Wed or Dead

XLII ⚜️

Third person POV

This time Eliana wanted to dress nicely. Like not her. She wanted to look totally different. Sexy, elegant, stylish.

Thankfully, new things appeared in her wardrobe frequently. Plot twist - she didn't buy them. The walk-in closet of hers was being stocked in a similar manner to a fridge. It felt like something from Harry Potter when she noticed every few days a new surprise item appearing. And they were all unbelievably pretty. Eliana suspected it was Alicia who received an order to buy her new things for no reason at all. Eliana appreciated the gesture.

When she had first arrived at Rafael's house after unpacking her clothes the wardrobe looked empty. It was just too huge to fill in. Now, after a few weeks of living here her collection of clothes visibly expanded.

For today's evening, Eliana chose to wear beige heels with red soles, a side-slit long black dress, golden earrings, and a bracelet.

"Ready?" Rafael asked while buttoning his cufflinks.

"Yes," she replied.

After he looked at her, she concluded that she chose the right outfit. For a moment he was looking at her intensely, in silence.

"Let's go then" he finally said and grabbed her hand. 

🔆🔆🔆

Thanks to Rafael Eliana learned about amazing restaurants in the city. The place they arrived at looked really fancy.

The married couple was already waiting for them. They invited them to sit down.

Eliana recognized the woman.

She was the rude customer Eliana encountered on my first day of work. She looked at each equally surprised, but her surprise slowly turned into fear.

"Mr. Vincenti it's so good to see you," the man said nicely.

"Likewise" Rafael greeted him formally "This is my wife Eliana, Eliana this is Boris and Heidi Carter my good friends" Rafael introduced the couple.

It felt like the good friends part was added out of politeness only.

Rafael, like a true gentleman, pulled out a chair for her. As they sat down the waiter showed up within seconds.

When Eliana saw the prices she understood why the waiters here are so fast. "$30 for tiramisu?" she whispered before she could stop herself.

Boris and Heidi heard her well and they  both started chucking "Order whatever you want the dinner is on us" Boris said.

Eliana thought Rafael will refuse but he looked like he was completely fine with their offer.

"How kind of you," he said in a quiet formal voice. "Beef Wellington for me," he said. "And one bottle of Sauvignon Blanc"

It was the most expensive dish on the menu. How much a bottle of wine could cost here? A fortune? Why would he order this if he knew they were financially struggling? Eliana met his gaze for a moment and she could swear the sparks of amusement were dancing in his eyes. What a troll.

Eliana ordered grilled salmon with miso. She had no idea what half of the ingredients listed on the menu are. And some of them she wouldn't be able to pronounce so she chose something random hoping for the best.

Somehow the conversation led them to speak about real estate. Heidi and Boris were in the process of searching the house and they were considering what location would be the best for them. But Eliana didn't expect Heidi to ask a direct question about her past. And yet she did.