Page 13 of Reckless Billionaire's Ruthless Claim

The sight of the chef’s muscular arm flexing sent her into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. “Oh my god!” she whispered, her voice barely suppressing a squeak. She couldn’t decide which was hotter—the steak or the man flipping it.

“Hi, sweetheart, let me escort you to your seat?” The deep, smooth voice snapped her out of her daze. She turned to find a handsome asian man with chiseled abs and a grin so charming it should’ve been illegal. He wore nothing but an apron and a pair of loose gray sweatpants, slung low on his hips, the untied string hanging carelessly—leaving little to the imagination. To top it all, he had a killer flirty smile on his lips that made Ellie’s heart race.

Ellie blinked at him, momentarily stunned. “Y-yes, thank you,” she stammered, her words faltering as her eyes struggled to stay above his neck.

Before she could finish, the man swept her off her feet, literally.

“Woah!” she squealed in surprise, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.

The man grinned, flashing a charming smile. “There, I’ll carry you to your seat. Can’t have you tiring out your legs already, now can we?” he said in a deep, velvety voice.

Ellie’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him in shock. He carried her effortlessly across the restaurant, weaving through tables and other shirtless servers. Finally, he placed her gently onto a plush chair and reached for a crisp white napkin from the table. Kneeling down on his knees, he laid the napkin on her lap with a flourish, pulling a menu card from his pocket.

“Here’s something for you to look at while I’m gone,” he said with a wink, laying the menu over the napkin. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

And just like that, he stood up and disappeared, leaving Ellie gaping after him. The retreating view of his toned back and playful stride kept her glued to her seat.

“This is the best day ever!” she whispered to herself, lifting the menu to hide her flushed face while sneaking glances at the servers around her.

As he disappeared, her gaze shifted to the other servers in the restaurant—each one as handsome and shirtless as the last. She let out an excited breath, rubbing her cheeks with both hands.

As more women entered the restaurant, the restaurant was abuzz with similar scenes. Handsome men carried women to their seats, flirted shamelessly, and left them blushing and giggling. Ellie laughed quietly as she watched other customers getting treated like queens.

“This place is going to be the next big thing in Manhattan,” she murmured, watching the charming servers wooing their customers.

Soon, her server returned with a plate of food, his movements smooth and sexy. He leaned on the table with one hand to give her a very good view of his body, his other hand gracefully serving her food.

“I hope you find this ravioli just as ravishing as me,” a cunning smirk played on his lips, pouring the sauce with an almost sinful flair. Then, he picked up a knife and fork, slicing the steak on her plate with exaggerated care, his muscles flexing with every movement. The erotic undertone of his actions made Ellie’s face flush deep red.

“Here,” he said in a low, rough voice, sliding the plate in front of her. His lips curved into a smirk as he licked them slowly. “Enjoy all of it.”

Ellie barely managed a nod, too flustered to respond. He licked his lips, his movements almost too sensual for a simple meal. The server then walked away, leaving Ellie to savor her meal—and the attention. Unbeknownst to her, someone else’s gaze had been fixed on her all along.

Five minutes ago, Sawyer had just stepped out of his BMW, his secretary, Henry, trailing behind him. Henry was rattling off details about the day's schedule, his eyes glued to his phone.

“Mr. Stark, after this meeting, we’ll head to Mayang Street for the new actress signing. It should only take one hour—”

Henry’s voice faded into the background as Sawyer’s attention was drawn elsewhere. His sharp eyes, hidden behind designer sunglasses, caught sight of a familiar figure entering a restaurant. The door was held open by a very shirtless man.

Sawyer ripped off his sunglasses, glaring to get a better look. His jaw tightened as he read the sign above the door: Machoman Inn.

“Was that Ellie?” he barked.

Henry looked up in confusion. “Sorry, Mr. Stark? What did you say?”

Sawyer’s eyes were glued to the entrance of the restaurant. His teeth clenched.

Henry followed his boss’s gaze, his brows raising slightly at the sight of the shirtless doorman. The bold name of the restaurant made him blink.

Then, Henry chuckled nervously. “No, Mr. Stark. How could Miss Ellie be here? She doesn’t even think about anyone or anything other than you.”

Sawyer took a deep breath, Henry’s words making his jaw loosen. He let out a short laugh, though it lacked humor. “Right?” he said, though his eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

Henry nodded earnestly, a grin on his face. “Of course! Miss Ellie is shy and timid. She’d turn red just thinking about a place like this.”

Sawyer frowned, his gut twisting uneasily. “Yeah. Ellie’s shy. She wouldn’t…” His words trailed off, but the image of her stepping inside refused to leave his mind.

Henry nodded with a small smile and pointed at the same restaurant. “By the way, Mr. Stark, that’s Mr. Elliot’s new business. We’re meeting him inside.”

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