CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105 :LUNCH DATE, PUBLIC FATE

Saturday morning sunlight streamed through the narrow slits of the bedroom curtains. Ryan blinked awake, realizing the soreness in his throat had mostly faded and his head felt much clearer.

"Love’s miracle cure..." he murmured to himself, touching his no-longer-feverish forehead as a lazy smile tugged at his lips.

The memory of her kiss, minty and electric, lingered like a highlight reel.

He reached for his phone on the nightstand and quickly typed out a message to Chloe: Morning, babe.

The message was marked "read" within seconds.

A reply followed almost immediately: Just a text?

He could picture her arched brow, that sly smirk. Ryan chuckled, rolling onto his back, and dialed her number. The line picked up on the second ring.

"So?" Chloe’s voice was lazy with morning warmth, a teasing edge cutting through. "How’s my patient holding up?"

"Like a new man," Ryan said, propping a pillow behind his head, his voice still a touch hoarse. "Wanna grab—"

"Breakfast?" she finished, her laugh soft.

"God, I wish. But I’ve got an early meeting. Gotta be at the office ahead of time."

"That’s okay." He tried to mask the disappointment in his voice, forcing a small smile. "Work comes first."

"Don’t sound so crushed," she teased gently. "We can still have lunch."

Ryan perked up immediately. "Perfect. Lunch it is."

"Sweet. Pick me up at the office, noon sharp."

After the call ended, Ryan stared at the screen a second longer, smiling to himself. Time to change his lock screen to a new photo of them together.

Outside, Iron City’s morning sun crept higher.

By 11:30 AM, Ryan was cruising into Iron City’s industrial district in his sleek K3. He knew Zero9’s headquarters was located here—but this was his first visit.

The building stood out immediately: a modern, three-story structure in the heart of the industrial park, with clean lines, mirrored glass, and the unmistakable Zero9 logo gleaming proudly above the entrance.

Behind the HQ, about fifty meters away, sat a much larger steel-framed facility—the company’s production plant. Its walls were painted in bold stripes of blue and white. A few trucks bearing the Zero9 logo were parked near the loading dock, as workers in safety vests moved crates of beverages onto the waiting trucks.

Ryan parked in the visitor lot and glanced up at the third-floor windows.

The lobby was bright and sleek, minimalist in a way that screamed "modern efficiency." Gray and white dominated the interior, broken up by striking green lines and a full-length wall display of the company’s entire product line. A massive screen played the latest Zero9 commercial on loop—Ryan, mid-game, sinking a fadeaway jumper, then raising a chilled bottle of Zero9 with a grin and sweat-slicked brow.

The receptionist, a short-haired woman, looked up, her eyes widening. "Ryan!" she blurted, a fan’s excitement in her voice. "You’re even hotter than the ad."

He gave a sheepish grin, rubbing his neck. "Thanks. I’m here to pick up Chloe for lunch."

"Of course, she told me," the woman said, straightening her uniform. "She’s in her third-floor office. I’ll buzz her. Take a seat."

She led him to a cozy lounge area with gray fabric sofas and a glass coffee table. As Ryan sat down, he caught a few passing employees sneaking glances, murmuring to one another.

He chuckled to himself. First time visiting his girlfriend’s office, and it already felt like a fan meet-and-greet.

Moments later, the elevator dinged.

Chloe stepped out.

She wore a fitted ivory pantsuit, elegance with a whisper of ease. Her hair was tied loosely back, minimal makeup enhancing her natural glow.

"Punctual, huh?" she said, striding over, her smile warm and teasing.

"Couldn’t make you wait," Ryan replied, his grin betraying a quiet thrill.

She slipped her hand through his arm like it was second nature. "Let’s go."

All around them, heads turned. As the glass doors swung closed behind the couple, hushed voices erupted.

"No way—are Ms. Palmer and Ryan Carter dating?"

"Did you see how she held his arm? Come on, they’re totally together."

"Honestly? They look amazing together."

Chloe climbed into Ryan’s K3, snapping her seatbelt into place.

"There are a few fast food places near the park entrance," she said. "If you want something fancier, we’ll have to leave the district."

Ryan’s hand rested casually near her seat. "Up to you. I’m easy."

"Let’s keep it simple," she decided, her eyes flicking to his. "Work’s got me slammed today."

They parked at a no-frills diner, its neon sign flickering, menu boards bare-bones. Chloe grabbed his hand as they stepped out, fingers lacing tight. Ryan squeezed back, his smile widening. Inside, the place was packed with factory workers and office types in uniforms, forks clinking over burgers and fries. The room stilled for a split second as they entered—Ryan’s height and Chloe’s glow drawing every eye.

"Is that—? That’s Ryan Carter and Chloe Palmer, right?"

Still, no one approached. People here were respectful, too polite to intrude. No phones, no autographs—just hushed stares and murmurs.

They claimed a corner booth, red vinyl seats creaking as they slid in across from each other. Chloe set her bag down, reaching over to touch Ryan’s forehead.

"No more fever. That’s good."

Ryan grinned. "Just a scratchy throat now. A bit of a cough."

A few tables over, one man wasn’t eating. He was watching.

A camera and recorder peeked out from his slightly open bag.

He was Jasper Wells, a junior reporter assigned to Iron City by Atlantis Today, responsible for covering local stories for the Iron City edition.

He had just finished an interview at a nearby food factory and stopped by this place for lunch.

Truthfully, he’d long grown tired of chasing down small-town news—local events, pollution complaints, petty disputes. What he really craved was exposure, recognition, maybe even controversy.

Entertainment journalism—that was his true ambition. Chasing celebrities, writing exposés, stepping into the spotlight.

And the couple before him instantly ignited that fire in his heart.

Ryan Carter—the ABA’s hottest rookie, the new king of Iron City.

Chloe Palmer—a regular in high society.

They weren’t in the entertainment industry, yet they were more captivating than most celebrities.

Were they dating?

A spark lit up in Jasper’s eyes.

He knew—this was his chance.

If he could break this story, it would surely generate buzz. With luck, it might even catch the attention of the higher-ups and earn him a promotion.

At that moment, Ryan stood up. "I’ll go order," he said.

He walked to the counter and ordered a grilled chicken combo for Chloe. Still recovering from a cold, he chose a sandwich for himself.

Moments later, Ryan picked up the tray and returned to their booth.

They ate slowly, chatting as they went. After they finished, Ryan stood up and slid into the seat beside Chloe, slipping an arm around her waist.

The two of them talked intimately—whispers, laughter, and little stories between lovers.

Jasper watched their every move, eyes sharp. He didn’t dare pull out his camera.

Instead, he quietly took out his phone, pretending to scroll—while secretly aiming it toward them, capturing shot after shot of their tender moments.

As the conversation grew more intimate, Ryan couldn’t help himself—he leaned in and gently kissed Chloe on the lips.

Jasper pressed the shutter.

This shot was perfect.

By 1 p.m., Ryan and Chloe were out of the diner, reluctantly parting ways as Ryan drove her back to the office.

What they didn’t know was that Jasper had captured every tender moment between them—feeding each other, laughing, embracing... even the kiss.

Every shot was crisp, clear, undeniable.

Back on the street, Jasper scrolled through the photos on his phone, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. These weren’t just pictures—they were a headline waiting to happen.

——

Iron City, Atlantis Today Headquarters.

Jasper pushed open the glass door to the editor-in-chief’s office, his steps light and quick.

"How’d the interview go?" the editor asked without looking up, fingers clacking away at another piece on his keyboard.

"Went smoothly," Jasper replied, pulling out a chair. He sat, unlocked his phone, and swiped through his gallery. "But... I came back with something a little more interesting."

He slid the phone across the desk.

On the screen—Ryan and Chloe, mid-lunch, mid-laugh, mid-kiss.

The editor raised an eyebrow, finally looking up.

"Ryan Carter and Chloe Palmer? Well now, that’s a surprise."

He zoomed in, scanning the photos one by one.

"Story written yet?"

"Not yet. I’m just about to start."

The editor tapped the desk, thinking. "Make it juicy. If it’s strong enough, I’ll push it beyond the local pages—maybe even the entertainment front."

He paused. "It’s not exactly world-shaking, but with those two? It’ll set gossip circles on fire."

Jasper’s eyes lit up, his voice betraying barely contained excitement.

"Chief, I’ve actually been hoping to move to the entertainment section. Maybe this could be my shot?"

The editor waved him off. "Get me a killer story first. Opportunity comes after."

Jasper nodded quickly. "Got it. On it now."

He all but sprinted out of the office, headlines already forming in his mind.