Proposal?

The notebook in Rose's hands held her full attention as she crossed the street. So much so that she didn't notice the man walking next to her until he leaned over to get her attention.

"What a lovely morning it is to be able to see you again. I take it that the last few days have treated you well?" Sadly, the woman would recognize that voice anywhere.

"I have no interest in talking to you. Go find someone else to entertain yourself with." She didn't bother looking up as she continued going over the notes. Lunch might've been right around the corner, but that didn't mean would stop though.

"There's really no one else that I would rather be around than you. In fact, I would be more than happy to take you to lunch. My treat of course." Rose stopped, lifting her head and fixing the nuisance with a look that could kill.

"You know that if you keep this up, I could have you arrested for violating U.S. Code § 2261A."

"Who would be daring enough to arrest someone such as myself? Ah right, you're probably thinking of your uncle?" Rose's expression further soured at this comment.

"Mafia boy, I really don't know what your deal is but you have no reason to be here. Yes, I am talking about my uncle. He would be more than thrilled to intervene if you keep bothering me."

"Mafia boy? Really now. You want to give away my identity though I've tried my best to hide it for your sake." Rose didn't look very impressed as she looked over the other's outfit. a plain t-shirt and sweats didn't seem like much of a disguise to her. Even the sunglasses that framed his eyes a little too well didn't hide much of his face.

"I don't think you're doing a very good job if you're trying to hide." Rose decided to keep walking before too many people started to pay attention. She didn't want to attract any kind of trouble that would prevent her from lunch. She needed food to get through the next few hours.

"Where are you going now? I haven't finished talking with you yet." Zane hurried to catch up with Rose who began to push through the crowded sidewalk.

"The conversation is done and over with. I don't have anything to say to you. I doubt you have anything interesting to say to me either." She waved her hand at the other only to find it grabbed.

"Thank you for the lifeline there. I would hate to lose such a tiny, delicate flower as yourself in this sea of people." The grin Zane flashed made her want to smack him. Did he not hear her the first time? She wanted nothing more than to get away from him.

"Can't you take a hint?" She ripped her hand away from him, barely stopping herself from slapping the man.

"Four kids, single-parent household. Father is in jail and getting ready to be unfairly prosecuted." The words were low but audible enough to stop Rose cold in her tracks.

"How-" She wanted to ask but Zane pressed a finger to his own lips.

"I don't think that right here would be the best place to talk. How about you let me take you to lunch now?" Rose's eyes narrowed. Leave it to a mafia man to be so sneaky. How did he even know about that?

Rose didn't get her answer right away even after Zane dragged her to a deli for lunch. She didn't believe the claim it would be better than anything she ever had before. How would that even be possible considering who she would be eating? The overly good mood seemed like some kind of red flag to her.

"You know that if you keep frowning like that, your face might get stuck." Zane didn't look up from the menu in front of him as he made this comment.

"How do you expect me to look after being accosted and taken away to eat lunch against my will?" She didn't bother hiding the bitterness in her tone as she spoke. No sense in hiding her level of displeasure at the situation.

"How about a little magic then to make you feel better while we wait to order our food and eat?" The young mafioso put down the menu to turn his attention back to the other.

"Isn't it a little tacky for someone like you?" Rose wouldn't admit, but a certain level of intrigue rose over a mafia man who somehow knew magic.

"Anything in the world can be tacky depending on whose doing it. You can determine yourself when I finish." Zane pulled out a match and matchbox from his pocket.

"I hope you don't mind for a moment." He watched her expression but didn't wait as struck the match against the box. The redheaded stick lit up almost instantly.

"You're really planning on smoking here? You'll end up ruining the food like that." If Zane sat closer to her, she would've snatched the things and not given them back. She couldn't stand people who smoked around food.

"Ah. It seems I forgot to grab my cigarette." At the same moment he blew the match out after realizing his mistake, a red rose suddenly appeared in its place. For a brief second, Rose's eyes widened. Zane on the other hand frowned.

"That somehow didn't work quite right. I must've forgotten it in my pocket." he managed to keep his poker face intact as put the flower back into his pocket not offering it to his companion.

"Ah, here it is. I think that you will find this much more to your like." The man somehow managed to pull a whole bouquet of marigolds out of his pocket or under the table. Either way, when did they get there or how did they even fit?

"Your expression says that you might be slightly impressed?" He held the flowers out to Rose as a triumphant smile passed across his face.

"It certainly was... interesting." She opted to not say anything else as she took the flowers. No reason to let the flowers go to waste even if she didn't like the man holding them.

"Now maybe that warmed you up a little bit to at least be willing to hear my proposal out?"

"Proposal? Why don't you answer my questions before we get that far?" The young mafioso shrugged.

"You can ask as many questions as you like. In the end, I don't think you will say no to what I have to offer."

Could this man get any more arrogant?