Surviving the Apocalypse with my Multiplier System novel Chapter 35

Rayne arrived at a popular restaurant that specialized in pasta dishes. She ordered a pasta dish with different kinds of seafood in a white wine sauce. It was so delicious that Rayne did a small happy dance as she ate.

What Rayne wasn’t aware of was that Julian saw this small performance from his table. He was surprised to see the beautiful woman from the steakhouse a few weeks ago, but he enjoyed seeing the pure joy she had while eating.

Noah, who was accompanying Julian for dinner, noticed the smile on Julian’s face and turned to look at what he was smiling at.

Surprised at the sight, he said, "Oh! That’s Miss Weston, Dr. Weston’s daughter! Looks like she’s also a pasta lover."

"Wait, that’s Dr. Weston’s daughter? The one who designed the blueprint?" asked Julian, not expecting her to be so... beautiful!

"No way, boss. She spent an entire month in our company right under your nose, and you never once saw her?" laughed Noah.

Julian gave Noah an unimpressed look, but deep down, he felt a pang of regret. He looked back over at Rayne. I must be feeling this way because I admired Dr. Weston. Rayne had just put a forkful of pasta in her mouth, her eyes turning into small crescents.

Julian’s heart raced, seeing her adorable cat-like expression. He placed his hand over his chest, thinking he needed to work out more; he must be getting out of shape.

"Do you want to go over and say hello?" asked Noah, who was oblivious to Julian’s struggling thoughts.

"No!" replied Julian rather quickly.

Hearing Julian’s immediate response, Noah laughed. "You know, boss, you’ll have to get over your fear of women someday."

"I’m not afraid of women, they’re just annoying. They can’t sit still for one minute before throwing themselves at me," replied Julian.

Noah shook his head, laughing. He knew what Julian said was true because he’d seen it firsthand. Many of the top families had tried roping him in by sending their daughters into his bed.

Unfortunately for them, Julian had dealings with underground organizations and, therefore, was always cautious.

"How’s the progress for the bunker going?" asked Julian.

"It’s good, boss. Our men found the location you mentioned. It’s deep in the valley with nothing but wilderness for miles. I believe the initial construction team is out there today," replied Noah.

Julian nodded. "Good. This project is very important. I won’t be able to execute my plan of getting Damien out without it. Please oversee this matter personally."

Noah’s face turned serious as he replied, "Yes, boss, I understand."

Julian turned to look toward Rayne again, watching a waitress deliver a decadent-looking slice of cheesecake topped with fresh fruit. Rayne’s face lit up as she saw the cake, making Julian smile subconsciously.

Then he noticed her pick up her purse and place it on the table, covering the sight of the cheesecake for a minute, before moving the purse back off the table.

The cheesecake was still sitting on the table, confusing Julian as to why she moved her purse in the first place. Maybe she wanted to take a photo discreetly?

While Julian contemplated her actions, Rayne was busy enjoying the most delicious cheesecake she’d ever had. In fact, this restaurant was very good in general! When the waitress came by to deliver the cheesecake, Rayne placed a to-go order for all of their signature dishes.

Rayne ate happily but slowly, savoring every bite. She was completely oblivious to the fact she was being watched.

"Hi, I’m Rayne. I’m looking forward to learning from you, Yasmin!" replied Rayne, shaking her hand.

"So tell me, Rayne, do you have any experience with firearms?" asked Yasmin.

Rayne shook her head. "No, I’ve never even touched one."

Yasmin motioned for Rayne to follow her as she continued talking. "No problem! Most of my students start from zero."

They walked down a flight of stairs and through a few hallways until they reached a small indoor range geared for beginners. They walked into a small room with a table and sat down.

"First off, I’m going to simply have you hold a gun in your hands so you can familiarize yourself with how it feels. Don’t worry, it’s completely empty," said Yasmin as she handed a small pistol over to Rayne.

Rayne held the gun, feeling its slight heft. She turned it a few times to inspect it as Yasmin pointed to certain parts to explain their function.

Yasmin was a good instructor, explaining everything clearly and concisely. They spent the majority of the lesson discussing gun safety and handling.

Rayne had a sharp mind and was able to remember everything Yasmin said easily. By the end of the lesson, she was able to name all the parts of the gun and the type of ammo it used.

Yasmin praised Rayne, telling her that in the next lesson, they would begin the practical exercises. She told Rayne they would begin by shooting still targets, learning how to aim accurately.

After the lesson, Rayne didn’t go home but went straight to Brent’s gym for her self-defense lessons.