I Don't!

The Proposal

"How'd it go? How'd it go?" The British, blonde insisted of the tall Italian man that approached her.
Lilian Edwards sat inside a booth at the Sapphire Lake Café in New York City. She had been waiting for her two good friends to arrive, so that Leonardo could tell them if he had passed the citizenship test or not. It had taken Leo this long to finally be able to take this test and if he passed now, all he had to do was wait for his citizenship to process for the last time, take the oath, and finally become a US citizen.
Leonardo didn't actually want to become a U.S. citizen, however in order to save his and his father's company from being Shut down across America, he had no choice but to apply.
See, when Leo first graduated from college, back in Rome, he and his father finally initiated starting their business together. It had taken several months for the business to be up and running, but once it was, it was an instant success. Venturi and Co. started as one office building, and one small hotel, in Rome, and quicky expanded across Europe, and slowly into Australia, and Asia.
After the success of the business in Europe, the Venturis were offered to extend their business in the US, as well, by one of Matteo Venturi's close friends, who worked in the US government.
Matteo wanted Leo to move over to the US so that he could be in charge of the company Overseas, while Matteo ran it from Rome. At first, they didn't have a problem having Leonardo stay in the states and control the company, but since the company had gotten so big, with having three main headquarters across the States, multiple hotels in every state, and finally working on a casino in Las Vegas, the government thought it be best for Leo to be an actual citizen of America.
Leonardo didn't want to go through the citizenship process, but the US threatened to shut down the business there, if he didn't. So, Leo had no choice.
Now, Leonardo had just finished the test and all he had to do was wait the 6 months for them to process it.
"Well, I passed," Leo informed Lilian, as he unhappily sat across from her.
"Then, why don't you look thrilled?" Lilian asked, with a scoff, "Leo! You're gonna finally be an American Citizen."
Leo furrowed his hazel eyes, "wonderful.."
Lilian sighed, as she rolled her blue eyes, "and, you're gonna save your company."
"Maybe," Leonardo's shoulders fell, as his hazel eyes shifted from Lilian to the table, and back up.
Lilian frowned, as she blinked in confusion, "what do you mean?"
Leo looked away, out the window that sat beside them, "they told me I had to get my citizenship, before my green card expired, or they'll start shutting down some of the hotels. My green card expires in a month, and it's gonna take 6 months to process both!"
"Did you explain that to them? That, it's not your fault that you can't get them processed any faster," Lilian stated.
Leonardo nodded, "my father is trying to get his friend to pull some strings, but he's already gotten us out of so much, that I think the government is running out of patience."
Lilian sighed, "but, they can't give you just a few more months to get everything settled?"
"My father's asking them to, but they said that it's either, shut down these few hotels, until I get my green card or citizenship. Or, shut it all down and go back to Italy until I get my citizenship," Leo explained to her, before resting his head on his hand, that rested on the table.
"Can I get you two anything?" A young waitress strolled over, with a grin.
The young waitress eyes Leo up and down, with a sparkling glow in her eyes.
"Two cup of coffee would be great, Dear," Leonardo smiled, flirtatiously back at the young waitress.
The waitress fought back a squeal, as her grin widened, "two cups of coffee it is."
The waitress's grin formed into a small frown, as she turned and glanced at Lilian, who only rolled her eyes at the young girl's dirty looks at her.
"Don't worry, Love," Lilian smiled up, as politely as she could, "Leonardo is like a brother to me. We are not together."
Leonardo chuckled at the comment from Lilian, as he lifted his head back up, "Why must you explain yourself, Lily?"
"Well, she was giving me dirty looks, I wanted to reassure her that you are free for the taking," Lilian smirked, Devilishly, making both her and Leonardo laugh.
The waitress only gave them a small chuckle. Before proceeding back to get their coffees.
Lilian shook her head, as she watched the girl scurry off, before turning her glance back to Leo, "I swear, all you have to do is breath in a room, and girls come crawling to you."
Leo shrugged, with a prideful smile, "it's a gift, I was blessed, there's nothing I can do about it."
Lilian laughed again at her best friend's arrogance, before her phone beeped, and she went to check it, "oh, it's Jude. He can't meet us here, because he had to meet his boss at some new cafe, to discuss his promotion."
Leonardo nodded, "why does he even bother? He never gets the promotion."
Lilian shrugged, "one day, they'll run out of other people to promote, and will have no choice but to promote him."
"Wouldn't you be scared to get a promotion in that place? Everytime they promote someone, they just get fired," Leo pointed out, as the waitress headed over with their coffees.
The waitress placed a cup down in front of each of them, "two coffees."
"Thank you, Dear," Leonardo thanked her, with a soft smile.
The girl bit her lip, as she remained in front of the table, "so, you're Leonardo Venturi, correct?"
Leonardo nodded, as he poured some cream and sugar into his coffee, "that is correct."
"My.. co-worker pointed that out, after I told her about the cute guy here," the waitress blushed.
"You didn't notice, at first?" Lilian asked, In a condescending tone.
The waitress frowned, "well... I figured he looked familiar, but I didn't want to say something... I wasn't sure."
Leonardo smirked more, "she's just messing with you, dear."
Lilian laughed at herself, "have to make sure you have a good personality, if you are going to pursue a relationship with Leonardo."
Leo choked on the coffee he was sipping, as the waitress blushed more, but smiled widely at Leonardo.
Leonardo stared into the girl's, hopeful eyes, and was almost taken aback by how serious she was about Lilian's joke.
Leonardo looked at Lilian, who he could tell was trying not to burst out in laughter, "funny, Lily. Don't get the girl's hopes up like that."
Lilian almost felt bad for the way the girls face fell, and she almost laughed at her too for being so desperate, "don't feel bad, dear. Leonardo doesn't date anyone. Except for his company."
This made the waitress giggle, "not even just one drink?"
Leonardo glanced at Lilian, In shock, "what a persistent young girl."
Lilian shrugged, "maybe you should give her a chance."
Leonardo raided an eyebrow at Lilian, before looking back at the waitress, "hmm.."
Leonardo studied the young waitress a moment. She was very attractive, with curly auburn hair, and hazel colored eyes. She was a bit skinny, but on the shorter side, and wore darker toned make up. Leonardo scanned her uniform for her name tag, Stella.
The young waitress folded her hands up, "Please? Just one drink with me."
Leonardo looked back at Lilian, for an opinion, and was given an approving nod.
Leo sighed, "one drink. And, I pick the bar. How about tonight at 8?"
Stella squealed, and clapped her hands, "aww, yay. I mean.. can I see your phone? To give you my number, so I can text you my address?"
Leonardo pulled his phone out, and handed it over to Stella, as he stared at his blonde friend, across the table, who was trying her hardest not to laugh.
Stella inserted her number into Leo's phone, and texted herself his number, before handing Leo's phone back over to him.
Lilian remained quiet, as she sipped her coffee and watched the young girl admire Leonardo some more.
Leonardo glanced back up at the red head, with a sheepish smile.
"I'll.. see you tonight, then," the girl said, nervously, before scurrying to the back.
Lilian giggled at Leonardo, "I guess we'll have to find a new café to meet at."
Leonardo nodded, as he sipped his coffee and rolled his eyes.