Chapter 5: Dinner for Two

As I peeked at my watch in embarrassment, Carl shook his head.

"It's alright—I came early. Please take a seat, Ms. James."

The table was decorated with fresh roses, while soft piano music drifted through the elegant restaurant.

For a moment, it felt less like a business dinner and more like a date.

Noticing my awkward expression, Carl smiled faintly.

"Don't misunderstand. I heard this restaurant serves the best seasonal dishes in the city, so I thought we could discuss the project while enjoying dinner."

"I see," I replied, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

A waiter approached with the menu.

Carl barely glanced at it before ordering several dishes.

As he spoke, I gradually realized something strange.

Every single dish he ordered...

was my favorite.

"Would you like to change anything?" he asked.

I blinked in surprise.

"Actually... those are exactly what I usually order."

Carl simply smiled without explaining.

"Then it seems we have similar tastes."

I forced a smile, but suspicion quietly crept into my heart again.

Coincidence.

Everything had to be a coincidence.

After the waiter left, Carl poured me a glass of warm tea.

"Neil told me you've been working overtime for this project."

"It's my job," I answered modestly.

"No."

He looked directly into my eyes.

"Most people only do enough to finish their work."

"You wanted to make it perfect."

His words caught me off guard.

It wasn't often that someone noticed the effort hidden behind the results.

"Thank you," I murmured.

Carl nodded before changing the subject.

"By the way... have you ever been in an online relationship?"

My fingers froze around my teacup.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Just curious."

"People nowadays seem to fall in love without ever meeting."

I laughed awkwardly.

"Sometimes reality doesn't turn out the way you imagine."

"That's true," Carl said quietly.

"Sometimes one misunderstanding is enough to lose someone important."

His expression suddenly looked lonely.

For some reason, I felt a strange ache in my chest.

The food arrived one dish after another.

While eating, Carl naturally peeled the shrimp and placed them onto my plate.

"You don't like peeling shrimp, right?"

I stared at him.

"How did you know that?"

He paused for half a second before smiling.

"Lucky guess."

I wasn't convinced.

Very few people knew that about me.

Even Neil didn't.

After dinner, Carl insisted on walking me outside.

The night breeze was cool.

Just as we reached the parking lot, my phone vibrated.

It was another message from my online boyfriend.

Even though I had blocked his old account, a new account had somehow found me.

[Baby... if you're reading this, please don't disappear.]

[I don't know what I did wrong.]

[Just give me one chance to explain.]

My heart tightened.

Before I could put my phone away, Carl accidentally glanced at the screen.

His face changed for the briefest moment.

"Is... everything alright?" he asked softly.

I quickly locked my phone.

"Just spam messages."

Carl didn't expose my lie.

Instead, he opened the passenger door of his car.

"I'll take you home."

"No need. I can call a taxi."

"It's late."

"Humor me."

Unable to refuse any longer, I got into the car.

Halfway home, soft music began playing through the speakers.

The familiar melody instantly caught my attention.

It was the very first song my online boyfriend had ever recommended to me.

I slowly turned toward Carl.

"You like this song too?"

Carl tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"Very much," he answered.

"It's been my favorite for over a year."

A chill ran down my spine.

One year ago...

That was exactly when Puppy had first sent me this song.