jealous," He says mischievously with a cocky smirk playing out on his structured face. I squirm at the thought, trying to suppress the blush in my cheeks at the way he just called me babygirl. The way the pet name, I've never heard before, rolls off his tongue in his silky but gruff voice sends butterflies through my being.

He proceeds to push his hands against the table to inch his head over to my end, deathly slow. I watch in silence but also slight eagerness as his intense stare holds onto mine. He ends up with his face a few inches away from mine. His minty breath infiltrates my personal bubble causing a shivering breath to pass in between my slightly open lips.

"I'm here with your entrees," The waitress interrupts as the door bursts open, causing both of us to expel a hefty breath as if we were both holding one in. Victor vehemently bites the inside of his mouth with a slight roll of his eyes as he gradually eases back into his seat. I mentally thank her, even though her existence brings out insecurity within me. I wasn't ready for all of that, but I'll admit a part of me craves that feverish intensity.

All my thoughts seem to dissipate once I get a whiff of the scorching hot plate placed in front of me. The smell of stir-fried vegetables nearly causes me to drool. The masterpiece before me reminded me of my love for food in that instant.

The plate consists of two huge pieces of smoked ham lying in some sauce that holds a similar consistency and color as soy sauce. The aromatic sweet smell is something different but comforting at the same time. It smells of home in a sense, whatever that means.

My hand naturally gravitates towards my fork and knife. I beginning digging in by slowly cutting through the tender piece of ham with my knife and shove the piece into my mouth as if someone was going to snatch it from me at any second. It's obvious I haven't had a good meal since I've gotten to USO. Cup Ramen and frozen chicken nuggets have become my idea of a luxurious meal.

"Jules, the food isn't going anywhere," Victor assures as he slowly chews and indulges in his meal in a more sophisticated manner. His plate of roasted chicken breasts with sautéed asparagus is something of a masterpiece as well.

My face heats and I slow down my pacing, "Sorry." My chowing down ceases in the midst of my current state of embarrassment. I grab ahold of the napkin folded neatly beside my set of utensils and wipe around my mouth.

"I never said you had to stop. Enjoy yourself," Victor says, his sharp eyes stuck on me as if enjoying the sight he sees.

"Okay," I reply as I wipe the corners of my mouth with the cloth napkin, trying to salvage the rest of my image. You've already tainted any sort of image you thought you had, Jules.

"You're cute when you blush," Victor comments as he leans back in his chair, wiping his mouth with his own cloth napkin. He bunches it up to place it on the table, continuing to watch me with those distinct caramel, hazel eyes. I become entranced by the way his eyes basically glow under the sparse, but bright lighting in the room. The light bouncing off the orbs, causing them to shine brighter than before.

This has got to be a joke. What type of movie type shit am I in?

My hand instinctively conceals my mouth since this consistent admiration is something so foreign. I feel an uneasiness about accepting something I feel so unworthy of.

"Stop," I plead. "You're being corny again," I whine, trying to prevent another person from saying things they don't mean.

I look away shyly, trying to find anything else to look at besides the man before me.

"Jules, you need to know your beautiful."

The statement brings me back, forcing my attention to Victor. A disappointed look runs across his face as he cocks a brow at me.

"W-What?" I ask, tired of melting under his gaze.

"It's crazy to me that you don't know that," He shakes his head in astonishment, his brows narrowing inwards as he rests his elbows on the table.

We need to move on. I can't take this overload of flattery.

"So... You're a business rep, yeah?" I question, ultimately curious about how we ended up here in the first place. I find myself nervously stuffing another piece of ham down my throat, desperate to get the attention off of me.

His shoulders are visibly tense as he sits up in his seat. A flash of dissatisfaction spreads across his face when he pulls his top lip into his mouth. He suppressed his uneasiness with a confident smile as he makes eye contact with me, once again.

"You'd be correct. I work in the scientific research branch of Felix Industries," he reports dryly before taking a sip of his water.

Felix Industries, huh. The same Felix Industries that every recent graduate at USO hopes to get an internship at. The company is well-known, especially in this part of Orlando makes it the prime spot for recent grads trying to find their way into whatever industries they hope to find careers in. You can't miss its existence since its billboards and advertisements litter every corner of the highly populated city.

Explains his car.

"I didn't know we had a genius on our hands?"

He snickers, seeming to find himself once again, "I wouldn't say all that," he replies conservatively, being oddly mindful of his arrogance.

"No, but really, that's amazing. You're kind of living out one of my dreams," I drone off shrugging my shoulder, suddenly feeling shy talking about myself. How'd I end up doing the exact opposite of what I didn't want to do? My eyes gloss over the intricately patterned carpet that makes up the floor of the private room.

I can see Victor suddenly lean in from my peripheral, seemingly interested once again. He steadies and widens his eyes at me.

"What's that dream?" A contagious smirk creeps onto his face as he asks the question. The slight wrinkles around his mouth blend into his dimples.

I giggle. Was that a giggle? You don't giggle.

"I... I want to work in biological research one day." My voice lightens when I start thinking about my future career. The career I've been chasing since middle school.

"Y'know, studying cell growth and how to manipulate it. I've always been interested in the realm of innovative biological exploration. One day I think that cancer cell growth can be manipulated so that we could learn how to control those cells from growing and amassing," I jabber on without taking a breath.

Shit, Jules. I realize that I've gone off on my usual nerdy tangent again. You've lost him.

He raises his brow which instantly causes me to want to coil up and dissipate until a familiar smile appears on his face.

"I'm beginning to think that you're the genius in this relationship."

Relationship?

I playfully scoff at his remark. "No way. I'm just really passionate. Enough about me and my astronomical aspirations, tell me more about your work."

"Well, we do business with multiply foreign industries ranging from hospitality and finances, all the way to scientific research. Since I'm involved in the branch of the applied sciences, I deal with the latest in revolutionary scientific research. I kind of run the department, despite not knowing much about science. I just act as the brains behind the business side of things." He nods nonchalantly as if he didn't just admit the boss shit he does for a living.

What the hell is he doing here with me? I don't belong here.

"Oh my gosh. That's kind of a big deal," I chuckle nervously, "I mean...What are you doing here with me?" My darned inability to keep my mouth shut takes center stage. "Out of all the more appealing women in the world, you want to go on a date with me?"

He scoffs, his head turning to the side briefly before facing back in my direction as he leans in. "Because Jules... you're a person that I find quite intriguing. You don't strike me as those other 'appealing women in the world'," He exaggerates quotation marks with his fingers.

I take notice of how swiftly he jumps from a chill, pacified tone to a more acute one, in mere seconds.

"What makes you think that?" My face heats up as I stare at his vulnerable appearance in front of me. I drop my head down, looking at my fingers nervously twirling in my lap.

I don't mean to be dismissive, but most of the time I try to avoid sentimental moments like such, because they force me to reflect on my own problems. No one's really made me feel this special and it feels strange, to say the least.

I look up to face the man in front of me. The gorgeous man that was willing to waste his time and effort on me. The uninteresting and unattractive Julian Halls.

Me, of all people.

His eyes desperately roam all over my face as if he is searching for something. I notice and force myself to keep my composure, keeping my lips tight and my facial muscles relaxed.

I've never seen Victor this unguarded before in the short time that I've known him. He's usually self-assured and composed most of the time, but this time his eyes are basically piercing through to my soul. It's as if he can spot all the lies and truths that I hold in the midst of my soul.

We participate in an intense staring contest. Neither pair of eyes backing down as we just stare at one another in the quiet, confined room. The few lights in the dark, maroon-themed room give a sultry and sensual atmosphere. The desperation in his eyes is discernible as a strand of his perfectly gelled-back hair falls in front of his face. He runs his hands through his hair, capturing the single strand and mixing it in with the rest as his stare becomes so intense that it becomes seductive in a way.

What is he doing to me?

My heart races and I can't help but stare at his lips as this weird feeling begins to overtake my body.

I want him. Maybe, in more ways than one.

_________<€>________

A/N: Hey guys! What did you think about this date? I know it's kind of a filler chapter but don't worry... there's way more to this story.

Please don't forget to vote and comment! ❤️