ARE YOU DOWN
Chapter Three : All Mine
The restaurant was nothing like I'd ever seen before. Crystal chandeliers hung low from the ceiling , revealing a soft glow over the room.
The air smelled of freshly baked bread and something else I couldn't quite grasp. Every table had a candle burning in the center, and the place was quiet the only sounds you'd hear is the sound of soft jazz. It was beautiful.
Ralè even the name was beautiful.
I looked around , feeling slightly out of place I wore an off the shoulders black dress and knock off Chanel heels with fake pearls my hair was in a low sleek elegant bun.
But Riqo? He wore a crisp black suit with red bottom loafers and a shiny Rolex. His confidence was damn near suffocating me , but I couldn't help but to be drawn to it.
"You good?"he asked , his deep voice snatching me away from my mind. He leaned back into his chair , one hand resting on the table and the other a glass of wine rested in his hand.
"Yeah I'm fine"I responded , picking at the edge of my napkin. "Just never been to a place like this"I admired the decor once again
The waiter came and took our orders and once he was gone Riqo turned his attention back to me , he leaned in his eyes locked on mine.
"So miss Juicy"He said , his tone softer "What's your story?"
I choked on nothing "M-My story ?"
"Yeah. I wanna know you..I wanna know everything about you ma"
I smiled weakly. I never thought I'd be sitting here expressing my self to a man I barely knew. But it was the way he looked at me the looked that gave the impression that he truly cared. It made me blush.
"Well"I started, taking a sip of the wine to buy me time "Life wasn't easy as a child...Stripping wasn't my first choice , but it pays the bills. Got to find some way to pay for shit don't nobody just do handouts"
He nodded "I feel you, what was your first choice"
I shrugged. "Well I had dreams of being a chef .. I wanted to own my own restaurant call it Pharaoh"
He smiled at that moment, and for a moment he looked proud "That's dope ma! You got ambition. I like that"
"What about you?"I asked flipping the conversation
The waiter brung the food "What about me?"
"I mean like you said I wanna know everything about you"I smiled biting into my food
He chuckled "Ain't much to tell I mean I grew up over there on Geez street , moms died when I was fourteen I been on my own ever since had to figure out had to make some money if I wanted to eat so.."
"I'm sorry-"
He shrugged it off "It's cool shit done now I'm grown"
I didn't push it anymore instead I just went back eating , I hesitantly looked up "My m-mom died when I was ten... a-and my dads been jail since I was five.. haven't had a good relationship since then"
He glanced up looking my eyes like he could relate both of eyes reeked of vulnerability. We didn't speak for a while almost as if we were reading each-other.
"Let dance"He finally uttered
I hesitated "What?"
He got up and grabbed my hands and led me to the dance floor where the jazz band was playing , he pulled my body up against his and swayed me
And just like that the tension was erased and replaced with undeniable chemistry. The rest of the world disappeared as we moved together his hands firmly on my waist. Felt like I've known him forever.
And for the first time in my life I felt secured .. safe.
