The drive to the restaurant had already stretched Selena's nerves thin. Jace's offer to take her out still lingered in her chest like a flutter she couldn't get rid of. She knew this wasn't his usual behavior — this wasn't the cold, distant man who once gave her rules for every corner of his mansion. And now, here he was… taking her to dinner?
Her mind was a mess before they even arrived.
When the car rolled to a stop in front of the sleek glass building that carried the Arinston Group logo at the top, Selena blinked in shock.
Of course.
She should've known.
The restaurant was owned by his company.
Jace stepped out, walked around the car, and before she could even reach for the handle, her door swung open.
He stood there, tall and composed, one hand tucked into his pocket as he stared down at her with unreadable eyes.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
Selena nodded, stepping out. His presence felt overwhelming, but she forced herself to stay composed. She couldn't afford to let her heart run wild just because Jace Arinston suddenly decided to act gentle.
They walked inside. The restaurant's interior was warm and elegant — golden lights, soft music, and the faint aroma of spices drifting from the kitchen. Every table was set with crystal glasses and pristine white napkins folded like swans.
And then he did something that almost made her trip on her own feet.
He walked ahead of her, reached the table, then paused.
He pulled her chair out.
Pulled. Her. Chair. Out.
Selena's breath caught.
She froze, staring at him.
He didn't look impatient or annoyed. His face remained calm, but his eyes were watching her carefully… almost too carefully.
"Sit," he said softly. "You must be tired."
She obeyed quietly, lowering herself onto the chair.
Her hands trembled slightly under the table, but on the surface, she kept her expression neutral. She wasn't about to embarrass herself in front of him.
Jace sat down opposite her.
"What would you like to eat?" Jace asked, his tone calm, but his eyes… soft. Softer than usual.
Selena swallowed. "Uhm… I think I'll have Jollof rice. With salad. And… beef meat."
"Okay." He nodded once. "Will you take juice?"
She shook her head slowly. "No. Plain water is fine."
"Alright."
As if summoned by Jace's very presence, a waiter immediately approached their table. He greeted Jace with a bow so deep Selena almost shifted in her seat.
"Good evening,sir."
Jace nodded curtly.
The waiter handed him menu with both hands, then stepped back respectfully.
He didn't bother opening the menu. "She wants Jollof rice,salad,and beef.I'll take white rice with chicken curry."
Yes, sir." The waiter bowed and walked off quickly.
Silence settled between them. Not uncomfortable, but thick. Heavy. A silence filled with words neither dared to say aloud.
Selena turned toward the window, desperately needing something else to focus on. The city lights sparkled beautifully against the slowly darkening sky. Cars passed. Pedestrians moved like small shadows. It was peaceful. Calming. Something she could use to steady herself.
Because Jace was too intense tonight.
Too gentle.
Too present.
And she didn't know why.
Jace watched her from across the table. His elbows rested casually on the armrests, fingers interlocked in front of him. His gaze never left her—not even for a second. There was a storm behind his eyes, hidden so well that only someone who paid close attention could see it.
"Selena."
Her heart jumped at how softly he said her name. She turned slowly to look at him.
"Yes?"
Jace opened his mouth, intending to say something—something important, something heavy—but he closed it again. His jaw tightened slightly, the corner flexing. He looked away briefly, gathering himself.
Selena's brows pulled together. "Do you want to say something?"
He looked back at her immediately. "I…"
His voice dropped. Lower. Rougher.
"I wanted to ask if you're… comfortable."
Selena straightened. That wasn't what she expected.
"Comfortable?"
"Yes." His gaze held hers. "With this. Dinner. Being here with me."
Her lips parted. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. His tone wasn't cold. Wasn't distant. He sounded like he actually cared about her answer.
"I'm… fine," she replied carefully. "Why wouldn't I be?"
He didn't say anything at first. His gaze lowered to her hands—neatly folded on her lap—before he forced himself to look back at her face.
"You're quiet," he said.
"You're quiet too," she pointed out softly.
His lips twitched… almost into a smile. Almost.
"I suppose I am."
She didn't know what to do with the warmth seeping into his tone, so she turned back toward the window. The silence stretched again, this time heavier because Jace wasn't trying to hide the way he was staring at her.
He was thinking.
Deeply.
Conflicted.
He wanted to tell her something—something he had been holding back for too long—but something kept him from doing it.
He cleared his throat, dragging her eyes back to him again.
"Selena."
She looked at him. "Yes?"
Jace leaned a little forward. "Earlier today—"
He stopped himself, jaw clenching again.
No. Not today. Not now.
Not when he still wasn't sure how she truly felt.
He shifted back in his seat.
"It's nothing," he muttered.
Selena studied him for a few seconds. Something was definitely off. Jace didn't look like the man who usually kept an iron-tight grip on his emotions. Tonight… he looked human. Vulnerable. A little lost even.
She tilted her head. "You're acting strange today."
Jace blinked. "Strange?"
"Yes." She nodded slowly. "You're pulling out chairs, asking if I'm okay, checking what I want to eat…"
She looked away, her voice soft. "You've never done that before."
Jace swallowed—hard.
"I can… start," he said quietly.
Her chest tightened at the softness in his voice. He meant it. He wasn't playing, wasn't teasing, wasn't pretending. He was trying. Trying so hard she could actually feel it from across the table.
Selena looked down, fingers curling on her lap.
He watched her closely.
He had seen the confusion in her eyes. The uncertainty.
But he also saw something else—something warm flickering beneath her calm expression.
Maybe she felt something.
Maybe she didn't.
But he wasn't willing to risk losing her.
Not anymore.
The waiter arrived with their food, breaking the heavy tension. Plates were placed neatly in front of them, steam rising gently from the dishes.
"Enjoy your meal," the waiter said before leaving.
Jace waited until the waiter disappeared before speaking again.
"Selena."
She looked up.
His eyes were softer now—much softer than she had ever seen them.
"I'll… treat you better," he said.
Her heart stopped.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
Jace didn't look away.
He didn't shy from the weight of his own words.
He held her eyes firmly, deeply, like he wanted her to feel every syllable.
"I'll take my time," he continued slowly. "But I'll do it right."
Selena's lips parted in shock.
She had no words.
No reaction.
Nothing prepared her for this version of him.
Jace picked up his cutlery casually, as if he hadn't just shifted the ground beneath her feet.
"Eat," he said quietly. "Your food will get cold."
But Selena could barely lift her fork.
Her heart was racing.
Her thoughts were spinning.
This wasn't the cold president she married on paper.
This wasn't the aloof man who avoided attachment.
This wasn't the Jace who kept his distance.
This was a man who was trying.
A man who wanted something more.
A man who was slowly, carefully… reaching for her.
And Selena didn't know whether to run—or fall