Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Rene's inner conflict
"Miss Wagner, I have every intention to turn Lanhua into an international powerhouse and I think it has every potential to be great, however, telling you about my hopes and dreams feels more like flirting than business." He wasn't letting anything on, bur Raven could see in his eyes he was conflicted by something. 'How strange' she thought. She wasn't flirting, not that she would know how, just showing a genuine interest in who this man was. But since he took it the wrong way, she was going to set the record straight.
"Relax Mr. Li, I have no intention in pursuing a romantic relationship with you. I've been thoroughly warned about your colourful personal life, I have no need for drama in my life." She was going to say 'in this world' but thought better of it. She didn't want to give him any hints, not until the call about the house. She wanted more time to herself to explore this world, even without the full set up of her lab.
Rene was conflicted. This woman was stunning, her long black hair draped over her shoulders reaching her midriff. She was a bit taller than Liehen, but also more delicate. Her hourglass figure had all the right curves in all the right places, and her porcelain skin gave her an ethereal look. She was beautiful like a fairy. Dark chocolate eyes with long lashes, full red lips that held promises of unforgettable experiences. He kept trying to think of Raven, but the woman in front of him was truly a temptation.
There was something about her that was very familiar to him and he couldn't stop thinking how Raven and this woman somehow overlapped. The cold, aloof attitude, the mannerisms, the air of royalty she gave off, it was like Orchid Wagner was the fantasy world version of Raven and he was conflicted. He knew Raven was the only woman for him and he was upset that he entertained the thoughts of another woman even for a second, but he did.
Before he could think further, they were interrupted by the arrival of the food he ordered for them. It was an assortment of light dishes, fairly similar to tapas. Raven was quite happy with his choices and was ready to enjoy the food. She was quite the foodie in the real world, and saw no reason to behave differently here. She was after experiencing as much as she could in this world, and of course good food was top three on her list.
Seeing the pleased childlike look on her face when she saw the food, Rene's heart skipped a beat. This woman was pure temptation, and he had a hard time reconciling his demons. He was conflicted and so focused on his internal struggle, he barely heard her say "Dig in Mr. Li, no need to stand on ceremony in front of delicious food, I for one plan to enjoy my time here." She gave him another bright smile and started adding a little bit of everything on her plate. Although excited, her movements were very elegant, the way she would chose what to eat and how she was placing them on her plate. The first bite she took sent a shiver down her spine. It was delicious! Without realising it, a moan escaped her lips. She was really enjoying her food.
The sound made Rene's insides twist. His mind was racing, and his breath hitched. That sound she made, could make a man do crazy things, and his desire for her threatened to overwhelm him. He kept trying to recall Raven but knowing she was not Liehen, was making it very hard for him to restrain himself.
Why was this happening to him? What was this mad desire for a woman in this world. Could it be that the book was altering his path like Raven said? Was this woman created here to tempt him away and entrap him forever?
He was both afraid and ready to damn himself. Orchid Wagner was pure lust and temptation, and he could feel himself giving in.
'No!' his mind was shouting desperately, trying to invoke images of Raven, to no avail. He wasn't a superficial man, but this woman's attitude and behaviour, together with her beauty were a fatal combination. She had a darkness and a purity to her he wanted to devour. The same feelings he had of Raven were now directed at this woman. He could sense there was so much more to her than this business persona she was putting up.
Where was Raven? He needed to talk to her, to calm his raging desires down. He was starting to feel like a caged beast, ready to break out.
Raven was busy enjoying her food. She didn't notice Rene's inner struggle and she wasn't paying attention. Somehow, without any rhyme or reason, she felt safe around this man, and she could relax. Everything was slowly falling into place, and in spite his occasionally confusing behaviour she would help him. She felt a little guilty for destroying his house now, but not enough to apologise, after all he was the one who interfered with her business, and he needed to learn his lesson.
Not giving it a second thought, and knowing he wouldn't mention anything to her as Orchid, she decided to just enjoy her food in silence.
Bite after bite she was getting more excited to try these dishes. They were very similar to the Spanish tapas she was used to ordering at home, but somehow, the rich flavours and mix of spices felt local. She couldn't know if they were the same as whatever city this one was in the real world, but she was determined to find out.
A couple of bites in she made another little sound. The little pastry thing she was trying now was divine. An explosion of flavour assaulted her senses and she couldn't help let out another moan from the pleasure of this dish.
"Ohh, this is delicious." She exclaimed to no one in particular.
That was it, Rene couldn't take it anymore. His control snapped and he leaned forward, reaching out with his hand to touch her. Before he could cause too much damage, he managed to catch himself in the air, as his hand was heading for her beautiful face. Desperate to cover his uncontrolled gesture, he reached across the table, his fingers gently brushing Raven's lips. A lover's caress, the tips of his fingers moved gently across her lips, to the corner of her mouth.
Raven froze from the unexpected touch. She was now fully aware of his presence and expected the gesture to make her skin crawl. The feeling never came. To her surprise, his gentle touch didn't make her insides recoil, in fact, her lips tingled where his fingers had touched her and she wasn't disliking the feeling.
Before she could think on it more, Raven pushed back her chair. This meeting was over, he was too close to her, and she didn't want to let him try to overwhelm her with his forward nature.
Somewhat shocked by his own reaction, Rene pulled back his hand trying to make the gesture look natural. "Force of habit Miss Wagner, you had some crumbs on your lips." He was visibly flustered but Raven was having none of it.
With a swift motion, she got up and started walking away towards the back of the room. Unaware of how uncomfortable she was, Rene just assumed she was going to the bathroom. He let out a sigh of relief when he heard her say from behind him, now already a few steps away.
"Rene, I didn't appreciate you touching me like that." With that final remark, she turned away and left through the back door of the restaurant.
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