Page 8 of Alpha’s Fake Marriage

FIVE

IRINA

Dressed in my favorite dress, I stood before the mirror, nerves fluttering in my stomach like a flock of butterflies. Tonight was the night of my very first date with Octavio after what felt like a lifetime of flirting, and every glance at the clock sent a fresh wave of excitement tingling through my veins.

Octavio. His name echoed in my mind like a cherished melody, filling me with a warmth that chased away the last remnants of doubt. He was kind, charming, and utterly captivating in a way that left me breathless. I couldn’t wait to see where our harmless flirtations would lead us tonight… and I needed to get going if I didn’t want to be late, which I most certainly didn’t.

As I made my way to the Maple Creek Cafe, my heart pounded in my chest with the rhythm of anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see him, to share this moment with someone who made my world feel a little brighter. Working with Octavio had been awesome, but the spark had only been growing and getting bigger with every passing moment. This was something that needed to happen. We had to know if it could become something more, even if it was going to make work a little challenging.

Not that I really believed it would make work hard.

We got on too well for that.

Oh wow!

And there he was, standing outside the café, looking especially handsome in his crisp shirt and tailored trousers. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I approached, my pulse quickening with every step.

“Hey, Irina,” he greeted me, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness. “You look amazing.”

The words sent a blush creeping up my cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and delight flooding my senses. Octavio was a vision of charm and grace, his presence filling me with a sense of warmth that chased away the chill of the evening air.

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice soft with gratitude. “You look pretty amazing yourself.”

With a shared smile, we made our way into the café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air like a siren’s song. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, the soft glow of the overhead lights casting a warm embrace over our surroundings.

As we settled into our seats, a wave of awkwardness washed over us, our nerves mingling like dancers in a delicate waltz. Octavio stumbled over his words, his usual smoothness abandoned in the face of overwhelming excitement.

“So, err, what do you… um… what shall we order?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his antics, the sound bubbling up from deep within me like a fountain of joy. Octavio’s laughter joined mine, a symphony of mirth that filled the air with a sense of lightness and warmth.

“Don’t worry,” I laughed. “Let’s just look at the menu first.”

We both leaned in, our heads almost touching as we perused the menu, deliberating over choices. The truth was, in that moment, the menu could have been written in a foreign language for all the attention we paid it. Our minds wereoccupied with each other, with the shared excitement of this unexpected rendezvous.

After what felt like an eternity of pretending to read, Octavio finally cleared his throat. “I think I’ll have a cappuccino,” he said with a nervous smile, his eyes flickering between me and the menu.

“That sounds perfect,” I replied, mirroring his smile. “And I’ll have a latte, please.”

With our orders placed, we leaned back in our chairs, the tension in the air slowly dissipating like morning mist under the sun’s warm rays. Conversation flowed more easily now, as if breaking the ice had unlocked a floodgate of words.

“So, Irina,” Octavio began, breaking the tense silence that hung between us. “Tell me more about yourself. What do you like to do in your free time? Like, for real, this time? I do want to know everything about you.”

I forced a smile, pushing aside the weight of my worries as I delved into lighthearted conversation. “Well, I enjoy painting and hiking. There’s something so freeing about being out in nature, don’t you think?”

Octavio nodded, his eyes lighting up with genuine interest. “Absolutely. I love hiking, too. It’s like a chance to escape from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with the beauty of the world around us. And painting…?”

“I haven’t done much painting over the last few years…” Because I’d been trying to survive, not that Octavio needed to know that. “But it’s something I might take up again. Perhaps…”

As we exchanged stories and laughter, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt nagging at the edges of my mind. My mother’s words echoed in my ears, her fears for our safety casting a shadow over this lovely date.

“You have to be careful, Irina,”she had warned me, her voice tinged with concern when I first mentioned going out withOctavio.“This is your boss. He might be a little too close to you. We have to keep people at arm’s length, so they don’t find out the truth about us.”

I swallowed hard before I pushed the thought aside, burying it beneath layers of denial and false bravado. But with each passing moment, the weight of her words grew heavier, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked just beyond the safety of our bubble.

As the evening unfolded, I remained vigilant, my guard never fully lowered. But with each passing moment, I found myself drawn deeper into Octavio’s orbit, his warmth and kindness a balm to my troubled soul.

I couldn’t help but be charmed by him, by the easy way he made me laugh and the genuine warmth in his eyes. In his presence, the world seemed to slow to a halt, the noise and chaos of everyday life fading into insignificance as we lost ourselves in the magic of the moment.

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