Tangle (BWWM)

Chapter 2 - New Beginnings

At the end of the work day, Gabrielle made her way back home to freshen up for the meeting. All day, the wonder of what her boss looked like was present at the forefront of her mind. While she applied her dark red lipstick, she imagined the man being middle-aged with white thinning hair. Age probably rounded him as well. Would he have any facial hair? Tired aging eyes? Just as she put down her lipstick tube, she remembered the man's cousin, Jacques. Jacques was fairly young, looking to be in his early thirties. He was also fine as hell... Would Vincent resemble his cousin at all? Then again, cousins could be just about any age apart...

Gabrielle realized she was zoning out, staring at herself in the mirror. She shook her head free of the distracting thoughts. She then took a step back to examine herself in the mirror. This process was all too familiar, for she did the very same thing that morning. She looked to be in order, like she was all day.

Tonight, she sported a simple black, knee length, cap sleeved body con dress that was modest enough that it could work for the office. It displayed her curves just enough to bring attention to them, but not too much attention. Small golden studs adorned her ears, and her long curls fell over her shoulders. The look was completed with a pair of four-inch-tall stiletto heels which were completely studded by small orange and turquoise beads arranged in geometric patterns. She hoped to God that she would not have to be standing much tonight, because these heels were NOT practical.

Display purposes only.

She would keep a pair of flipflops in her car for after the meeting. Or was it dinner...? Dinner meeting, whatever it was. Gabrielle was about to make her way outside when she decided to take off her pumps and hold them in her hand. She grabbed her purse and slipped on her flipflops, heading out the door. For the entire drive to the restaurant, she could feel her nerves acting up once again. "Deep breaths," she breathed.

When she finally arrived, she slipped her pumps on and entered the restaurant. The place was indeed fancy with its low lighting and quiet atmosphere. The smells of fine cuisine caressed her senses. She then hoped that Mr. Dragonoff didn't expect her to pick up her bill. She probably couldn't even afford the water here! The thought both amused and scared her. She was ripped away from her musings when the host greeted her. "Good evening, ma'am, and welcome to the Cherry Blossom. How many will be dining in tonight?"

"Oh... Hello. I, um, I'm actually meeting someone."

"Ah, yes. The party name?"

"Dragonoff."

The hosts eyebrows slightly raised as if in disbelief. What was his problem? "All right, ma'am. Mr. Dragonoff is waiting for you. If you will follow me," he muttered before he took off in the direction in the dining room. Gabrielle managed to keep pace with him despite wearing her "display only" shoes. Her eyes scanned through the room. She saw several older men of different ethnicities having dinner, but none of them were sitting by themselves. That was until they came to the other side of the dining room.

There was a lone middle-aged man sitting in the corner, appearing to be waiting for someone. Gabrielle was about to ask the host if that was the man she was supposed to meet. Just as she opened her mouth, she saw an older woman join the man at the table, sitting across from him. They both laughed at something she said. Gabrielle's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Maybe she was looking for the wrong kind of person...

Just then, they arrived at a table at the far end of the dining room. At it sat a man who looked to be no older than thirty-five. He stood when he realized that the pair was walking toward him. He nodded when the host pulled Gabrielle's chair out for her to sit. A smooth smirk formed on his face before he reached his hand across the table and took hers for a business shake. Gabrielle noticed that his hand was as cool as Jacques' was. She mentally kicked herself. The men must have been anemic. It was insensitive of her to keep them waiting so long in air conditioned places...