The Dinner
Elijah opened the door to one of his sleek, shiny black cars. It was a model that she couldn’t quite identify but could tell was top of the line. It wouldn’t surprise her if he had each of his cars custom made, or at least personalized. He worked hard and liked to treat himself to the finer things in life.
The leather seats had a smooth design, it all screamed luxury. Jasmine hesitated for a moment, glancing at the car before sliding in with a soft sigh. It wasn’t like she didn’t appreciate nice things, but sometimes it felt a little overwhelming.
As soon as she was buckled, Elijah pushed the door until it clicked shut. He slid into the driver’s seat with an easy confidence, turning the over the ignition. The engine roared to life, a gentle thunder under their feet as they began to move.
Jasmine glanced out the window as he drove, watching the familiar sights of the city fade into the background. She noticed that instead of heading toward downtown and the usual lively areas, Elijah steered the car in the opposite direction. He raced toward the outskirts of town.
She raised an eyebrow as she turned to him.
“Where are we going?”, Jasmine asked. Curiosity sparking in her voice.
Elijah smiled. His tone a little mysterious but not in a way that felt cold or distant. “You’ll see. I wanted to take you to a place outside of the bubble you live in. There’s more to the world than just the city you live near. Most of it more beautiful.”
She looked back out the window, watching the familiar cityscape turn into rolling hills and open spaces. Jasmine had always felt a little trapped in the small bubble of her life. It was cozy, sure. Comfortable even, but she knew that there was so much more beyond it.
With graduation around the corner, she needed to consider where she would move. She needed to get away from the drama of the university and the danger that surrounded her. She was actually looking forward to going somewhere new, somewhere uncharted by her.
As they drove, the conversation was light and easy. Elijah talked about his latest business ventures, his plans for the future, and somehow managed to make it all sound more exciting than it had any right to be. She knew he had a life beyond protecting her, so it was nice to learn more about it.
Jasmine listened, intrigued by how effortless he made everything sound. She reciprocated the conversation by telling him about her thesis. She explained the reasoning behind why she wrote about his life, even though she didn’t need to defend herself.
He listened intently and could hear in her tone how proud she was that it was being published in a journal. They had never really talked about their dreams, their ambitions, but today, it felt different. It was like they were in a different world altogether, but together as one.
After what felt like a lifetime of open roads and endless skies, two hours had passed. The lights of a city were in view and the excitement of the evening had begun to increase. The reality of exploring a new city was just a conversation, it was happening.
“You can pick any restaurant in this area. I want you to choose.”, his tone sultry.
Jasmine glanced at him, uncertain for a moment. “Any restaurant?”
“Any restaurant.”, Elijah repeated. A soft smile tugging at his lips, “Anything you want, I want.”
She couldn’t quite process what he was offering. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate fine dining, but she didn’t live in a world where she could casually pick any restaurant she wanted. She’d always been a girl who went for what was affordable, what was practical.
Before meeting him, she was living paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes not being able to eat at all, but this was different. This was Elijah’s way of always making her feel like she was worthy of something extraordinary. That she deserved a life much bigger than what she had imagined.
After a few moments of contemplation, Jasmine’s eyes landed on a small and cozy Italian restaurant. It was nestled tightly between two stone buildings, radiating old-world charm. It had an elegance that didn’t scream for attention, but demanded it, nonetheless.
The sign outside had been badly weathered by time, read La Trattoria, and there was something about it that drew her in.
Elijah slowed the car as they approached the valet and Jasmine’s heart fluttered in her chest.
“That one. It looks... perfect.”, he said.
With a nod, Elijah parked the car and stepped out into the cool evening air before opening her door. His hand extended and she didn’t hesitate to grab it. He tossed the key to the valet attendant before grabbing Jasmine’s waist and guiding her toward the door.
The restaurant’s exterior seemed untouched by time, in the sense it was the kind of place you imagined might’ve existed in Italy decades ago. The air outside smelled like garlic and freshly baked bread. Jasmine took a deep breath, the scent already intoxicating.
As they entered, the atmosphere immediately enveloped them in a warm, intimate glow. The inside was rustic, with wood beams across the ceiling and vintage Italian posters adorning the walls. The dim lighting made the small tables covered in white linens look more romantic. Each table was set meticulously with delicate glassware, silver cutlery, and candles flickering softly.
Before Jasmine could say anything, the staff seemed to recognize Elijah. One of the waiters, a man in his late fifties, walked over with a knowing smile.
“Sir Daniels, it’s good to see you again. We’ve saved your usual table for you.”, he said.
Elijah nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to Jasmine. “Before you ask, no. I have never taken a woman here.”
Jasmine’s eyes widened as the waiter led them to a table in the back corner of the room. It was as if he had read her mind. She couldn’t really hold it against him though, she had a past too.
They stopped at a little secluded spot not far from the main area. It was farthest from the bathrooms, which was a sign of the place’s quiet elegance. Most restaurants would want the coveted spots to be near the center, but here, it was clear that the best seat was in the quietest, most intimate corner.
From the table, you could see the whole layout of the restaurant. Nothing could go unnoticed from here. The table was adorned with a crisp, black cloth, and as they sat down, Jasmine had a taste of the power that Elijah possessed.
“This is… amazing.”, she whispered. Her fingers lightly brushing the edge of the tablecloth. “I’ve never been to a place like this before.”
Elijah’s smile softened, and he pulled out a chair for her.
“You deserve the best, Jasmine. I’m proud of you. Your thesis, getting published, graduating… it’s all such a big achievement.”
She smiled, her chest swelling with warmth. “It’s been a long road. I’m not even sure if it’s hit me yet.”
As he sat down next to her, he gave her a look that was both proud and affectionate. “I know what you mean. It’ll all settle in soon. But for now…”, he paused. He glanced around the room, his eyes lighting up as they landed on the waiter returning with the menus. “Let’s enjoy the moment. This is just the beginning of your life, Jasmine.”
As the waiter left them to peruse the menu, Jasmine felt a sense of contentment settle over her. She never expected a night like this, after weeks of feeling dread. Instead of hating her, he took her to dinner in a charming Italian restaurant.
If he could, he would tuck her away from the world. Her thesis didn’t upset him because it was the truth. He knew that his family was twisted, they tried to force him into a life he didn’t want. Jasmine was his escape and if telling the whole world made her happy, he would let her.
This feeling made tonight special. He was going to ask her something that he had never asked another woman. He had never felt this way toward anyone else, but it felt right. It felt… perfect. She was perfect and he would vow to protect her at all costs. There was nothing she could do to make him feel otherwise.
For her, his warmth was something that always made her feel at ease. He made it a point to make her feel like she was part of something greater. He made her feel like she deserved something more than her quiet life back home, for just simply existing.
As the appetizer plates were cleared away, Jasmine took a deep breath and leaned in slightly.
"I've been thinking a lot about my future.", she started. Her voice a little softer than usual, "I want to use my degree to change the world. I want to help children, those who can't help themselves... who feel like they have no one."
Elijah listened intently. His eyes fixed on her as she spoke.
She continued, "I want to keep families together. Help find homes for siblings in the system... I really want to stay in the non-profit sector. That's where I feel like I can make the most impact."
Elijah smiled, impressed by her passion. "That sounds incredible, Jasmine. You’re going to do great things."
A pause settled between them and Elijah shifted in his seat. His thoughts beginning to turn inward. He had always wanted to be something more, to break free from the hold of his family and prove that he could stand on his own.
After a long silence, he spoke up.
"Well, I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about my own future, too. I’ve been wanting to escape the control of my family, to make my own name in the world.", he admitted.
She picked up on the shift in his usually controlled demeanor.
His voice betraying a hint of nervousness, "I’ve been investing in businesses like this one."
Jasmine's eyes widened, and she blinked in disbelief. "Wait... what do you mean?"
Elijah hesitated before revealing, “I own this restaurant.”
He watched as the realization settled in on her face as she sat back in her chair.
"You're... you're serious?", she asked.
He nodded, "I didn't want to bring it up, but it's been a part of what I’ve been building. I wanted to do something that was mine without anyone telling me what to do."
They continued to talk over the salad and entrée courses, their discussion shifting from their personal dreams to more general plans for their future. She gasped as dessert arrived.
It was a decadent slice of chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Elijah's heart pounded. He had been nervous about this moment all evening, unsure of how she would react, but he had to ask.
Drizzling a generous amount of chocolate syrup over the cake, he carefully arranged for the words, move in with me?, to be written on the edge of the plate.
Elijah held his breath, waiting for her response.
Jasmine stared at the plate, the words catching her by surprise. Her fork froze mid-air, and she was left speechless. She was struggling to process what she had just read.