Tattooed on my heart

Mixing business with pleasure

Thalia’s POV -

Tommaso was just as handsome as the girls said, if it’s even possible, he was more handsome than described - he was tall, so much taller than me, even with my heels that, to be honest weren’t that high, I still wasn’t taller then his armpits.

His body was a masterpiece of muscles, his face, squared and strong, his eyes, Golden Brown, with the same golden speckles he had in his hair.

His face was serious, so serious, it was almost frightening to even try and make a joke .

We were out of the shop and I reached the sidewalk when his voice sounded from behind me “Do I need to bring the car?” I turned to him and said “No, it’s really just a couple of minutes and there’s never a parking spot near by it”.

He nodded and said “lead the way”, I tried to control the way I walked, when he was walking behind me in the shop, I think he hadn’t realised there was a mirror in front of us. I could definitely see him in the reflection staring at my ass.

When we turned the corner I pointed down the street “Here’s the place, not too far, right?”

He lowly huffed and said “Not at all, is it any good?” I nodded strongly “one of the best cocktail bars around and good quality food too”, he nodded approvingly and said “Great I could use something to eat, I’m starved”

I was a bit confused he seemed so easy going all of a sudden, I laughed lightly at that “to be honest? Same.”

We headed into the bar, I waved hello at Chiara, she usually served the section where I

liked sitting, she greeted me warmly “Thalia! Always good to see you, came to see how the ink healed?” I shook my head and laughed “You know me so well! My table?” I asked wincing, she smiled and winked “is actually free!” .

I fist pumped in the air “in that case, table for two please..” I said sweetly with a wide smile, which only then was the moment Chiara looked over to the door to see Tommaso, she had an impressed look in her face “follow me” she said, and so we did.

As we took our seats at the table Chiara placed the menus and and said “every time you bring someone here, they’re more good looking than the other!” I looked at her with a curious look and repeated her words “every time?”, Chiara realised what she said, she opened her eyes widely “no! Nonono all I meant is I’m sorry it didn’t work out with the beautiful girl you brought here before but your date seems hot!”.

I shook my head at her “I understand, thank you for that. But yeah, this is business not a date”.

She looked at Tommaso curious now, he looked back at me then at her “we came to discuss my next tatto, I understand you already have one done by her.”

Chiara lit up, she pulled her pants down on her right side exposing a big colourful flower in blue and purple, it had lots of petals and green leaves, butterflies around it seeming like they’re sitting on top of her skin, Tommaso looked impressed “I’ve seen it on i********:, looks better up close”, Chiara was too happy “Thank you!!!” She exclaimed as she pulled her pants up “I’ll give you a moment with the menu..” she said sweetly and walked away.

Both me and Tommaso laughed when she left, I shook my head and said “Thank you..”, as he complimented my work a moment ago, he smiled and said “It’s the truth. My pleasure. So ummm what do you recommend?”

We took a moment to look over the menu, when Chiara came back we ordered some finger food and a couple of drinks and she winked at Tommaso before walking away.

“Play your cards right and you can take her home tonight” I jokingly said, he looked serious and said “I’m not interested” with confidence, “but speaking of, I wanted to ask you something..” I looked him in the eyes “go ahead”.

He restarted “today on the live you said if someone wanted to know if you’re single they should ask you face to face. I hear it didn’t work out with the girl you brought here before, does that mean you’re available?”

I nodded yes, always maintaining eye contact, he continued “so it bags another question, do I own the wrong parts to ask you on an actual date?” I shook my head no, a smirk appeared on his face, Chiara came back with our food and drinks, she placed it all but we never broke eye contact.

As soon as she walked away I said “you know you didn’t have to ask for a tattoo if all you wanted was a date?”.

Tommaso’s POV -

All this eye contact was pushing me to an edge, she radiated confidence.

Then she spoke as the waitress left, her thinking I’d be interested in that young, loud ignorant girl, I could see that she was unintelligent from a mile away.

“Do I give the impression of a man who gets a tattoo just for a date?”

Her lips curved up slightly “you wouldn’t be the first man to break character”

I squinted a bit and said “Are all these questions meant to prevent me from asking you for said date?”

She now laughed “Business first than, the rest could be asked later.”

I nodded in agreement, I took the cocktail glass in my hand and offered a toast “Salute” I said, she clinked her glass to mine “Salute” she said back.

She sipped and licked her lips “So tell me, some elements you like?”

I sipped again and stared back “well I love the flowers you design, I’d love it to be a symmetrical floral piece, maybe with dark colours? And something in the middle?”

She looked too happy at that “we can go for bordeaux, reds and some peach, yellow middles to compliment the scheme.. light green, vibrant leaves so they break the darkness?” She pulled out a sketch book and a pencil case she started doodling with excitement, a piece of paper fell out it was a strange looking thing kind of like a Russian nesting doll but with a strange face, an eye was missing to it.

She realised I picked it up and reached her hand to grab it “Oops, thanks for grabbing it”

I nodded and asked “and what is it, if I may ask?”, a shocked expression on her face “never seen one?”, I shook my head “Well it’s called a Daruma doll. it’s a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll, they are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck”.

I was fascinated by it “have you not finished it? It seems one of the eyes is missing”

She chuckled softly “No, I’ll explain - when a Japanese prepares to make a wish, he is apt to buy a one-eyed doll” I lifted an eyebrow “A wish? What kind of wish?”

A soft smile “Any kind, success, money, fame, love..” I nodded “and the eye?”

She looked me in the eyes again, finishing the rest of her cocktail “well, when and if his wish is fulfilled, he completes the Daruma's missing eye as a symbol of gratitude for otherworldly intervention.”

Well, it seems I now have a wish, I looked at her and said “I guess we found our center for the piece”.

Her smile grew wider on her face, the waitress came “Chiara was it?” She nodded and excitedly said “Yes!”, I still was looking at Thalia so I looked at her, I gave her my card “do me a favour, as long as we’re sitting here, keep the cocktails coming, barmen’s choice”.

Her eyes widened, she nodded a firm yes.

Thalia looked at me as Chiara walked away “I didn’t think we’d stay here long, but I still have some questions so we can continue this, I’ll go freshen up and change, I hope you don’t mind the wait”.

I smiled softly “I’ll be here when you’re back”.

You know what they say? Good things come to those who wait.