CHAPTER 3

CARL.

I was fifty percent sure she hadn't seen me.

I sat at the farthest table in the restaurant and asked the waiter not to tell her that I had arrived.

I also sent a bottle of beer with him and told her it was on the house. I watched with satisfaction as she drank it because I wanted to test her tastes. I only knew about wine and those energy-provoking her after several glasses. So, I decided to send her some of my beloved drink, not glistening or attached to her finesse and delicacy, I thought. Of course, I needed to know if she liked that kind of drink and if its effervescence suited her.

She didn't reject it, very well! Point for me.

I was pleased to learn that she had reserved the same table where I met her, I couldn't believe it at first. La Napolitana was an exclusive place, but not so much for booking reservations just for couples, unless for some special occasions. Her achievement was something new for me.

I continued watching her for a few minutes, even though I was quite far away. She there in front, and me at back, at deep of this place, somewhat hidden, I must confess.

"Fucking Carl!"

A man's voice jumped out and I closed my eyes for a moment.

I looked at that table and was surprised that I had not heard such an energetic greeting.

"Melendez," I said, standing up and shaking the hand of Melendez, who added a few pats on my arm as he eagerly raised and lowered his grip.

"How is your family? I saw your cousin in her bank a few days ago. I didn't know she was managing now.

"Right, she is." I smiled kindly. Meléndez was a guy in his late sixties, my exclient. "She's also about to get married," I informed him, "that promotion has been good for her."

"What good news! I'll tell Rosa to send a wedding present for her. Your cousin has always been kind to my company and to my wife."

"Well, if you send it like a surprise, I promise not to tell her." I laughed a little, and he did the same.

"What are you up to now, Carl?"

I could have answered him, but I didn't want any more talk. My main objective for the evening was waiting for me and I would be a fool to keep dragging out this.

"Meléndez, if you'll excuse me..."

"Oh, right, of course. Please, go on with your business." We shook hands again. "Visit me at the office. I already have someone to help with my accounts, a nephew of my wife, it's not a bad idea to give the boy a little scare with an inspection."

I smiled openly and shook my head at the ideas that my former client always structured.

I waited for him to walk to his table and I headed towards hers... but there was no one! The woman was nowhere to be seen, her chair was empty.

I froze.

And I almost regretted to proposing her a new encounter in that restaurant without even asking for a fucking phone number.

I began to feel accelerated. Scared.

Quickly, I glanced at the cash register, to the receptionist. The cashier used to fit little bills on a sharp object with a bunch of phone digits written on it, data she demanded from people when they canceled their card purchases. But I gritted my teeth when I remembered that I had paid for Olivia's drink. Damn it! Why the fuck did I ask the waiter to tell her that drink was on the house?

“Is something wrong with your table, sir?", the waiter asked.

"Where did she go?" I pointed urgently to the empty table in front of me.

And I think I spoke a little loudly because the poor guy raised his eyebrows.

"Sir, the young lady..."

"Carl? I'm here!"

I turned around ipso facto and I felt an invisible blow that knocked me to the floor; it was nothing more than the volatile effect of the relief falling on me.

I didn't notice if the waiter stayed a few more minutes or had left, I didn't notice anything else. There she was, straight and happy, with a slight grimace of eyebrows and lips in a half-smile. Her dark brown hair was loose, and her hands were clasped together holding her small purse, which matched in color with her mustard dress. Well made up, simple, and at the same time, bright. And I was sure that if I got close, some exquisite scent would drive me crazy, as it happened at the previous dinner.

"I thought you had left."

"I did... to the bathroom," she explained without the mere pretense of mockery, with that sweet, soft, and slightly husky tone of voice. Spectacular.

I just nodded and stuck my tongue in my gums. I pointed to his table with my head.

"Did you consume anything else? Did you order anything for dinner?" «If she tells me yes, I'll kill myself».

“No, just the beer you gave me."

I stopped.

I couldn't help smiling at her, I didn't expect that.

"The waiter didn't say anything, I guessed it", she said and shrugged her shoulders.

I stared at her for one second.

"Have you saw me?"

She shook her head and furrowed her eyebrows a little. Then I was back in limbo, stunned by her guess. However, I had to react.

"If you have all your things with you, we're leaving."

I took a step towards the exit after telling her that, but she stopped me.

"No. I want to have dinner."

«Fuck. She wants dinner».

A single chuckle escaped by my thought because to please her I would resign myself to waiting.

I swear, I wasn't hungry for food, but like the gentleman I learned to be, I made my way to the table, pulled out the chair for her and after a ‘thank you’ from her mouth, sat down on the other side of the tablecloth full of plates and glasses, objects that seemed to glow with the interest of something curious.