Chapter 164 - Most Memorable Night

'Should I stay with him for another night?' Esmée was unsure. She kept asking herself the same question. 

Her mouth parted, unable to express her thoughts for some time, but eventually, she said, "I'll - I'll decide after this date."

Orion just smiled at her and said, "Of course. I understand."

To Esmée's surprise, she did not have to order her own food. Orion seemed to know her favorites. He merely said, "I really like red snapper. If you don't mind. I ordered the same for you."

She smiled, fluttering her eyes repeatedly, and said, "I - I also like red snapper."

'Was that just a coincidence?' She silently wondered. 

Their dishes were served outright. They soon indulged in and aromatic and sumptuous meals, looking down at the city lights from inside the 58 Eiffel Tower Restaurant. 

As they dined, Esmée turned nostalgic. She had always wanted to be in the same restaurant since she was young. She heard of how her half-siblings enjoyed their meals at this iconic establishment, yet her father never brought her with his family as a child.

This was because Victor Bardin was ashamed of her. She was a product of his mistake and back then, he meant to never introduce Esmée to the world. 

It was only when Esmée turned sixteen that Victor Bardin was forced to introduce Esmée as his daughter, following the wishes of her late grandfather. 

Came with the acknowledgment, however, Victor Bardin set boundaries for Esmée, denying her freedom. She always had security following her around. 

When she finished high school with honors, her father realized Esmée's potential and it all the more encouraged him to use her for his family's own gains. She was groomed to help out the business, but never take an important seat in the company. 

Half-way through the meal, Esmée said, "This is really one of the best meals I had ever had, Orion. Thank you for taking me here."

"You are welcome, Esmée. This is just the beginning. I meant to bring you to places you have always dreamed of, but never had the chance," promised Orion. 

She giggled and said, "What if I want to around the world in only sixty days?"

"I can make that happen. I have my ways," told Orion. "Convenient and very affordable way of traveling too."

"Really?" Said Esmée, leaning back at her seat. She saw nothing but confidence in Orion's handsome grin, that she seemed to doubt herself more than his claims to travel the world in sixty days!

She asked a few more things, including Orion's family. She learned he had grandparents, three siblings, and parents who were excited to see her. 

The suggestion made her smile, and she said, "Do - do your parents already know me?"

"Yes, Esmée. In fact, you have spoken to my mother in the past," revealed Orion before sipping on his wine. 

"I - I have met your mother? When?" Esmée asked with her eyes widening. Now more than ever, she was more curious about Orion and his family. She wondered what was the connection between him and Orion. 

Throwing in more interviews, Esmée learned that Orion was into martial arts and swords. He also claimed to own a golden sword. She also discovered that he liked mythical creatures like giant sea serpents and dragons. As a remark to the latter findings, she said, "You should write a story about mythical creatures!"

"Hmmm," that was all Orion said. 

Esmée noticed how Orion did not ask about her at all. She wound up probing, "Don't you want to ask me anything?"

Orion clutched his hands together before resting his chin on her face. Only then did he say, "Esmée, I don't care who you are and anything about your past. It's enough for me to know that you are the same Esmée I had admired for years."

"And the truth is, the only thing I am interested to know right now, is your opinion about me. I really, wanted to know what you think about me," added Orion.

She fell silent before blushing at his query. More than just the idea of expressing her thoughts about him, she really wanted to know how they met in the past and what lead him to like her in the past!

"It's okay if you don't have an opinion about me yet," said Orion before wiping his mouth with a table napkin. They had just finished dessert, and he thought it was time for the ultimate prize. He said, "Let's go to the summit - the topmost level. It's beautiful up there."

She followed him willingly to where the elevators were, taking her to the summit. 

As she watched the lift going higher and higher, she felt nervous altogether. She still could not believe she was already there. She eagerly glanced at the window, appreciating the city flights from below. 

When they arrived at the summit, they lingered for minutes at the first level before going up to have some fresh air. It was cold and windy altogether that Orion gave her his coat. He said, "keep yourself warm, Esmée. I don't want you to get a cold."

"Thank you, Orion." She smiled as she moved closer to the edge of the fenced area. She took a deep breath and said, "I - I have always wanted to come here."

Orion knew this. For a long time, he knew how she was kept from experiencing life itself. How he wanted to take Esmée even before but he was waiting for the right time. He stood by for Esmée to be at the right age to make decisions for herself, and he waited for the time she would at least finish her degree. 

"I know, Esmée. I know," told Orion, softly letting out his words. 

His words made Esmée frown, thinking about how he knew one of her greatest wishes. She finally said, "I'll stay with you for another week, Orion. Please tell me how you know so much about me?"

Orion smiled while looking at the city of Paris. He took a deep breath and said, "I saw you first here in the base of the Eiffel Tower more than twelve years have passed. I saw through the sadness in your eyes of how your half-siblings go up to the tower without you while you linger on the grounds with your security."

"I was still a boy back then, and my parents merely thought I was infatuated by your beautiful face, but the truth was Esmée, I never stopped thinking about you since," added Orion. 

He then turned to Esmée's beautiful face and declared, "Back then, I told myself that one day, when I'm old enough, I would take you to this tower myself."

Orion's revelation made Esmée cry for a second. Her nose turned red, and she quickly wiped the wetness on her face. She asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Esmée. You may not remember, but I remember it well," answered Orion. "And that was the first I saw you."

"So - so we met for the second time too?" She asked, wiping the wetness on her eyes. How could she not forget how sad she always was when she was left on the grounds waiting for them, merely eating take-out from inside the car upon their return to the mansion. 

Back then, it was the most that her father allowed her to see; the mere base of the tower. She at least had a picture of the Eiffel from the grounds.

Esmée fell silent for a second, just sniffing the small tears that she had showered. After some time, she said to Orion, "I think you are crazy to give my parents so much for me - "

"You are worth it. All those are nothing to me. What's important is your freedom, but - of course, I hope you'll choose to marry me too," Orion cut off her words, making her feel he never regretted agreeing to give both the gold bars and the shares to BNX International. 

She could not help but scoffed. After swallowing her own spew, she added, "On the bright side, I think you are incredibly handsome. So far, that is one good thing I see in you."

Returning to Orion's mansion, Esmée was scared of the decision she had made. She was about to sleep in a strange man's home, but right after arriving, Orion kept assuring her that she was safe with him. He reminded her that she always had her phone with her and she could always keep in touch with anyone of her friends. 

As Orion walked her to her room, he said, "Esmée, I want you to know that you can trust me." He pointed to the room five doors away, and he said, "That's my room and I am far from you."

"Don't forget to lock the doors before sleeping," he reminded. 

She just nodded and said, "I will definitely lock the doors."

With a smile on his face, Orion said, "Good girl. I'll see you at breakfast, Esmée. Thank you for a memorable night - "

"No. No actually, thank you, Orion. Thank you for giving me the most memorable night... Somehow, after this night, at least... I don't think you are a scary person," she said as she opened the door to her room. "I'll see you tomorrow."

***

Author's Notes:

For Tricking My Cold Lover, I may not publish today. I went out with my family and I came home really late.. Thank you for understanding.