Chapter-14🌜 I hate you!
Zane's POV
I see how the man sitting in front of me is looking at me. He is eyeing me up, as if he thinks I will kill him by ordering crabs.
I will be that petty and poison my future husband.
Well...news for my future hubby, there's still a gun under the table, I mentally shrug.
So you see, usually I am a patient man, but I have just met this man twice now. And I am done.
Like my mom said, his anger is valid. But no. It's not fair of him to treat me like shit.
But then there would be another part of me which would see things from his point of view-if I was getting married to a man with such a reputation-I would be suspicious too...
Just then someone enters our cabin, which I assume is the waiter. He comes closer to our table and then says, "Buonasera, signori." He looks at both of us, but mostly focuses on me.
"I am Luca, and I will be your waiter for the evening." He introduces himself in a professional manner.
See this is the speciality about my restaurant. Or even in my workplace, waiters and employees are not nameless workers-they introduce themselves and although it's kinda difficult, I try to remember the ones who work personally for me.
Because doing a job doesn't take your identity away.
"Have you decided your order?" He asks us. He has a notepad in his hand, which is most definitely to write down the orders.
"Yes, we have." I tell him politely. "Make everything for two."
I look at William, waiting for him to object. But he doesn't. In fact he's looking quite intrigued with the whole exchange.
So intrigued huh?
"Sure, sir." He says. "Would you please tell me the order then?"
"Yeah. For drinks, bring Chianti Classico, my usual." I don't need to tell him more than that.
And then look at William and ask him, "Unless you prefer white or some other wine?"
He blinks but then says, "No...this will work." He is looking hesitant and borderline startled.
Hmm, I will comment on this later...
"Sure sir." He says as he writes down the order, "What about antipasto?" He asks our starters preference.
"We'll go with Burrata with cherry tomatoes basil." And William's eyes can't widen more, because he looks like he's in some other world.
And we are foreign creatures.
Luca writes it down and then says, "Okay."
And then I say, "And then we would like to have Osso Buco." I tell him, and then towards William, "It's traditional Lamb Shank."
And he nods.
"And then for dessert, Tiramisu will be good." I tell the waiter, and he writes with practiced efficiency.
"Its a classic-"
"Oh I know that!" William interrupts me. "I love it..."
Oh so he likes tiramisu, noted. Although the type of guy he is, it's kinda surprising he is into sweets.
He doesn't strike me as someone who likes sweet things. 'Cus he is anything but sweet...
Spicy should be his favourite. He is the kind that burns instead of softens, I smirk.
"What?" He asks as if he's irritated. Just a single brow raised, as if he's challenging me.
"Nothing." I tell him and he groans and looks away.
I turn back to Luca.
"Make sure there's no shellfish." I tell the waiter with seriousness.
And he nods, "Will do so sir."
And that makes something change on William's expressions, he looks almost-guilty.
His eyes are now focussed on the abstract painting hanging on the cabin's wall.
But I can tell it's not the painting he's focused on. Something is going inside his mind.
Plus, it gives me an awesome view of his fucking sexy side profile.
And I swear to Cristo-it's to die for...
Like god damn, he's looking killer in that blood red suit. The perfect disaster that will kill you if you come close. And I'm like a moth attracted to the fire.
Ready to burn.
The sound of pen brushing back to back on a sheet stops and Luca asks, "Anything else, sir?"
And I clear my head, and turn to him. "No, that's all."
"Okay, I'll give it to our chefs, and your drinks will be there in a moment." He says and I nod at him as he turns back to leave.
I look at William, who's still focused on the painting, and I can't stop observing him.
Oh God...He told me very clearly that day, "I am straight."
And I know I should stop-but I can't.
"You like that painting?" I ask him, because he mentioned that day, that he's majoring in painting. So...
"I do..." He says, and this time his voice is not rude. It's not the kind of voice he uses for me... He sounds gentle, at peace as if he's admiring the work. Even vulnerable...
"The artist has done such a wonderful job. From a distance you will feel like it's just a painting of a tree, but when you stare at it-you will see it's a woman." He explains.
"This woman is connected to society, like a tree is connected to its roots. It shows the discrimination towards them..." He says, and now I finally get the courage to stop ogling his profile and glance at the painting in question.
And the way he explained it, the passion and resentment he has while mentioning discrimination. I guess his resentment is just for me, otherwise he sounds like a good man.
Although I don't see the description, because I am not the artistic-types. For me this looks like just a tree...
And that makes me feel kinda ashamed of my critical thinking.
But it's a beautiful tree though...
So I say, "It's gorgeous."
And this time he turns towards with enthusiasm, "I know right!"
This is not the way he has ever looked at me...
It's always disgust, anger and disinterest, but never this.
And the way I want it again...
Hmm, he's that passionate about this huh? Impressive.
"You are in your third year right?" I ask him.
"Yeah..." All the enthusiasm leaves from his face and he looks angry again. His mouth is pinched shut as if his lips are sealed with wax.
"So you must be done with your Fall semester by now?" I ask him, attempting to ask something of his liking.
"Yes, I submitted my final portfolio a week ago." He says as he looks down on his hands under the table.
I observe him and then ask, "Why do you look like your cat died?"
"Was it that bad?" I tease him.
"It. Was. Perfectly. Fine." He says with gritted teeth, his eyes burning holes in me.
"Hmm... then why are you sad?" I ponder.
He looks at me, as I have grown a second head, "As I said, I am perfectly fine. Astonishing even." He blurts out.
"You say so..." I remark.
"You bast-"
His-what I suppose was a lovely endearment-gets interrupted by Luca, "Pardon me, I apologize for interrupting, but I have the wine you ordered."
I nod at him to come inside, and he brings the tray closer, and opens the bottle of my all time fav, Castello di Monsanto, with a cork.
And the 'pop' sound of it opening fills the room.
He pours it in a small taster and gives it to me.
I take it from him then bring it closer to my mouth and taste it.
"Delicious, as always."
I look back at him and then, "Thank you. We'd actually prefer to pour for ourselves this evening so we can enjoy our conversation uninterrupted. You can just leave the bottle on the table." I tell him.
"Sure, sir." He nods at us and then turns to leave. The wine and the glasses set up on the table.
I pour it in a wine glass, the wine slowly flowing into the glass with a soft pour, and then offer it to him wordlessly.
He takes it and says an almost too-quiet "thank you" under his breath.
I shake my head, him and his stubbornness...
I pour myself a glass and then swirl it, my eyes still focused on him.
And he gulps down his wine timidly and then chokes out a, "stop looking at me like a predator you weirdo!"
"Aww is it making you nervous?" I question.
"It's not!" He drinks the whole glass down in one go.
'It sure is.' I smirk, but don't say it out loud.
"Don't drink it that fast, sip it slowly and enjoy the flavours." I tell him.
"Okay dad." He hiccups.
"Are you actually hiccupping in a single glass huh?" I ask with smugness. "Well that's what happens when you gulp it down like a madman."
"I am not" he hiccups, "hiccuping!"
"Yeah..." I trail, "You definitely aren't."
Teasing him is actually so fun.
"Liar-Liar pants on fire." I say childishly.
"You are twenty-four, grow up..." He groans.
"Aww, but it's so fun this way." I gush, and then shrug, "Also, age is just a number."
"You are so irritating, you know that?" He puts the glass down and crosses his arms.
"You are so stubborn, you know that?" I wink.
"Shut up! I am not!" See...still stubborn.
"Shut up! You are." I mimic him.
"I hate you!" He says it like a joke.
But it doesn't land like one.
That one stuck.
"Tell me something I don't know." I smirk.
A/N???
Well damn...
This was it for the chapter and the way their meeting still has ended...
Ahh...
I am milking heck out of that slow-burn...
Thoughts? ??
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