Dana thought he wouldn't notice but as soon as she looked down, Alexei noticed her from the corner of his eyes. He talked to the waiter in a hurried manner before standing up and walking towards Dana's table. He sat down at the opposite side and said his greetings.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here. Eating alone?"
Dana was going to ignore him but remembering that she still hasn't returned the gratitude of him saving her that day, regardless of Alexei's intention, she replied to his greetings.
"Well… I'm just touring Paris. Trying to enjoy my last days here before returning to London." To keep the conversation going, Dana asked him in return. "What about you? Why are you here alone?"
Alexei thanked the waiter who followed along first before responding to Dana. "I was supposed to meet some people here, but they've cancelled at the last minute due to an emergency."
Alexei handed over the extra menu to Dana after the waiter came back. Dana accepted it, while nodding to Alexei, acknowledging his response. The two of them then ordered a bunch of food, even desserts and wine.
"I never knew you love to drink wine. I always saw you with a champagne in every gala." Alexei started another conversation. He passed the warm hand towel to Dana, then he took his own towel and started to wipe his hands clean.
Dana accepted the towel as she replied to him. "I occasionally drink some. Especially if it's paired with a steak. I have a hobby of wine tasting."
"That's a nice hobby. Oh-" Alexei stopped for a while before continuing. "There is a fruit wine competition across the park. If you want, I could take you with me. I have some tickets here."
Dana asked in confusion "Why do you have tickets?"
"They were supposed to be for the people that I'd meet here. I heard that the other party loved wine, so I asked my secretary to buy me tickets since it was an exclusive event. Who would have thought that there will be an emergency." Alexei was abruptly cut off mid-sentence as the waiter came back and served them food.
The dishes were served efficiently, and the waiter informed them that the dessert will be followed thereafter. Dana thanked the waiter while Alexei gave a nod, the waiter then left.
"But coincidentally, We've met here so I believe these tickets could still have value." Alexei continued to talk as he sliced off his steak. After finishing, He then put down his utensils and handed his plate to Dana.
Dana' who was listening to him, and was about to eat, looked at him in confusion. She did not grab the plate and only raised her eyebrow.
"You're still recovering so it's best not to overdo yourself. Here' I've already cut it to bite size pieces." Alexei patiently explained.
"It's alright, you didn't have to do it." Dana was a bit shy, for reasons unknown to her, to accept the plate with his reasoning.
"But I insist. Please." Alexei, on the other hand, also was confused by his actions and intentions.
Supposedly, they were both enemies to each other's business. They were rivals who competed for investors and all. However, he couldn't help but get close to her whenever he saw her. it all started with the incident last time.
"Fine." Dana had over her plate as she took Alexei's cut up steak.
Throughout the meal, they were both surprised regarding the unfamiliar atmosphere. There were no sharp jabs, no gloating or posturing, only calm conversation and the soft sounds of the restaurant around them.
But perhaps due to what happened at the abandon building, the tension between them have diminished to a casual conversation.
Dana focused into her steak, keeping her eyes low but her ears sharp. Across from her, Alexei swirled the last of his red wine, occasionally giving her glances with an expression that was part amused, part contemplative.
Desserts arrived soon after: a chocolate tart, crème brûlée, and two espresso shots served with biscotti. Dana stared at the presentation, a little too elegant for two supposed enemies.
"This is the most civilized we've ever been," she muttered, cracking the sugar top of the crème brûlée.
Alexei chuckled. "Miracles happen in Paris."
Dana let the silence stretch a bit before speaking again. "So… business going well?"
"Well enough. After the France Jewel Law fiasco, we secured a deal with the Copenhagen investors last week."
She paused, tilted her head, confused at his words. "The Adler Foundation Project? Wasn't that the account I pitched to first?"
"True," Alexei chucked, sipping his espresso. "But it seems I conquer this battle. Or maybe it was the better numbers."
Dana rolled her eyes. "Of course. Still as smug as ever."
"And you're still as sharp," he replied, no malice in his tone.
Dana tapped her spoon against the tart, opening up a new topic. "I've been rethinking things during my recovery. Paris is a great place. The pace, the people. Might take some serious time off after this trip."
Alexei looked at her curiously. "That doesn't sound like you."
"Maybe I'm evolving," she said with a small smile. "Or maybe I'm just tired."
He leaned forward slightly, voice quieter. "You've always run at full speed. Maybe you finally deserve to slow down."
Their eyes met. Neither looked away.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said softly.
They finished dessert in comfortable silence, and for the first time in years, Dana didn't feel like she was sitting across from her rival.
She was sitting across from a man; one who could destroy her advances, challenged her in the business world… and perhaps the only person in the world, aside her brother, who understood her more than she liked to admit.
Downing and emptying her wine glass, Dana slowly put it back down the table as silence sat empty between them, and the low hum of the restaurant seemed to settle into a relaxed rhythm as the outside world seems to slow down, with people busy with afternoon tea. Dana glanced out the window at the people walking, then back at Alexei.
"Well," she said, brushing her napkin across her lap and folding it neatly, "we've managed to survive lunch without declaring war. I'd call that a success."
Alexei smirked. "Barely. I almost pulled out my pitch deck halfway through dessert."
Dana rolled her eyes just as the waiter approached with the leather-bound check holder. Before the man could place it on the table, Dana reached for it swiftly.
"I've got it," she said, almost too casually.
Alexei, not missing a beat, reached for it too. "No. I invited myself to your table, remember? It's on me."
She held the check just out of reach. "That wasn't an invitation. That was you barging in."
"Which you didn't stop," he countered smoothly.
"I didn't stab you with my fork either," Dana said, her voice light but sharp.
"Because we were in public," he said, leaning forward. "Come on. Let me handle it."
"Like a gentleman." Alexei, smiling, was enlighten with the atmosphere that he started to casually throw some jokes at Dana.
Dana narrowed her eyes at him, then tucked the bill on her lap like a prized possession. "Absolutely not. If I let you pay, you'll hold it over my head for the whole year."
Alexei scoffed. "You think I'm that petty?"
Dana gave him a look and smiled.
"Okay, fair."
"I owe you one," she added, more seriously. "And I'd rather settle it my way than let it dangle like some unspoken debt."
He opened his mouth to argue again, but something in her tone made him pause. There was no ego behind it; just resolve, and perhaps acknowledgement for being grateful at his timely presence last time.
Dana wasn't trying to prove anything. She was just being… herself. And maybe that was harder to argue with than usual.
Alexei leaned back, defeated but amused. "Alright. But you realize this means I get to choose the wine next time."
Dana raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into the faintest of smirks. "Next time?"
He shrugged. "Just thinking ahead."