I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 179: The Appearance Of The Police Was A Bad Sign

Chapter 179: The Appearance Of The Police Was A Bad Sign

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed a monotonous tune, a stark contrast to the vibrant symphony playing in Lyse’s head. She had been drowning in fabric samples, accessories and deadlines all day, a relentless tide threatening to pull her under. Now, as she packed her bag, the weight of the day began to lift, replaced by the thrilling anticipation of going home, slipping into bed with Levi. Her belly quivered as she remembered the previous night and Levi’s promise about what he would do to her tonight.

Suddenly, a shadow fell across her desk. Lyse looked up, her breath catching in her throat. Levi stood there, a smile playing on his lips, his presence a jolt of unexpected electricity in the otherwise mundane office environment.

"Levi! What are you doing here?" Lyse asked, her voice a mix of surprise and delight. Her heart did a little flutter-kick. All day, she had tried her hardest to force him to the back of her mind, using work to block him out and it had been largely unsuccessful and now he was standing in front of her.

"Surprise!" he said, his smile widening. "I thought that i would rescue you from this jungle." He looked around the place.

Lyse laughed, the sound light and airy, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere she had been inhabiting all day. "Rescuing me? I think I can handle a few mannequins," she teased, though her heart was already warming at the thought of leaving with him.

"I am very sure that you can," Levi chuckled. "But I have a much more exciting proposition. How about we ditch the scary mannequins and grab some dinner?"

Lyse’s eyebrows shot up. "Another date? I assumed you had a lot going on at work."

"That is true," Levi confirmed, "but I also believe in the importance of... well, let’s call it ’strategic downtime.’ And I can’t think of a better way to spend my downtime than with you."

Lyse felt a blush creeping up her neck. She had definitely developed a soft spot for Levi. His easy charm and genuine interest in her were disarming, and she found herself looking forward to spending time with him, their shared laughter. She wondered briefly if it was possible to get addicted to someone because she was well on the way to doing that.

"Okay," she agreed, trying to keep her voice casual. "Dinner sounds great."

"Excellent!" Levi beamed. "But tonight, we are doing things a little differently than before."

"Differently how?" Lyse asked, intrigued.

"No fancy restaurants," Levi declared. "Tonight, we are going local."

Lyse raised an eyebrow. "Local?"

"Yes," Levi confirmed. "I know that street food scene in our city is incredible. I also thought that it would be a great way for you to show me your favourite spots."

Lyse was taken aback. Levi, with his impeccable suits and sophisticated air, eating street food? It seemed...unlikely.

"You want to eat...street food?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Levi nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I’ve heard whispers of a place that does Tteokbokki so good it will make you weep with joy, and I’m determined to find it. Besides," he added with a playful wink, "I am sure you don’t want me to drag you to those stuffy restaurants."

Lyse laughed. He had a point. While she appreciated the gesture, she did feel a little out of place in such formal settings and a change felt good.

"Alright then," she conceded. "Street food it is. But be warned, I am a street food connoisseur. I will not tolerate any mediocre offerings."

"Duly noted," Levi replied, his eyes twinkling. "I will be putting my culinary fate in your hands."

They left the office building, the cool evening air a welcome change from the stale air conditioning recycled air inside. As they walked towards the bustling street market, Lyse could not help but feel a surge of excitement. This was a side of her city that Levi had not seen yet, a vibrant, chaotic, and utterly delicious world that she couldn’t wait to share with him.

The market was a sensory overload. The air was thick with the aroma of grilling meat, spices, and freshly baked bread. Vendors called out their wares, their voices blending into a lively symphony. Stalls overflowed with colorful fruits, vegetables, and an array of snacks that Lyse hadn’t thought about in years.

Levi, despite his initial surprise at the sheer energy of the place, seemed to be enjoying himself. He looked around with wide eyes, taking in the sights and sounds, a genuine curiosity etched on his face.

"This is incredible," he said, his voice filled with awe. "I am displeased with myself for having never tired this experience before now."

"Now is a good time as ever." Lyse smiled. "Welcome to my world," she said.

She led him through the maze of stalls, pointing out her favourite vendors, explaining the different dishes, and haggling playfully with the sellers. Levi, to her surprise, was a natural. He wasn’t afraid to try anything, and he even managed to master the art of haggling, much to the amusement of the vendors who could immediately tell that he was a stranger to that environment.

They started with tteokbokki, the white sausage like rice cakes that Levi had been so eager to try. Lyse ordered a generous portion of it, choosing the spicy sauce. They found a spot on a nearby bench and sat down to eat.

Levi took a bite of the tteokbokki, his eyes widening in surprise. "This...this is amazing!" he exclaimed. "You were not kidding. This is the best thing I have ever tasted."

Lyse laughed. "I told you," she said proudly. "I am a street food connoisseur."

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, savoring the delicious food and watching the vibrant life of the market unfold around them. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the market square, Lyse felt a sense of contentment she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She was sharing a part of herself with Levi, a part that she usually kept hidden away.

After the tteokbokki, they tried other delicacies: Mandu, delicious dumplings which were filled with minced meat, garlic and green onions, Odeng, which was a fish cake and for dessert they had hotteok. Levi tried everything with enthusiasm, even the tteokbokki in the spicy pepper sauce, which left him red-faced but smiling.

As they walked back towards the main road, their stomachs full and their hearts happy, Lyse couldn’t help but feel a connection with Levi that went beyond their initial attraction. He wasn’t just a rich, handsome businessman. He was also someone who was genuinely interested in experiencing her world, someone who appreciated the simple pleasures in life.

"Thank you for showing me this," Levi said, breaking the comfortable silence. "This was...the best date I have ever had."

Lyse smiled. "Me too," she admitted.

They stood watching each other with bashful smiles on their face, and a warm feeling spread through Lyse chest. She touched her cheek where he had kissed her, a small smile playing on her lips. Tonight, she had shown Levi a side of the city he did not know, and in doing so, she had also shown him a different side of herself, a side that he did not know intimately.

She could not help but wonder what the future held for the both of them. Perhaps, just perhaps, this was the beginning of something really special. It would mean that it was the end of her woes, her troubles would surely be a thing of the past with Levi by her side.

They walked hand in hand until they reached the main road, where Levi’s driver was waiting. Levi opened the door for Lyse and helped her get inside before shutting the door and going around to his side.

After he got in and the driver started the car and was just about to drive off, their ears were suddenly assailed by the sounds of multiple sirens. Lyse watched in alarm and a squad of police cars blocked them, refusing to let them move.

"What is happening," Lyse asked, her eyes stricken with fear as she looked at Levi. "Why are the police blocking us from moving?"

Levi hid the worry that was gnawing inside him, he had a strong feeling that the appearance of the police was a very bad sign. However, was was most important was Lyse, so he put a reassuring hand on her thigh. And when she looked up at him he spoke calmly. "Don’t worry about it, I will go and see what they want. Don’t come out."

After saying that, he took the warmth of his palm off Lyse thigh and stepped out of the car and walked towards the police car.

Lyse watched in horror and disbelief as Levi was abruptly handcuffed. She immediately jumped out of the car screaming at the police.