Chapter 20 Dinner
Mariko's POV
I was happy that I took the leap of kissing Maddie, her lips were so soft and I wanted more. At my meeting, I couldn't stop thinking about her...just one kiss and she was running through my veins like something so toxic, but in a good way. I had to try my best to pay attention in the meeting and not look like a fool who didn't have my sh^t together.
Now I'm standing outside of Le Barnardin, a luxurious little restaurant. I was pacing on the sidewalk with my hands in my pants pockets, it was getting dark. As the cars drove past, their headlights shining, I was expecting Maddie to show up. Have I scared her away? I haven't seen her after that kiss because my meeting went on late.
I took my phone out of my pants pocket and I checked the time. She was late. With a heavy sigh, I walked into the restaurant. I was hungry but I would wait for her as long as it took. I didn't want to call just yet because it was her choice to make if she wanted me. The host led me to a table in the center of the restaurant. I took a seat. It was a bit romantic but not too over the top, I didn't care about that.
I was scrolling through my phone instead as disappointment crept in. "Is this seat taken?" I looked up from my phone and the most beautiful woman that I had kissed just hours earlier, stood across from me at the table with a smile. Her hair was curled and pinned up, her lips red and she wore a red dress. Immediately, I smirked. It is always the red dresses.
"No," I said as I placed my phone on the table and I got up, rounded the table and I pulled the chair for her. I waited until she was seated comfortably, pushing the chair closer to the table, and then I went back to my seat. My smirk was still on my face and I felt like a teenage boy.
"I'm sorry that I'm late. I wanted to dress up," she smiled.
"You look beautiful," I replied. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, it was like I saw her in a different light than before. She was glowing.
"Thank you," she smiled.
"You scared me for a bit, but I'm glad that you came."
"I wouldn't miss this for anything," she replied, just as the waiter appeared.
"Here is the menu, anything to drink?" he asked.
"Your best red wine, please," I said as I took both menus from him and then he walked away.
I opened the menu, I was going to get something light to eat. "How is Bella?" I looked up at Maddie.
"She is good and safe. She is living with Amber's mother." I let out a sigh. "I was afraid of her becoming a danger to Bella. This scar," I held up my hand for her to see the scar on the palm of my hand before resting my arm on the table again, "She cut me with a knife accidently."
She gasped, "Was it that bad? I'm so sorry that you had to go through that," she said sympathetically.
"Well, I left immediately after that. She came by the office and signed the divorce papers. She wanted a kiss but threatened me too. I was basically forced to kiss her and attend the function with her. But now everyone will know about us because it became too much and Amber was too much for me. I was in a loveless marriage. What once was love just disappeared. She changed completely for the worst. I had to get out of it and take my daughter with me. I am in the process of getting an apartment and by this weekend, I am moving in." I gave her a weak smile.
"I'm really sorry. That is worse compared to what I have gone through," she said, her brows furrowed.
"You are referring to Ash," I stated and she nodded, the sadness in her eyes made my heart bleed for her.
"You don't need to tell me anything right now, but when you are ready. I can tell that he hurt you badly enough not to date men like me."
"Well, you are an exception because my feelings were so strong that it took over any doubt," she smiled.
The waiter placed our glasses of red wine on the table in front of us and we gave our orders. I was dying to know more about the situation with Maddie and Ash, but I had to be patient enough for her to open up to me when she was ready to. I am not going anywhere, so I will wait forever. I will not let her slip through my fingers and I will keep her close to me and protect her from anyone who is disrespectful towards her. One thing is for sure, I do not want to see Ash close to her again.
Maddie's POV
I wanted to look pretty for dinner, so I went to my apartment after work and I got ready. It took me a while to choose what to wear. At least those few dresses I had paid out of my pocket, even though I kept the dress that Ash had bought for me. I took it when I left him, I just didn't care.
I ordered a salad and Mariko ordered a chicken Alfredo. I was relieved that Mariko felt the same way about me. He is an amazing man and I hope that it stays that way. I know I shouldn't be looking for faults in anyone, but I'm careful yet happy that I am taking this chance with him.
"Ash was a nice guy, we started dating in high school. His family was wealthy, as you know, and I came from nothing. My mother worked hard to try to pay for my school and for us to have something to eat as well as a roof over our heads. I watched my mother struggle to make ends meet...for me," I looked at him and he swallowed what he chewed and paid full attention to me. He was intrigued now. "I never knew my father because my mother never wanted to open up about it, so I was kept in the dark. I didn't know that he was a wealthy man too, but now what I hear about him is that he is a bad man, obviously. Ash started treating me badly with his words, he called me a gold digger, knowing that I hardly came from anything. We loved each other, but that love faded from him when his father found out about my situation. He made it worse for Ash. His father wanted to give me a cheque so that I could stay away from Ash because I was not a good fit for him. I was good enough to be a maid in his eyes. He didn't want Ash to be buying me things but I never asked him for anything, he did it out of his own."
"What happened next?" he asked, his brows were now furrowed, our meals long forgotten.
"His father also called me a sl^t, gold digger and more names. He made sure that at every function that I attended with Ash that there was always a young woman whom he tried to pair up with Ash...all in front of me to make me feel like I was less than anything, to make me get the message and play with my head with all the negative words. I fought through all of that. That night at the function that we met, his dad had a young woman for him, Ash with his father that night, mingling with guests after you had left my side on the balcony. Ash was speaking to this woman of that night. His father started turning Ash against me, and because I loved him, I made the mistake of sticking by his side. I should've left early on before things got worse. Ash left me for her and I didn't know that they were seeing each other behind my back. She is wealthy too, I was broken beyond repair and everytime I thought I was good and I had forgotten all of the negative words that were thrown my way, those words came crashing back into my mind and I was broken all over again, and it ended up being to the point where I started to believe them. I tried so hard to get away from those thoughts and I did manage, but I am only human, so sometimes I do have those days when it hits me," I said.
"One thing that I want you to remember, is when you are with me, you will be treated with respect. Ash seems like he would do anything for his father. I don't like them too, but I put up with them at some functions where I might run into them. You are beautiful inside and out. I don't look at you as anything less. I look at you as more than that. You are one rare woman that I am happy to have in my life. I wish that I had met you sooner, but life always has its way of working things out either for the bad or the good. With all that has been going on in our lives, we are finding goodness and happiness that is long overdue," he smiled.
"I guess we can see where this takes us. I want to be loved for who I am, and I don't expect you to help me with anything, not even my work."
"I want to help you with your work because you need help. Another person would've complained but you never do. If I have to take you as my own assistant just so that you can have less work, then I will go to great lengths to do that. When you are with me, there is no negativity. Allow me to spoil you when I want to. I want to see you happy too. I will do everything in my power to see a smile on your face every day. It had been torture to try to control myself, I just wanted to be near you. Now, I have you and you won't get rid of me that easily."
Thunder rumbled and my heart beat fast and it started to rain. "You can expect the same in return," I smiled. I wanted to at least spoil him too, even if I had to work hard to do that despite him helping me. "I didn't think that it would rain this evening."
"Me neither," he said as someone stood beside us.
"Hi, dad. Enjoying a meal together?"
Bradley was looking between the two of us and I looked at Mariko, who leaned back in his chair, reaching for his glass of wine and took a sip. His gaze met mine for a brief moment. I hope that this won't be an issue, that Mariko and I are having dinner together because I turned Bradley down the last time so that he wouldn't take me out.