Assuming he had no idea, Simione continued, very much expecting his outburst later, “Well that is….”

“Cow’s balls and intestine,” Hawk continued for her and nonchalantly continued eating as if there was nothing wrong with it. “Delicious isn’t it? I like this soup very much,”

​​

Simione’s excitement dies down at the view of the great Hawk Monsanto, enjoying a commoner’s food. Her jaw even dropped at the shock that came onto her. She looked at him for a few good minutes as her incredulity struck into her, hard.

“Seriously?” She gasped. “You know this kind of food?”

“You underestimate me mi amor,” Hawk smirked at the sight of the girl’s confusion. He let go of a smirk and finished up his soup with thorough delight. Ever since Feather vomited at their last restaurant date, Hawk had never got a chance to eat such kind of soup anymore. So right then, he wasn’t really enjoying it without pretense and amazed that the woman he was with, out of all people, also had this kind of peculiar taste. “This probably is the best flavor in this whole city,”

“You mean you regularly eat this kind of soup?” Another shock went through Simione. How in the world did the great Hawk Monsanto like a peasant’s food? Simione right then was having some chills, not able to comprehend anything. “But how is this possible?

“I do. Actually it’s not that impossible as you think it is,” Hawk cleared. Then went on narrating something about his previous life, “I’ve been to many places before I steadied here. I had travelled a lot and in the road, there is not much of food choices so I eat everything that was available “

Simione’s shock was swept away by Hawk’s explanation and a bag of empathy rushed into her heart. She was aware of the Monsanto’s story, how once the M Conglomerate fell down and every Monsanto was being hunted. If her calculations were right, Hawk was still a young child at that time and it was said that they had been on the run for many years. This probably was what he meant when he said he had travelled to many places. 

“I see,” Simione concluded, hiding away the pity she felt. She certainly didn’t want him to see it because she knew it would create an awkward environment for the both of them. “I’m sorry,”

“For what?” Hawk’s eyes went from his bowl to Simione’s honey-colored ones, “For underestimating my kind of men?”

“Well yeah,” Simione owned her mistake. “Your kind of men,”

“I don’t accept apologies mi amor,” His words sounded as if it was some kind of threat and the girl shivered a little at it.

“I’ll pay for the soup then. Since I owe you,” Simione proposed, hoping Hawk could give a pass to her bad judgement. “How about that?” 

“How about you tell me something about yourself?” Hawk traded with her and Simione was then amazed on how he was using his business skills to deal with her secrecy. “Two things,” he added as  his eyes quickened at the sparke of such a brilliant idea.

Simione’s brow arched at his audacity, “You are so demanding Mister Monsanto,”

“Something is telling me I have the right to demand,” Hawk replied with a devious handsome smile that got into the girl’s bones instantly. Looking at him right then, Simione for the first time had seen how captivating his looks were. He was handsome without question, from his grey sparkling eyes and his manly deep voice. Even his gestures can make every woman fall away as he was naturally a gentleman and his words, opinions and thoughts would make you fall in love on the spot. Hawk Monsanto was smart and brilliant but what made Simione so amazed was not his beautiful appearance but the beauty of his heart. He was a noble man with great spirits, something Simione had not expected and feared all the most.

“Well, if you insist. I won’t mind—”

“I do insist,” Hawk cut her off and winked with a victorious smile. Simione wanted to refuse as she didn’t want to give Hawk any information about herself and yet, right then she was so defenseless with his demand specially that he looked so goddamn cute as he was on it.

“Alright. Alright,” Simione rolled her eyes and smiled. “Well let me see…” She thought of something for a moment. Her lips moved and twitched as she rampaged through her brain, trying to find something she can give Hawk without risking her chances, “hmmm, first is that…I have voluntarily subjected myself to everyday stress for the last three years. Second is that my friends says I have the most boring job in this city and I extremely, heavily hated my boss,”

“Everyone hates their bosses,” Hawk commented, flushing a neutral expression but his mind was actually scrutinizing each of Simione’s words carefully. What does she mean when she said she had voluntarily subjected herself to everyday stress? Is that her job or something else?

Her first statement didn’t give Hawk much information but at least the second statement was kind of useful in a way. Simione’s second statement made Hawk know a few things, first is that; the girl works within the city, second; she had a boring job? Clerk work maybe? He did think she was a dancer because seriously she had some talent. Third is that; she had friends. Wonder what kind of friends they were, was Lucilla Dimitri one of them?

“Well mine probably was the worst,” Simione got annoyed thinking about it. 

“And yet you keep on with him,” Hawk emphasized the fact that she actually had a choice to resign if he was that bad. ‘Just resign and be my private dance, I won’t mind paying you twenty million each night’ Some nauthy thought suddenly went on Hawk’s mind but before such thought came pronounced at his face, he shoo it all away.

“If only I can,” Simione sighed deep. “Perhaps after a year or two maybe,”

Hawk’s mind caught and processed swiftly Simione’s last statement. A year or two? She’s definitely waiting for something to happen. That’s why she puts up with her boss no matter how much she hates him. Did she also mention the time frame three years previously? Was it the one she was waiting to pass? 

“Hmmm.. intriguing,” Hawk whispered in his breathe as Simione’s statement got him too occupied.

“What’s that?” Simione heard it but didn’t catch it clearly.

“I said if you are that stressed with your boss, you are welcome to apply in my company,” Hawk straightened his mind and teased her, “I promise I won’t give you much of a stress,”

“Very funny Hawk Monsanto,” Simione shook her head. She had heard of how strict he was as a boss and that his company hired nothing less than people who graduated with honors in big universities. “According to statistics, your company has the lowest retention rate when it comes to new employees. I will be fired even before I stepped in that’s for sure,”

“You’ll never know,” Hawk gave her a naughty wink, amazed at how she knew much about him.

Simione and Hawk talked for a few more minutes before they decided it was getting so late and they had to go home. After waving Madam Ning goodbye, the two head off.

“I can give you a ride if you want,” Hawk gave the thought a chance although he knew the girl would decline.

“Not anymore. Lucilla had arranged a transportation for me,” Simione refused as Hawk expected. If he’ll give him a ride, he’ll definitely know where she lives and who she was staying with. She didn’t want to give him that.

“So you’ll wait for her ride?” Hawk was amazed that she was to be picked up by Lucilla. He was then thinking that she was really an important person to the singer but when he was reminded of how a thoughtful and generous employer Lucila Dimitri was, he had his doubts.

“Yes. She’s probably aware where I am right now,” Simione revealed.

“She had someone follow us?” It was only then that Hawk realized it.

“Well she always made sure all her employees were safe. Especially in circumstances like this when we are taken by clients,” Simione explained hoping Hawk would believe it. “You know, she’s very particular with her employees safety,”

“I see,” Hawk didn’t give it much of a thought right then because he had something more important in mind. He and the girl were still walking in the bay, tracing back their previous path. With such a beautiful ambiance and mood, Hawk thought it was the perfect moment.

“Cat,” He called her attention as he stopped in his tracks.

“Hmmm?” Simione turned to his head and realized Hawk stopped and looked at her with his ever gorgeous grey eyes that were trying to connect with her. 

There was something within it that took Simione’s breath away. Hawk Monsanto looked at her with so much warmth that for a moment, Simione thought she was the woman whom he was in love with. Thinking about it, Simione knew it was a horrible fantasy but with Hawk, right there and then, she could think of nothing but all good things and her doubts and hesitation were silenced for a moment.It was like they were in love and it that particular moment, Simione surrendered herself freely to that fleeting moment.