A New Light

Chapter 4

I don't think that I have ever seen Kate speechless. But the look on her face is that of utter surprise. "Mr. Cross," is all she manages to get out. I look over at the man sitting next to me and realize this is the man that she interviewed this afternoon. The God sitting next to me, just looks at her with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. Finally gaining some composure, Kate adds, "It's nice to see you again so soon. What are you doing here?"

"I was having a drink and saw two beautiful women walk in, get seated immediately and wanted to say hello." Turning to look at me, giving me a huge megawatt smile and said, "Hello, I'm Gideon Cross and you are?"

I just sat there looking from this man that oozed sex to Kate. Thankfully she jumped right in, "Mr. Cross, this is my friend Ana. Ana, this is the gentleman I interviewed today, Gideon Cross." Finding my voice, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cross."

"Please call me Gideon," he says to me and Kate mouths, "Seriously," looking at me.

"Well Gideon, it's nice to meet you but we are meeting someone for dinner if you don't mind." I don't know how I had the courage to form the words to practically dismiss the man. He did actually ooze sex from his pores. He was easily a foot taller than me with shoulder length black hair and the most piercing blue eyes. He was built too. Like really built. You could tell he definitely took care of his body under that three piece suit.

"I imagine you would be as you're sitting in the owners booth," he said as he looks at me; letting his eyes roam over my face and chest. "This booth is generally never occupied unless one of the owners invites someone."

Both my eyes and Kate's widen just slightly. Kate piques in and says "Well Mr. Cross, being as we were invited by a friend of Ana's that would explain why we are here. Why are you?"

"KATE!" I'm floored that she is being so rude. Didn't she just spend two hours interviewing this man for her article? She said the interview went fine and didn't give any reason as to why she would be impolite to him if she saw him out in public.

"Mr. Cross," he looks at me with a raised eyebrow, "sorry Gideon, if you would give Kate and I a moment please? Then do come back and join us for a drink at the very least."

"Certainly Ana. I see someone I need to speak with heading this direction anyway. But I will gladly take you up on that offer of a drink in a few minutes. The wine I ordered should be here by then anyway," he says smiling at me and then he gracefully stands and walks away from the table.

"Kate, what was that about?"

"Ana, he was looking at you like a piece of meat!"

"No. He was just glanced at me and he was being nothing if not polite."

"The look on his face well it just reminded me a bit of when Mr. Moneybags and you first started seeing each other. Like he wanted to consume you and not the lobster bisque!"

"Well leave him alone. He isn't doing anything inappropriate!" But I felt like she had just slapped me back into reality. My faced dropped. I realized that tonight was the first time that I had thought about Christian almost since we had arrived in New York. And it wasn't even because I thought about him but because Kate had to bring him up! I think my face must show exactly what I am feeling because Kate scoots over the bench and wraps her arms around my shoulders and apologizes like crazy for reminding me of why I am here in New York with her now. Blinking back tears because I refuse to ruin the night, I let her know that it's alright.

I look up scanning the crowd, Arnoldo should be here by now. Seeing him I smile and wave and realize that he's talking to Gideon. They both head over to us. Smiling, I stand and Arnoldo kisses both my cheeks. "Ana! Darling you look amazing," he says "Sit, Sit," he says as he sits down next to Kate and waiving his hand for Gideon to sit next to me. "You must be Ana's friend, Kate correct? I am Arnoldo. I'm glad you could join me for dinner ladies."