A Christian Romance II

Chapter 19 - Breaking the ice

It was eight in the evening, the sun had already set. The restaurant at the Quay looked elegantly festive. Ferdinand was inside, impatiently waiting at the bar for Michael. Although everything was set and all the details accounted for, he struggled to stay at ease, mostly because he barely felt comfortable in a suit and tie.

The bartender had finalized the mise en place and was wiping his hands clean on a paper. "You seem nervous." He said.

"There's no trace of Michael, and he doesn't even answer his phone." Ferdinand was calling his mate in that instant to no avail.

"But everything is sorted. Michael would only be here to receive the guests, but you can do it perfectly well."

"Well, thanks for the compliment." Ferdinand adjusted his tie, not knowing what to say.

"Why won't you drink something to lighten up your spirits?" Brian suggested.

"I'd like to stay sober."

"For what? It's just a glass, and you need to lighten up; I'm sure the night reserves you a pretty woman."

In that instant, they heard an insistent knock on the door. Both men looked at the entrance. Ferdinand took a deep breath and walked toward the door. Brian kept his erect posture and observed the scene quietly. He watched as Ferdinand opened the door to a woman gallantly dressed in a red gown. He smirked while he kept observing them discreetly.

Ferdinand walked the woman to the bar. Once Brian laid eyes on her sculpted face, enveloped by her wild curly blonde hair, he noticed not only the woman's beauty but also her the familiarity.

"Brian!" Ferdinand called. "This is Chloe! Michael invited her."

Then it became clear who she was. The young woman was even prettier in the flesh, absolutely stunning.

"Pleasure to meet you in the flesh, Chloe," Brian announced, denouncing that Michael had mentioned her.

"Is Michael around?"

"Not yet. He's running late." Ferdinand aimed his look at the window and saw people walking toward the restaurant. "And guests are arriving." He didn't hide his nervousness. "Excuse me, Chloe," he put his hand gently on her shoulder. "I must receive these people." He apologetically informed, leaving the woman to her drink.

Chloe observed Ferdinand as he fulfilled his duties, finding this guy much more attractive and decent than Michael. At least he had received her with the respect she had expected from Michael; the latter didn't even reply to any of her texts. As she was thinking of these things, Ferdinand joined her once again.

"Is this my drink or yours?" He asked, pointing to the one flute with champagne.

"I ordered a rosé." She replied while adjusting her red pashmina.

Ferdinand grabbed his drink and took a sip. Chloe observed him discreetly, enjoying his style.

"Are you always this delicate?" She tried to pick on him.

Ferdinand abruptly turned his head to her. "Excuse me?" That was the strangest question he had ever heard.

"You are very elegant and delicate. Were you once a dancer?" She curiously asked.

"No," Ferdinand's background was too poor to afford food sometimes, how could he even think of dancing. He giggled. "I learned posture."

"Your posture is flawless." Chloe was a gymnast so she would know about posture.

As Ferdinand was taking another sip from his drink, another group of newcomers approached the door. He felt very tempted to roll his eyes, but with a newfound sense of humor, he placed the flute on the bar and adjusted his tie.