Chapter 284: The Rowe I

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: The Rowe I

The Rowe was already busy by the time the Saint Albion Polo Club team arrived.

It was more relaxed than most of the restaurants around the university, with a long, polished bar along one side of the room and warm lighting that softened the dark wood interiors. Booths and curved banquettes occupied the quieter sections, while smaller round tables filled the rest of the dining area.

It was casual enough for students to come straight from campus, yet refined enough that nobody would think twice about having dinner there after an evening event.

Their manager had reserved a round table toward the back of the restaurant.

Damian sat beside Anthony, with Evelyn on Anthony’s other side. The remaining two players filled the other seats, with their manager among them.

Dinner had already been ordered.

Damian leaned back in his chair, listening only vaguely as the others discussed tomorrow’s match.

His phone rested on the table beside him.

A few minutes earlier, he had checked his messages.

Vivienne’s last text was still in his inbox.

Glad to hear it. Congratulations. Enjoy dinner.

He had replied:

Thank you.

Now, just about a few minutes ago, he had sent another message.

What are you doing?

He had glanced at the phone several times since.

No reply.

Damian checked the screen again.

Nothing.

He told himself it was probably nothing. Vivienne wasn’t someone who constantly checked her phone.

Still, he wondered what she was doing.

Had she gone back to her room?

Was she with Claire and Amelia?

Had she already eaten?

He considered sending another message.

Have you had dinner already?

He stopped himself.

That would make him sound impatient.

He placed the phone back on the table.

He’d wait.

Across the table, Evelyn reached for the water pitcher and filled Anthony’s glass before filling her own.

Anthony gave her a polite nod.

"Thank you."

"Of course."

Damian noticed.

Again.

He said nothing.

His gaze drifted toward the entrance.

He was beginning to wish dinner would end already.

Then the door opened.

A young hostess looked up.

And a woman stepped inside.

Damian’s attention immediately caught.

Vivienne.

His expression changed before he could stop it.

She was wearing a black coat that fitted neatly around her figure, its dark fabric contrasting beautifully with her pale skin and soft curls beneath the restaurant’s warm lighting.

She looked beautiful.

Even more so than she had earlier that afternoon.

Damian’s expression softened before he realized it.

Vivienne.

His first thought was almost amused.

What are the chances?

He nearly reached for his phone.

He could text her.

You here?

Or perhaps—

I didn’t know you were coming.

A smile was already beginning to form.

The hostess spoke to Vivienne and gestured toward the dining area.

Vivienne nodded and followed her.

Damian’s eyes followed her automatically.

She walked deeper into the restaurant, completely unaware of him.

The warm light caught her hair as she moved.

Damian couldn’t stop watching.

Then the hostess stopped beside a table near the windows.

Vivienne turned slightly.

She reached for the buttons of her coat.

Damian watched as she slipped it from her shoulders.

The black coat fell away.

Beneath it was a deep wine-red halter dress.

His eyes lingered.

The dress left her shoulders bare, revealing the smooth line of her collarbones and the graceful curve of her neck. The fitted bodice followed her waist before falling into a softly flowing skirt, flattering her figure without looking overly formal.

Damian’s gaze traveled over her before he could stop himself.

Damn.

She looked beautiful.

And, unfortunately, his mind supplied a few thoughts he probably shouldn’t be having in the middle of a crowded restaurant.

After Saturday night—and the following morning—it was difficult not to remember how close they had been.

He almost smiled.

So that’s what she decided to wear tonight.

For a moment, he completely forgot about his unanswered message.

He was simply enjoying the sight of her.

Then someone approached her table.

Damian’s attention shifted.

A man.

He couldn’t see his face clearly from where he was sitting.

Who is she with?

The man said something to Vivienne, though Damian couldn’t make out the words over the noise of the restaurant.

Vivienne looked up at him.

She smiled.

Damian’s expression changed slightly.

The man reached for the back of the chair and pulled it out for her.

Vivienne sat.

The man moved around the table and took the seat opposite her.

Then he turned slightly toward the light.

Damian froze.

Platinum-blond hair.

Silver-gray eyes.

That familiar face.

He knew him.

Christopher Archibald.

Damian stared.

For a moment, his mind simply refused to make sense of it.

Christopher?

Of all people.

He hadn’t thought about Christopher in weeks.

Not since that Sunday afternoon tea when Vivienne had asked for Christopher’s number. Not since she had admitted, somewhat shyly, that she liked him.

Damian had known then.

He had even caught her texting Christopher afterward.

But that had been weeks ago.

Then came the pool party.

Anthony.

After that, Damian had become convinced that Anthony was the man occupying her heart.

And in East Junction, there hadn’t been a trace of Christopher.

Vivienne hadn’t even seemed interested in her phone.

Then came Saturday night.

Their first time together.

Her first time with anyone.

Damian’s jaw tightened.

The following morning, they had been together again.

And only that afternoon, he had been sitting beside her at the equestrian grounds, holding her hand and kissing her knuckles before she excused herself to watch Eleanor’s fencing match.

He had thought about seeing her again.

He had even wanted to ask her to dinner.

And now she was here.

With Christopher.

Damian shook his head slightly.

They had agreed on what they were.

Friends with benefits.

He had known there were no promises between them.

Still, somewhere along the way, Christopher had disappeared from his calculations.

He had simply assumed that whatever interest Vivienne had once had in him had faded.

Apparently not.

Damian looked across the restaurant again.

Christopher Archibald.

His own classmate.

Fourth-year, just like him. Someone he knew well enough from university, even if they weren’t particularly close. Christopher was impossible to overlook around campus—handsome, well-liked, accomplished, and the son of the Prime Minister.

But Damian’s attention returned to Vivienne.

She was smiling at Christopher.

Not politely.

Not casually.

She looked almost shy.

Damian frowned.

What the hell was Vivienne doing?

He knew about Anthony.

He knew about Christopher.

And now there was him.

His brow furrowed.

He knew what they had agreed to be.

Friends with benefits.

No promises. No expectations.

And he knew better than to pretend otherwise.

He wanted Vivienne. He liked her. That much had never been in question.

But he had also assumed she wasn’t ready to think seriously about anything else. Her engagement to Anthony had ended only a few weeks ago, after years of loving him. Maybe she simply wanted to enjoy herself for a while. Maybe she didn’t know what she wanted yet.

That was why Damian hadn’t asked for more.

But now he wasn’t sure what to make of this.

Was she still interested in Christopher?

Was she simply exploring whatever came her way now that Anthony was no longer in the picture?

Was she looking for something casual?

Damian didn’t know.

And the uncomfortable truth was that he didn’t know Vivienne nearly as well as he wanted to.

They had only found their way back into each other’s lives a couple of months ago. The girl he had known when they were children was long gone. This Vivienne was an adult woman he was still trying to understand.

He had impressions of her.

He had moments with her.

But that wasn’t the same as knowing what she wanted.

His eyes returned to her.

She was smiling at Christopher, looking almost shy.

Damian looked down at the phone beside his hand.

What are you doing?

The unanswered message suddenly felt different.

A few minutes ago, he had been hoping she would reply.

Now he wasn’t even sure what answer he wanted.

He slipped the phone back onto the table.

He had no claim on her.

He knew that.

Still, watching her with Christopher left a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in his chest.

--

Tbc