The Gotham Queen

Chapter 5

We walk into the restaurant, and I look excitedly at all the decorations that I love so much. The floor is a dark wood, and the walls are a bright red with gold Chinese Dragons decaled on them. The far back wall even has a large mural of a Chinese Dragon wrapped along the Great Wall of China.

The dark maple wood tables are spread out throughout the restaurant, with matching chairs that have deep red cushions surrounding them. Some tables even have Chinese folding screens around them to give a sense of privacy.

"Mr. Kyle Wright, right this way." A waiter says as he comes to meet us at the door, bowing slightly before he takes us to one of the private tables in the far back. The table has three chairs instead of two like usual, and I feel my eyebrows start to twitch in confusion before I force my face back into the picture-perfect happy expression I'm taught to wear at all times.

Why are there three chairs, Harleen? You weren't told about anyone dining with you both. Is your father going to be here tonight as well? Harleen, I really don't like this, and I think you need to get out of there!

Ignoring the voice in my head along with the gut feeling, I continue to look at our small, private space. A small candle is in the center of the table, burning softly as it casts a soft golden glow in the private area, and next to the candle is a rather large bouquet of pure white daisies.

I can feel even more questions form in my head. Daisies? He knows my favorite flowers are red roses. Did he forget? I mean, I'll take them, but they aren't my favorite. Are they for someone else? Who do we know likes daisies?

I'm so lost in my head that I stumble slightly, and the glare he sends me nearly floors me as fear floods my heart. I have to force myself not to shrink away from him, and I can feel my heart start to race rapidly. I've already screwed the whole night up, and I'm going to pay for it later. Why can't I be perfect? Why can I never do anything right?

Harleen, just get the fuck out of there!

He pulls the seat out for me to sit in, putting on the show of a true gentleman and making me ignore the voice in my head again. Then the voice in my head starts to remind me that none of this is real, making my eyes start to water in fear and pain.

It's all an act, a show for the public's eye. He doesn't actually care, and he never will. None of this is real to him like it is to me, and the voice in my head keeps reminding me of this, but I ignore her as I keep going.

"Daisies?" I ask softly in curiosity before I can stop myself, and he snatches them away before I can touch them. I flinch at the sudden action, and he glares at me even harder. The panic starts to set in, and I'm afraid that I'll pass out right in the middle of the restaurant in front of everyone. If I do that, then I can definitely kiss my freedom goodbye, and probably my life, too.

I'm lucky enough to have my apartment, but only because dad said it would've been inappropriate to live together without being married first. I have until then to figure out how to get away, but my fear of what he'd do if I failed is enough to stop me every time.

I look up at him with pleading eyes, hoping against hope that I can at least calm him down before the night ends and he shows me his displeasure in me. He isn't even looking at me anymore, but behind me, eyes shining so brightly that I nearly sob because I've never gotten that look from him before.

With curiosity burning like a raging inferno, I turn around to see just who gets that look from him, and I have to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from crying out. A tall, beautiful leggy brunette comes walking confidently over, and she wears a shimmering silver gown that drags the floor behind her with a thick white fur coat around her. Her earrings dangle and glitter in the soft glow of the candles. Her caramel skin is smooth, and her green eyes are bright as she smiles at Kyle.