“Do you come here often?I like the interior of this place,” Xander said.
“My father loves it here.Most of the servers know me by name.Did you notice?”
“No, I didn’t,” Ares said.“Thank you for taking us here.It’s my first time.”
“I think I want my office done in these dark wood tones.What do you guys think?”
Ares discreetly checked his watch.He was taking Josie to Club Bandit tonight for the holiday party, and he wasn’t going to be late.
The restaurant, with its upholstered seats, long narrow windows that let in the twinkling Christmas lights from the outside, and hardwood floors felt like an exclusive space.
He frowned, seeing a waiter stride towards Cecilia with a full plate of food.He watched their exchange, tuning out Drustan’s chatter about his sister’s wedding.
This place, with its haute cuisine prices, was only available to those with deep pockets or who wanted to splurge on an occasion.He didn’t understand why Josie wanted to work here.It seemed stressful.
But he wanted to support Josie in whatever she wanted to do.He’d buy the place if it made her happy.
A waiter stopped by their table.“Do you need anything?”
“I want a slice of that cake with the layers,” Drustan said.
“One piece of mille feuille coming up, sir.What about you, gentlemen?”
“Nothing,” Xander said.
The waiter nodded and left the table
“You guys should live a little.”
“I live enough, thanks,” Xander said.
Drustan leaned back into the curved seat, cracked his knuckles.“I don’t know if you guys heard, but my father is in town with my brothers.He’s throwing an epic Christmas party.”
“We already have plans,” Xander said.
Drustan patted Xander’s arm.“No!That’s not what I was going to say.You are welcome to attend, of course, but you have to let me know by the end of the day.There is a chocolate fountain every year and the fleets of brandy are my favourite.”
“Your father is known for his entertainment.So was ours.”Xander leaned forward.The smirk on his face made Ares want to throttle him.
They never spoke about their father.Ever.Even to someone who knew about him.
“I think it’s a different form of entertainment,” Drustan said, his ruddy face suddenly drained of colour.
Ares’s father’s idea of entertainment was throwing bodies down the stairs and seeing if they would survive the fall.
The stairs were off a cliff with a twenty-metre drop into the sea.
Ares trampled down those thoughts, glancing to the kitchen.Cecilia was talking to a chef at the counter, deeply engaged.
When he said that he hadn’t eaten here before, that was true, but he was here three days ago, to meet Josie but she had to leave before he made it because there was a problem with an order that Avery couldn’t figure out.So, he gave Cecilia a wrapped parcel to pass on to Josie.
His mouth watered; he couldn’t wait to see her wear what he had gifted her tonight.
The server dropped off Drustan’s pastry, then left.
Drustan picked up the fork and cut the cake in half, before chewing loudly.
Ares checked the time again.He caught Xander’s eye and nodded, wanting to make his escape.Xander gave him a shrug.
