Chasing Henry Marshall

Chapter Four

   "What are you doing here?"
   Henry Marshall raised an eyebrow and looked around at his surroundings. He had this fake innocent look on his face as if he didn't have a clue why I was so bewildered.
   "Isn't this a restaurant?" He asked, a note of mockery in his voice. It made me bristle but I also felt a tug in my chest. I swallowed my shock and flipped the mental switch, igniting my earlier hate-fire. I folded my arms and looked from Henry to the man beside him. The man accompanying Mr. Marshall was a few inches taller and had brown hair with equally brown eyes. They were serious eyes, very alert and on top of things. He was scanning his surroundings constantly.
   "Is he your bodyguard?" The words fell from my mouth but I rolled with them. Two pairs of eyes stared back at me. There was an amused look on Henry's face.
   "No. He's my assistant," he mused.
   "Aren't you going to eat?" I asked, looking back to the brown haired male.
   "No," Henry said briskly, suddenly exchanging his warm mockery for the cold tone he used on Nyil back at the university. I physically flinched but quickly shook it off. I let my gray eyes raise to meet Henry's stormy blues and I held fast to his gaze.
   "I was not talking to you," I hissed. Mr. Marshall seemed slightly taken aback by my venomous response and I swear I caught a glimpse of a smile on his assistant's lips.
   "I will not be eating with Mr. Marshall... Miss," he said softly, adding the last word as if remembering his manners, "He likes to eat by himself. I am just here because I was doing some research in the university library."
   This caught my attention and I looked right up into male's brown eyes, "Research? On wh-"
   "Miss Maine, I would like to be seated if its not to difficult for you."
   My jaw fell open and I stared at the arrogant man before me. Henry Marshall, ignorant narcissist and new Parapsychology professor. Damn this man. I looked at the two menus I had unconsciously grabbed and then at the two men before. I slid one back into its spot and cleared my throat, choking down the smartalic remark I had for his majesty.
   "Right this way...Sir." I struggled to get the last word out. The word I had been yearning to say was ass. I turned around the corner and walked to a booth farthest from the counter I stood by. I didn't need him in speaking distance and I didn't want to be able to see him. I set the menu down and stepped back as he moved by me. I rolled my eyes as Mr. Marshall ran his fingers over both the table and the seat, probably checking to see if I had cleaned the tables well enough. When he finally sat down, his assistant across from him, I sighed and began the normal mantra.

   "Hello and welcome to Graystone Café. Your server today will be Ethan and-"
   "I want you."
    I felt my eyes widen slightly as a blush ripped across my face. I reached for the table behind me and braced myself. "E-Excuse me?" I stuttered.
    "I want you to serve me," Henry Marshall repeated. I felt the blush ebb away for a brief moment before I realized how I had just reacted. It was as if I wanted the one and only Henry Marshall to want me. No way was that the truth. I felt the blush return from my stupidity and I shook my head, both willing it away and answering Henry's demand.
   "I don't serve. I am a busser. I clean tables," I said and turned to leave.
   "But I want you to serve me," I heard him say behind me. I knew there was no way I could just walk away from this conversation. Henry would follow me to the counter and tell Ricardo to make me a server. I was about to turn around once more to confront him and continue this torture when I spotted one of the members of the elderly group waving at me. I headed toward them.
   "Ethan will be right with you," I called over my shoulder and walked to the elderly lady. She smiled when I reached her. "What can I get for you?"
   "Nothing sweetheart. I just thought I would help you out." I stood there for a moment and then it dawned on me.
   "Wait, how did you..."
   "Honey I have been on this Earth for 87 years. I know when a girl needs help escaping a snake like that man over there," she whispered and pointed in the direction of Henry Marshall. I nearly choked on my laughter. She smiled at me and I could see, in her kind green eyes, that she was just being honest. I took her hand and held it with both mine, returning her smile.
   "Thank you so much," I whispered.
   "Anytime darling. But take my advice. That man is as slick as soap and as shallow as a puddle," she whispered and I nodded. I noticed Ethan coming out of the kitchen and quietly thanked the lady again before I walked over to him. His emerald eyes instantly saw right through me to my underlying discomfort.
   "What's wrong?"
   "Nothing Ethan. You have a table. The man from earlier," I stated and patted him on the chest as I slid by him to continue rolling silverware. He turned, eyes trained on my face. Ethan had been around me long enough to know that if I wanted to talk, I would. Prying wouldn't get anything out of me any faster. He nodded and grabbed his notebook off the counter, walking back to the table. I watched him go and simply went about my business.