Burning Passion

CHAPTER 161: HER DREAM

"I want to be part of that dream."

* * *

EMPIRE DRAGON SOLARIS, Hiryuu Island

The moment the couple seated at their table, the floor manager of this restaurant approached them to hand the menu. 

"Good evening, Master Shang, Miss Lindsey."

It surprised Nikki after she recognized the man. "James!" 

"Hi, Nikki!"

James smiled politely, keeping a professional but friendly response. They know each other as he was Nikki's Senior during college days. 

"Oh, I thought you were in Singapore?" Nikki asks the guy. She didn't notice that James was bathing with cold sweat when her future husband was glaring at the manager. 

"Ahem. They called me to come back home, and the Agency offered me a position at their sister hotel. I didn't expect it was the Hiryuu Island branch hotel. It surprises me." 

"Oh, great! That's nice!" 

Theo, who was keenly observing Nikki conversing with another man, he notices the little change in her mood. Though Nikki smiles sweetly when meeting his gaze, he caught those sadness flashes in her eyes. 

"Um, James is my Senior back in college." She introduced James to Theo. She doesn't want her future husband to get jealous when she suddenly talks with someone she knew from the hotel. 

Theo nodded. "Let's order?" He gestured his hand toward their menu and encouraged Nikki to order.

"Yeah! I know some dishes. I learned to make them during my apprenticeship." 

Nikki now returned to being cheerful. It was the reason he brought her on the island, is to see her happy and forget everything that causes her sadness. However, there are things that still make her sad. Theo is contemplating something. At the same time, his ears grew bigger, listening to the floor manager continue talking to Nikki.

"You are one of the top students, Nikki. I remember how the chefs always praised you."

James recalls back those days. He is one of Nikki's eager suitors, but she dumped him which Nikki avoided making friends back those days in college. She has girlfriends, but he didn't see her hanging out with men unless her close friends like his bosses from Crow Corporation.

James remains gaping at Nikki when she is playing with her left earring. James saw the beautiful diamond ring on her fourth finger. He realized Nikki is now engaged to her date. No wonder the guy is flashing him dark glares. The guy is jealous. But it surprises him how Nikki suddenly has a boyfriend. How many men did she turn down? 

Does Nikki marry this guy because he is from a wealthy family? James thought. He heard that Nikki's mother got sick, and she needed an enormous amount for the surgery and treatments.

"Ahem! We're giving our orders now." Theo announced when he noticed the hotel manager kept glancing at Nikki's chest.

The restaurant floor manager seems to come back to his senses. If tonight is not Nikki's birthday, Theo already throws a tantrum. Next time, he'll not approve of any daring clothes Nikki would wear for their future dates. 

Theo gives his order hastily after Nikki finishes ordering hers. He wants this restaurant manager to disappear from his sight. 

Later, the wine served, and Theo ordered something else for Nikki before they arrived in the hotel. While waiting for the food, he opens up a topic that is related to Nikki.

"Did you wish to work here?" he asked after they were alone.

Nikki nodded and replied to Theo. "Yes. I aim to get a good background to qualify to apply here. But after what happened to mama, I can't leave her alone or work farther." 

Theo reaches for Nikki's hand. He squeezed it and said, "You can have your five-star restaurant. You need not dream of a managerial job when you can be the owner."

Nikki blinks many times to process what Theo told her. If her interpretation is right, Theo is offering her a restaurant. Her tears were on the verge of flooding her eyes. She fought them and pushed a smile. 

"You should not surprise me suddenly. I don't want to cry during our date." 

"It is one of many things I want to give you Nik... Whatever you dream of, I will do my best to help you reach them." Theo clasped her soft hand with his two warm palms. "I want to be part of that dream."

It never crossed her mind to achieve her dreams. But there is something she dreams above everything else…

"Thank you. I don't know what to say. But I just wanted to focus my attention on our family." 

She wants to enjoy her role being Theo's wife and be the mother of his children. She wants to fill her memories of being with Theo and how they will work out their marriage. 

Being together is not about how they were in love. It is discovering their individuality and how they would live with each other's differences.

She and Theo are like the land and sky. Theo's world different from hers. The environment and influences they grew up; which have different perspectives of the society. A time would come, and they will discover that they have different values about what kind of family and status they grow up with.

And having children of their own will be the most important aspect of their marriage to how together they would raise them. She has a simple life, while Theo's status differs from hers. And she doesn't want to have a big change after she marries Theo.

"Nik?" 

"Ah. I wanted to enjoy my marriage life over my dream career. And I want to handle raising our children."

"I'm happy to hear that, Nik. But I won't stop you reaching your dreams and making them come true." 

She places a sweet smile on her lips, meeting Theo's loving gaze. She would love to tell him these important words.

"My dreams already do come true... Being with you is a dream."

Theo swallowed the lump in his throat. He complained earnestly, "You made me cry."

"We're even then?" Nikki winks at Theo to lighten their mood.

"Silly. How can I punish you later?" 

She blushed and pouted. "You won't spoil our date, don't you?"

"Yet... Because I want to bring you somewhere after here."

Her eyes gleam as she instantly imagines what place of this island Theo would bring her later. "Should I guess?" She waited for Theo, nodding at her then smiling cutely. "Looks like it was way more exciting." She honestly says, "I'm not really into fancy things or places like this." 

"I know. That is why it was one of my top lists to do when we're on the island. I prefer to be alone with you instead." 

Nikki softens her gaze and looks playfully at Theo. "Hmm, I wonder what is the top among the top list?" 

Theo chuckled, he kissed the back of her palm. His silence is understandable.

"Naughty, the night is still young," Nikki pointed out.

"We always did early to have a long night being together." Theo winked as he teases her. 

"Hey!" She blushed, recalling those secret nights and secret meetings to have secret making love. "You silly! I would love to punish you," she sweetly threatens him.

Theo's eyes gleamed from her return. "I can't wait." 

Nikki dropped her mouth and then giggled later. Theo's passionate gape made her feel naked before his eyes, which she returned a seductive glare. She realizes they lit a fire between them.

"Stop seducing me, future Mrs. Shang." 

"And stop undressing me through your eyes, Mr. Shang." 

Theo's laugh echoed, the reasons for the nearby tables to glance at their direction. The atmosphere they're putting on is like honeymooners, so the other guests are intrigued who she is in Theo Shang's life when he has a fiancée from Entertainment. Everyone witnessed how they were intimate with each other. And Nikki's ring on her fourth left finger is dazzling. They guessed. She is not just a girlfriend of the night. From their observation, she has an important role in this prince's life. Well, they look forward to trending news in later days.

However, most of them don't care as they were also one of those people that cannot reveal the real status of their personal life when there is an image they have to put up. The world they live in is a show-off or a pretense. Hiding from public eyes is a struggle to achieve such a peaceful life.

Honestly, Nikki is anxiously being in this restaurant with the atmosphere of High Society. Grateful, Theo eases her nervousness, holding her right palm while her left hand is playing with the earrings.

The food arrives, Nikki, indulges herself with all the food placed in front of her. Later, a small heart-shaped mango-chocolate cake was delivered to their table, and a resident hotel singer came to sing Nikki a happy birthday.

"You need not do such a grand greeting and reveal it's my birthday." She told Theo after the famous singer left, who sang her a beautiful revised birthday song.

"The original plan was actually to propose to you."

"Are you planning to put the ring on the cake?" Nikki makes a guess.

"It's the original plan, yes."

"Corny." she teases.

Theo laughed sexily. Afterward, he said, "But it made me glad I proposed in front of our friends and your mother. Such a delight to share an unforgettable moment with them."

Nikki nodded, gently drying the tears that fell from her eyes, she uttered earnestly.

"Thank you."