Lesson 11: First Dates

How to keep a fuckboy interested? That was the million pound question. I knew flirting techniques, how to appear desirable and how to make a guy want you in the short term. But I had a feeling this would need to be more long term — a few months most likely.

Celine had agreed that Jacob was definitely worth keeping an eye on, so much so that she had already enrolled me at university which I would start in September if we hadn't gotten to the bottom of this organisation by then.

Kole had also found some leads at the university he'd scoped out and he had been told to follow those further so I hadn't seen the guy in a week. A beautiful and peaceful week.

I had been tasked with finding out more about Jacob and getting closer to him. Until September this was essentially a trial solo mission and I refused to screw it up. I had to show Celine I could be trusted — even if I was spilling all her agency's secrets to the Italian mafia but that was beside the point — to do this. I wasn't sure how much longer I could stand being forced to work in teams all the time. Other people were exhausting.

I'd done a bit of my own social media stalking on Zack but it was Henry who had hit the jackpot thanks to his otherworldly computer skills. I'd only given the guy a first name and brief description of his appearance and Henry had come back to me a few hours later with a biography on barista boy's entire life.

His name was Zackary King, son of Alastair King, founder and owner of a multimillion-dollar company, and Camilla King, world-renown retired supermodel turned luxury fashion brand owner. He was twenty-one (turning twenty-two in September) and was the second of ten children. He'd gone through school performing averagely and now worked at his father's company and had been the mastermind behind the rebranding they'd done a year ago which had almost doubled their yearly turnover.

He came from a very privileged background, to say the least, one which made me certain he was used to having everything his way all of the time. His social media made that idea even more apparent. He was constantly posing with celebrities, going on ridiculously expensive nights out and was seen with new girls all of the time. Keeping his attention was going to be difficult, especially considering the more I found out about this guy the less I liked him.

He was clearly a stuck up rich boy with no care for anyone but himself.

It was odd though, when I spoke to him, he didn't come across like a prick. Yes, he seemed a little cocky but in an almost charming way. But everything I'd found out about him painted him to be the biggest asshole in the land. The supposed duality of his character made no sense. It was like I was talking about two different people.

I shook off the thought. None of that mattered anyway. All I needed to be concerned with was keeping Zack interested in me long enough to find out more about Jacob. There was a chance he might accidentally let something slip, though I doubted he would've known anything about the people Jacob was involved with, he seemed far too unobservant and shallow for that.

With a reluctant sigh, I picked up my phone, knowing what I had to do.

It took close to half a minute before he answered and I almost thought that I'd typed the number in wrong. "Hello?"

"Hi, Zack. It's me."

"Cassie?" he asked and I could tell he was smirking. "I was beginning to think you'd never call."

"The thought might've crossed my mind..." I teased and he laughed heartily. "But I was bored and was thinking of going out to explore tonight."

"Explore?"

"Yep. The city is so much more interesting at night, you never know what you're going to discover." My voice was excited but in reality, I was anything but. I did not want to have to spend any more time with the arrogant rich pretty boy than absolutely necessary. "Care to accompany me?"

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you go out to explore by yourself?" he mused.

"So..."

"So that's a yes, Cassie. You're in luck because I just so happen to be free tonight."

"Lucky me."

~*~*~

I had to admit, the rich pretty boy cleaned up nice. He was dressed in casual clothes consisting of jeans and a navy knitted v-neck jumper which brought out the steel blue of his eyes. His blond hair was messy yet styled and looked softer than candy floss. So simple yet, on him, very effective.

I'd opted for jeans too but the denim was a shade darker. The baby blue lettuce hemmed top I was wearing matched perfectly to my painted nails and heeled ankle boots. I'd almost matched my eyeshadow as well but settled on a subtle smokey eye instead and red-tinted lipgloss. My dyed platinum blonde hair was curled in subtle beach waves and I knew I looked hot. By the way Zack had been eying me up and down for the last ten minutes, he thought so too.

"So we've been to a pub. Where are we going next?" Zack asked, a slight smile on his stupidly handsome face. Why couldn't he have been ugly? It would have been so much easier to focus and remember how arrogant and stuck up he probably was.

"You'll see," I grinned, grabbing ahold of his hand to pull him alongside me.

The best way to get someone's guard down was to get them drunk. I'd only had a shot but Zack had had about five. He thought I'd been downing them with him but after the first one, I'd swapped for water without him noticing.

He seemed calmer than before. He still definitely had his wits about him but he was lighter than earlier.

We had stayed at the pub for about an hour and now night was upon us. I just needed to take him somewhere where he could have fun and let his guard down even further. If he felt really relaxed and free around me, he'd want to feel that again and subsequently associate those feelings with me. Human psychology really was fascinating.

He was quick to lace our fingers together, his larger hand dwarfing mine in the process. "Always such mystery with you."

"And you wouldn't have it any other way," I said with a quick wink as we turned a corner.

In truth, I wasn't too sure where to take him. This date was a spur of the moment idea so I hadn't planned anything and I was starting to regret it. What could you do for a first date that wasn't cliche or boring? Gio and I would track people down, plan ambushes and fight enemies as a pair for our dates but not many people found that as romantic as I did.

Normally, a restaurant would suffice but I wanted to surprise Zack, I wanted to intrigue him. I scanned every building we passed as we walked through town, hoping something would spark my interest. That was when I saw it, the neon sign basically screaming that it was my only decent option. He'd either love this or hate it, no in-between.

"Come on," I gently pulled him inside and he gave me a curious look.

"A karaoke bar?"

I shrugged, smiling as we made it inside. "More alcohol and there's entertainment, sounds pretty great to me."

He laughed, his eyes bright and excitable. "If my ears bleed out it's on you."

~*~*~

A little while later, Zack threw a chip at me and I sent him a playful glare which he returned with a grin. We were sitting at a two-seater table where it was slightly quieter at the back of the bar, still with a good view of the karaoke performers. "I signed you up. It's almost your turn."

"You what?" I spluttered, choking on my drink.

He nudged me with his foot under the table, his grin morphing into a smirk. "I signed you up. You brought me here so I think I should get to hear you sing."

I shook my head, looking at him like he'd gone mad. "Absolutely not."

"Oh come on, Cassie. Let me see a bit more of your mysterious side."

I sighed through my nose, sending him a doubtful look. "I don't know, Zack..." I paused, letting an idea form in my mind. "Only if you sing with me."

It was his turn to do a double-take. "What?"

"Seeing as I brought us both here, it's only fair that we sing together," I shrugged.

I was expecting protest and whining, not the uncontainable excitement blossoming on Zack's face. "You've got yourself a deal, Cassie but I'm picking the song," he said, downing another shot.

I didn't get a chance to protest before the DJ called my name. I quickly had a shot as well, needing the confidence boost. Awkwardly, I pulled up Zack with me as I stood. "Change of plan. He's singing with me."

The DJ smiled. "No problem. What are you guys singing?"

Please pick something I knew. Please pick something I knew. Please pick something I knew.

"Don't go breaking my heart. Elton John and Kiki Dee," Zack said, standing much closer to me than I was expecting as he led us onto the very small stage.

I relaxed just a tad. Luca and Maria loved that song. They'd dance to it together all the time when I was growing up.

Only about half the people in the room were paying us any attention but I still couldn't help the slight anxiousness in the pit of my stomach. I was an assassin used to staying unseen in the shadows, not being given a spotlight on centre stage.

"Relax, Cassie. You've got this," Zack whispered into my ear, giving my hand a quick comforting squeeze just as the music started.

He was right. I was a mafia trained assassin. I could scale buildings, navigate through forests with a blindfold on and sneak into the bloody Whitehouse. I could handle singing a goddamn karaoke song with Zackary King.

"Don't go breaking my heart," he sang, eyes focused on me. There was a darling glint in them, almost as if he was challenging me to do better than him.

A challenge?

I quirked an eyebrow before matching his look with one of my own, my competitive side flaring. "I couldn't if I tried." I was not going to lose to barista boy.

"Oh, honey, if I get restless," he stepped closer to me, steel eyes boring into my brown ones.

I tapped his chest lightly and stepped back with a smirk. "Baby, you're not that kind."

With each line, my confidence grew. I focused on Zack instead of the half-attentive audience and just enjoyed the song, part of me reminiscing about my childhood with my family back in Italy.

He played up the dramatics as we carried on and I matched his demeanour perfectly.

He spun me as we got towards the end and I couldn't help the small giggle. "I won't go breaking your heart."

"Don't go breaking my heart."

The song finished and I beamed at Zack, he smiled too but in a more coy way. "Told you you could do it," he whispered as a few people clapped. We didn't exactly sound brilliant and both of us had messed up a fair few notes but that didn't matter to me.

"How could I refuse a challenge?"

I wasn't expecting it when Zack took a step closer, hand reaching behind my head as he kissed me softly. It wasn't a long kiss but there was a small flutter in my stomach as he pulled away and I felt a bit stunned as he interlaced our hands and we walked off the stage.

I shook off my surprise, my confident demeanour back at the surface by the time we had sat down.

"You know, this is the first time I've sung karaoke with someone," he said, his knee brushing against mine.

"Me too."

"I'm glad I was your first," he said, leaning in to give me another kiss. This time I pulled away before he could do anything more than peck me.

He pouted and I laughed. "One kiss is all you get tonight," I smirked, stealing one of his chips which had gone cold. He retaliated by snagging one of my curly fries and sticking his tongue out like a child.

I playfully rolled my eyes, letting him enjoy the small victory. "You've got a little something," I said, leaning over to wipe the lipgloss off his lips.

His skin was soft to the touch and I let my fingers linger longer than necessary. As I went to pull away, his hand placed itself on top of mine, keeping it where it was. I leaned closer and when my face was inches from his, his hot breath fanning my cheek, my plan to tease him and rip my hand away vanished from my mind. Instead, my mouth gained a mind of its own and said something my brain wanted to slap me for. "I guess a second kiss wouldn't hurt."

Zack's eyes gleamed and for a moment I forgot that I wasn't supposed to like the guy. "I like the way you think."

~*~*~

I hope you guys liked the chapter! Don't forget to let me know what you think so far.

Stay safe xx