My Princess 43


    #Chapter 43 - Table For Three


    Adrian


    "Table for three, please," Ste''s voice is gentle and kind as the three of us approach the hostess'' stand. The woman looks up at us and nods, gathering three menus in her hand, and gesturing to the open dining roon.


    Many of the tables are empty and many of the other patrons are made up of couples or small families. I stick close behind Ste, making sure to cut Sebastian off as we embark on the small journey to the table.


    I ce my hand on Ste''s lower back, earning a side re from her, and pull out her seat. I push it in as she sits down, taking the spot beside her so Sebastian is forced to sit across from her.


    We take the menus and thank the hostess. Ste and Sebastian''s move to the menus while mine stick onto Sebastian. I narrow my gaze, taking in his appearance.


    He wears his usual ck suit, matched with a ck dress shirt and tie. His jacket is draped over the back of his car and he sets the menu down. The movement catches Ste''s attention, her gaze moving over the top of the menu, and she watches as Sebastian rolls up his shirt''s sleeves.


    His eyes flicker to hers, a smug smirk spreading across his face, and Ste lets out a quiet chuckle, moving her attention back to the menu.


    Iwatch them as my heart twists and turns from jealousy. The vile green feeling overtakes my mind, making me


    wonder if Ste brought Sebastian along for the vacation just to antagonize me.


    I clear my throat and neither of them move. I contain an eye roll and move my chair closer to Ste''s angling my body so that I am facing her, and ce my arm alongside the back of her chair.


    "So, Ste," Sebastian is the first to speak at the table. She looks up and smiles at him while my expression sours "What''s your impression of the resort so far? Is it everything you were expecting?"


    "It''s not too bad," she casually shrugs with a smile, "I really liked the view on the drive in. I hope it is as beautiful during the day as it is at night."


    "Yes, the views are nice," I chime in, ncing away as if the conversation is boring to me, "it is why I booked the ce, after all."


    The table falls silent. I look back and am met with nk stares from Ste and Sebastian. I hide my gulp and sit up in my chair, looking away again.


    "Why are you here on business?" Ste asks, covering up the awkwardness that has flooded the table.


    "One of my business partners informed me of a new resort development on the small ind just off the coast. I think it would be a wise business venture to take up on," Sebastian says the words so casually, so openly, and it drives me insane. "Really? That would be a great investment!" Ste exims and leans forward.


    Is Ste really excited over this? Do I need to leave thefort of the pharmaceutical world and venture into real estate to get her to look at me the same way?


    I open my mouth to speak but our waiteres by. He has a white towel draped over his arm and begins to pour water into our cups. He tells us his name and we begin to order our drinks.


    I''ll have a whiskey," Sebastian looks at the waiter.


    ? I graze my fingers across Ste''s shoulders, capturing her attention. She turns


    to me and stares at me with this


    beautiful hazel eyes that I can''t seem to get enough of.


    #Chapter 43 Table For Three


    "What would you like to drink?" I quietly ask as Sebastian preupied with ordering. "Wine sounds good," Ste grabs the list of wines and settles it between


    us.


    This moment feels so...mundane. Domestic. I really enjoy it especially because it is with her and no one else.


    With a surge of confident, I look away from the wine list and make eye contact with the waiter. His pen is at the ready and I ce a cool smile onto my face.


    "We''ll have your most expensive bottle of white wine, please," I speak. Ste shifts in her chair and Sebastian tries to contain a snort. I raise an eyebrow and look between them.


    "We''ll also take your most expensive bottle of red," Sebastian continues. I look down at Ste, who wears a small grin on her face.


    "And what would you like to eat, sir?" the waiter asks.


    "I''ll have the steak, rare, and she will have the salmon," I say, knowing that Ste always has preferred fish over steak. I smile down at her, one that she doesn''t return, as she gathers the table''s menus.


    "She''ll actually have the gnhi with sage butter sauce. Please pair the red wine for her meal as well, please," Sebastian offers the waiter a smile.


    The waiter''s eyes dart around the table. He looks between the three of us before focusing on Ste, who is all smiles after the gnhi rmendation. I bite back a snarkyment and nod at the waiter, who quickly walks


    away.


    "I thought you preferred seafood," I look down at Ste. She turns to look at me, mouth open to say something, but nothinges out.


    "She prefers red wine, too," Sebastian''s voice is patronizing. He looks at me before moving to Ste. "What a husband you have there."


    "Sebastian, stop," Ste''s voice is sharp.


    Embarrassment floods my body. I fight back the heat that threatens to spill onto my cheeks. I look away and wait for the drinks toe, ready to entertain anything else that isn''t Sebastian.


    How could he possibly know everything about Ste? How does he know her favorite meal to eat at a restaurant or what type of wine she prefers? They have only known each other for a short time whereas I have known her, and have been married to her, for the past five years..


    The dinner goes by at an agonizing pace. I remain quiet, eating my meal and sipping my white wine while Steughs along with Sebastian and his stories. It is like I am not even there.


    Theyugh and smile, even offering bites and sips of each other''s food. It''s impossible to watch and let alone be near and having to watch it go down in front of me. My food and drink taste bitter and I''m done eating before I know it.


    I get out my card to pay for the meal when the waiter arrives to take our tes away. I hold it out to him and he shakes his head with a nervous smile.


    "The meal has been already covered, sir!" the waiter informs me. I raise an eyebrow and look at Sebastian, who hides a smirk from behind his ss of whiskey.


    "A friend owns the resort," Sebastian says with a shrug.


    I nod and bitterly smile, cing my credit card back inside my wallet. I can feel Ste''s eyes on me. She ces a hand on mine below the table and gives it a gentle squeeze, not even looking at me.


    #Chapter 43 - Table For Three


    We stand from the table and I gather Ste''s purse and jacket before Sebastian can. The three of us head towards the exit of the restaurant. We step outside into the resort''s grand corridor and I turn to face the other two.


    "Thank you for dinner, Sebastian, it was wonderful," Ste sweetly says.


    "Of course. It was the least I can do," he smiles and steps forward.


    Sebastian wraps his arms around Ste''s waist, bringing her in close. His eyes remain attached to mine, his head leaning in, and he whispers something into her


    ear.


    Something that I can''t hear.


    Steughs and pulls away. The tension in the back of my mind snaps and I grab Ste''s hand,cing my fingers with hers. I pull her behind me and shoot a re at Sebastian.


    "My wife and I need to go to sleep now. Goodnight."


    Without another word, I turn around and drag Ste along behind me. She fights against my touch but I don''t let her win, my grip tightening on hers.


    I nce back at her and notice that she''s staring at Sebastian. It only makes me walk faster down the corridor and out of his sight.