My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 224: Let Them Watch

The cafeteria smelled of roasted chicken and freshly brewed coffee, a mix of savory and bitter scents that lingered in the air. Trays clattered against the counters, forks scraped on plates, and the hum of conversation filled the wide, open space. It was a world Katherine rarely stepped into with Felix, because he never did.

That was why her steps faltered when he veered in this direction after their morning meeting.

"The cafeteria?" she asked, certain she must have misheard him.

Felix glanced back at her, dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Yes. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of eating with me in public." His voice carried its usual teasing edge, but underneath it was a weight that made Katherine’s pulse quicken.

"I just... didn’t think you liked this place," she admitted as they walked toward the self-service line. "You usually prefer, well, not this."

Felix smirked, picking up a tray with the sort of unbothered grace that made even the simplest actions look deliberate. "Maybe I’m trying something new. Unless you’d rather I eat alone." He tilted his head, and the corner of his mouth tugged upward. "Come on, Katherine. Don’t tell me you don’t want to eat with me."

Her throat went dry. The way he said her name, low, coaxing, edged with challenge, left her no room to refuse.

"...Fine," she muttered, grabbing her own tray.

It was only when they reached the counters that Katherine noticed the stares. At first subtle, then multiplying, like ripples spreading across a pond. Employees froze, whispers hushed into their hands, eyes darted toward them and quickly away. The CEO in the cafeteria was unusual enough. The CEO in the cafeteria with Katherine was something else entirely.

She felt the weight of every gaze as if it pressed against her skin. Felix, however, was maddeningly unaffected. He moved with unhurried confidence, selecting a plate of grilled salmon and vegetables like he had all the time in the world. He didn’t so much as flinch when someone nearly dropped a spoon at the sight of him.

Katherine bit the inside of her cheek and forced herself to focus on scooping a modest serving of pasta onto her plate. Her hands, she realized, were trembling.

By the time they reached the end of the line, the hum of conversation had shifted, pockets of whispers floating around them. Felix ignored it all, his tray steady in hand, and led her straight into the heart of the cafeteria. Not to a quiet corner. Not to a spot near the window.

No. He chose the most visible table dead center, where there was no hope of hiding.

Katherine froze. "Here?"

Felix set his tray down with finality. "Here." He gestured at the chair opposite him with a faint curve of his lips, a dare gleaming in his eyes.

Reluctantly, she sat. Her back straightened instinctively, the heat of countless stares crawling up her neck. She picked up her fork, if only to have something to do with her hands, but her appetite had already vanished.

Then Felix leaned forward. His elbow rested lazily on the table, chin angled toward her, his gaze locked on her like no one else existed. A small, uncharacteristic smile curved his mouth, warm, almost boyish.

It unsettled her more than his usual smirks.

"What?" she whispered, cheeks prickling under his attention.

"Nothing," he said, though his eyes lingered on her face, tracing every line, every flicker of expression. "Just wondering why you look so nervous. Are you worried they’ll see you with me?"

Katherine exhaled sharply. "Felix, you know that’s not it. It’s just, this isn’t professional. Everyone’s watching."

Before she could protest further, Felix reached across the table. His fingers brushed against her cheek, then gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Her hand shot up to grab his wrist, holding it still. "Felix," she hissed, her eyes darting frantically around the room. "Stop. Please. People are staring."

He only smirked, his voice dropping to something low, deliberate. "Good. Let them watch."

Her heart thudded so hard she thought everyone could hear it.

"Felix-" she began, but he cut her off, his voice carrying just enough volume to reach the nearby tables.

"If people are going to whisper," he said smoothly, "I’d rather they whisper about the truth instead of Lara Johansson’s pathetic rumor."

The name hit Katherine like a slap. She stiffened, her fork clattering against her plate. Around them, she heard the ripple of reaction, gasps, murmurs, heads turning more blatantly now. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

His expression softened only slightly, enough to show he wasn’t angry, but his words carried unshakable conviction. "If they’re smart, they’ll figure out the real answer now."

He leaned forward again, closing the space between them until the buzz of the cafeteria blurred into background noise. His voice lowered, meant only for her.

"And the real answer," he murmured, his gaze unwavering, "is you."

The world seemed to tilt. Katherine’s breath caught in her throat, her fork frozen midway. Her chest tightened, heat flooding her face, her ears. Every part of her screamed at her to say something, to deny it, to deflect. But words tangled and died on her tongue.

Around them, whispers grew louder. Someone gasped audibly, while another coughed awkwardly to cover up their shock. The cafeteria was no longer buzzing. It was alive, buzzing with speculation, every word feeding the wildfire Felix had just set ablaze.

Katherine wanted to sink into the floor. Instead, she sat frozen, clutching her fork like a lifeline, her expression betraying every emotion she wanted to hide: embarrassment, panic, but also something warmer, something she didn’t dare name.

Felix leaned back with infuriating ease, picking up his knife and cutting into his salmon as though he hadn’t just upended her entire world in front of half the company.

"Eat, Katherine," he said lightly, a teasing lilt in his voice. "Your food’s getting cold."

She gaped at him, words still refusing to form. Her lips parted, closed, then parted again. "Felix, you-how could you say with everyone around?" she whispered harshly.

He didn’t look up from his plate. "Because it’s true."