The Date (part 2)

Taleela's POV

"Good evening, ma'am," The chauffeur bows a bit as he acknowledges my presence. His right hand is on the car handle of the back seat and as soon as he opens the door, he gestures for me to go in, which I do.

I am overcome by the slight chilliness and rich air freshener floating in the car's atmosphere. The back seat is quite dark, except for the dim blue light flooding everywhere and making the seats covered in black leather look ultramarine.

The car is a BMW Z4 convertible. I am quite surprised because this isn't the kind of car to take someone out on a date. What happened to Limos?

Is Kal trying to show off his wealth and impress me? If he is doing that, he has already failed woefully.

The chauffeur gets into the car and shuts it with a thud. I hear the locks come in place and the Chauffeur twists the key that's seated on the ignition. The engine revs up and slowly, the chauffeur backs out of the lot before swerving into the street.

"Where am I being taken to?" I ask, leaning forward a bit so I can see the chauffeur's face properly.

"Poseidon Gourmet Restaurant. It's located in downtown Crete." The chauffeur replies. "My name is Niko, by the way."

I nod and lean back against my seat. My fingers instinctively wrap around my purse. "Thank you, Niko."

With a firm nod, he returns to watching the road. The drive is silent for a long time and I busy myself with looking out of the car through the double tinted windows that have repainted the environment into a darker shade.

The streets are already coming alight as the evening comes. People dressed from dinner gowns to really casual dressing are all over the street, entering into restaurants and bars. This evening seems to be eventful.

Sometimes, I forget how normal evenings look because for a few years now, all I've been doing every evening is stripping for people who only want to see your body and not you. This would be the first time in a long ass time I would be going out on a date..

With someone I met at the strip club.

I sigh. It all goes back to the strip club. No matter what.

I am jolted out of my thoughts when the car climbs over a hump and juggles my body. When I look out of the window to see where we are, I notice that we are in a secluded and quiet environment. Different from where we drove through.

This place seems to be reserved for the rich alone. The streets are sparkling clean with smooth roads that reflects sodium lights from the street poles above onto the whole arena.

We are driving through a road that is flanked with stone walls and inbuilt lights on it.

I must admit, this is a really beautiful place. The sun is already going down the horizon and it is giving this place a really beautiful view.

As we drive further down the road, I begin to notice nicely built restaurants. Niko turns into another road and that is when I notice the building that owns the walls we have been passing.

It's a very tall building, not tall enough to be labeled a skyscraper. The parking lot which has a chrome roof is almost filled with cars. Niko cranes his neck a bit to see what is before him properly. He is quite a short man with heavy build.

"There's a valet parking lot and our slot has been reserved. I'm having trouble finding where we are meant to pack." He informs.

I nod. "It's totally okay."

Niko later finds his spot and immediately drives into the marked area for just one car. He kills the engine and unlocks the car, stepping out immediately and coming around the car to open it for me before I step out of the car.

I smile at him in thanks. "Thanks, Niko."

Then he hands me a card, emerald green with markings that eliminates the card's smoothness. There's a writing in gold running across the card.

"That's the card you'd show to the receptionist. They always request for it." Niko explains.

I nod. "Alright. Thank you, again."

He tips his cap and bows again. "Have a nice evening, ma'am."

I turn and begin to walk away, towards the entrance of the restaurant.

Above, I can see the restaurant's name, written in a bold fonts. It reads Poseidon Gourmet Restaurant, the same name on the card.

I look back down on the card and make entrance into the restaurant.

I am surprised that I have never been to this place and as I make my way into the restaurant, I can already see customers seated in round tables, enjoying their meals and having small talk.

"Good evening, ma'am." A lady seated behind a counter smiles at me. I make a turn and walk to where she is seated. "Welcome to Poseidon Gourmet Restaurant, nice to have you here."

Aww, she's really nice. Beautiful also. This makes me want to patronize this place often. "Thank you."

"Can I see your card?" She requests, gesturing to the card in my hand. I hand it over to her and wait while she checks it and types in something into a computer. When she hands it over to me, she is smiling still. I take the card from her. "Reservations have been made. Show this card to the next person you see. He'll lead you to your reserved table."

"Alright."

There's a man dressed in the same color of the card I am holding, so I already believe that this color is kind of their code. I hand the card over to him and he checks it out before gesturing to me with his hand to follow after him.

I pass tables, already occupied by people. The room is large and spacious enough, but the occupants are minimal. I nod, impressed.

"Your table is in a secluded area. We made sure that the environment is serene and looking outwards to the sunset which is already going down, unfortunately. It's a beautiful scene, anyways. "

I nod. We take a few steps upwards and soon, we get to the so-called rooftop this man is talking about.

What catches my attention first is the soft music playing in the background. Then, the stone walls that has been built to look like a shed with raft roofing beams. Tiny neon lights are arranged impeccably and entwined around the wooden poles and stone columns.

"You can go to your table. It is at the far end of this space," The man says to me. "Enjoy your evening."

The area looks quite empty, save for the trees and other buildings. I take a step forward and go in the direction that the man has pointed out to me.

Wow. This place looks really beautiful, I must say. More like a romantic dinner setting.

Why would Kal set this up? I find it strange, but I shrug and try to ignore the weird feeling I have at the base of my stomach.

Someone is standing by the short, raised stone wall. Dressed in a white beach top and cream colored slacks. His hair and casual sandals are of the same color and his hands are in his pocket.

Before I get to the table reserved for us both, he turns and I stifle a gasp.

He looks really handsome… different from how he does when he is dressed in his suit. His hair looks fancier, brushed up in a tuft with the tips resting on the other side of his head.

"You look breathtaking as always, Bells."

I nod and smile quickly before setting my purse on the table and beside me. He has a calm demeanor on today. Different from the dangerous looks he gives on a normal day.

"Nice choice of restaurant." I mutter under my breath as he takes a seat, hoping he doesn't hear what I said.

"Yeah, I know," He replies. Cocky as usual. "This place is really nice and I have visited quite a few times. Great food and reception."

"Yeah, this place looks really nice and serene." I nod.

Two emerald green menu cards lay flat on the table and we both pick it up simultaneously. I open the card and check out the list of meals on their menu this evening.

My eyes scans through out the card and soon, I nod when I find something really cheap. This is what I'd be ordering tonight.

"There's no need for that. I just want you to check out their meals and see if you like it. I already placed an order for a meal we would both enjoy."

I frown in annoyance. Why the hell would he do that in my absence? I don't think I will take this from him.

He's subtly showing signs of control and I can not stand that. But, I'll play this with him smartly. There's no need to make a snarky comment and ruin the whole of tonight.

"Well, I want to decide for myself. I fancy this Italian sea food a lot and I would like to have it."

"You—"

I cut him short. "Yes, this would be the perfect meal."