Chapter Two

It was exactly 7:10pm when a luxurious car pulled up in front of La Rousseau's. The driver got down from the car and turned around to open the backseat. A pair of slender and fair legs stepped out of the backseat. Allison Tarmani was indeed a beauty and this evening in the exquisite red dress she wore, she looked even more captivating.

Allison thanked the driver and walked into the restaurant gracefully and elegantly. As soon as she stepped into the restaurant she caught the attention of everyone there. Even though she was putting on a mask to hide her identity, the aura she gave off was enough to tell anyone that she wasn't any ordinary woman. Allison Tarmani was a very popular and successful supermodel and was a household name. Allison had not stood there for up to 10 minutes when a waiter made her way towards her.

"Excuse me, Miss Tarmani?", the waiter asked in a low voice when she got to where she was.

Allison nodded.

"Please follow me", the waiter said and began to lead her away from the crowded restaurant to the private rooms. Allison followed the waiter for about 10 minutes before the waiter finally stopped in front of one of the rooms.

"We are here, ma'am", the waiter announced and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in", a masculine voice answered from inside.

The waiter gestured for Allison to go in before excusing herself and leaving. Allison opened the door of the room and walked in.

As soon as he heard the door opening, Adriel glanced at the door expectantly. Allison walked into the room and Adriel stood up immediately.

"Good evening, Miss Tarmani", Adriel greeted her.

Allison took off her mask and Adriel was blown away. Allison Tarmani was indeed a beauty. Looking at her now, Adriel was more determined than ever. Allison Tarmani was not only a great beauty but she had also been a great source of frustration for Adriel. He had been chasing her consistently for some time now with no luck. At first Adriel was greatly frustrated but he soon took it as a challenge and he was determined more than ever this evening to conquer Allison.

"Good evening, Mr. Alvarez", Allison responded to Adriel's greeting with a smile.

Adriel walked around the table to pull out Allison's chair for her to sit, like a proper gentleman, a gesture that would melt some women's hearts.

Allison smiled and walked towards the seat.

"Thank you", she said as she sat down.

Adriel smiled at her and turned around to resume his own seat.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting", Allison apologized.

"It's no problem", Adriel waved her off.

"I already took the liberty of ordering though, I hope you don't mind", Adriel told her.

"No, not at all", Allison told him.

"Miss Tarmani, I have to say, I was very thrilled by your last show, sensational", Adriel complimented.

"Thank you", Allison thanked him.

"I'm glad you liked it"

Just then the food arrived.

Allison looked around the table and smirked to herself.

"Wow", Allison said.

"What is it?", Adriel asked.

"Nothing, it's just some of the food served are my favorites, most of the food in fact", Allison said.

"Oh really?", Adriel asked.

"Then I guess that's one of the many things we have in common", Adriel said.

Allison chuckled.

"I highly doubt we have much in common, Mr. Alvarez", Allison said.

"How are you so sure?", Adriel asked.

"I just am", Allison replied.

Adriel bit his lips. He had no idea about the food being Allison's favorite, no doubt Miss Garcia had done her research and had specifically asked for food she knew Allison would like. Miss Garcia was like that, always so efficient with her job. Unfortunately Allison didn't seem thrilled by it. If it was any other woman, they would be swooning by now. Heck he had gotten his previous conquests by doing things less than this, Allison was just being so difficult. But Adriel was determined to have her fall for him.

"Allison, is it alright if I call you Allison?", Adriel asked her.

"It's just I feel like Miss Tarmani is too formal and we are not really strangers are we?", Adriel asked, putting on his usual roguish smile.

"Indeed we aren't", Allison responded with a smirk.

"You know I was speaking with your manager after the show and she mentioned something about you wanting to go for a show in Petra but your company said no because of lack of funds?", Adriel asked her.

Allison paused and looked at him.

"If you don't mind me asking, why do you love Petra so much? As far as I know, it's just a city of ruins", Adriel asked.

"It's precisely the ruins that make me love Petra", Allison answered.

"A great empire once stood there and now it is nothing more than a pile of rubble and ruins, I think that tells a great lesson", Allison answered intelligently and Adriel nodded satisfied.

"Wow, hearing you speak of Petra, I can clearly hear your love for the place", Adriel noted.

Allison smiled.

"Hearing you speak so passionately about this place, makes me know that I have made the right choice in deciding to fund a fashion show in Petra, with you walking as the lead catwalk", Adriel announced.

Allison paused.

"What did you just say?", Allison asked him softly.

Adriel mistook her expression for shock and didn't notice the emotion in her eyes, he repeated his words again.

Allison stared at him intently then slowly dropped her fork.

"What the hell is wrong with you?", Allison asked in a tone Adriel had never heard her use before in all the time he had been chasing after her.

"Excuse me?", Adriel asked back blinking in surprise.

Allison chuckled.

"You are persistent, you know that?", she told him softly.

"But even your cringey pick up lines and terrible advances were still manageable but this? This is on a whole other level", Allison pointed out.

"Trying to use my dream to get to me? Why? Because you so badly want to sleep with me? To add me to the list of your conquests?", Allison asked him.

"I'm sorry but you've used the wrong approach. I do not care much for you sponsoring any event of any kind for me. If I'm going to a show in Petra, it's going to be through my own hard work and not because some rich billionaire wants to feel good about himself, because that's the thing about dreams isn't it?", Allison told him.

Adriel stared at her shocked and unable to speak.

"Wait, I doubt you'll understand. With your shallow mindset and all", Allison told him.

Adriel sat speechless but Allison had no intention of waiting to hear him speak. She immediately stood up and picked up her bag.

"Thank you for the meal, Mr. Alvarez, hope you have a nice evening", she said and walked out.