8 Chapter 7 : Le' Bernardine

It was the first time in her life has Alissa ever been in a three star Michelin restaurant. Le Bernardine. Jesus!

It looks more like an art gallery than a restaurant and the people around her was so well dressed that even a Ralph Lauren she wore don't feel enough to be in the midst of all these wealthy celebs and tycoons.

Her fingers was jittering against her nude colour purse and all she kept doing was breathin as deeply as she can. It was like she was having heart palpitation because even Gregory never brought her to this kind of place. They deal with basic partners, not billionaire.

She rolled her eyes as she remembers that she had married a billionaire as well. People in her office would be shock if they knew how her legal husband actually own most of the land, factories and businesses in Texas.

When the waiter done walking them to a gorgeous table with beautiful background , she walked in to find an old guy,  rounded form and thinning hair sitting with what looks like a beautiful lady, jet black hair and cut to her shoulder. A model most likely or his young secretary based on the tentative today.

He reminded her of Danny Devito. Taller and less funny. Creepy more like it.

His eyes was constantly resting on her body. Gazing from top to bottom as if Alissa was a dish herself. Ughh

Both Daniel and Alissa shakes hands with Mr Armand, Daniel future business partner. She was about to pull her chair when Daniel did it for her. She stare at him for a moment not knowing how to react. When he keeps on moving his head and stare at the chair, she smiled and sat on it. She felt embarassed for a moment. No man ever did that, not even Gregory.

"Its been so long since I've seen you Daniel. How's your old man? Still working his off?" Armand spoke while sipping his red wine. He seems to have a rather thick french accent.

When one of the waiters came to serve him food, he make a grunting sound and wave them away roughly, causing the waiters to practically ran from there out of fear. He must've been a big tipper.

"Dad is good. Working everyday but a bit slow now since the accident. You know him. He just don't like sitting at home most of the time. Always making himself busy.."

Alissa gasped silently hearing that and even her gaze was turned to face Daniel. He noticed her reaction but remain cool staring at Armand.

She was obviously shock. When did William had an accident? What the heck happen to him?

A voice whisper in Alissa's head to forget about the tyrant of a fellow after what he had done. But a part of her was concern about him just because he was Hope's grandfather. He was a decent guy before the incident. Though he had ignored her most of the time, he was harmless until Clarke happened. The one thing that had made her heart soften while talking about him was the fact that rather than ordered her to abort her baby, he lets her keep Hope while Dinah was adamant about having her grandchild.

"Ah..That crazy old man. You know, the more I look at you, you look more like your mother than him. Your brother, even though you are identical to him, he is all your father! What happen to that rebel?"

He was laughing so loud as if he had just made a joke and the table around them was staring at him.

"No clue. All I know is that he left the country goes to God knows where and haven't come back. If you ask me, it's good riddance that he had left. A bother more like it." He stressed on the last word

Why is he...

"A shame. My daughter Isabelle has been asking about him. Let him know that he is welcome to my house anytime." He turn to Alissa, glaring at her as he continues.

"He got charm that would've sweep you off of your feet. Unlike Daniel here all serious and studies, he was always lively. Always have girls around him and life of the party. Knew them since they were in high school, you see. I guarantee you that once you take a look at him, you're done for. Walton's charms always works. Unless..." He started chuckling to himself.

Her finger was curled over her thighs angrily. She could feel tears stinging her eyes. The fact that Armand was admiring her rapist as if he was some kind of a God made her boiling on the inside. Even worse, him inviting Clarke to go to his house and meet his daughter was...

Alissa was about to excused herself when Daniel got a hold on her wrist. She looked at him angrily. Shaking her hand light for him to let go but he remain unfazed. She didn't understand his action at first.

He just smiled looking at Armand but right underneath the table, he was keeping her calm by gently brushing his thumb along her wrist. Surprisingly, it actually made her feel a lot better. He seems to understand how the topic of his brother truly bothers her.

"So who's the beautiful lady you have bring for me today, Daniel? I've seen your old secretary, a chubby girl that day, what happen to her? You got bored or something?" Armand started laughing and snorted like a pig. Perfect description indeed.

Daniel just kept his cool and smiled but Alissa can see how much Daniel was becoming more annoyed with the man. "Laura was pregnant and she just gave birth a few weeks ago. This beautiful lady here is my new assistant, Miss Alissa Perez."

"Please to meet you, sir." Alissa nodded and Armand end up grinning at her which made her uncomfortable again.

"Alissa. Pretty name. Pretty girl too." He hiss her name like a snake she pretty sure he was.

"Can we start with the topic at hand? I got all the documents that you want." Daniel interupts his weird admiration of Alissa and Armand proceed to talk about that instead. Both exchange papers and discuss while Alissa keep jotting down important details regarding the discussion. Slowly calming her after the recent discussion.

"Lisa, where's the finance record I passed to you earlier?" Daniel asked while flipping through the documents Armand has referred too.

Alissa nodded and hand the file from her left side of the table  but when her hand was stretch towards Armand, his hand was gliding far back to her wrist and had brush down her finger with his long, dirty nails. It made her flinched and she quickly pulls her hand back.

The girl next to Armand had a furrowed brow and seeing how Armand just act casually after what he did, she stood up. When all eyes turn to her, she narrows her eyes towards Alissa and smiled.

"Alissa, am I right? Would you mind following me to the ladies room? It would make me feel better having someone to accompany me. It's my first time here."

Alissa shift her eyes towards Daniel for a while not knowing how to react but Armand beautiful companion spoke once more.

"It won't be long. I'm sure the men can take care of themselves just a little while we're gone."

She winked at Alissa while saying that. Alissa turn to Daniel who just smiled at her in response, urging her to go as well. Alissa nodded and follow her to the ladies room while leaving Daniel to handle the pervert all on his own.

He also noticed that Armand has his eyes all over Alissa's body, making Daniel curling his fingers tightly and dying to ram Armand's face with his fist.

"You seem to be distracted. Business is down here, not there." Daniel gritted out through his teeth as he poke his finger on the paper in between them roughly. Armand remains clueless at his expense and whistle. Chuckled as he spoke.

"You are one lucky boy, Daniel.  With an ass like that, she won't be leaving my bed anytime soon."

Something definitely broke inside of Daniel. "What did you say?"

Daniel raised his voice but still the dirty pervert continues to egged him on. "I mean just by looking at her. The things I would do to her. Christ, just make sure when you get bored of her, you'll pass her to me, Danny boy. Don't worry, I'll make sure there's enough for us to share once I'm done."

And with that note, all hell breaks lose.

...

As soon as they enter the fancy ladies room with gorgeous interiors, Alissa went to the sink and quickly twist the tap, letting the water wet her fingers and sprinkle the water droplets on her face. Trying not to spoil too much of her make up in the process.

She grabbed a layer of tissue from her purse and gently tap on the water droplets and a small part of her face that has sweat forming on it. Which is kind of a surprise seeing the damn restaurant was so cold for one to even sweat inside. The intense confrontation, in which she would prefer to call it that way, yearns to make her return home at that moment and be with her daughter. Definitely a better way to spend her night instead.

"Sorry about uncle Chris. Don't worry. You'll get used to it like I do."

What?

"He's your uncle?"

"Yeah. Mom side actually. I used to live in California but mom wanted me to go to New York and accompany him to learn a thing or two about the family business rather than spending my time partying every night in which if you asked me, it's normal when you're 19 and living."

She spoke while putting on another layer of her dark red lipstick. As if that wasn't enough already. She turns back to Alissa and smirk.

"I get why he's infatuated though. You're like really pretty, ya know? You're what? 18? Intern job?"

"21 and no, full time. Gregory Biel hired me while I was interning a year ago. Once I finish college, he hired me for full time."

"Wow, I can't believe you're that young. I know him. That ass. I bet he had fallen for that eyes of yours. They're gorgeous. He must've been impressed to keep you this long. He don't usually keep interns this long you know. Picky fella."

Alissa grin as she reminisce the moment she was studying for her mid term while waiting for her bus ride when Gregory who had missed a cab sat next to her and was watching her the whole time.

He had offered her an intern job when he see the books she was holding and took interest at how a college kid wearing a pink diner uniform was studying in the middle of the bus stop on a rainy day.

She wanted the job so badly seeing the huge amount of allowance she would receive. She then applied for the position the next day. The more time she end up spending with Gregory, the more he was smitten by her hardworking, first to arrive in office and helpful nature. His words, not hers.

At first, Gregory was curious about why she was working her ass off at that young age so he opens up to him about her past life, minus the whole rape thingy and her mother's death. She basically just told him how she got pregnant and force to leave and had to work so hard to provide for her child while doing part time studying.

With his connections, Gregory had helped her so much and help her to get a stable life for her daughter and her, plus letting her stay in his old apartment with a generous discount rental fee. Alissa had made it clear too that as much as she had appreciate his kindness, she couldn't date him due to her past and he was respectful about it. Never forceful. Always patient.

"He was my guardian angel. I came from a really bad situation. All on my own and a ba..I mean many things. So many hardship that I carried with me. Gregory... he helped me a lot and without him, I would be...nothing, I guess."

She smiled at Alissa. "That good huh?"

"An angel."

She stands closer to Alissa and held out her hand. "I'm Jessica. Jessica Willis. That old geezer niece."

"Nice meeting you, Jessica. I appreciate the help just now."

Jessica chuckled, "No worries about that. Something tells me we'll be good friends in the future. I like me a gorgeous survivor." She winked at Alissa making her blush.

When they left from the ladies room, Alissa froze from where she was standing when she realized that the whole dining room guest was staring at Daniel, marching towards her angrily and quickly pulls her away from there.

She tried walking as fast as she could, calling out to him to stop seeing everyone else was looking at them. It was so embarrassing!

However, Daniel ignored her pleas and walked faster. All Alissa could do was stare at Jessica and waved at her, saying goodbye.

Jessica nodded while smiling at the whole scene but when her eyes turns to her uncle, she covers her mouth. Laughing at the sight of Armand all wet with red wine wetting his head and his white suit. Not to mention, mushroom  and what look like slices of over priced meat is dangling on his head and plates on the table was turned upside down.

Welp! Alissa sure knows where that had went. He looked as pissed as Daniel, cursing at him in French and Alissa finally understands why.

"What the heck happen?"