Storm at heart

Chapter 7

The night was truly magical. The moon reflected on the dark seawaters and a soft breeze filled the air with a touch of saltiness. 

Marianna inspected the restaurant to check if everything was in it’s place. Every lantern was lit, casting their light on the surrounding tables. The white batist curtains, wrapped around the also white crossbars of the trellises, transformed the once simple tavern to a refined restaurant and Marianna was pleased with it. 

Her excellent mood and her confidence had an affect not only on the staff, but also on the guests, who seemed to enjoy this beautiful night more than any other time. Like a good hostess, she went from table to table,  exchanged some words and smiled asking if there was everything to their satisfaction. 

She knew he was watching her. She was watching him also from the corner of her eye. Alexander was sitting on a narrow stone wall, enjoying his beer with Manos and other locals.

Never in her life did she attempt to draw someone’s attention towards her. She thought that it was degrading and beneath her. The few relationships that she was in, developed through friendships and were based upon respect and appreciation. They lacked intense feelings, which could bring her off balance. But tonight there was something different, she felt something unprecedented.  

She wasn’t the typical beauty, but there was an “air” around her, as Eleni called it. She didn’t pass unnoticed either, with her proud posture and her soft curves and this was exactly what she was planning to take advantage of. 

 She filed her glass with wine and approached the sitting men. This would be the last glass, she promised herself, because she had already three of them, which was beyond her alcohol tolerance level.  

«Cheers!»   she said to everyone. 

«Cheers Marianna!» they answered back to her in Greek, except Alexander who was the last one to raise his glass, watching her through hooded eyes.

Suddenly he stood looking at his watch. 

«Sadly you must excuse me, it is getting late...» and without a second word he just left leaving Marianna disappointed and frustrated. 

Somehow his departure spoiled her evening but she had every reason to celebrate. Time past by and when the last guests finally left she sat next to Manos. Her feet where killing her. It wasn’t a good idea to wear heels after all.

«Have you any idea why Alexander left so early?» she blurted out without realizing it.

Manos turned and looked at her amused by her faked indifference.

«Well, you mast be either blind or a total fool» and he left her side to clean the tables. 

«What do you mean?» she asked him, more annoyed with herself than him.

«You are flirting all night with almost everyone, waltzing around, provocatively ignoring your dear friend, who by the way can’t take his eyes off of you every time you are around. Not to mention that you avoid him like the plague», he added while blowing the last lantern out. 

«The fool here is you! Alexander...»

«Yeah.. Right! You are just friends!» Manos smiled slyly and kissed her on the forehead before taking his car keys out of his pocket. Why was every men so eager to leave her side?

«See you tomorrow boss!» he bowed to her and left her standing there.

Marianna bit also Eleni good night, who turned off the last lights in the kitchen. She poured another glass of vine and went down to the beach. Manos was so wrong about everything. The only interest which Alexander would have in her, was that of a cat in a mouse. And there were times when she was feeling exactly like this, just that he wasn’t a cat but a panther fully aware of his power and charm. She could never handle a man like him. He was beyond her league.