I always thought that when he smiled like that there was a dark sinister side to him lurking just beneath the surface but then I always felt guilty for thinking so. I think it was because he had such strong angular features, like now, the way he got a crease in his cheek with that one sided grin. His high cheekbones and defined straight nose that others would have called ‘beak like’ if they had wanted to be cruel. But I just thought it suited the rest of his face. Yes it sometimes gave him an air of arrogance but I think that was just down to his upbringing in France and coming from a different culture.
“You look lovely.” He said reaching out for my hand as I took my last steps from the stairs.
“Thanks,” I replied softly. Frank cleared his throat and I mentally rolled my eyes before facing him with an amused smile.
“Will you need me to pick you up again tonight?” Frank asked and I grimaced at how it sounded. Okay so there had been that time when Alex was called in for an emergency meeting and Frank had to pick me up at the restaurant because it would have taken Alex too long to drop me back home. I knew Frank hadn’t been happy with his behaviour but I understood that work sometimes got in the way. I mean, he was just trying to build up his career, so why should dating me put a stop to that? Frank hadn’t seen it that way at all, which was why the next time it happened I had called RJ.
“She will be fine, Frank.” Alex said in a tone that clearly meant his patience was cracking and under Frank’s intimidating look I got why. Frank had his arms crossed and looked anything but friendly which I still wasn’t used to considering Frank was normally as friendly as they came. Needless to say Alex hadn’t been invited to dinner like Draven had.
“Come on Catherine, we have reservations.” Then Alex led me through the door with only enough time to grab my purse from Libby. She didn’t look too pleased and I didn’t know who it was aimed at this time, so I just mouthed the word ‘Men’ at her and rolled my eyes.
“Call me if you need me, Kazzy!” Frank shouted through the door and to try and lighten the mood I shouted back,
“Thanks dad!” Making him chuckle at my light hearted banter.
“Sorry about that.” I muttered as Alex opened the passenger side door for me.
“Forget about it, I am not concerned if he likes me or not, Catherine.” I didn’t really like the idea that Alex didn’t care what my family thought but I guess now wasn’t the time to discuss it.
“Oh I forgot my jacket.” I said before getting into his shiny new Porsche 911, which I knew had cost him over a hundred thousand dollars thanks to being told a few times. I don’t really know where he got his money from exactly as I doubted it was something he could afford on his salary…but what did I know.
“You won’t need it,” he replied and nodded for me to get in, which I did hoping the night wouldn’t turn chilly later. Well I suppose if we actually managed to make it through to dessert then it meant I wouldn’t be needing one, seeing as he would be able to drive me home this time.
We sat in what I hoped was comfortable silence for most of the drive and it was only when taking the freeway, as they say here, that I recognised we were headed into the city.
“So where are you taking me?” I asked trying to sound more excited than I actually felt. I didn’t really know why I had started to feel this way but if I had to venture a guess, I would say all answers began with a D.
“To this new place called One Eight Seven, my friend is a chef there so he got us the table, otherwise the waiting list is months.” My eyes widened and I started to play with my sleeves again, as I always seemed to do when nervous. I wasn’t great in posh situations and the waiting list told me exactly what type of place this would be.
“That sounds nice.” I said trying to sound more positive than I felt. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass him by doing something daft like dropping a prawn down my top or snorting in my soup.
The rest of the way there zoomed by like the cars on the opposite side and the closer we got, the more I wished I was zooming that way with them. I was still in this weird funk until I jumped when the door was opened for me. Alex stood there holding out his hand and I got out of the car to see the imposing modern building and its stylish logo. It was the word ‘One’ and ‘Seven’ with the number eight slanted between them. The building was all frosted glass windows that produced a warm glow behind them from what I guessed was the ambient lighting.
I was all for romance and everything but I was one of those people who liked to see what I was actually eating. Okay, now I just sounded like I was picking and bitching for no good reason.