29

The car ride was one filled with utter silence.

I mean, not complete silence, as the only voice to be heard was the voice of Diego, while he went on about one tale or the other.

He would turn to me, beholding the smile I managed to keep on my face, and then fix his eyes back on the road.

Pulling up to a sparsely filled car park, he had taken out off the car, coming over to let the passenger's door open.

That grin he left my apartment still plastered on his lips, with eyes following my every movement, while I made way out the vehicle.

"You look beautiful, Jane" His voice remained low, with blue eyes peering on at my figure, threatening not to let go.

"Come on"

He had soon held his hands out.

"I made reservation for us" He called at once, and with that, he was already leading me in.

At each step we took forward, I could feel his hold on me tighten, with my hands locked in his, not daring to slip out.

"You deserve every bit of enjoyment, Jane"

I remembered those words Tara had mentioned, right before Diego and I made leave. She had made sure to wink at me, mouthing how hot the fellow who had shown up at our house was.

"Make the most of the night"

And mind you, I knew just what my friend referred to here.

There was no way on earth I was to engage with someone I barely knew a thing about.

I believe you're not one to talk, Jane. A voice in my head mocked me, threatening to have thoughts which I had managed to suppress, pull back out.

Okay, maybe I've done just that.

A few times, perhaps, still, despite how striking and gentlemanly Diego was found to be, I still was double-minded about the fellow.

Something inside of me just wasn't ready to open up to him.

"Welcome, Jane"

My eyes widened at the space I found myself in.

Chandeliers hung high from the ceilings, with a few number of figures to be found at glass tables, they made sure to maintain proper silence.

Or perhaps, it was the policy.

One never could understand the world of the luxurious.

"Do come in" An usher had helped me with my purse, leading the figures of Diego and I to an unoccupied table.

"Good day, ma'am"

"Good day, Sir" At every waiter bypassed, we were sure to receive a round of greetings accompanied with a low bow, like it was complementary.

What was this place?

"Do you like it?" The voice of Diego was poured my way, with eyes staring on at me while my gaze skimmed every bit of the area.

"It's beautiful"

Beautiful was merely an understatement.

The place was out-right Stunning!

Who knew such magnificence existed around?

A man had soon pulled up to us, holding out a long scroll which I believed was the menu.

Now, when I say it was a scroll that went all the way to his feet, housing God-knows-what on it, I'm not even trying to exaggerate here.

"What would you like to have, ma'am?"

He looked back at my questioning eyes, a wide smile held on lips, revealing a perfect set of teeth.

"Just wine would be perfect"

"White, red?"

"White wine, please"

"Just wine?" Diego had soon jumped in, his sitting up in the chair.

"Come on, Jane. Make yourself comfortable here"

"They've got seafood that's bound to have you salivating" He followed.

"And their soup— He took a pause, letting out a sigh— "It's everything, Jane"

"Just the wine will do"

I gave a weak smile, giving the waiter every cue to proceed away, packing with him, the trail of the scroll.

"So, Jane.....Tell me about yourself"

The man away was filled with much enthusiasm, eyes beholding mine.

"There's not much to know, really"

"O come on" He gave a low chuckle. "Every lady I've met says that, yet their life holds such discovery you never would have thought to find"

"Trust me, Diego. There's nothing much to know" I smiled at him.

"Why don't you tell me about yourself" I pushed forward, inching closer to be table, holding on to those eyes so well.

"What is it about you?" I followed.

"Well— He drawled, pushing even nearer to the table.

"I come from a long line of Spaniard magnates" He followed.

"Grandparents had found settlement here in the early seventies, and from nothing, they embarked on a journey to building their stand"

My ears perked at every of his utterance, my focus not diverting from his.

"I got into a lot of trouble while I was little" His grin had turned wider, hands reaching for the cup of water at the table.

I watched him gulp it at a go, and soon coming to face me.

"I once was caught toying with Father's car brakes, because he refused letting me go to the movies with my friends"

My jaw dropped at his foretelling, eyes searching through the ones before me.

"That was wild!"

"It was wild" He followed.

"Thank God I was caught just in time before the brakes were tampered with"

"Where are your parents, now?"

"Oh, they moved back to Spain, years ago" He let out.

"They are doing just well, Jane"

"Funny thing is, My mother is also called Jane" I watched the grin tug at his lips, while his eyes held onto mine.

"The neighbors in Brooklyn gave her the name" He followed.

"You remind me of her"

His hands had pushed forward, slowly brushing against mine. With eyes intent on me all the while, the silence that had pulled in between us, had me turning away, gaze at that instant, taking in the figure that had stepped in through the door.

My eyes froze at that profile, jaw dropping low in a second.