Chapter Four
Ah fuck. The doors nearly tore my dress. I looked behind me and was thankful that the train was already leaving. That was a horrendous ride. I didn’t have a car so the train and the bus were the only means I had of going around but this time… ugh! This time, the doors closed early and my dress got caught. I thought I was going to get dragged or something. Fortunately, the fabric slid out and I was fine.
I really liked this dress too. It was a really body-fitting, pink, sleeveless mini-dress and it paired well with the white sandals I had on. It was a little revealing, especially if I bent too low, so I had to take care or else someone might take a peek at my ass. I was wearing a black, lacy thong too but not to be slutty or anything, I just felt comfortable with them on.
The one thing I did make sure was to change in the mall’s public bathroom and not the one in the store. I didn’t want David to see me in this outfit or he’d get a free boner just looking at me.
From the station it was a brisk walk to the restaurant Giovanni said to meet at. I have never really been around this part of town since everything here was a little too expensive for my taste. Why would I spend $29 for a single dish when I could blow all that money on food, some clothes and still have enough for a movie ticket at the theater? Of course, Giovanni would be here since he could afford it.
He did say it would be his treat so I had nothing to lose, I guess. I just get the opportunity to meet the man that my loved one avoided all his life.
To my surprise, Blue Valley was a pretty low-key restaurant. It didn’t look super big and the entrance was just a narrow flight of stairs that led to this single, wooden door.
“Maybe it isn’t as fancy as I presumed it would be,” I told myself under a whisper as I began to climb up the staircase.
That fantasy quickly evaporated the moment I approached the door. An usher opened it for me and as soon as I stepped in I felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. The interiors were a completely different world compared to the drab building seen on the street Inside the restaurant was bathed in deep blue and roaming lights as if the entire area was one big lava lamp. All of the tables were in VIP coves and I could see the waitresses were all young, hot and wearing really short skirts. It almost made think this was a gentleman’s club and not a fine dining establishment.
“Hello, ma’am, your reservation please?” the usher asked. I turned to look at her. She was probably a year or two younger than I was and had on such a tight blouse it pretty much squeezing her tits out.
“Oh, uh Lily Hunter,” I answered. “It’s probably under Giovanni Ricci.”
The usher’s face quickly switched from a stereotypical I-need-to-be-nice smile to a pale gasp. She quickly nodded and gestured me into the restaurant.
“Right this way, ma’am. Mr. Ricci just arrived a few minutes ago, he’s already at your table waiting for you. Please, just this way.”
I followed her past some tables and she led me up to the third floor of the restaurant. Our table was at the very far corner and I noticed that the cove was significantly larger than any other. I guess Giovanni really didn’t settle for anything but the best. Who knows, maybe he even owned this place.
Giovanni stood up to greet me. He shook my hand, hugged me and gave me a soft peck on the cheek. With a hand he then gestured for me to sit beside him and so I did. The usher handed me a menu and left us to our privacy. I did see a buzzer on the table so we could call them whenever we were ready to order - that is, if Giovanni didn’t order already.
“Hey,” I greeted as soon as I got comfortable. Sitting less than two feet from him I could smell his cologne… it was intoxicating, distracting. It was so masculine. I wanted to just shut my eyes and let it wash over me.
“How are you? Wow, you’re absolutely stunning,” he told me. Now that I really got to listen to him, he did have a strong Italian-American accent but it just made him seem manlier than ever. It was a unique trait that even Matt didn’t have.
I took a sip of the free water they had on the table and then answered. “Oh, thank you. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to wear. As for all this craziness… I’m starting to feel better. It was a big shock when I got the news about Matt but ever since I buried my head into the funeral details and all that I’ve started to calm down. How about you?”
He turned a little to get a better look at me and said “Well, to be honest I’m a little indifferent. I didn’t get to know him so well. We last spoke when he was turning twenty-one and that was ages ago.”
That was interesting. So it’s been that long since Matt decided to distance himself. What about his mom? Why was Lorie such an asshole to everybody?
“Damn,” was all I could reply. “I get that, though. The last time me and Matt were together it was a little chaotic too.”
“You guys get into a fight or something?” Giovanni asked as he fingered through the menu. He gave a tired sigh. “You know, I own this place. The chef here is a good friend of mine. We did business before. Maybe I’ll just tell the waitress that I want the kitchen to surprise me with whatever they serve us. Eh?”
I liked that idea. “Sure! That sounds intriguing. As for me and Matt… well, no, not really. We didn’t get into a fight but he did lie to me that night. He picked me up from work, we drank a little at his place, he then drove me back home and I thought that was it. I thought he’d go home and he said he’d go home but instead he lied and spent time with our other friends drinking at their place. He was heading home from that house when he got into the accident.”
“Why would Matt lie to you?”
“I-I don’t know,” I admitted. God, thinking about Matt was making me buckle under. I could feel tears start to form in my eyes. I didn’t want to break down in front of Giovanni though. “It’s just… it makes this hollow feeling grow big inside me, you know? I wanted to know everything that was going on but before I could get any answers he’s taken away from me.”
Giovanni wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in. Oh God, that felt so good. Fuck social conventions and protocol. I shut my eyes and began to cry. I just buried my face in his chest and let him hold me so close.
“Hush now,” he told me. “Do not cry. Maybe eating here is not good idea. How about you come over to my place instead? We can have more privacy, you can talk and rant as much as you like and no one will care. I promise to take good care of you. You were important to my son so you are important to me.”
That was the most reassuring thing anyone ever told me ever since Matt died. I simply nodded and before I knew what was happening he led me up from the table and we went back down, out of the restaurant and to his car. He didn’t use the limousine this time and instead it was a sleek, two-seat muscle car and I gawked at it amidst my tears. Damn, this was amazing.
Boy, I had no idea this was just the beginning.