Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 88

He had finished ordering, yet he hadn't told the waiter to start bringing out the food right away.

She set her teacup down and asked, "Are we waiting for a friend?"

Zachary gently ruffled her hair. "Yeah. No rush."

Audrina didn't push the subject.

About ten minutes later, the door to the private room pushed open.

The man's tall, commanding silhouette appeared in the doorway. His gaze bypassed Zachary entirely, instantly locking onto Audrina's face.

His dark eyes were like a pool of deep water—calm on the surface, but impossibly deep underneath.

They hadn't spoken since that night. Audrina genuinely hadn't expected the 'friend' Zachary mentioned to be Sebastian.

Her eyes lingered on his face for a split second, a dull, suffocating weight immediately blooming in her chest.

It felt like a sky that hadn't seen the sun in days, heavy with suffocating, dark clouds.

Audrina kept her expression perfectly composed, giving him a polite nod.

Courteous, flawless, exactly how one would greet a casual acquaintance.

It all clicked in her head instantly. First the surprise return, then bringing her to this specific restaurant, and now inviting Sebastian.

With this triple-threat maneuver, he had set the perfect trap for her.

Which meant the person tailing her lately was definitely Zachary's guy.

She stared down at her teacup, a cold, sharp smile curving her lips.

Sebastian had already pulled his gaze away, striding confidently into the room. He looked at Zachary. "Zachary, long time no see."

Zachary stood up, the two clapping each other on the shoulder like old friends reuniting after years apart.

"Have a seat," Zachary offered warmly. "You've been here before, right? Take a look at what I ordered and see if you want to add anything."

He poured Sebastian a cup of tea, briefly meeting his eyes as he slid the cup across the table.

Sebastian's tone was leisurely. "I've been here a few times. I'm fine with whatever—"

He turned to Audrina. "What really matters is whether Ms. Monroe got all her favorites."

Audrina leaned into Zachary's shoulder, smiling sweetly.

She smoothly took the bait. "Whatever my darling orders, I love."

And then—

He raised his hand, covering hers where it gripped the bottle, pressing the neck downward.

His fingers were long and sharply defined, his palm dry and burning warm.

Audrina could feel his thumb trace a nearly imperceptible, agonizingly slow line across the back of her hand.

"That's enough," he said.

Without missing a beat, she smoothly set the bottle on the table and returned to her seat.

She immediately began serving food onto Zachary's plate. "Darling, eat up."

She acted as if absolutely nothing had happened.

But under the table, her free hand was clenched into a tight fist.

Sebastian was doing this on purpose! He knew full well Zachary was suspicious, yet he was still acting like a maniac! Had she not made herself perfectly clear the other night?

Zachary's eyes darted between the two of them; he hadn't missed that little interaction.

He turned to Sebastian with a knowing chuckle. "What about that woman you mentioned on the cruise? When are you going to bring her around so we can meet her?"