Case 12: The Playful Businessman

"What am I doing in this place?" Rae’s fidgety fingers can't stop fidgeting.

Dominic decided to treat her in a five-star Japanese restaurant, Ossu Fan, and pretty much all the employees here seem to know Dominic and call him Mr. Dom. Dominic booked them a VIP room, just a big dining room, consisting of a red orange-ish chandelier, vase of rose, and candles.

The wallpaper is relaxing, there's a picture of a flying squirrel and various small animals on it. However, she feels like the flying squirrel is the main focus of all the small animals.

"This looks as if we had a romantic dinner" she facepalmed.

A waiter entered and brought them a menu. Rae opened the menu book only to widen her eyes at the paper in front of her.

"Why are there so many zeros?" she thought silently as she bit her lip.

"It's my treat" Dominic added out of nowhere.

"Ah, if you say so" Rae reads the menu once again, well if it's his treat then she doesn't have to think about the expenses that much. Her shamelesness knows no bound when it comes to food expenses.

"One chocolate lava" Rae raised her index finger to make a gesture to the waiter. "And one warm Japanese tea please". No harm in Japanese tea, refill drinks are justice.

"Chicken donburi and orange juice" Dominic ordered. The waiter nodded and read their food orders in sequence. Both of them confirm our orders, the waiter soon leaves with a smile on his face.

"Shouldn't you eat rice? It's past lunchtime" Dominic looked at her concerned.

"What I eat is none of your concern" Rae blurted her thoughts out of nowhere. She instantaneously covered her mouth.

"I apologize, I don’t mean any harm" Rae bowed apologetically. 

Dominic laughs merrily as if he's enjoying her company.

"You're a funny kid".

"I'm not a kid".

"You look like you are" his hand made a gesture, he measured her height with his hand.

"Leave my height out of this" she glared.

"Why?".

"Because I'm sensitive about it Mr. Dom" Rae emphasized on his name.

The air was filled in complete silence, she loves tranquility but this one is dreadful. No one dares to even speak a word, Dominic plays with his cell phone and she tries to browse the menu because she’s very uncomfortable about being alone with a stranger.

She takes a peek from the menu, Dominic chuckle and smiling at his cell phone. Rae shifted her gaze toward his cell phone screen, finally knowing the reason for his smile.

"Wait isn't that Ragnar?" she latched her eyes on his cell phone screen.

Ragnar is an MMORPG game, quite an old game to be honest. She used to play Ragnar when she was in high school, leveled up and learned about the job system, and added skill points. Nowadays Rae spends her time playing light games, JRPG but not too hard on the leveling part because it's a hassle.

"Ragnar" Rae looked at his cell phone screen.

"You know Ragnar?" Dominic’s eyes lit up when she mentioned the word 'Ragnar'.

"Yes, I used to be a fan of Ragnar".

"How about now?".

"Now, I don't have time for it".

"What? Why not?" he pouted.

"Cause I'm busy!" she held her voice not to yell.

Dominic looked at her in the eyes, as if to beg her.

"Be my friend in Ragnar please?".

"No".

All of a sudden he snapped out from his Ragnar talk and sharpened his gaze on her.

"Oh, right I invited you here for a reason".

"Oh? Do tell me why" she asked the rich man in front of her.

"Don't tell anyone about the pickpocket accident".

"Excuse me? There are people around us at that time you know, I know it wasn't that crowded but-".

"Please I beg you! I am the world-renown CEO! My face is all over the TV!".

Rae raised her eyebrows, suspicious with what he just said.

"You on a TV?".

"Yeah, that's right".

"Who are you?".

Dominic gasped when she asked him his identity.

"You don't know me!? I'm the owner of this five-star Japanese Restaurant along with my older brother, we made this business together!".

"Oh".

"You sound unimpressed".

"Yes, I am unimpressed".

She doesn't know why but Dominic pulls a deep breath, exhales in and out like he's trying to contain his disappointment.

"Well then again that makes sense, if you know me you would fangirl and scream my names when I asked you to be my friend on Ragnar".

"Well aren't you a smart one" Rae grinned sarcastically. "You just figured that out now".

"Are you always picking a fight with whoever you just met?" Dominic sighed.

"Not really, I'm just stating the obvious" she texted Troy that she’s on an errand and will be late. When she clicks the send button, Troy immediately reads it and a stranger calls her within a ten seconds interval.

"Hello-".

"Don't hello to me! Where are you!? The Inspector is looking for you!" Troy yelled like a worried mother.

She’s amused with the fact that Troy and Jae Min could be best friends for their similarities in nagging her like a mother.

"I asked for your cell phone number from Jae Min! Just so you know-".

"Ah Troy what did you just say? I can't hear you, the reception is bad here! So I'll call you later bye!".

"Wait just-".

She turns off her cell phone, now it's bliss. Dominic shakes his head apologetically.

"I feel bad for your partner".

"Why's that?".

"Cause you're like this".

"Ahh just so you know flattery won't get you nowhere Mr. Dom" she blushed meekly.

"I didn't flatter you!" he groaned.

After several minutes had passed, the waiters served the dishes.

This is it, this is Rae’s favorite choco lava. Her sweet tooth just screams the word 'eat-up'. She cuts the chocolate lava cake with a spoon, the liquid the chocolate lava escapes the chocolate bun, mesmerised by this she tastes the chocolate melt.

"Yummy" Rae’s smile like a fool she is, sweets are her weakness.

"You're really something," Dominic chuckled. "Anyway call me Dom".