A Little Closer

That night Adam took her to a nearby Italian restaurant. When they got inside Elle ordered quickly, barely looking at the menu. Thing's had been so busy at Tae that she hadn't eaten well in the past week. Elle was eager to eat a nice hot meal for once. When the food came she dove in.

"Eat slowly." Adam chided. "You'll have an upset stomach later.

"I don't know how you do it." Elle said sympathetically. "MK must have hundreds of projects going on. Just this one nearly killed me, I have no idea how you manage so many."

"Well that's what capable marketing directors are for." Adam said with a smile. "Your father must be pleased with the results."

"I'm sure he will be."

"He doesn't know yet?" Adam asked with a frown.

"I'm not sure. I haven't seen him much over the past week or two. I didn't see him at all today." Elle said casually.

"Are things not well between you two?" Adam asked before suddenly remembering himself. "Never mind, you don't need to answer. It's none of my business."

"It's okay." Elle said with a smile. "We're not estranged; things are just a bit complicated right now. You see he was always strict with me, and we would fight from time to time, but I didn't mind it when I was growing up. He was strict, but he was mine. I was the only one in the world who understood him. But then my mother passed away three years ago and my father suddenly remarried this year without telling me about it."

"You didn't know he was seeing someone?"

"I had no idea. I don't even know how they met. One day he just showed up at home with them, told me they had gotten married. He's just as strict as he always was but suddenly I mind it very much."

"You don't like your new family I take it."

"It's true that I don't like them, but I don't know them. I've barely spoken a word to any of them. They don't mistreat me, but they're strangers. Before I didn't mind the way my father treated me because I understood him. Now I see him being kind to strangers and I feel like I don't know him at all. Sometimes I can't help but wonder why…" Elle trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

"Why he's kind to them but not to you." Adam finished for her. Elle nodded.

"I'm so sorry. I should never have brought it up." Adam said sullenly.

"That's okay," She said swallowing the lump in her throat, "Tonight I'll forgive you. Tonight not even my father can ruin my good mood." Elle said with a reassuring grin.

Adam returned her smile with one of his own. "That's good. Smiling becomes you."

Elle nearly chocked on her wine when she heard his words. She looked up at him, but he acted normally and continued eating his food as if he hadn't just said something outrageous. Elle looked back down at her own plate, blushing furiously.

"What about you?" She asked.

"Hmm?"

"What is your family like."

"Painfully mundane. My mother is overbearing and my father treats the company like his first born."

"You're right, they're not nearly as exciting as mine." Elle teased.

While they enjoyed their meal they had no idea that a few tables away from them sat a group of friends that had recognized Adam. Elle and Adam were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice the flash of the camera either.