Bound To The Seduction

Chapter 18: Old friend

Mr. Guzman sat idly at the table tapping his special pendant on the table out of habit. Classical soothing music played on the stereo, like it always does, creating a relaxing ambiance perfect for anyone who had a long day. Most clientele who frequented this restaurant were middle-aged and preferred a quiet and relaxing place to end their day and listen to the kind of music that healed the soul.

The younger generation preferred places with loud trendy music and fast-food restaurants. Their patience was gone with the wind and they wanted something that took a few minutes to prepare rather than waiting for a proper meal to be cooked.

Those two old folks weren't here today. Perhaps one was playing his two chubby grandkids while the other had taken his dog, Jimmy, for a walk. Mr. Guzman sat alone, with his herbal tea on the side, looking deep in thought.

The entire restaurant had big clear windows that allowed one to enjoy the view from the comfort of their seat. Several potted plants hung by the window, adding a splash of color to the otherwise plain sight. There was a small bamboo grove right outside, and a garden covered with soft grass sprinkled with rare exotic young trees and flowers. Yep, that must have been Sarah's work.

Sarah walked into the restaurant and the workers flashed her happy smiles. She was a regular and she had a great relationship with them. She spotted a few new faces and gave them a polite smile as she headed towards Mr. Guzman.

"Yo, Sarah, I haven't seen you in a while." His eyes lit up in excitement when he saw Sarah. Her face glowed in the evening sun and she appeared to be in a better mood than last time. "You must be very busy."

"Yeah, I've been busy sorting out matters of the heart." She smiled, pulled a chair, and sat opposite him at the table. "I thought I'd die from all the things going wrong in my life recently. I now know the hardships of being an adult."

Mr. Guzman laughed and poured her a cup of tea from the clay teapot on the table. "there's still a lot to learn. Let's just say you've scratched the surface."

"don't make it sound so scary." Sarah pouted, inched closer to him, and put on her best smile. "Uncle Gu, please make me a special meal to light up my day."

"No problem. I can help you with that," he said enthusiastically, searching for something in her eyes.

"Umm... it's not for me. It's for my friend."

"Boyfriend?"

"No!"

"If so, then he can't have it." He waved his hand in the air lazily and poured himself another cup of tea.

Sarah got up from her chair and walked to the other side. She reached for his shoulders and started massaging them. "Uncle Gu, don't be so mean," she said in the sweetest voice possible while controlling the amount of pressure according to his preference.

Mr. Guzman closed his eyes and enjoyed the free service. "Mmh...yes, a little more on the right, yes... great." He'd missed this. This was Sarah's trick to get him to agree to her requests but he knew better. If Sarah could think about it, so could he.

"Uncle Gu, what do you say now?"

"Mmh... still, no."

Sarah stopped massaging his shoulders and got back to her seat. She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you afraid of criticism?"

This has always been his soft spot. He flung his eyes open and got defensive. "Who? Me? afraid of criticism?" he shook his head and waved his hand casually, "Am I like that?"

"Yes, you are," she giggled as his face turned red in embarrassment. He pushed his round-rimmed glasses onto his forehead and rubbed his eyes. Sarah's giggle got even louder and he glared at her before getting up and headed to the kitchen. "Thanks," Sarah said as she blew air kisses at him, "Works every time."