Ｃｈｅｃｋｍａｔｅ: Ａ ｍａｆｉａ ｎｏｖｅｌｅｔｔｅ

Ravenswood Vitner's Blend

Astrid Forswift Pov:
I sighed heavily as I pushed open the door of the grand bar open. Turns out I didn't have to because there was a security guard already opening the door for the customers.

I smiled at him. He warmly smiled back and bowed courteously. I walked past him and forced through the crowd to the alcoholic drinks counter. Thankfully it was not that packed so I reached there easily.

I motioned the bartender for two drinks and sat down on a barstool next to a man with curly raven hair, a well-built muscular body, chiseled cheekbones, a sharp jawline and what looked like...stormy grey-blue eyes.

My eyes travelled over his black fitted suit which could only be custom tailored by the looks of it, underneath was a crisp white shirt with two buttons undone, revealing his tight skin which made me gawk at him. Every time he smiled, the side of his eyes crinkled, his biceps showing every time he made any hand moment.

It turns out he was already talking to another man. I tilted my head inconsiderably to comprehend who he was talking to.

My ex-boss.

I immediately faced the other way. Why did he have to come today? The bartender tapped my forearm gently as to tell me that the drinks were ready. I took the two small glasses kept on the table and downed them pretty quickly.

"Can I please get 'Ravenswood Vitner's Blend'?" I ordered politely, taking out 20 dollars. He nodded and took out a big bottle from the wine shelf. I knew that the wine cost 15 dollars and that was a lot for a drink at least however right now I absolutely necessitated it to down the anxiety and tension away.

I stretched out my hand hesitatingly to give the money but a large and veiny hand barred it. When I mean large I mean large. It was 2x the size of mine.  I looked to the side to see the same boy who was talking to my ex-boss smiling cockily at me.

I smiled back at him politely even though he was conversing with a person I utterly loathed.

"I'll pay," He spoke, taking out his wallet. 

I glanced ever so slightly over to see a bundle full of cash kept in it. My eyes widened in astonishment.

"Who are you? I am Astrid Foreswift," I introduced, looking at him.

"I'm Alexander Scott," He smiled at me. I looked at him placidly.

"We don't even know each other. Why are you paying for me? Trying to be one of those heroes who met their heroines by paying for them? thank you very much but I can spend for myself," I started persistently. It's not like I didn't want him to pay. It's that I didn't like anyone paying for me thinking I was broke or something.

He looked at me, appalled by my speech. 

Till then, I gave the bartender my money and took the bottle opening it with a pop and taking a small sip. "Keep the change," I smile at the friendly bartender, who gave me a thankful smile. 

"Well, you seemed like a nice girl, as for you were being remarkably friendly to the bartender and the security guard. I've not come across many people like that. I was just trying to help," Alexander acknowledged moodily.

"Well don't. I can-" I huffed before I was cut off by a well-known hated voice.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" I heard Titus Wilder's voice speak. My ex-boss.

The closing sentence I caught from him reverberated in my ears. 

'You'll regret this, Foreswift. You don't know who I am,'

I clasped back to reality and looked at him with eyes full of spite.

"We have Astrid Foreswift here," I snapped at him. I mean, why do people speak who do we have here? For being dramatic? Well, that is just vexatious.

He looked at me amused but his clenched jaw told another story, his sharp jawline more visible than ever.

"Non rispondere a me Bambina, (Dont talk back to me baby girl,)" He sneered.

"Well, that's how a conversation works. E cos'è con quel soprannome disgustoso? (and what's with that disgusting nickname?)" I shot back.

He looked at me with pure malice, as though mentally strangling me.

"Woah, Woah, you two know each other?" Scott interrupted our intense 'conversation'/glaring contest.

"Yeah. No shit sherlock," I scoffed. Alexander looked at me, amused.