Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 328: Blind date
Braelyn’s POV
My visit to the main family house turned out to be permanent. Francesca insisted I stay over until a place could be arranged for me. Her excuse was that I needed to be close to my dad, which didn’t make sense because Margaret knew him better.
But she didn’t give up and insisted I needed to be close so that we could discuss a good match. In truth, though, she just wanted a female companion.
The first week with the Voss family was a blur of activities. Francesca was living her fantasy of having a daughter—that’s the best way I could describe it.
She took me to several clubs, auctions, and stores she had always wanted to visit with someone, but, unfortunately, she was a boy mum. Our days were spent relaxing and shopping. In less than a week, I met almost every rich wife in her circle, and on some occasions, we came across a potential match. She would always lean in to ask if that was the type I liked.
It was a bit chaotic, but it helped me get my mind off things. By the second week, I finally had my blind date.
The match was a surgeon Francesca had chosen after going through a long list. He was decent, came from a good family background, and earned well.
I didn’t have high hopes, but I had to go—partly to distract myself and partly because Yelena was watching. It wasn’t a bad idea; I had to move on.
I stepped out of the car into the crisp night air, the hum of the city surrounding me. The restaurant stood quietly between two taller buildings, its exterior understated yet elegant.
Warm light spilled from the tall windows, casting golden rectangles across the pavement. The subtle scent of flowers from the small garden out front mingled with the faint aroma of baked bread drifting from the kitchen.
Francesca’s driver gave me a polite nod before pulling away, leaving me alone with my nerves.
I smoothed the front of my dress and clutched my bag a little tighter, taking a slow, steadying breath. Francesca’s insistence on this blind date made me tense, but I reminded myself it was only one evening. One dinner. I could do this.
Pushing open the heavy glass door, I was greeted immediately by soft music and the quiet buzz of conversation. The interior was serene and intricately arranged with polished wooden floors, tall potted plants, and shelves lined with soft candlelight.
The walls were decorated with abstract paintings and framed black-and-white photographs capturing quiet city moments. I could see the city outside through the large, arched windows, its lights flickering like scattered stars. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
"Good evening, Miss Alderheim," the receptionist welcomed me from her desk with a warm smile. "Welcome to Le Jardin."
"Good evening," I replied nervously. "I have a reservation under Mr Hendricks."
She smiled kindly and tapped on her desktop. "Let me check..." she muttered, still looking at the screen. "Yes, I have your reservation here. Right this way, please." She gestured toward the back of the lobby, where soft lighting drew my attention to a long corridor lined with tall windows.
I followed, my heels clicking softly on the polished floor, the smell of fresh flowers and warm wood filling my senses. "Thank you," I murmured.
The receptionist nodded, taking a few steps before adding, "Mr Hendricks has not arrived yet, but your table is ready. The waiter will take good care of you."
"Perfect," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
A young waiter soon approached, bowing slightly. "Miss Alderheim, this way please." He led me through the softly lit gallery above the lower dining room, past tall windows framing the city skyline in all its sparkling glory.
The interior was filled with large green plants and bursts of flowers, their colours bathed in the evening light, adding life and warmth to the space.
My table was tucked into a quiet corner, surrounded by cascading ferns and small potted orchids. The privacy felt comforting, like a small sanctuary from the nerves twisting in my stomach.
"Would you care for some wine while you wait, Miss Voss?" the waiter asked politely, a gentle smile on his face. He used the Voss surname.
"Yes, please," I said a little too quickly, desperate to have something to focus on. "Champagne would be lovely."
He nodded and excused himself, leaving me to settle in. I ran a hand along the smooth linen of the table and took a deep breath, letting my gaze drift back to the city beyond the windows. The lights sparkled below, and for a moment, the tension in my chest eased.
A few minutes later, the waiter returned, holding a bottle of champagne. He opened it carefully and poured the sparkling liquid into my glass. "Enjoy," he said politely before stepping away. I twirled the glass lightly, watching the bubbles catch the warm light, and took a tentative sip.
The silence was comforting, almost peaceful, until the subtle creak of a chair behind me made my pulse skip. Someone had arrived without my noticing.
"You’re late, Mr Hendricks," I said casually, drawing my gaze from the window.
He smiled, leaning back slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It’s been a while, Miss Alderheim. Or should I say, Miss Voss? Dear Viper."
My breath caught in my throat, and the glass in my hand threatened to slip from my fingers. "What are you doing here, Lucien?" I whispered, disbelief and confusion blending in my chest.
He tilted his head, that dangerous, infuriating smile still on his face. "I should be asking that, Viper. What are you doing here? You really think you could replace me?"
My lips parted, but no words came. I wanted to tell him to leave, to remind him this was supposed to be a blind date, not a confrontation, but the intensity of his gaze made my tongue freeze.
Lucien’s smile widened, and before I could react, he leaned forward, taking the glass I had been sipping from and bringing it to his lips, the rim brushing where my lipstick had left a mark. A shiver ran down my spine at the intimate gesture.
"You know," he murmured, eyes dark with amusement, "bad girls deserve to be punished." He said it with an evil smirk that sent chills down my spine.
