Love Me Mate

In Something Sweet There Is Something Bitter

Mia

‘This place is so fancy!’ I gasped, instantly feeling underdressed. The large crystal chandelier hung majestically over the quaint restaurant, illuminating the area. A handful of square tables were scattered around the place, each one made of black wood and carved elegantly. White tablemats and a variety of silver cutlery decorated the top of each table with elegant matching chairs. The place looked like it was made in the nineteen-thirties! Now I really felt underdressed.

‘Don’t worry love, I think you look absolutely stunning,’ Alexander muttered softly in my ear as he wrapped a large muscular arm around my waist and placed a delicate kiss on my neck sending shivers down my spine.

‘Well, this place is absolutely beautiful Alexander! Thank you so much for bringing me here!’ I spoke while turning around to face him.

‘Not as beautiful as you,’ he spoke, leaning down to place a peck on my lips, but was interrupted when an annoying voice cut in. The smile fell from my face and was replaced by a scowl.

‘Hello! I am Linda, do you two have a reservation?’ said a woman in a high-pitch voice making me turn around to face her. Why did this bitch have to cut in?

‘Um yes, it is under Alexander Owens,’ he said, looking just as irritated as me, which made me smile a bit.

‘Right this way, sir,’ she said, smiling in a fake manner once she recognized who I was.

We were escorted to a small table in the corner, secluded from the world. A long vanilla scented candle burned in the center of the table, its fragrance diffusing into the atmosphere. I cautiously say on my chair that was opposite Alexander with my back facing the rest of the restaurant. I placed my napkin on my lap in a very lady-like manner, feeling the urge to impress the gentleman that was facing me. We looked at the menu and ordered our food and the waiter came and gave us our wine.

‘Are you even aloud to drink? I mean how old are you anyways?’ asked Alexander.

‘I am nineteen, so technically I can drink in the presence of somebody older than me. Speaking of which, how old are you?’ I asked, curiosity getting the best out of me.

‘I am twenty-two, love,’ Alexander chuckled lightly, taking a sip of his wine.

‘Oh,’ I simply stated, not knowing what else to say. ‘How did you find out about this place?’ I asked, surprised that I have never heard of it.

‘This restaurant is not very popular, only a handful of people know about since it opened thirty years ago and the owner would like to keep it that way,’ he explained.

‘You know the owner of this place?’ I asked shocked by all his connections. ‘Don’t tell me it the same friend of yours that runs the hotel in Rome.’

Alexander laughed once again and said, ‘No love, the owner, James, is part of my pack.’

‘Your pack?’ I asked questioningly raising an eyebrow.

Instantly, the colour drainer from Alexander’s face and he began to cough uneasily.

‘Oh pardon me, love. British slang. By pack I mean group of friends, you understand….’ He trailed of uneasily, scratching the back of his head.

‘Um, yeah, I do,’ I smiled at him, shrugging the incident off.

‘So how did you find out about this place?’ I asked once again, engaging the conversation.