It started with a lie

16

"Hi," he greeted back. "Are you okay with Italian food?"

"Sure," I nodded. 

He took me to a very posh looking Italian restaurant which I suspect was very expensive. 

"You don't have to take me here..." I said, after I sat down and the waiter very politely put the napkin on my thighs. This kind of place should be reserved for his fiancee who would loved to visit such places. 

"It's okay," he said. "I won't be drinking since I'm driving but you can order what you like," he told me as the waiter waited for our drinks order. 

"Er.. it's okay," I said. "Can I just have water?" 

"Still or sparkling, Mam?" 

"Er... still will do..." I know sparkling is more expensive. 

"Are you sure you don't want anything else?" Jonas asked me after the waiter walked away. 

I nodded. "I'm fine with just water." 

"Okay..." he picked up the food menu. "Order what you would to eat then." 

I looked at the menu. Even a simple Caesar salad costs twenty bucks! Goodness.. Maybe I should just order bread. That's about eight bucks. 

"Have you decided what you would like to have?"

"Er..."

He saw my hesitation and he said, "Fay." 

I looked up from the menu and at him.

"Just order what you like. Don't worry about the price. You don't have to save money for me. I'm a partner at E & A, the top law firms in Korea. This meal is something I can afford." 

"Even if I order a lobster pasta?" I joked. I saw a lobster pasta and that was at least sixty bucks! 

"Yes," he answered. "You can order everything in the menu and I can still afford it." And he definitely didn't look like he was joking. 

"Okay..." Seeing that he was indeed very serious about it and as he reminded her that he's now a partner at E & A and commands a very high salary, she decided to take his word. So she decided to order the cod fish, a dish she always likes but very expensive to eat at the restaurant. 

"Is that all you want? How about appetiser?" he asked. 

She shook her head. "I worry I might not be able to finish the food..." Then it would be a waste. 

He nodded. "Okay," Then he told the waiter, "That's all for now." The waiter nodded and left. 

"You really don't have to treat me..." I said. 

"Even if you didn't help me, there's nothing wrong with treating you to a meal.." he said. 

"Well..." I shrugged. "Thanks then." 

"Sorry I had to rush off that morning and then disappeared until now before I contact you. And you cooked for me."

Eh - how did he know? 

"I don't know why the bartender called you either..." he said. "How did you manage to drag me out of the bar?" 

I chuckled. "Well, Ro - my boyfriend came with me," I answered. 

"Your boyfriend?" his eyes widened in surprise. Just then the waiter came to serve us our food. Jonas had ordered a prawn agio olio for himself. And the prawns look damn good. I wish I had ordered that as well! 

I nodded. "He was with me when I got the call. So he drove me down and picked you up. Of course I couldn't possibly carry you so he carried you. Since I didn't know your address and you didn't have any ID.. so we brought you back to my place."