FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

4. First Things

The man frowned when he heard Valeda's reply. His handsome face clearly described that he seemed to be in disbelief with what Valeda had said a second ago.

"May I sit down?" valeda asked, pretending not to be aware of the dislike of the interlocutor. "Master-" Valeda squinted his eyes, as he did not know the man's name.

"Leo" he answered briefly.

Valeda sat down casually in front of Leo. He returned Leo's gaze boldly. "What zodiac sign is leo?" Valeda opened the conversation.

"No. My zodiac is virgo," ketus Leo. Apparently he still did not accept it because Valeda did not apologize for the delay.

"I think you're named after the zodiac" Valeda explained the meaning of the question just now, even though Leo didn't ask anything. Valeda raised his hand, calling out to the servant standing near them. "Let's order some food."

The waiter wearing Laila's nametag threw a knotty smile at them. "Please, Mister and Miss," Laila said as she handed them the restaurant menu.

Valeda researched the food the restaurant provided and what kind of menu Leo would criticize when Valeda ordered it. "I ordered grill beef and wine recommendations from this restaurant."

"It's past seven o'clock in the evening. It is not good for your body to eat meat, especially those that are not boiled," Leo gave advice.

Valeda smiled at Leo. "Just calm. This is my body. The body has been working all day and is exhausted. This body deserves a gift from me, whenever I want."

Leo bit his lower lip. He held back the criticism he was eager to make after hearing the conflicting answers from Valeda.

Valeda handed the menu in his hand to Laila. "What do you want to order?" ask Leo who hasn't touched the menu in front of him at all. "Luncheon time is almost over. You better order now."

"Who exactly was the one who came late and made our dinner hour almost missed?" sindir Leo's.

"You don't have to wait for me" said Valeda. "I think Mrs Emely has told you that I am a busy person. Things like dinner will be my last priority after work."

"If you're my wife, you don't have to work anymore. Relax at home and take good care of me."

Valeda grabbed the glass of water available on the table, then gulped it down slowly. He let out a long sigh, feeling like he knew Leo's way of thinking.

Laila who was still standing between them, became awkward. He's unlikely to leave Valeda's desk, because Leo hasn't ordered yet. However, if he remained there, he would hear private conversations that he should not have heard. "Umm, I-I'll be back later," Laila tried to say goodbye.

"Please make my order, will you?" message Valeda.

"Well, miss," Laila replied and soon passed from the middle of the debate.

"So, you're thinking of marrying me?" ask Valeda.

"Why else would we meet, if the goal wasn't it?" Leo replied while laughing softly. "I am the heir of Citra Jaya Construction. Life is in my hands if we get married. You just need to sit back and enjoy life."

Valeda laughed. "So, enjoying life in your opinion, is sitting quietly?"

"That's every woman's dream, right?" Leo sneered.

"I'm amazed by your thoughts that attach great importance to women's desires" Valeda smiled wryly. He gulped down his water again, though he was not thirsty. "But is that my wish too?"

"certain. Are not all women the same? If there's money, you'll calm down. So, I prepared everything for you guys" Leo was proud of his forward thinking self.

Plok! Plok! Plok! Plok! Plok!

Valeda clapped his hands while looking in amazement at the man in front of him. "Looky! It's so awesome!"

"of course. I'm amazing indeed" Leo agreed with Valeda's praise.

Valeda tucked her long hair behind her ear. "But I don't want to marry you."

"Excuse me," Laila came up with a tray full of Valeda-ordered wine. "This wine is a recommendation to take off a tiring day" said Laila.

Valeda gave a short nod, letting Laila put her ordered wine on the table. Deftly, Laila poured the wine into the glass. Valeda received Laila's glass, then took a sip of her wine.

Just now Valeda wanted to comment on the wine Laila was drinking, before Leo suddenly criticized the way Valeda was drinking. "That's not the way to enjoy wine, Miss Valeda, '" said Leo.

Valeda's smile disappeared. "Yes?"

"You should see the color of the wine you will drink first. Then, turn it around in the glass slowly, so that the aroma smells louder. After that, you have to smell it to awaken your five senses. Lastly, then as much wine as possible."

Valeda turned to his left and right after Leo finished speaking. "Sorry, are we in a wine race?"

"What do you mean?" ask Leo.

"Laila, am I a judge on the taste of the wine you serve?" Valeda asked Laila who was still standing next to him.

"Ti-no, Miss," Laila replied awkwardly.

"In that case, am I not free to enjoy my order in my own way? Do you mind that much, Mr Leo?" Valeda gulped down his wine until it ran out. Then brandish an empty glass at Laila, asking to be filled again.

"Why is it so hard for you to follow the rules?" Leo kicked the table. His patience is running out, facing a woman who is acting out of his control.

Valeda put on an expressionless face. He didn't like it if there were people who couldn't hold back his emotions and became rude. Valeda turned to Laila, then gave her a signal that Laila could leave them both. Laila bowed slightly, quickly put the wine bottle on the table and ran away from it.

"Rules?" ask Valeda, repeating Leo's words a second ago. "I didn't read any rules when I got into this restaurant."

"The rules are not written!" exclaim Leo.

Valeda leaned back in her chair and crossed her hands on the table. "You start to get emotional" said Valeda.

"Yes! And you are the cause!" great-granddaughter Leo.

Valeda laughed at Leo's reply. "We met for the first time, and you dared to raise your voice just because I immediately gulped down my ordered wine."

Valeda threw a face towards Laila who was holding a tray filled with food. He seemed hesitant to return to Valeda's table.

"Come here" called Valeda, raising his hand.

Laila walked quickly to Valeda's desk again. "I-this is Miss's order" he said as he placed the food on Valeda's table.

"If Mr. Leo feels uncomfortable with the way I eat, you may leave me. I won't demand anything, let alone feel humiliated if left out during our first meeting." Valeda grabbed the knife and fork in front of him. Without waiting for a response from Leo, Valeda begins to enjoy her late dinner.

"Well if that's what you want!" Leo throws the napkin in his lap violently onto the table. He turned around and completely left Valeda alone at his desk.

"No-Miss, is it really okay?" tanya Laila was scared.

"It's a pity that he didn't enjoy this delicious meal" Valeda replied. "I want to praise the chef. Can you?"

"I'll call," Laila bowed slightly and returned to the kitchen.

Valeda breathed contentedly. "One problem is over," he murmured proudly. "Just get your mom's nagging for tomorrow."

***