Being gazed at from afar wasnât the sort of thing that caught her attention, especially not when she was busy ordering. It was different when she was right in front of him though, asking for a bit of a compromise. She didnât want to be demanding and she easily could have moved somewhere else. She didnât see the issue in allowing a stranger in joining her on the regular. His words seemed to make it clear that the seat was already filled, the way he said it had her mentally trying to figure out what sort of vibe she got off him. She wanted to give everyone the benefit of doubt but he honestly could have verbalized that a little differently.
âWell actuallyâŚ,â she started to say but she seriously doubted he didnât know what this woman he meeting looked like. It wasnât practical. The fact he didnât seem happy told her that Marie-Claire was likely not some friend or lover. She could only assume that it was business. She literally came to this particular place every day and sheâd never seen him before. She wondered if the idea had been his or if it came from this Marie-Claire he was meeting. She shook her head deciding a joke probably wouldnât be in place right now. âIâm definitely not a DeSelano. Iâm Isabel Burns â usual occupant of this table.âÂ
She wasnât going to push it though so she set her bag on the table next to her, finally deciding to shove on her jacket. She let herself sit so she could wait for the staff to deliver her order. She smiled when she reached into her pocket and found her business cars. She leaned back in her seat and gingerly placed a card on her usual table for him. âYou give off question energy,â she told him after a long moment. âI could probably fix that for you but it might be too late for me to salvage your meeting. Not being on time is usually a bad sign.â
A hundred thoughts swarmed in the back of Mathiasâs head and one of those thoughts were, âWhat if this was Marie-Claire?â NO. It couldnât be, Mathias had done his research and the women he was meeting had a very wild reputation: married 5 times, run ins with the cop and a cat fight on a New York city runway. This women couldn't have been Marie-Claire, she was too young, right?Â
As two words left the blondes lips, two words insinuating what he speculated in his head, his left eyebrow was cocked again waiting for her to attempt to confirm his biggest fear. âWell actually...â âWell actually?â he repeated, his tone curious. He watched as she toyed with him a bit and finished her sentence with admitting she wasnât the women he was waiting for â a soft sigh of relief escaping his lips. One he hoped wasnât loud enough for her to notice. He shook his head as she introduced herself as the usual occupant of the table he sat in and nodded. âWell Iâm sorry to have completely demolished your day, but it is after all just a table and if I can be completely honest.â he leaned in cover his mouth on one side, âNot even the nicest one around.â he shrugged lightly a small chuckle escaping his lips as the bell rang againÂ
Quickly looking to the side of the blonde who stood before hi, there was a women who was clearly overly dressed for the location. Her hair was cut short and she looked like she was straight out of a 1930â˛s flapper girl film. âOh God.â he mumbled as she looked around and starred straight towards Mathias. âLooks like my dates here.â he said in a facetious tone. Every last word blondie was saying to him was going through one ear and out the other as his business meeting began walking closer and closer to the table. He looked at the card she slipped onto his table and quickly grabbed it, slipping it into his shirt pocket and nodding, âUh-huh, thanks.â
âDarling! Matthew is it really you, my how youâve grown.â the eccentric women shouted rushing over to hug Mathias. âMarie- we went over this, itâs Mathias not Matthew.â he softly corrected the older women trying his best to be polite as he stood up to hug her. âOh shush darling honestly, if I want you to be Matthew, youâre Matthew.â she laughed loudly a few stares being darted towards Mathias and his possible new business partner. âMatthew honey can you order me a scotch, tell them to fill it to the brim, one ice-cube.â a few hiccups left her mouth making Mathias realize Marie-Claire was already drunk and still had the nerve to request more alcohol. âMarie, this is a tea cafe, you told me to meet you here. There is no alcohol on the menu.â he explained as he held onto the arm of the women who looked like she could barely hold herself up.Â
âNo booze!â she shouted completely appalled. âMatthew why would you invite me here then, I am offended, this meeting will have to be postponed my dear boy.â and with that the women turned on her heals and walked out of the cafe slamming the cafe door behind her which caused the shops bell to fall off. âSo-So sorry, Iâll pay for that.â he apologized to the young girl who looked from the door to Mathias. âGreat.â he groaned slowly sliding himself into the seat across from where he originally sat.Â
