5 Invite For A Feast

{Author's pov}

"I'm Adam Brooke, his one and only friend and assistant." Adam introduced himself, Gianna smiled in response.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Brook." Gianna smiled again.

Xavier cleared his throat and spoke, "I'm Xavier Moretti, I apologize for the late introductions." Xavier said Gianna, shook her head in response, "Mr. Moretti no need to apologize, let me introduce myself properly too, I'm Gianna Allen, currently the owner of this coffee shop, I would like to thank you both genuinely for helping me today." Gianna smiled brightly.

"No don't thank us, and you can use the first names we don't mind," Adam said Gianna nodded her head yes.

"Oh! I forgot to ask, how did you come to know I was in trouble?" Gianna asked them and cocked her head in confusion. There was a moment of silence when Adam spoke up,

"We were in this area when bo-... I mean Xavier wanted to have coffee at your shop, so when we reached here, we heard your scream and came into action, after that you know." Gianna nodded her head.

"Oh speaking of coffee...look where are my manners, what would you guys like to have, I will make anything, take it as compensation." Gianna said and smiled again. Adam and Xavier looked at each other, not knowing what to answer.

"Hmm… would you guys like to have Turkish tea? It's not on the menu, but I have some tea bags, you would love it!" Gianna said with a smile.

"Turkish tea... I've never tried it before…" Adam whispered.

"It is called Çay in Turkey," Gianna said (Çay is pronounced as Chai), "Wait here, I'll bring tea in just five minutes." Gianna rushed towards the kitchen, with Charlie following her from behind.

Xavier's phone started ringing, and he picked up the call.

"Capo, questo è Rudolf. Abbiamo ricevuto un'altra lettera di minaccia da BJ." One of his mafia men spoke through the call in Italian. Xavier sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

[Translation: Boss, this is Rudolf. We got another threatening letter from BJ.]

"Aumenta la sicurezza, stai all'erta. Quando tornerò, mi prenderò cura personalmente di lui e dei suoi giochi." Xavier said and cancelled the call. Adam somewhat heard the conversation, so he knew they will have to get back to work as soon as possible.

[Translation: Increase security, stay alert. When I return, I will personally take care of him and his games.]

"The tea is ready!" Gianna said and came out of the kitchen with one tray and two brown paper bags. Gianna served the tea and kept those two bags on the table.

"What are these?" Xavier asked curiously.

"Oh, I made some cookies, here this one is for you and your little sister and this one is for you, Adam." Gianna pushed the bags at two sides.

"Thank you, but it wasn't necessary--" Adam was cut off by the telephone ringing sound.

"Oh, Amelia must be home," Gianna muttered as she picked up the telephone.

"Hello?"

"Anna!! What happened!? The neighbors said you were in danger!!" Amelia screamed loudly enough for the two men to listen clearly and Gianna to take the phone away from her ear. Gianna chuckled, "Silly, don't freak out, I'm alright, nothing happened to me." Gianna tried to assure Amelia and then canceled the call.

"This tea is wonderful!" Adam exclaimed. Gianna smiled and responded with a nod, "I told you, you'll enjoy it."

"Hm I also agree with Adam, this tea is aromatic and somehow soothes tension," Xavier claimed to which Adam silently and secretly gasped in his mind. He never compliments anyone or anything!! He is being weird! He is acting strange. Adam looked over at Gianna, who had a light shade of blush on her cheeks.

"T-Thank you... I-I can give you both all the Turkish tea bags, they are of no use for me. I don't drink teas that much..." Gianna said, playing with the hem of her dress like she was embarrassed about something. Adam noticed how Xavier's lips curved in a small smile, but when he noticed Adam's stare, he straightened himself, and his cold, emotionless expression returned like it was a curse that could never be broken.

"Sure, we would love that," Adam replied in place of Xavier. Adam thought this was the best timing to compensate for the broken glass of the door. "Gianna take this." Adam took out an envelope from his inner pocket in the suit and placed it in front of her. Gianna touched the envelope, and it was slightly thick, she struggled for a moment to open the envelope but when she finally did, she was shocked. She gasped and slightly pushed the envelope away from her hand.

"I-I can't take this!" Gianna said with complete seriousness shadowing her bright expression.

"You should accept it...as it was our fault that your door is now in this condition," Xavier said in a business-like tone, still Gianna shook her head and stood up, "You see...you already compensated me by treating my wound and helping me get rid of them, I just hope that they get appropriately punished by the cops." Gianna sighed and went into the kitchen. Xavier and Adam gave up and took the envelope back.

Xavier and Adam stood up to leave, but a voice stopped them.

Gianna came back with a small paper bag, "These tea bags. I thank you again for saving me today, and I hope you guys visit the shop again." Gianna said to which Xavier and Adam nodded but then remembered she can't see, so they said sure we will visit you again.

Xavier and Adam were about to leave when they noticed Brinley coming towards the store with Derek. Derek had a big scowl on his face, just like a small child whose ice cream has been snatched.

"Gianna!" Brinley called out to her. Gianna snapped her head towards the voice and said, "Brinley!... What are you doing here alone? It's not safe, you shouldn't walk alone during nights." Gianna said...she had this habit of scolding younger ones and correcting their mistakes. Derek cleared his throat annoyingly. He was annoyed as Brinley forced him to accompany her for shopping and dinner, and he got even more annoyed when Gianna didn't notice a charming guy like him and that too, ignoring him like he didn't even exist!

"Oh… you are with someone..." Gianna whispered she was embarrassed as she didn't notice the guy due to her disability.

"How rude of you, treating me like I am not even present here," Derek said with a groan and scoffed.

There was a long silence between them. Xavier gritted his teeth in anger because he was controlling himself from punching his stupid brother for acting like this.

"I... I will be right back." Gianna said and turned around in a hurry and rushed back in the shop. She switched off the lights, turned the tag on the window as 'Closed', took her cane, and at last took hold of the leash attached to Charlie's collar. She closed the main door which was not broken by them (as they broke the second glass door) and locked it before making sure it was firmly locked and went towards Xavier, Adam, Brinley, and Derek. They were observing her silently, and she could feel four pairs of eyes on her. Derek broke the silence with his apologetic voice,

"It didn't look like you were... I-I'm sorry I--" Derek was cut off by Gianna.

"It's okay, it was my fault for not noticing your presence and being blind, I don't blame you." Gianna smiled and suddenly touched a hand that was near her. Xavier was surprised for a moment.

"Is this Xavier?" Gianna asked, Xavier responded with a yes.

"I know I'm being crazy but thank you so much again for today...if possible...uhh can you guys join me and my little sister to dinner today… or perhaps on the weekend? I-I know I am being strange by inviting strangers to my home for dinner, but I would like to thank you guys properly." Gianna smiled brightly. Xavier was speechless, he somehow felt hard to decline her offer when she's smiling like an angel and requesting. Xavier opened his mouth but then closed it, Derek, Brinley, and Adam were staring at him, he was acting like a fish which was utterly hilarious.

Gianna cocked her head in confusion when she got silence in response, she cleared her throat and looked around, "Did they left? Are you guys here?"

"Oh! Oh, yeah sure! We would love to join you! I didn't know you had a little sister! I would like to meet her! So… how about this Saturday?" Brinley squealed in excitement and made plans herself, to which Gianna giggled and nodded her head in approval.

"Perfect. So I will take my leave, my sister must be worried. Take care on the way back." Gianna said, and walked towards her apartment before going inside, leaving the four people alone on the street.

"Let's go home, shall we?" Brinley said, to which Adam smiled and nodded. Derek and Xavier strolled quietly towards the car before sitting inside, they all left towards home.

~~~~

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