Steel Rose

Chapter 63

Belle Pov

"Kenneth. Umbrellas. Kenneth. Umbrellas." I repeat to myself as I move down the way. "You'll say something once we see it right?" I ask Darcy.

I see the restuarant before I can lift my head. White umbrellas, opened wide decorate the outside sitting area offering a considerable amount of shade for the couples sitting there. I make past them and to the front door.

The atmosphere is dark thanks to the slightly tinted windows allowing view to the street. Dark oak high tables litter the floor paired with cushioned white chairs and clean wine glasses. A large tinted window makes up the furthest wall in front of me allowing a perfect glimpse of the city. A long bar makes up the left with more tall chairs. Booths of matching colors line the other side. Quiet chatter and the occasional tink of porcelin fill the air. People in all black stroll back and forth and as I watch one man with an arm of tattoos balance steaming plates.

I only realize in standing on an elevated platform looking down, when a young man with glossy platinum hair rushes over in a slim suit, taking the few stairs up to me in one step.

"So sorry about that miss," he says gathering himself as he positions himself behind a post.

"It's okay," I say automatically.

His hair flips as he looks back up at me. "Just one for today." His eyes flicker to Darcy. "Or two. Do you want a high chair for your baby?"

"Oh, no thank you. I'm supposed to see Kenneth." It sounds more like a question than I want it to.

His eyebrows raise is surprise. "Oh! Well," he glances over his shoulder back to the floor. "I suppose." He hesitates for a few heartbeats but sighs. "Follow me."

He steps from behind his post, pulling down his jacket. He nods my way and I thought that if I knew him personally, he would be that funny guy in the group.

"Mora told me to mention her," I say struggling to keep up with his long strides without jostling Darcy too much.

"Yes, his sister." He leads me to a set of black stairs horizontal to the bar. Up we go, and there is see more of tables only ready to sit groups of a minimum of four. "Just to warn you, he is in a bad mood."

"Why?" I asked wondering if maybe now is a good time to chicken out.

"It is a thing with him."

"A regular thing?" I inquire and I am suddenly reminded of Ptolemus.

He shrugs. "A...normal thing."

He leads me past the seating area and to the back where he pushes open a door with employees only written on it. Inside, a slightly cluttered desk. A man with a average build sits behind it, staring harshly at a computer screen. He looks to be about early 20s, with dark brown hair that looks to have been run through plenty times. I gawk at him however. I stare at the frustrated flush in his cheeks. Red. A deep red in his ears and face. I think back to Mora's smiling face. Silver. My mind goes blank for a moment wondering how such a thing could happen.

"Boss," my escort says and the man I suppose would be Kenneth snaps his eyes to us, then to Darcy, brows furrowing deeper in confusion. "Your sis sent her over."

Relief flashes across his face and he sits back in his chair with a loud creak. "Ok, thank you, Landon."

Landon nods and leaves closing the door behind him. Then suddenly I am alone with Kenneth regreting not chickening out two minutes ago. A brooding sense I get out of him. We stare at each other for an awkward moment and I count the ticks of a clock hanging somewhere on a wall. He raises a dark eyebrow and looks me over expectantly but all I can look at is the red veins in his eyes and let my mind wonder.