[M] Chapter 8: Threes A Char (1/1)

I pull up to the curb of the restaurant as a cute valet boy around Jin’s age comes around and rids me of my keys, and waits until I am safely on the curb before driving off.The restaurant sits on sandy white pebble stone concrete surrounded by a lush selection of greenery. The outdoor equipment has been retired for the night and is replaced by white, soothing lights that light up the garden and entrance of the restaurant, creating a romantic and calming mood.  “Good afternoon, Signora. Your name if you would.” An elderly man dressed in a full tuxedo asks from the reservation podium with a gracious smile on his face.“Grace. Reservation for two.” I smile back.“Ah, yes. Ms. Grace, your company has arrived already. If you would follow me, please?” The old man asks, propping his arm out for me to take and I accept. I intend to extend my gait to keep up with his long and lanky legs, but the old man thwarts my attempt by matching my stride. By doing so, the old man was placing a lot of pressure on his knees, but I didn’t try to oppose his kindness it would be viewed as being disrespectful and an offend his pride.We walk in silence throughout the rustic stone-walled rooms until we come to an isolated area in the back of the restaurant where dark speckled marble displays itself across the floor and a wall of glass sits before us peeking out into the outside world. Multiple round tables draped in white cloth are placed within the room but among the many, only one stands out with its array of antipasti dishes and a bottle of Greco di Tufo. Grasping the old man’s arm, I thank him for escorting me before releasing him. The old man leaves us in the massive expanse of a dining room and returns to his duties. I strut over towards the man standing in front of the glass wall. My heels coming to a muted thud as I pause a few feet behind him.  Antoine stands tall, overtaking my 5’6 frame by a few inches’ shy of a foot. He exhibits an air of overwhelming confidence as he surveys the world on the other side of the glass, his hands secured firmly within his pants suit as he speaks into the Bluetooth device fastened to his ear. I patiently wait behind him on my feet, not willing to take my seat until after I’ve been given the proper recognition I deserve since I was the one being forced into this little arrangement.  A minute or two later, his eyes dart towards my reflection on the glass as he finally realizes that I've been standing behind him, unhappily, if he's any good at reading moods. With a graceful shift in his stance, he relieves himself from his position and after giving a quick goodbye to the individual he was talking to, glides towards me with a smile and an extended hand. “Hello, LeAnn. It’s nice to finally meet you. Mrs. Grace spoke so highly of you and it seems to my pleasure, she was quite right to do so.”I glance at his extended hand and then back to his face, accepting the gesture. His hand sat cold and heavy in my own, complimenting the intimidating aura he gave off. He sports a light gray slim fit Armani suit on top of a white dress shirt and black tie. The gentleness of the design contrasts against his dark olive skin tone while emphasizing his chiseled jawline and maroon eyes that sit hooded by Obsidian black brows. His hair is styled back in waves of liquid black, gleaming blue from the lights as he moves to pull out one of the chairs, motioning me to sit down. Wow, dreamy and has manners, much respect dude! Okay, LeAnn act proper and ladylike and try not to flick off the date. That didn’t end too well last time.“Thank you” I smile at him while gracefully bending down to meet the chair as he scoots it underneath me.He nods politely back then walks around to take his place before me at the table. He subtly readjusts his suit and tie to match his new posture before meeting my eyes across the tabletop. “I’m sorry about making you wait. I was discussing with my eldest the potential consequences for inviting her newest ‘beau’ to the house without me being present.”“Oldest? You have children?” I ask, eyes arched in curiosity since that fact had been left out of his file. It was unusual for Miranda, Satan’s secretary, to leave out info.“Yes, three actually.” he blushes, the man blushes. This is such a contradiction. “They’re a handful at times, but they are the most important people in my life, my little angels.” He finishes, his eyes piercing into my own as he tried to gauge my reaction at his sudden revelation.“And you just happened to leave your most important people out of your file because…?” I ask, resting the edge of my jaw on my knuckles, smiling mischievously as if I were a cat who had just cornered its prey.  “Well…” he pauses as he lifts a spoonful of Portobello Alla Griglia onto his plate, offering me the plate afterward, letting me decide whether I wanted any. I gave him brownie points for letting me wear my big girl suit and for not just assuming what it is I want or like. Men have this impression that women are incapable of making decisions for themselves and thus they take it upon themselves to order for them. Nuh uh, not this girl. In fact, acting all alpha male was a sure-fire way to piss me off. “Women tend to not give me a chance if they know that I have children.” He replies cutting into the large mushroom, releasing the cheese and its juices.“Oh? And what’s changed now?” I ask, my interest peaked as to why he would go to the trouble of hiding it from his file if he was just going to tell me straight out in person.“You.” Wow, okay that escalated quickly“What do you mean by that?” I reply trying to mask my shock at his forwardness with a little bit of bitchittude. I pick up the mussel and shallot dish from the table to sample, making myself busy to lessen the sudden awkwardness and prevent me from having to make eye contact at his sudden revelation.He chuckles, whether it's from my obvious discomfort or some deeper reason is unknown. I wait patiently for him to respond, scooping a few spoonfuls of the dish onto my bowl, trying to appease the discomfort in my stomach. This is why I hated arranged dates. They were so cringe worthy! “Your mother was very straightforward with me when we met.” He says, the words implicating a slight tilt in his sensual lips. “I was told that I had no chance with you if I wasn’t forthcoming.” I look up to find a devilish grin that had my stomach doing somersaults. Abort, abort! “It had something to do with a man named Nick?” Really mother, you had to bring him up again? Is he your what-not-to reference for finding potential suitors for me?Before I have a chance to respond a perky blond waitress appears from behind me with a bottle of wine. “Welcome to La Grotta. My name is Adrianna…” the girl pauses as she takes in my dark and mysterious companion who was currently paying no mind to her obvious stare. I smile out of pity for her. The girl was pretty enough to catch most boy’s attention with her large brown doe eyes and porcelain features, that and her perky attitude made her perfect cheerleader material if she wasn’t one already.“Hello, Adrianna” I speak out, grabbing her attention away from Antione. Sorry, sweetie, he’s got daughters close to your age and something tells me he’s not into pedophilia.Her head makes a sharp twitch in my direction as she glares at me. Her face returning to its perky state as a smile slowly tilts the edges of her lips.  “Would you like to sample one of our fine wines today?” she asks as she turns back to greet Antoine.To my pleasure, he waits to respond, sending questioning looks my way. I smile and wave for him to order whatever he likes. Satan was paying for this anyway, might as well rack up the gas mileage, maybe it’ll deter her from trying to set me up with men from now on. More than likely it wouldn’t, but hey, a girl can wish.  Antoine buys another bottle of wine, orders his main course and then waits for me to do the same thing. His eyes on my every movement as if he's storing away information for further use. Adrianna removes our menus from in front of us and shuffles back through whatever hidden entrance she came out of, less certain of herself after being ignored by the handsome stud who sits before me with a sexy smirk lighting up his features.“What?” I ask, failing to contain the smile his grin forces out of me.“That was rather fun, don’t you think?” He replies, his teeth blinding me with their radiance.A laugh trickles out from between my teeth. “You knew all along that she was into you, didn’t you?” I ask between breaths. He didn’t say anything but his grin was answer enough. “You player, you.” I smile. “So, how does it feel to be so devastatingly attractive?”“I don’t know you tell me?”  He asks as he leans back into his chair. His elbow rests on his crossed arm,