Chapter 280
Damon looked at how their table was set up and nodded to show that he agreed.
They didn’t have a seat in the corner or the quietest place in the restaurant, but it was fine for them.
This was especially important because it wasn’t too loud or busy, so they could enjoy their evening without having to shout.
The table itself was wide enough to comfortably seat four but cozy for two.
It had a smooth, round grill in the middle that was the main draw.
The metal on it was very shiny, and it reflected the soft glow of the lights above.
Around the grill were small compartments, neatly arranged with various condiments and sides.
There were metal tongs and scissors next to the grill for cutting the raw meat. The tools were sitting on a small tray.
A metal exhaust hood hung low above the table. Its job was to catch the smoke from the grill.
For a moment, Damon looked over at Svetlana, who was reading the menu with interest.
“Not bad, right?” he said, gesturing to the grill with a nod.
She looked up, smiling. “It’s perfect. I’ve seen videos of places like this but never actually been to one. This’ll be fun.”
Damon grinned, his confidence boosted by her enthusiasm. “Good. Now let’s see who burns the first piece of meat.”
Svetlana raised an eyebrow, her competitive nature sparking. “Oh, don’t worry. It won’t be me.”
“We’ll see,” Damon teased as the server arrived, placing a tray of thinly sliced meats, marinated beef, and pork belly beside the grill.
The server briefly explained the setup, lighting the grill and showing them how to adjust the heat.
The sound of the first piece of meat hitting the hot surface filled the room. It was a pleasant start to their night.
Damon picked up the tongs, handing them to Svetlana with a smirk. “Ladies first.”
She accepted them with a mock bow of her head. “Watch and learn, Cross.”
They began grilling, the aroma of sizzling meat filling the air as they took turns flipping the cuts and seasoning them with garlic and sauces.
The warm, smoky air around their table added a comforting ambiance to their conversation.
With a curious smile, Svetlana looked at Damon with eyes that were both serious and fun. “So, how was Thailand? Must have been fun. I’ve seen pictures of the place, looks amazing.”
He sat up a little straighter and cleared his throat. “Yes, it was fun.”
He answered, “So much fun,” with a hint of irony in his voice as he turned a pork belly over on the grill.
Svetlana tilted her head, her brow arching slightly. “You didn’t just train the whole time, right?”
Damon hesitated, then shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe, maybe not. I mean, I was pretty focused.”
Svetlana placed the tongs down, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at him. “You should have fun, Damon. You don’t have to train every single moment of your life.”
When Damon looked up at her, he saw that she was worried and cared. He had a small smile on his face. “I am having fun… right now,” he said in a soft but honest voice.
—
When Damon said something, Svetlana looked down for a moment.
When she looked up again, her smile was warm and genuine.
She made a small change to the grill and turned a piece of meat over with ease.
“So,” she said, her tone soft but curious, “how was Thailand? I mean, really. You must have learned so much.”
Damon nodded, pausing as he considered her question. “Yeah, I did. It was… intense. Probably the hardest training I’ve ever done.”
She smiled, leaning slightly forward. “But you didn’t get to explore much, right?”
Damon chuckled, shaking his head. “Not really. It was mostly just the gym, the mats, and the bamboo trees I kicked every day.”
Svetlana tilted her head. “Sounds like you missed out on a lot. You should’ve taken some time to enjoy it.”
“I know,” he admitted, looking at her. “But honestly, this? This is better than any sightseeing.”
She blinked, caught off guard by the comment.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
Instead, she picked up a piece of grilled meat and placed it gently on his plate.
“You’ll get your chance to relax one day,” she said softly, meeting his gaze. “You deserve that.”
Damon nodded, his voice quiet but firm. “Maybe. But right now, this is enough.”
For a moment, they ate in peace and quiet, with only the sound of the grill filling the room.
Damon watched as Svetlana calmly and precisely moved while she looked at the food.
“So,” he said after a while, breaking the silence. “What about you? What’s been keeping you busy?”
She smiled faintly. “Not much, honestly. Just helping out with a few things for Victor and Macey. Trying to figure out what I want to do next.”
Damon leaned slightly forward, curious. “And? Have you figured it out?”
Svetlana hesitated, her eyes distant for a moment. “Not completely. But… I think I’d like to do something that makes a difference, you know? Something meaningful.”
He nodded, his respect for her deepening. “You will. I know you will.”
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Her cheeks turned slightly pink at his words, and she quickly looked back at the grill. “Thanks.”
The conversation went from one topic to the next without any problems. They talked about their families and laughed together from time to time.
Damon found himself genuinely enjoying her company as always.
Damon ordered a drink.
As they waited, he looked at Svetlana.
They had shared a bit, tasting each other’s meat.
“So, what do you think? Is it good?” Damon asked, his tone light but curious.
Svetlana nodded, chewing slowly before swallowing. “Okay, I’m impressed,” she said, setting her chopsticks down with a small smile.
Damon leaned back, his hands casually resting on the table. “Impressed, huh? So, does that mean my cooking skills are passable?”
Svetlana nodded, a soft smile forming on her lips. “It’s delicious,” she said, setting her chopsticks aside for a moment.