Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2102

Estelle and Gabriel had just made our way up to the second-floor diner when I pinged Magdalen, [We've arrived!]

Her reply came in no time, [Sylvia's been waiting for a good ten minutes already. Send Gab over to table six!]

[Got it!]

Estelle turned to Gabriel, “I’m gonna hit the restroom. Head to table six and I’ll catch up in a sec, okay?”

"Sure thing!" Gabriel nodded, unsuspecting, and headed towards the designated table.

The opera house's diner was a shrine to artistry, with exquisite floor-to-ceiling windows, murals, and chandeliers that dripped crystal elegance. Couples and small groups of patrons conversed in hushed tones, the air steeped in romance and refinement.

Approaching table six, Gabriel froze for a moment upon seeing the girl seated there.

He knew she was in the city, yet this unexpected run-in caught him off-guard!

Sylvia, too, was taken aback, rising instinctively with a sudden shift to a respectful demeanor, "Gab!"

She stood there, donned in a black trench coat, minimal makeup enhancing her natural features - she was like a lone, striking red plum blossom against a snowy backdrop, elegant and enchanting.

Gabriel blurted out, "What brings you here?"

Sylvia confessed, “I came for a blind date.”

"A blind date?" Gabriel's brow furrowed in confusion.

His phone buzzed. It was a message from Estelle, [Gab, Magdalen mentioned she wanted to set you up with a girl. Guessing you've met her by now, so I'll skip the interruption. Enjoy your date!]

Gabriel's expression darkened.

A set-up? He'd been lured out for a blind date?

With her, of all people?

It was preposterous!

Gabriel's eyebrow arched slightly, his tone unreadable, "So knowing it was me would've kept you away? Am I that unpleasant to you?"

Sylvia was at a loss for words.

She considered herself seasoned, unflappable in the face of any VIP, but around this man, she either stumbled over her words or found herself utterly speechless.

Gabriel poured himself some tea, inquiring casually, “How long have you been in J City?”

"After leaving you," Sylvia replied honestly, "I traveled for a year before settling down here."

"Why J City?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"It's hard to explain. I stumbled upon some photos of J City on my phone and fell in love with the city instantly. It felt like nostalgia, like this place was somehow familiar," she explained.

"You run your own PR firm?" Gabriel probed, aware of her endeavors over the years through the occasional shared lead or two.