"The day I called you an idiot," Emma suddenly said, finally looking at him. Her brown eyes showed a mix of embarrassment and regret. "At the mall. In front of everyone."

"Ah," Zayn said, a slow smile spreading on his face. "That day."

"Yeah, that day." Emma’s cheeks were definitely red, the color creeping down her neck. "I was really rude, and I’m sorry. That was my favorite dress, and I was upset, but that’s no excuse for how I talked to you."

Zayn could tell she meant it. He found her honesty pretty attractive.

"I get it," he said thoughtfully. "So you’re sorry because it was your favorite dress and you were upset?"

"No!" Emma shook her head quickly. "I mean, yes, but not really. I’m sorry for calling you an idiot, no matter how mad I was."

"Better," Zayn said, fighting back a grin.

Emma huffed slightly, caught between feeling embarrassed and irritated. "Are you making fun of me?"

"Would I do that?" Zayn asked innocently.

"Yes," Emma replied right away, and even though she was embarrassed, there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Zayn laughed, genuinely. "Okay, fine. Yes, I’m teasing you a bit. But you look cute when you’re flustered."

Emma’s mouth fell open slightly, and her blush got even deeper. "I, you, that’s—"

"Chill," Zayn said, still smiling. "I accept your apology. But there’s one catch."

"A catch?" Emma’s eyes narrowed a bit in suspicion.

"Dinner," Zayn said simply. "Let’s have dinner. A proper one. Just the two of us."

Emma stared at him, a bit confused. "That’s... wait, what?"

"You called me an idiot at the mall," Zayn explained, leaning back casually against the host station. "In front of everyone. My rep as a respectable businessman took a hit."

"Your rep—"

"Totally damaged," Zayn added, clearly enjoying himself. "The only way to fix it is for you to be seen having dinner with me. Publicly. So people know you’ve changed your mind about my smarts."

Emma looked at him like she couldn’t figure out if he was serious. "That’s... that’s not how reputation works."

"Isn’t it?" Zayn tilted his head. "I think so. Just one dinner, that’s all I’m asking for. That’s the only way I’ll take your apology."

"You’re serious," Emma said, sounding a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"Totally." Zayn’s face was sincere, but his eyes were definitely playful.

Emma bit her lip while she thought about it. Zayn noticed and forced himself to pull his gaze away from her lips.

"Everyone saw me call you an idiot," she said slowly.

"They did."

"So you want me to have dinner with you to... make up for it?" she clarified.

"Exactly."

"That seems like overkill."

"That seems fair," Zayn shot back.

They stared at each other for a moment. Emma looked suspicious and embarrassed, and if Zayn wasn’t wrong, maybe just a little bit interested?

"Fine," she finally huffed. "One dinner. To fix your damaged rep."

"Awesome," Zayn said, doing his best not to look too pleased with himself. "I’ll text you to work out the details."

"You don’t have my number," she pointed out.

"Not yet," Zayn replied smoothly. "But I’m sure I can get it."

Emma shook her head, but there was a small smile creeping onto her lips. "You’re impossible."

"I’ve been called worse," Zayn said, referring back to her earlier comment, which made Emma laugh, a real laugh that Zayn decided was his new favorite sound.

"Okay," Emma said, getting herself together. "I should go. My dad’s waiting and—"

"And you have a nice dinner planned," Zayn finished for her. "Go. I’ll be in touch about our date."

"It’s not a date," Emma said quickly.

"No?" Zayn raised an eyebrow. "What would you call it?"

"An... apology dinner," she insisted.

"Which sounds an awful lot like a date."

"It’s not!"

"If you say so," Zayn replied, clearly not convinced.

Emma rolled her eyes but had a smile on her face as she turned to head toward the VIP section.

After a few steps, she looked back over her shoulder. "Thanks for accepting my apology, even if your condition is kinda ridiculous."

"Anytime," Zayn said, genuinely meaning it. "Enjoy your meal, Emma."

As she disappeared into the VIP area, Zayn stayed put for a moment, unable to hide his smile.

His phone buzzed with another message from Zayden, probably giving him a hard time about getting involved with Alexander Kane’s daughter.

Zayn ignored it.

Some things were worth the risk.

*****

In the VIP room, Alexander was already seated when Emma got there. He glanced up from the menu with a knowing smile.

"How’d it go?" he asked.

Emma slid into her chair across from him, her cheeks still a little red. "He accepted my apology."

"That’s good."

"But he wants me to have dinner with him."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"As a way to make up for what I did," Emma explained quickly. "Because I embarrassed him in public by calling him an idiot, I guess I need to be seen having dinner with him. To fix his reputation."

Alexander held back a smile. The Virelli kid was smoother than he thought. "And you agreed?"

"I did," Emma admitted. "It’s the least I can do after being so rude."

"Mm-hmm," Alexander said, keeping a straight face but with a glimmer in his eyes.

"What’s with that look?" Emma asked, catching him.

"Nothing," Alexander replied, like he wasn’t up to anything. "Just proud of you for taking responsibility and making amends."

"Dad."

"What?" Alexander opened his menu. "Just being honest here."

"You’re smiling."

"Am I?" Alexander’s grin got a little bigger. "I must be really happy that my daughter is such a responsible young woman."

Emma narrowed her eyes at him. "You think this is funny."

"I think," Alexander said carefully, "that Zayn Virelli is a pretty clever kid."

"What does that mean?"

"It means exactly what I said." Alexander went back to looking at his menu. "So, what are you thinking of ordering? I’m considering the sea bass again."

Emma sighed but picked up her menu, trying to focus on the food options and not overthink the fact that she had just agreed to dinner with Zayn Virelli.

It was just an apology dinner. That’s it.

Nothing to worry about.

Right?