ENIOLA: Beauty For Ashes

Chapter Eight

As King approached the address Eni sent, he thought about how funny it was that he'd been toying with the idea of eating out tonight and now, here he was.
He liked the restaurant she chose. It looked classy and discreet, maybe too discreet.
A group of ladies stood outside wandering about the parking lot, dressed with little to nothing and handing out flyers to men with smiles on their faces.

"Crap" he mumbled as two walked up to him. The first one handed him the flyer and he shook his head.
"Thanks, I'm good" he said.
"Oh c'mon. It's a private show for tomorrow night. We guarantee you'd enjoy it" said the second one.
"Not interested" he said in a firm tone and brushed past her.

Eni sent a text stating she was nearby so he took the liberty of getting a table in the VIP section and ordering a fruit wine.
When she arrived, he was...impressed.
Her outfit was simple, modest and elegant. She looked intimidating with the red lipstick, yet approachable with the warm smile. It wasn't till she sat down that he noticed her eyes.

"You look great. Clean up nicely too" she said.
"Thank you. You look stunning as well...and high" he said.
"Hi, how are you? How was work?" she said before realizing what he meant and bursting into laughter.
"Oh you're so baked. I won't judge, tonight" he said, chuckling.
"Great. I see you've ordered already. Just wine?"
"Yeah just wine. It's rude to order food first when you're out with someone. So, first of all, how are you? How are you feeling? How's your body?"
She let out a long sigh.
"I'm okay. I've been home for the most part, resting a lot. I quit my job, sorted out Kunle's stuff and got rid of them-"
"Kunle?"
"Dead husband"
"Oh.."
"Yeah, I'm in a state of being. I'm okay"
He was drawn to her expressions as she spoke. She didn't give off much, but he could catch faint traces of pain, relief and uncertainty.

"I don't want to overstep but...are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

She didn't answer this time and looked away. She was not okay. She probably didn't know what okay was supposed to feel like. Against his better judgment, he reached out over the table and touched her hand in a bid to comfort.
She felt tense, rigid even, knotted up.
It took a minute before he felt her ease up and exhale.
"I don't know you outside the confines of a hospital ward, but I know you've been through a lot. Don't rush yourself. One day at a time, mm?"

She nodded and held his hand, interlocking their fingers.
"Thank you. Mind if I hold on a little longer? It's comforting" she said.
"As long as you like"
A waitress walked up to their table, menu in hand and a suggestive smile at King. She spoke to him alone, completely ignoring Eniola.

"What would you like to have sir? Our menu is all encompassing, local and international cuisines" she said in low tone.
King laughed inwardly.

Is it me she is using bedroom voice for?

"May I have a menu please? I'd like to order" Eni said, amused at the scenario.
"Sure, in a second. Have you decided sir? I can suggest something if you'd like. I guarantee you'd love it" she said.

King looked at her name tag.

"Precious, take the lady's order and stop flirting with me. Thank you"

She reluctantly turned to Eni and rolled her eyes. "What's your order?"
Eni got irritated.

"You didn't even give me a menu. Should I get you a bed so that you just sleep with him here since that's how it's doing you?"

She froze, immediately embarrassed.

"Please can we have another waitress? Someone that isn't horny abeg, thank you" she said out loud as Precious hurried away.

"You're a no nonsense lady" King said. He wasn't expecting her to go off like that.
"I'm too hungry to watch an unprofessional waitress flirt instead of serve. She can have you when I've eaten"

"She's not my type"

Another waitress approached them with an apologetic smile.

"Hi, good evening. I'd like to apologize for my colleague's unprofessional behavior. We don't condone that kind of attitude towards our customers. I hope your evening hasn't been ruined?"
"Oh, it's alright, though I'd like to eat before I lose my sanity. May I have the menu please?" said Eni.
"Here you go. I'd have them send an appetizer while your meal is being prepared. On the house"
"That's very kind of you but don't worry about it. I'd have the chicken and chips please, double portion. That's four pieces of chicken. Two wings, two drumsticks and lots of ketchup...and 4th Street, white, thank you"

"Yes ma'am. What would you like sir?"

"I'll have what she's having. Single portion, no wine, just water. Thank you"

As soon as the food arrived, Eni went for it. She didn't eat messy but from the moans of satisfaction she kept making, it was obvious she was very hungry.

"So, what's your type? I ask because you don't look like you're interested in women" she asked.

He looked up from his plate with a cocked eyebrow.
"I look gay?"
"No, you look like you're not going to be in the headspace for a woman for a very long time. That's the energy you give off.  So what's your type?"

"Hmm, well...I like my woman God-fearing, ambitious, and opinionated because I enjoy a good argument. Physical looks help a lot but I find that I'm attracted to minds first"

"God-fearing? Every man says that but ends up wanting a church girl with stripper energy"

"Let me rephrase that. I want a Christian, not a church goer. There's a massive difference and I'm definitely not looking for stripper energy"

"If you say so. Asides that, you seem to like the kind of women most men don't like, a direct opposite of yourself"

"Direct opposite? Are you sure she'd be an opposite? You barely know the kind of person I am"
"That's true. Tell me about yourself. Who's Kingsley when he's not in the hospital?"