Chapter 30: Dinner with Bennett

Bennett selected an elegant Italian restaurant for the two of them to enjoy dinner together. When they arrived, they were promptly escorted to a private room in the back. Where they were seated at a table for two. A double door separated them from any other restaurant guests.

They order a squid appetizer that Stella could barely pronounce, a bottle of red wine that the waiter had to dig through the cellar to find. Bennett suggested the chef prepare them something special for dinner, of his own choosing. Stella agreed.

“Dana told me you spoke today.” He started in at the top of their agenda for dinner.

No small talk from Mr. Orloff. He didn’t have that kind of time.

“Easy, big guy.” Stella said. “It’s a beautiful restaurant. Let’s wait for the wine to arrive before we get down to business, shall we?”

For the first time since she’d met him, Bennett actually looked flustered.

“Did I catch you off guard?” She asked.

“I thought you were mad at me.” He said.