The concierge asked, “Do you have a reservation, madam?Or shall I look for a table?”
As she was going to answer, the concierge’s eyes fell on a person behind her.
“She’s with me,” said a deep voice.“Reservation is under Harmon Moon.”
Sal looked over her shoulder and found Harmon, clad in a navy-blue turtleneck, deep gray slacks, and black leather shoes.He looked so sharp and handsome as he followed Sal to their reserved table.Once seated, the server offered the menu and asked if they wanted anything to drink.
“I’ll have a bottle of champagne, please,” he said.The server nodded and disappeared.
Sal gawked at him.“What?”he asked, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a near smile.“You did well on the broadcast today.And this is our first date,” he said coolly as he looked through the menu.
He was subtly cocky as usual.It was fascinating how his cockiness, which was once annoying, had now become part of his charm.She cringed.Damn,I am developing feelings for him.
“Did you just cringe?”
“Yeah.I’m not used to your being so nice to me.”
Harmon let out a stifled laugh.“Can’t you see I’m trying here?”
“You don’t have to try so hard.I’m done pretending too,” Sal said, leaning forward and clasping her hands together.She wasn’t just referring to her feelings for Harmon; she meant everything else too.She didn’t feel the need to explain this to him, which was refreshing; Harmon just understood.
The server arrived with a bottle of champagne, popped it open, and poured it into two champagne glasses.He took their orders shortly after.She ordered the steak, while Harmon chose the duck confit with wild mushroom risotto, and they ordered some salad to share.
“Speaking of which.You’re not wearing your ring?”Harmon said, eyeing her fingers.Then his eyes traveled to her side and the bag hanging from the side of the chair.He cracked a shy smile at her but didn’t say a thing.Sal was learning to like him this way, blushing and secretly giddy.
She flexed her hands and placed them on her lap.“Rafa and I broke up,” she whispered.“I need time to think and a change of scenery.”
Harmon took a sip of his champagne.“So are you liking the scenery?”he asked, and she knew he wasn’t referring to just the restaurant.
She rested her chin on her palm as she took in the sight of him, from the top of his thick black hair to his straight nose and tapered chin — and a smile escaped her.“Yes,” she said softly.“I like the view.”
Harmon smiled the widest she’d ever seen him smile.“You should see the view from my room too,” he suggested boldly, his smile collapsing into a sheepish grin.
Sal gave him a judging look.“Oh no,” she said, shaking her head with good humor.“You’re not dragging me into a hotel room alone again.”
Harmon nodded as though he was expecting her answer.“I’m kidding.I’m not here for that.Getting to know you at this level is much better.”The server arrived with their salad, and they helped themselves.“Thank you,” he nodded at the server, and when they were alone again, he continued, “though the negative press you were getting was tough to listen to.Some critics weren’t being professional about it.I have to make a mental note never to work with some of them.”
Sal raised her eyebrows.“You know everyone’s a critic nowadays.There’s no end to people saying their opinions—some make sense while others are just spiteful for the fun of it.Probably because they can’t stand seeing someone unknown make waves.They just sit there in their mediocrity, embittered, wondering why her?When they could ask whynother?”Sal explained as she forked her salad.
Harmon wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded.“Unknown people who make waves are brave, and that bravery is something others fear.”
“Hmm.I can’t really claim to be a brave person.I’ve always been a nervous wreck.”
He shrugged.“Isn’t that also a construct of bravery?Acting through things that frighten you because it lights you up, even if you’re scared?It doesn’t take bravery to do things in your little bubble if it’s guaranteed to succeed.”
Sal considered this notion in connection to the grimoire, and then said, “We still need to play nice though.You should know this.The purpose of the broadcast was to change the narrative of the grimoire.”
Harmon shrugged.“Yes, but all I’m saying is you need to adjust your expectations.How can they rejoice in your happiness when they’re so accustomed to misery, bound by the rules of others?”he asked.
Impressed with his opinions, Sal could do nothing but nod.“Yeah, well, I’m a recovering people-pleaser.”
“You are?”
“Well, I’m not as bad as before, but I’m still the person who spent her entire life specializing in a field because it would please her parents…but I’m trying to unlearn it,” she said, her shoulders tensing.
The server arrived with their main meals and they waited for him to leave before proceeding again.
“That bad?”he said, with his brows tilting upward and mouth forming a grimace.
