THE WAITERS PLACED the plates of food on the table and left the room.

Darius picked up a fork and started eating. Even while eating, he looked regal and upright, almost like he was born into royalty.

Being lost in their thoughts, the couple ate in silence for some time. When she raised her head, he had already finished eating and was watching her eat.

"You have something on your face." he pointed to her chin.

She quickly grabbed the napkin and wiped her face, bowing her head in humiliation, and wondering how the food reached there.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen," she quickly rushed out.

He frowned. "You need not apologize for that."

"So, where are you from?" She asked, wanting to change the topic.

"Montana," He responded. "My ancestors first settled in the state of Montana centuries ago. The land was given to us by the U.S. government. We built and developed the place into what it is now."

"Montana is a state where no one knows what happens inside. All we know is that it is a state in the U.S. and nothing else. Your family rules the state, yes?"

He nodded in response to her question.

"But it is under the United States government?" She asked again.

"No, it isn't but I will explain all that later," he said, stopping her from asking more questions.

"Tell me about yourself instead." It was obvious he wanted to bring the attention back to her.

So, she told him about her life in New York and how at the young age of five, her parents sent her to stay with her father's sister, only coming to visit her once a year on her birthday.

"Do you have siblings?" He asked.

"Not biologically. My mother adopted a son three years after I was born. He is older than me by four years. I have only seen him on three occasions."

"Are you aware of the reason why you were sent away?" Darius asked curiously.

Ophelia shifted back onto the couch to sit more comfortably.

"My mother said I was a sickly kid so they couldn't keep me. My father needed a strong child to take over the family business. Three years later, they adopted Zachary."

Darius looked confused. "And you were sent away because of that? Couldn't they afford to keep the two of you?"

At that, Ophelia let out a short laugh.

"As if. My parents pretty much control the city they live in. They were more than capable of taking care of an entire football team of children if they wanted to."

"And your mother agreed to this?" Darius asked again.

"She was more than willing. You see, she wears the pants in the relationship so my father has no say.

"He is only allowed to visit me once a year while I have only seen my mother once in ten years and it was on my eighteenth birthday," Ophelia said, causing Darius' eyes to widen in shock.

"What mother would willingly leave her child for so long?" Darius questioned in amazement.

Ophelia shrugged. "Mine did. Anyway, that was in the past, it doesn't really affect me anymore."

Darius nodded, smiling with admiration shining in his eyes. "You are indeed stronger than I expected, Ophelia.

"You experienced these things and still managed to grow up to be a warm-hearted woman. It is remarkably commendable."

Ophelia shyly looked away from his gaze. "Thank you for your kind words, Darius."

"You are most welcome. We should get going now, don't you think?."

Ophelia couldn't agree more. "Yeah, we should."

"It's about time I told you everything about myself."

••••

The cold evening air bit into Ophelia's skin as soon as they came out of the restaurant. And despite the jacket she was wearing, she could feel herself starting to shiver.

She wondered how Darius could be fine with just his suit jacket alone and didn't seem to be struggling at all with the cold.

Darius quickly led her into the car. The warm air inside the car made it seem like it was a different country from the outside.

"Still cold?" Darius asked her as soon as he was settled.

She smiled at his concern. "Not anymore. Where are we headed?"

"I'm taking you to a place where I will tell you everything you want to know, without interruptions."

She noticed that he didn't directly answer her question and she was suddenly reminded of the Mafia speculation.

It was at that moment she realised that Darius didn't deny belonging to a Mafia and neither did he accept it.

Even now, he was being vague, as if he wanted to be careful with his words. But since she decided to give him her trust, she would do it all the way.

••••

'The White Lake Reserve,' was written on the small direction sign on the side of the road. Ophelia had never been to this part of the State.

After leaving the town where she was born, Ophelia never once travelled. She stayed in New York as her mother requested and never showed her face to her townspeople again.

Having been in the big city for so long, Ophelia had forgotten what nature looked like.

Standing in the middle of the forest, surrounded by snow-covered trees and shrubs, Ophelia could only breathe in the fresh air and admire the scenery.

Even as the day was getting dark, she could still appreciate the beauty.

Although the forest was covered in snow, Ophelia could tell that once the snow melted away, it would reveal a magnificent green forest.

Suddenly, the whole path in front of them was lit up by small fairy lights, hanging from trees.

"It's beautiful," Ophelia breathed out in awe.

"I'm glad you like it. Come, sit with me," Darius said, taking her hand and leading her to an elevated level in the middle of the forest where they were no trees.

Ophelia sat opposite him, wondering how much it must have cost him to reserve that place and prepare all those things. No matter how she looked at it, it must have been a lot.

"No one has ever done something like this for me before," she confessed.

"Then I guess I am lucky to be the first," Darius responded.

Ophelia couldn't clearly see his face but she knew he was smiling and somehow, without reason, it brought a smile to her face as well.

"It amazes me when you say things like this without making it sound like you are lying to me.

"During those times I find myself believing in your words, even though, maybe I should not, because we have only just met. Worst of all, no matter how I try, I can't read you," she sighed.

Darius nodded in understanding. "You don't have to worry about reading me anymore because all your questions will be answered. But before that, I want you to promise to keep an open mind."

{•}

Thank you for reading.