RESTART

Disastrous lunch

Claire's p.o.v.

I find my way down to the lobby, to force myself to get something to eat and drink. I walk towards the bar and then I see him. My mouth is wide open in surprise and I rub my eyes to make sure I am not dreaming, or having a nightmare to be more exact. I turn around trying to escape from this man. What is he doing here? What sort of a sick karma is this?

"Hey stranger" I hear him say. Words that give more meaning to my misgiving premonition of what I was so wanting to get away from, not even really knowing what that was.

As he approaches, I fear of not being able to speak at all. This is quite stressful for me. I don't know how my wounded malfunctioning mind will react to this.

"Ok! Now I know you are stalking me! Should I call the police?" he asks me, in the most playful way possible.

I am relieved he is not still pissed at me.

"No, this is where I am staying" I reply awkwardly but relieved that any words came out of my mouth at all.

"Oh well if this isn't fate, I don't know what is. And you can speak again. That's great! I don't know why I got so upset over that, or to be honest I do. I thought you were faking it, but then your doctor told me that same thing when I asked her how you were, so I apologize for the way I reacted."

"I am glad we meet again" I say, surprising myself. "I think we were both given a second opportunity to act like normal rational people, instead of two unpolished savages.

"Not only she speaks, but she has a change of moods" he smirks.

"I ... I ..." and there it is again. I am out of words.

"Don't worry. As I already told you, that extremely rude doctor of yours explained that you were in some sort of shock and that's why you couldn't speak. I am glad you got over that. Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Can I please apologise to you over lunch? My business meeting here is over and I have some time, between things."

"Uhm... I ... I..." God, what's wrong with me? Answer you stupid, I think to myself. I gather my s**t together along with catching in a big breath and I finally open my mouth.

"I wanted to apologize, for putting you in all this trouble. I also remember you saying something about me costing you a lot and I don't want to waste any more of your time. I am extremely thankful and grateful for all you did and I feel much obliged towards your kindness. I know you were just frustrated rather than angry at me earlier, so I don't hold it against you. I really couldn't speak at that point and I was surely not doing it on purpose. So all I am trying to say is I am sorry for not expressing my gratitude for all your help earlier."

"Well, that won't do it! I will be very offended if you turned my offer down. You would think you at least owe me a lunch, after me saving you and all." And by saying that he is already walking towards the crowded hotel's dining room.

"I hate this. It's too packed. I don't like being around so many people, let's get out of here."

Much to my surprise, I am following him out of the hotel, towards that familiar car that almost run me over. The middle-aged man comes out of the driver's seat and opens the back door with a greeting smile.

"Thank you" I smile at him.

"I am only attending to my duties Miss."

"No, I mean about helping me with everything the other day and even buying me that suitcase."

"And again Miss. I was only doing my job, following my boss's orders. It's him you should be thanking really."

And once again I feel my cheeks turning red from embarrassment. I am sitting in the back seat of the car, opposite that man. Oh my God! I don't even know his name. My face is now beyond red and he notices. He was the one behind everything and I was fast to judge him for shouting at me, but it was all my fault that I couldn't use my stupid mouth and he had no idea of what was wrong with me. Of course he would think I was faking it, since he had already heard me talk.

"Is there something wrong?" he smiles.

"No, it's just that I don't even know your name. I forgot to ask" I say looking down.

"You were just too busy being rude to me" he jokes.

I manage to get a smile out and try to cool myself down before my face explodes from all that blood that was being pumped up there.

"Is that a smile?" He says, smiling in return, only looking more attractive than before.

Oh my! Why am I finding this man so handsome, all of a sadden? I look up and see that although he is still smiling, his emerald eyes are giving away that he is thinking of something more to what he is saying to me. And there I go again, trying to analyse everything that is hidden behind words. I guess being a psychiatrist doesn't wear off, although I haven't practised my profession in a long time.

"It's Alexander, by the way." he smiles now even wider as he projects his hand towards me.

"Claire, nice to meet you" I say reaching his hand for a long awkward handshake. I abruptly pull my hand away, scratching his, with my ring and I see him, just now noticing it.

"So, you are married then" he says rubbing his thumb in much annoyance, which I hope was caused by the pain of his now bleeding finger, because I know I didn't lead him into thinking of anything else. I didn't even want to come to this lunch. My stomach immediately turns to knot and I am frustrated with me being so sensitive.

I only left my engagement ring to my finger, to keep away any flirtatious attempts from anyone.

"Yes, I am married!" I say, sounding much more convincing to my surprise. I think I was mostly trying to convince myself rather than him.

"Oh..." he sneers looking away.

That can't be. He can't possibly be annoyed by that. I am panicking at the thought of his intentions and I wish I never got in that car with him. What was I thinking? Was he planning on making a move on me? I truly am going crazy and I am losing my better sense of judgement or any sort of logic, justifying my actions the past few days.

Alexander's p.o.v.

Fuck! Why didn't I notice earlier? This only complicates things. I was just thinking this was going so well moments ago. A husband! No, complicating things is not the case. Making them impossible is what best describes this.

"So, where is this husband of yours to pick you up every time you fall, while it seems that this is all you are doing lately?" I immediately regret my words and I give her an awkward looking smile to ease the tension I caused, being stupidly, extremely annoyed by this.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound as rude and nosy as it did. It was a bad attempt of me to be humorous".

"It's ok" she nods, but her body language shows otherwise. I threw away all the progress we were making, simply because I don't think, before saying the first thing that comes to my mind.

Why was I so annoyed by this? He is not here obviously, so this could still work.

As we walk in the restaurant, we are greeted like royals. They better, if they know what's good for them. I am practically sponsoring the place.

"I am way underdressed for this kind of restaurant and I have to admit, that this makes me uncomfortable. I don't even know why I agreed to this the first place and I would appreciate it if you would let me return to my hotel." And by hearing her, I know I f****d up big time.

"You were quick to forget that this is a way for us to apologise to each other for our behaviour. You have to give it a try." I pathetically say.

Why am I acting so out of it? Where have all my smooth, alluring moves gone? I was a well reputed bachelor, much known with my way with the 'ladies'. Ladies...the women that played a part in my life's drama series, couldn't be further away from the actual meaning of that word. Cheap relationships, that only led to the acknowledgment they were all after my money and status, as well as one-night stands, enough to last me a lifetime, had led me to swear, never to get emotionally involved with anyone.

"Please excuse my manners. I am having a difficult time lately, which keeps me from being myself."

"Am I in any way to blame for this...difficult time you seem to be having?" She asks, seeming honesty concerned and somewhat guilty.

"Well, you want the truth?" I say, grabbing myself the opportunity presented.

"Yes, of course" she rushes.

"Obviously it's not your fault, as you didn't hit your head in purpose, but you unwillingly got me in trouble." and I give her my puppy-eyes look, knowing the effect it has on women. I want to fill her brain with guilt and I feel ok with manipulating her like that, to get what I want.

"It surely isn't. I know that, but I am still grateful. You could have left me there to bleed to death and you didn't. Your choice obviously had a bad impact on you somehow, but it was your choice alone, so I won't feel guilty over it."

What? Really, she didn't fall for this? This is going to be harder than I thought. I shake my thoughts off my head and try my best moves on her. Even the slickest ones don't seem to make an impact. Is she really a woman?

I ask her about her husband, but I get the feeling there is more to it than what she tells me. He is to come later on, after ending some pending issues back home and follow her here, is what she said.

She doesn't speak much and it's a struggle to make a conversation with her, when I am mostly doing the talking. I was hoping by now she would offer her help at my disposal, as to make amends to what she's caused, even unwillingly, but she seems to have immunity to my usual charm.

I am intrigued by her and I am thinking this acquaintance could be very interesting under different circumstances. I catch myself staring at her full lips as she explains what were her plans, before she ended up in that hospital. She blamed the luck of food and sleep for her feeling so poorly, because she was so nervous and busy, during the moving preparation from England to America.  She was very attractive to the eyes I have to admit to myself. A slimmer figure to my likings, with a silky fair complexion, and beautiful yet tired looking blue eyes, with thick long eyelashes that didn't seem to be fake, like the ones I got used to seeing lately in every single woman. Her long, dark blond hair with short bangs, were very flattering to her face shape and although she was underweight, she was very voluptuous, breast and bottom, and that would redress for the luck of weight.

I am trying to find a way to say what I am actually here to say but she doesn't give me an opening, so I just speak my mind.

"Would you like to rectify for all the problems you filled my hands with?" The moment I ask, I am angry at not being more patient and not finding another way around this.

"What?" she asks in perplexity, in a rather hostile and annoyed manner.

"I didn't think I was obliged to you, for anything more than a sincere thank you and an apology for my somewhat strange to you, behaviour. Thank you for the lunch" is the last thing she says, before storming out the restaurant.

I quickly follow her out, after getting the bill, but only to see her getting in a cab and disappearing.

"Take me to her hotel" I tell my driver and I am thinking of a smooth way to fix this.

I am already standing in front of the hotel's entrance while she is only now, stepping out of that yellow car and I observe her face walking towards me and i can tell by the way those eyebrows are so close to one another, that she is not happy seeing me again.