Intentions
1880 Words
Lucian’s POV
I drove to a five-star restaurant. I was not sure if she had taken anything in for the day but i felt like taking her to somewhere serene yet discreet enough to not tell that we were plotting something. I had texted Angela to book us a reservation earlier on because I had the hope that she would want to listen to me.
“What are we doing here?” I heard her voice cut through my thoughts. We had gone through the fifteen-minute ride to this place in silence.
“To eat and discuss”
She stared at me funny as if I had suddenly developed two heads on my head.
“I am not hungry, you would have asked me first before bringing me here” her voice came out stone-cold, dripping with venom.
“Sorry ma’am, I will make sure to check in with you next time” I said in sarcasm.
“Whatever, let’s just get this done and over with” she rolled her eyes at me, strutting into the building while I walked behind her.
The security at the entrance tries to stop her from going in because she had no reservation, and then she turns around throwing daggers at me.
“Reservation for Lucian Drake” the man went through the electronic device he had in his hand making an annoying humming sound that I was sure was pissing Penelope the f**k out because of the way she stared at him in anger.
“Seen it” he looked at him with a smile, “you are table 14” and then he called a waiter to show us to our table.
“I did not know you were into fancy stuff like this” Penelope spoke up the moment we located our table “I would have worn my fanciest outfit today” she said, giving me a smug smile.
“Thought this is what you ladies liked” I said, surprising her.
“Oh really, so you made the reservation here because of me, then I must order something to eat, so your efforts won’t go to waste”. She leaned on the table staring deep into my eyes as if trying to get an expression off me, but I leaned back, calling the attention of the waiter.
“What are you having?” I asked her, giving her the menu to have a look through it.
“Seafood pasta”, her grim expression as she gave me back the menu
“Give me what she is having.”
“I knew it was you” I heard a sharp feminine voice from my side while the waiter took his leave.
“Sorry, do I know you?”
“Of course you can’t remember me” she said, with a glint in her eyes. I doubt we have ever crossed paths before. “I am Sandra, I do know you. We exchanged contacts a while back, but I misplaced it unfortunately, so I was hoping you would help me with your contact again, or I wait for you to finish your meal, then we take it from there” she smirked flirtatiously at me making me uncomfortable.
I don't even give ladies my contact, so I know she was lying about me giving her my contact.
I am used to ladies coming at me like this, but this is a different occasion. I am here with someone, so I was not expecting any of those ladies to show their claws when they see me with someone.
“I can’t, as you can see, I am here with my date.”
She turned around to look at Penelope, who had just been watching the scene in silence.
“Your face looks oddly familiar.”
“I don’t think we have come across each other before” Penelope said, her eyes deviating to the other tables in the restaurant.
It was then that I began to wonder why nobody had come to ask if the lady was disturbing us because she clearly was and the workers seemed to be minding their business.
“You are Victoria’s twin” her voice came out in a high pitch, attracting the attention of the other customers in the restaurant.
“You are the slutty one”. This time around, it felt like she was making an announcement to everyone in the restaurant.
“Can you leave already?” I said, trying to dissuade her from dropping any more remarks about Penelope.
“I mean no harm Lucian, I am just trying to confirm if she is truly the one”. I could see the glint of mischief in her eyes “just trying to confirm if the words going round are true.”
“What if they are true, what is it to you? How is that supposed to be any of your business?” Penelope said. I could tell that she was trying to keep calm and not let the lady get to her.
“Then I doubt that Mr Lucian here has heard about your escapades because I doubt that he would want to have anything to do with a slut like you.”
“Did Victoria send you here because the only thing I can see right now is her desperation all over you?”
I stared at Penelope. I might have missed something because why was she mentioning her sister even when she wasn’t there? Sandra stared at her in shock, her lips could no longer form useful words.
“Your business is everywhere, so I really do not need Victoria telling me anything about you”
I facepalmed myself internally, wondering how I got myself into a ladies fight. It seemed like neither of them were going to back down anytime soon. I would have just given her my contact when she asked for it, then I wouldn’t have to sit down here hearing them bicker like children.
“I am very sure Victoria told you so you could spread the news around like you always do” Penelope smirked at her knowingly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Again, I wonder why none of the workers were coming to our table to ask if we were being disturbed by the third wheel. Instead, everyone kept on stealing glances at us occasionally. Did Angela choose the wrong restaurant or did everyone just want to watch Penelope get mocked?
“I mean you are the city’s town crier. We literally do not need the news or the internet with you around because you would do a good job spreading the news around.”
“Is everything okay at this table? A lady in a suit approached our table.
“Finally, someone is here” I said, taking a deep breath.
“I am the manager here, and I noticed that your table has been causing some kind of chaos and disturbances, so I am here to know what the issue is.” I looked at the lady shocked, how can she tell me that she had not already detected the issue?
“This lady over here is the problem.”
“Ma’am, can you excuse them so they can have their meal in private” the manager said, but Sandra would not just get the hint.
“You will hear from me soon”, Sandra said, making Penelope chuckle.
“I guess I would not need an appointment for that, seeing that you are always available” Penelope said, causing Sandra, who was already walking away from our table, to stop right in her track.
“We will see…” Penelope cuts her off. “we will see nothing, Sandy sand” Sandra walks away without sparing us another look, and I was grateful for that because they probably would have started their argument all over again.
“I am so sorry for the inconvenience” the manager spoke up
“I have lost my appetite. I think we can have the conversation in your car or somewhere else”, Penelope spoke, looking at me dead in the eyes.
“What about the meal you ordered? It will be here shortly” the manager’s voice came out pleadingly, but Penelope was not having it.
“We are done waiting” I saw her trying to calm herself down. “I no longer feel the hunger, and I am sure my partner here too has lost his appetite”. She stared at me waiting for my response, but I just stared blankly at her. I was never hungry, I just wanted to take her to somewhere nice so she could clear her head, but my plan backfired, so here we are.
“I guess…”
“We could pack it up for you incase you want to have the meal at home..”
“There would be no need for that, ma’am” Penelope said, standing up from the table and heading straight to the exit. She left me behind without even looking back to see if I was following her or not.
When I got outside the restaurant, I saw her resting her body on the car.
“I guess the reviews were all lies.”
Penelope raised her head up from whatever she was looking at on the floor.
“I am…” she cut me off mid-sentence.
“It is not your fault” she rolled her eyes. “You didn’t know that someone with a loose mouth was going to interrupt our meal, so it is not your fault.”
She said, looking at everything else but me, I guess she had a lot going through her mind considering the fact that she had to walk out of the restaurant even before we got what we ordered.
“Yeah, but I still need to apologize.”
She just rolled her eyes and said nothing after. We stood there for some seconds before she finally raised her head up to look at me.
“Are we leaving or not?”
“Yeah, let me take you home.”
We didn't get to have the discussion that brought us out to this restaurant, but I can tell that now is not the right time, seeing that her mood got ruined inside the restaurant. She has had enough for today.
“Take me to your home” Penelope said, without breaking eye contact.
I was not shocked that she wanted to follow me home, but I’m rather surprised that she is doing well to show that she does not care about what is being said about her around town.
“Are you sure?” I asked, hoping she does not change her mind.
“You wanted to discuss something with me and we still haven’t had that discussion.”
********
“Why do you want to help me get revenge on my family?”
Penelope looks at me suspiciously
“Because they did you dirty, and they do not deserve you.”
I said, trying to convince myself that it was the only reason why I wanted to help her and not some sick ploy to see Wakefield’s family fall apart.
- Writer
