Crashing into an Old Flame-Chapter 152: Seducing him

Maxim stopped walking when the waiter led them to their table. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He glanced at the huge 14-seater table that was decorated with candles with flowers arranged in small crystal vases. The black satin tablecloth touched the floor and the golden chairs surrounded the table.

He gazed throughout the dining space and undoubtedly, theirs was the most extravagant table.

The dim lighting and serene piano music lingering in the air combined with it made him feel it was some sort of romantic date for them.

’’Why the 14-seaters when there is just the two of us?" he pulled out a chair for her.

As she took a seat, he pushed her chair, ’’Lest you say that I took advantage of you,’’ she smiled at him, ’’Sit on the other end,’’ she pointed her hand towards the opposite direction.

"_" Maxim rolled the sleeves of his shirt as he made his way towards the other chair.

Diana followed the movements of his hand. Gulping softly, she looked around at the open space behind the pianist. The glass walls gave a clear view of the citylights, ’’This place is so beautiful. I love it.’’

"Is this why you asked me whether I am free today?’’ Maxim looked at her side profile as she observed every nook and cranny of the place. It was just like her, to be excited about every little thing that she liked.

’’Mhm,’’ Earlier this day, she did ask him about his plans, ’’But at that time, I had no clue about this place. When I was looking for an ideal restaurant, I chanced upon this. It happened to be closer to the hospital and the reviews were good too. While reading the reviews, I realized this is the same place we used to frequent. So, I chose it without hesitation.’’

Maxim nodded.

Two waiters arrived at their table. Diana grabbed the menu and thought about the last time she ate at a five-star restaurant. Her heart ached for herself when she realized that it has been a long time.

Poor her.

Although Maxim did take her out for dinner made by a Michelin star chef, but they had a heavy conversation regarding Angel at that time. Then, she kissed Maxim and lied that she mistook him for someone else. In the end, she lost her appetite after everything that transpired that night.

Today was the day for her. She was going to make up for her regrets rather than drowning in self-pity.

’’This... This... This... This... And this too. All this,’’ Diana paused, frowned, ’’You know, skip these five things and get the rest. As for the wine... this one,’’ she passed the menu to the waiter reluctantly. She wanted to order some other wine too but she had to consider Angel.

The waiter took the menu from her hands.

Diana glanced at Maxim who did not look like he had checked the menu, ’’What? Are you not hungry?"

Maxim blinked, ’’Didn’t you order almost everything on the menu?"

’’Oh, but that’s for me. What are you going to eat?" she looked at him confusingly. What was up with him?

’’You are going to eat all that?" Maxim blinked some more.

’’Of course,’’ Diana grabbed a silk napkin and twirled it in between her hands, her lips forming a pout, ’’I don’t even remember when was the last time I tasted some of my favorite wine from the collection I stored in my room back in the Chen mansion. Life has been hard on me, Warner,’’ she wiped an imaginary tear.

His lips tugged up in an indulgent smile, ’’Greedy girl,’’ When she looked at him, he waved his hand at the waiter who was waiting for his order.

After the waiter left, he glanced at her, ’’Do you miss home?"

"Miss?" Diana looked at the napkin in her hand. Tracing it softly with her fingers, she sighed, ’’I am worried about my parents.’’

’’Would you like to go back?" he asked.

Diana stiffened for a moment before she shook her head, ’’Before I meet Daisy, I don’t want to go back.’’

’’Because of Angel?" he guessed.

She nodded, ’’If they take this matter to court, I won’t be able to fight for her custody. I don’t want to give her up to them. So, I can only wait for Daisy.’’

’’Do you want me to look for her?" Maxim asked.

Diana was about to reject it but she thought about it for a moment before looking at him, ’’Daisy is good at hiding her tracks.’’

’’We can try.’’

She smiled at him, ’’Alright... Wait,’’ she narrowed her eyes, ’’Are you doing this because you want to send me out of your sight?’’

Maxim was speechless.

’’Is that it?" First, he asked whether she missed her parents and wanted to go to them. When she told him that she would consider that after meeting Daisy, he was offering his help to look for her sister.

Was he pushing her away?

Maxim wanted to get off his seat and walk to her just to flick her forehead. Sending her out of his sight? Just what in the world was she thinking?

Under his accusing stare, Diana felt a bit conscious about her quick judgment, ’’No?"

’’You have been constantly bothered about it. I don’t want you to worry,’’ he said.

Diana rubbed her nose, feeling guilty about it, ’’You are the best...’’

’’Am I now?" he narrowed his eyes.

’’Fine, it was my fault to assume that,’’ she pressed her hands together before placing her chin on her fist, ’’But I cannot help it when you have been screaming ’no’ all this time.’’

He shook his head, ’’You can’t be helped.’’

’’I can be. Trust me. You can help me,’’ she winked.

Maxim felt his throat running dry as he looked into her seductive eyes. One moment, she was still glaring at him and the next moment, she was seducing him. Not that she already did not seduce him enough by glaring at him.

Did she claim that she had no experience?

Why did his face feel like it was on fire then?

Suddenly, it dawned on him that her motive behind this date was not to coerce him. This time, she had taken up the soft approach to make him give in.

And god knows how long he would be able to last against her.

Maxim closed his eyes, to look for some distraction.

"Warner, are you not listening to me?" Her voice was deliberately softer than usual.

Her accent combined with her lowered voice made it hard for him to not shift in his seat.

’’Did you tell me how you know Director Qin?" Maxim opened his eyes and looked at her.

Diana seemed to be thinking about it, ’’Oh, I forgot to discuss it with you. He framed me when we were at your mom’s place. You have to trust me,’’ she said quickly.

Maxim was inwardly relieved when he saw that her attention had shifted.

When she made it her mission to seduce him, his life was no lesser than a living hell.

’’Framed you?" he quirked a brow.

’’He acted like it was my idea to hide it from you that we know each other. It wasn’t, I promise. He said it first and I complied.’’

Maxim doubted that his mother was clueless about it either. She must have known it since Director Qin and her plotted the whole thing together.

He was the only one kept in dark.

As he watched Diana’s flustered expressions while she panicked about whether he would mind it, he did not mind it a bit that he was kept in the dark.

He should be kept in dark more often.

’’Nevertheless, I was clueless about it.’’

Diana’s eyes widened, ’’I should not have. I should have told you...’’ she started standing up to approach him.

He raised his hand, ’’Sit there and talk,’’ They were six seats away from each other with a long table between them, and yet his body was reacting to her gaze and voice. God knows what would happen if she came to sit next to him to coax him.

It was a pity to miss the opportunity to be coaxed by her... but he was not a masochist.

’’When my grandpa was alive, Grandpa Qin would come to our place frequently, with gifts and chocolates for Daisy and me. But after Grandpa passed away, he never visited. Initially, I would look for him but our families aren’t close the way those two old men were. The Qin Family is one of the 5 aristocratic families in Beijing and they are the most mysterious ones. I was just a child so I had no means to look for him. As I grew up, I got over it... until that day when I went to be interviewed by him,’’ he looked older than he once had been and she realized how time seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.