The tapping of his fingers onto the desk must have gone on for quiet a while. It was close to lunch time and Leo didn't seem to notice the time.676Please respect copyright.PENANAPYlIerXYDl
676Please respect copyright.PENANAwcyVa3sT5t
A knock came at the door, and Leo didn't seem to hear it at first, til it became louder. He jerked in his seat and sat up like he had just woken up from a dream.676Please respect copyright.PENANARVjB5dTKV1
676Please respect copyright.PENANAdUkLUfQSM1
"Hello, Mr. McDonell?" came a female voice behind the door. "Are you in there?"
"Damn it," Leo muttered quietly to himself. "You can come in, Grace."676Please respect copyright.PENANALmsRa7yi9D
676Please respect copyright.PENANArX8Jn9VRxP
The door flew open and a young short lady with blonde hair, tied in a bun and glasses over her blue eyes, came into the room. She wore a white blouse with a black skirt and matching black high heeled shoes that made her look a bit taller. She had a blue file in her hand.676Please respect copyright.PENANAjjujv6MQDx
676Please respect copyright.PENANABJQUsdq3QX
"Yes, Grace, how may I help you?" Leo asked as he rubbed his eyes.676Please respect copyright.PENANA0WIn8I3XD5
676Please respect copyright.PENANAwUkRGVnlcK
"Were you asleep, sir?" Grace asked as she slowly approached his desk.676Please respect copyright.PENANA3umQvkKB3g
676Please respect copyright.PENANApkR35JF4h7
"No, not really." Leo looked around his desk as though he was looking for something, then he went on to look at Grace.676Please respect copyright.PENANAN3LvZiwcnR
676Please respect copyright.PENANAD1CIg4jtNk
"I was just asking because you weren't answering the door and your secretary assured me that you were still in your office."676Please respect copyright.PENANAxcn7Rm4mu7
676Please respect copyright.PENANAuTeCm3puqU
"Is she still at her desk?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAa3j8jjOHgg
676Please respect copyright.PENANAOt3K9O3D1V
"I saw her heading out for lunch." Grace looked carefully at Leo. "You do know what time it is, right?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAf5CAVeNJlU
676Please respect copyright.PENANAqlhwKsvXha
Leo tried not to look surprised as he stared at the silver round clock seated on his desk beside his computer. He completely lost track of time that he felt like muttering to himself of how much of an idiot he was.676Please respect copyright.PENANAUlYDwE12e3
676Please respect copyright.PENANA3Qqha9us1f
"I simply lost track of time," he humbly admitted as he looked back at Grace, trying to keep his cool. He sometimes lost his temper in front of his colleagues. But today, he felt like it wasn't necessary.676Please respect copyright.PENANAqaeSLtzGPi
676Please respect copyright.PENANAscdyP7uKxq
"You look tired. Are you okay?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAVQlAlnPx5Y
676Please respect copyright.PENANAvTgCF1OiLH
"I'm fine. Just had a few things on my mind, that's all."676Please respect copyright.PENANANBwticTLEX
676Please respect copyright.PENANAlmocPqnqG2
"You should go out for fresh air. It looks like you need it."676Please respect copyright.PENANAiBfZUYi621
676Please respect copyright.PENANAZhPc3uQjEq
Leo wanted to smile at the kind suggestion, but the thought of Angel working with him made his mind go dark and gloomy again.676Please respect copyright.PENANAL9t4i6Uifj
676Please respect copyright.PENANAXxRE9cUYe4
He soon stood up from his seat and Grace took a step back, thinking that she might have struck a nerve.676Please respect copyright.PENANAIMTPjCTcnk
676Please respect copyright.PENANApOwDDZklij
"I'll try," Leo said as he picked up his phone on the table. "Though going out for fresh air really isn't my cup of tea."676Please respect copyright.PENANAQogVmjo4HW
676Please respect copyright.PENANAA9sVtT8Oe2
Grace smiled at him as she relaxed. "You will enjoy it, sir. Before you go, your father isn't back yet and I needed him to sign this document."676Please respect copyright.PENANAPze27OPJaT
676Please respect copyright.PENANA9wbYw1yewP
"Huh?" Leo raised his eyebrow. "My father isn't back yet?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAt0Ce0Xbdpr
676Please respect copyright.PENANAg0s2CZDeu3
"No." Grace shook her head. "So, I called him and he told me to give it to you to sign it."676Please respect copyright.PENANANeB6yLw55n
676Please respect copyright.PENANAoI2HHlryno
Leo stretched out his hand and Grace, likewise, gave him the file. He quickly opened the file and skimmed through the document. After familiarising himself with it, he put the file on the table, took the pen and signed it. He straightened up and gave the file back to Grace.676Please respect copyright.PENANAopfZEUVDjt
676Please respect copyright.PENANAYuAg2ydC6F
"Thank you, sir," said Grace as she quickly walked out of the office, closing the door behind her.676Please respect copyright.PENANAP33Hg3CiL8
676Please respect copyright.PENANArEhl1XnCRm
Leo couldn't help but wonder how he's father had not yet returned to the office. It was so unlike him.676Please respect copyright.PENANAuabMp2bOXl
676Please respect copyright.PENANAXSVu3hARTT
With the phone in his other hand, Leo decided to call him. But before he could do so, the door flew open and Eric came into his office.676Please respect copyright.PENANA58rw18Pryd
676Please respect copyright.PENANAiUi7jxCHmv
"You should be knocking when you're coming here, Eric," said Leo as he looked up at his cousin.676Please respect copyright.PENANA9LSfg0Hd5Y
676Please respect copyright.PENANAqGK62Lyo67
"Sorry," said Eric apologetically. "I always knock on your door, it's just today is kind of-"676Please respect copyright.PENANAAdjFqDKfND
676Please respect copyright.PENANApakqfeJhgV
"-different?" Leo finished his sentence.676Please respect copyright.PENANArB5d90shV9
676Please respect copyright.PENANAk6xYEcBVRA
"Yep. So are you coming with me for lunch?" Eric asked.676Please respect copyright.PENANApKXLCquscJ
676Please respect copyright.PENANAdANJ0ZcHsM
"Nah, I think I'll skip lunch today."676Please respect copyright.PENANANkRbCI3DIJ
676Please respect copyright.PENANAh3a8m0hVzA
Eric raised an eyebrow at his cousin. "Are you sure?" he asked. "You seem to need it more than I do."676Please respect copyright.PENANAq0gqADHmGc
676Please respect copyright.PENANA6iykgHAS8t
"Why do you say that?"676Please respect copyright.PENANADHwJa78QSx
676Please respect copyright.PENANABYLkURfyk7
"Because you look famished. I just passed Grace in the hall and she said you looked sick or something."676Please respect copyright.PENANAr6JjikosUu
676Please respect copyright.PENANAarhil6grhv
Leo rubbed his forehead with his free hand. "I've been thinking a lot, that's why."676Please respect copyright.PENANAdQfzxKSfji
676Please respect copyright.PENANAPFxzzAqp9n
Eric's eyes lit up. "Wait..., is it because of Angel? You're still worried about her working here?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAiNsE32xl1f
676Please respect copyright.PENANArbPPCqlvLr
Leo shrugged his shoulders. "Well, what do you expect when you came here talking about her in the first place?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAXTXoSxSS7x
676Please respect copyright.PENANAzqJucZEcKH
Eric shook his head as he pinched his eyes with his index finger and thumb. "This is why I said you should go to a therapist. You can't hate someone who hasn't offended you."676Please respect copyright.PENANAPIkP10uNnK
676Please respect copyright.PENANAz6vsIyeGLi
"What are you saying? Of course she has."676Please respect copyright.PENANAYaLVr9nI2A
676Please respect copyright.PENANA17M5q57QuF
Eric folded his arms. "Okay, apart from the time when she attacked you at the club because you were making love to her sister, mention any other time when she did you wrong."676Please respect copyright.PENANAiX1bHx08sD
676Please respect copyright.PENANAb0mcJPRlIg
Leo looked at Eric with a murderous look. He didn't have to think of anything because he knew he had none. Eric always had a way of getting to him when he wanted to.676Please respect copyright.PENANABQynvSTlRN
676Please respect copyright.PENANA4YR19kiIiY
Leo ended up shaking his head admitting defeat and said, "fine. You win this time. But that doesn't mean she plots behind my back."676Please respect copyright.PENANAJGD73FZiyM
676Please respect copyright.PENANA9eHpxdYo7k
"You don't even have proof of that," said Eric as he started to chuckle. "You're just being paranoid."676Please respect copyright.PENANA02QSdsrltf
676Please respect copyright.PENANAi6Gqtw7tHU
Leo shook his head as he walked round his table. "I'm so done with you. Let's go. Arguing with you makes me hungry."676Please respect copyright.PENANAJCHAVCbWGp
676Please respect copyright.PENANAM3ipYKTyuO
Leo started to walk out of his office with Eric right behind him. When the two stepped out, Leo locked the door.676Please respect copyright.PENANAhbZOD1HgEv
676Please respect copyright.PENANAFXHAM2bJOc
"Since you really need to eat something," said Eric, "you can suggest where we can go for lunch."676Please respect copyright.PENANA2i915kz0cs
676Please respect copyright.PENANAa3sKto9FVh
"First let me make a call to my dad. Can you imagine that he hasn't shown up to the office?"676Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZUBsITBRs
676Please respect copyright.PENANAlto1uSrVm5
"Maybe he is still helping Carly out with her college transfer. You know how these things take time sometimes."676Please respect copyright.PENANALw3fPgkY08
676Please respect copyright.PENANA6060x6ZzNW
"Ya, but it's lunch time and he should have called me first if he was going to arrive late."676Please respect copyright.PENANAwYk9RUMnmK
676Please respect copyright.PENANAxvnIJcYF55
"He probably just forgot. You can give him a call as we head out of here. I'm starving."676Please respect copyright.PENANAOc6XzREbvr
676Please respect copyright.PENANAKWeH90zx0H
Leo would've said something over Eric's appetite, but he was too worried about his father to even care. The two made their way towards the elevator while Leo dialed his father's number on his phone and called. He put the phone to his ear as Eric reached the elevator first and pressed the button to summon it.676Please respect copyright.PENANABYM1AlMiQE
676Please respect copyright.PENANAVdihdx43w8
Mr. McDonell answered the call upon the first ring and Leo was relieved.676Please respect copyright.PENANANXH7NUVlqF
676Please respect copyright.PENANAUWupDwy5Qt
"Leo, hey," came his father's voice. "Is anything wrong at the office?"676Please respect copyright.PENANA4sdw63w0RJ
676Please respect copyright.PENANALJK25UHRdz
"No, nothing's wrong," Leo replied. The elevator doors in front of him flew open and Eric stepped in first with Leo following slowly behind him. "Grace told me that you weren't around and I thought of checking up on you."676Please respect copyright.PENANADvQBtskcJJ
676Please respect copyright.PENANAmjLDCNRs5n
"Oh, I'm fine, son. There is no need to worry."676Please respect copyright.PENANAlRlKKFVjcE
676Please respect copyright.PENANAiskP68Djhx
"Where are you anyway?" Eric pressed the button to the ground floor and the doors closed. They soon felt the elevator start to move.676Please respect copyright.PENANAKOtwADpdFt
676Please respect copyright.PENANAYqZBD7srop
"Oh..., me?" Mr. McDonell seemed surprised by the question. "I decided to go for a walk in Central park, that's all."676Please respect copyright.PENANAmlll3EffCL
676Please respect copyright.PENANAvHaA6Aq53Y
"I was worried when Grace told me you hadn't shown up to the office." Leo looked over at Eric who was staring at his own two feet.676Please respect copyright.PENANAFOdGrdyXjq
676Please respect copyright.PENANAdpKSOLVeeG
"You don't need to worry, son, I'm fine. Walking is good for me and I really need it today. I'll be back in the office as soon as lunch hour is over."676Please respect copyright.PENANAAfOw9UDLY5
676Please respect copyright.PENANABnN0WDjplV
"Okay, see you later, then." Leo cut the call.676Please respect copyright.PENANAtsxwd50i24
676Please respect copyright.PENANAbpRLmo2jcc
The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. Eric turned to look at Leo.676Please respect copyright.PENANAqJektgyx0W
676Please respect copyright.PENANAMSsSvyCGhg
"So, where is he?" Eric asked Leo as they both walked out of the elevator.676Please respect copyright.PENANAhwBjesMkzN
676Please respect copyright.PENANAvo27ZdV61U
"He's taking a walk in Central park," Leo asked as they passed a few people down in the lobby.676Please respect copyright.PENANADisBZ3ERFU
676Please respect copyright.PENANAXGgrl1TMNS
"Ah, you see. There was nothing to worry about."676Please respect copyright.PENANAPWW9awXXBo
676Please respect copyright.PENANARDvKc1TSg8
"Ya, there wasn't."676Please respect copyright.PENANALv1Ee8mfvL
676Please respect copyright.PENANA6lescBx70l
The two cousins stepped out through the large glass doors of the building, passing the doorman that stood guard.676Please respect copyright.PENANAP725hczYA9
676Please respect copyright.PENANAD1PyWXYVmo
"That reminds me," said Eric as they turned down the street on the sidewalk, "which restaurant are we going to?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAFcWj20Nwif
676Please respect copyright.PENANAlzVw5eCe6Y
"Can't we have junk food for a change?" Leo asked as he put his phone in the pocket and left his hand in it.676Please respect copyright.PENANA8PNOqJPAcB
676Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1fIoRQBzL
Eric looked at his cousin as they walked, careful enough not to bump into anyone coming in from the opposite direction and those in front of him who walked too slow. He looked surprised.676Please respect copyright.PENANA0jwdx5UALY
676Please respect copyright.PENANAVpGGK9IeB3
"Did you just say you want to eat junk food?" Eric asked. "Minutes ago, you said you weren't hungry."676Please respect copyright.PENANALKlAy5ZcxI
676Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8PLkGpAgT
"I've changed my mind. Am I on a diet so as not to eat junk?" Leo asked.676Please respect copyright.PENANAX7D6rP5czt
676Please respect copyright.PENANAX15NRAfFa7
"Not that I know of." They were soon near the traffic lights with many other civilians at the zebra crossing, waiting for the walk traffic light to turn on.676Please respect copyright.PENANAzufC9hz1wC
676Please respect copyright.PENANAMfztzOQiA0
"What's wrong with eating junk food, then?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAyQyy0pwYzq
676Please respect copyright.PENANAeGMYSnOH95
Eric thought about it for a second but he had to cross the road with Leo and the other pedestrians as soon as the traffic lights turned red for the cars to stop and the green walk sign turned on for the pedestrians. As soon as they reached the other side of the crossing and the cars that stopped were finally on the move behind them, Eric gave his reply:676Please respect copyright.PENANAIIicXdsTXO
676Please respect copyright.PENANAI5403zf0n0
"There's nothing wrong with it. I'm just worried that you might grow fat. Besides, the only reason why I'm concerned is because you like going to fancy restaurants and eating salads all the time."676Please respect copyright.PENANA7NU6gFz11W
676Please respect copyright.PENANAQPvdsgsfsw
"I know," said Leo as they passed by a coffee shop and the strong smell of coffee flew onto the street when a lady, opened the door to enter the cafe. "I don't know how to explain it, but I'm really in a mood for it right now."676Please respect copyright.PENANAxfv1tY28u3
676Please respect copyright.PENANAu76qkW6hQg
"Okay, if you say so. But if you gain a pound after this, don't blame me."676Please respect copyright.PENANA38YLpKS2rN
676Please respect copyright.PENANAVknK3Iqnhx
Leo turned to look at Eric, walking beside him. "Admit it, you want to eat junk food way more than I do."676Please respect copyright.PENANABZhQMqnJt4
676Please respect copyright.PENANA2bsQL3JVxi
"Mind you, I love junk. I'm just surprised you want to join in on the fun. And I know exactly where to go. There's this amazing place where they sell the best burgers."676Please respect copyright.PENANAm0ZLOAXgHm
676Please respect copyright.PENANAlZNWxPrgaS
"Great, let's go."676Please respect copyright.PENANAbuIJsnyUq4
676Please respect copyright.PENANAxRfiwF1lZj
***676Please respect copyright.PENANA8ohjIT7a7d
676Please respect copyright.PENANADuqoJWJUuq
"Comfortable?" Mark asked after Angel sat on the chair he had just pulled out for her.676Please respect copyright.PENANAkmv6DivOgK
676Please respect copyright.PENANA2qpSpAr9K1
"Yes, thank you," Angel replied as she smiled up at him.676Please respect copyright.PENANApiQUfmwNYj
676Please respect copyright.PENANA6OocaKayGr
"Good." Mark gave her a smile and he went to sit on the other side of the table.676Please respect copyright.PENANAIs2O0fd9aT
676Please respect copyright.PENANAnNb1XBwRI9
Angel went on ahead to look at her surrounding a little more. They were at an outdoor restaurant. As much as it was outdoors, the place was luxurious with the open roof above them filled with green creepers and tiny bulbs above them to make the scene around them look beautiful and a little intimate. The wooden tables were covered with white table cloths and above them were little bulbs in shape of candles with little green creepers and white flowers. Angel liked the way the restaurant made her feel. She felt like she was in a fairytale.676Please respect copyright.PENANAdawHA8wuik
676Please respect copyright.PENANAxGXk6FIAXr
"I see you like the place," Mark said, bringing her attention back to him.676Please respect copyright.PENANAPtbcMtuVBK
676Please respect copyright.PENANAoSUEsSdMNw
"Yes, it's really lovely," said Angel.676Please respect copyright.PENANAq8TlY5YoNd
676Please respect copyright.PENANAnItr1xYKwx
"We should order." Mark lifted the navy blue menu in front of him and opened it. "What would you like to have?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAfHh0O6UV2K
676Please respect copyright.PENANAtvqWUAu6Nf
Angel also took hold of the menu and looked at it. It had been a long time since she had visited a fancy restaurant that she forgot about some delicate cuisines that most exquisite restaurants liked to serve. She smiled to herself when she noticed one of the meals she enjoyed on the menu.676Please respect copyright.PENANAfj3LGsiQxi
676Please respect copyright.PENANAabpWEZJFXr
"What is it?" Mark asked as he looked up from his menu and noticed Angel smiling.676Please respect copyright.PENANAsnrtnVIGPD
676Please respect copyright.PENANAaGlXfN9Ws8
"Nothing," Angel replied, still smiling. "I realised I haven't had a ratatouille in like.., forever."676Please respect copyright.PENANA4ectfgaXkr
676Please respect copyright.PENANA9oi72Njvuh
"Looks like you know your french cuisines." Mark smiled charmingly at her.676Please respect copyright.PENANAK3C2xztCa9
676Please respect copyright.PENANAsXNJ9qB2rW
"There was a time when I was on a date and my boyfriend made me try it out. Goodness, it was magnificent."676Please respect copyright.PENANAVB9tVuNH3B
676Please respect copyright.PENANAYZxV6DvG8h
"You dated?" Mark looked surprised.676Please respect copyright.PENANArZhvXN727U
676Please respect copyright.PENANAOu44yZtJ2b
"Ya, but he wasn't the best of boyfriends," said Angel as she went back to looking at the menu. "The ratatouille can be a good starter. Just saying."676Please respect copyright.PENANAIH8iI9S0yN
676Please respect copyright.PENANATGbRzfLGs5
Mark continued to look at Angel and she didn't seem to notice. It was only moments later when she looked at him and caught him staring.676Please respect copyright.PENANA9K8xLg7CJs
676Please respect copyright.PENANATGwXH3NxK9
"What is it?" Angel asked.676Please respect copyright.PENANAlhvxYoSzVy
676Please respect copyright.PENANAllLShhnPcL
"Nothing," he said as he dropped his menu. "I wonder what the guy thought of letting you go."676Please respect copyright.PENANASYTgAjPCNq
676Please respect copyright.PENANAEgTT6npyBI
Angel raised an eyebrow at him as she put the menu back down on the table. "That was three years ago. I caught him cheating on me and so..., just like everything that stays in the past..., it's history."676Please respect copyright.PENANAIwScLaV8ws
676Please respect copyright.PENANASeEKst389x
"Well, I think he's a fool letting you go."676Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3bO0l6HAA
676Please respect copyright.PENANAyBXi3Sceh5
Angel looked up at the green creepers over her and the tiny bright lights. "He made a choice," she said. "Can't blame him. The girl he cheated on me with was very beautiful. I guess that's why."676Please respect copyright.PENANA1mOQiT45gS
676Please respect copyright.PENANAe6HHZrayMA
Mark drew out his hand and placed it above Angel's that was on the table. Angel looked at him.676Please respect copyright.PENANARqWgzqwC3v
676Please respect copyright.PENANApfWV8Rp8VK
"He was too blind to notice how beautiful you are," he said. "You look heavenly, like an angel."676Please respect copyright.PENANAyMwCqHw4By
676Please respect copyright.PENANAT9iVRCQTm8
Angel smiled. "Stop it," she said, her cheeks starting to heat up. "I know you're only saying that to try and make me feel better."676Please respect copyright.PENANAGdJbHWTbmq
676Please respect copyright.PENANAtEP1HO2UII
"Maybe. But I'm speaking the truth and you know it. I bet am not the first man to ever tell you that."676Please respect copyright.PENANAZQP4ecXgKB
676Please respect copyright.PENANAggG4cAaZtF
Angel shook her head. "No, you aren't."676Please respect copyright.PENANAPgoiWkZH0L
676Please respect copyright.PENANA2Z34dHh9o8
Mark withdrew his hand. "Let's not talk about him." He lifted his hand to catch the attention of a waiter nearby. A lean blonde young man came to the table all dressed in a black shirt, a black pair of trousers, with matching black shoes and a black half apron round his waist.676Please respect copyright.PENANAw70K0phWyQ
676Please respect copyright.PENANAWUkHgznZSf
"Ready to take your order, sir?" the man asked politely with a gentle smile on his face.676Please respect copyright.PENANALUM3tzUnPk
676Please respect copyright.PENANAmMxikRLDXx
"Yes, please," said Mark as he looked up at the waiter and then he went on to look at Angel. "For a starter, we would like the ratatouille, please."676Please respect copyright.PENANAnfdY6a6bZ1
676Please respect copyright.PENANAww6ZG0rY8d
"Coming right up, and would you like a drink while you wait?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAdnEtKh4HTQ
676Please respect copyright.PENANAawL3xPkXGp
"Yes, a bottle of your finest wine."676Please respect copyright.PENANAJE4ZsDowf6
676Please respect copyright.PENANApPppdProID
"Of course," said the waiter as he smiled at both Mark and Angel before leaving them.676Please respect copyright.PENANArDb2w7oimK
676Please respect copyright.PENANAfyDVINdZ58
"We're having wine?" Angel asked with a questioning look on her face.676Please respect copyright.PENANANxlVzazOqx
676Please respect copyright.PENANATCyIC36UqK
"What is it?" Mark asked, this time his face grew a little worried. "Don't you take alcohol?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ4HNYWNWI
676Please respect copyright.PENANASOA2b8vSCF
"Well...," Angel playfully rolled her eyes up. "I can't say I take alcohol when I drink wine on special occasions." Her eyes flew back to Mark's face.676Please respect copyright.PENANAfvdza9bUpA
676Please respect copyright.PENANAEwcn6PgGz7
"Oh," Mark let out a little laugh as he leaned back on his chair. "For a minute there, I thought you didn't take alcohol at all."676Please respect copyright.PENANAt12BcUO8AZ
676Please respect copyright.PENANAniiHLhLkq2
"I like wine. I don't drink beer or whiskey.., those type of drinks."676Please respect copyright.PENANAoM3frNUXaR
676Please respect copyright.PENANAWbVoCyZx37
"Even scotch?"
"Even scotch." Angel said as she smiled.676Please respect copyright.PENANAYBTyD6Lbvk
676Please respect copyright.PENANAn6X6tP1JDR
"Women like you love wine."676Please respect copyright.PENANA1VcQO66fR1
676Please respect copyright.PENANAZen3OeCsj2
"Well, there are other women who love beers, scotch and whiskey...., champagne, maybe a little," Angel shrugged her shoulders.
"True. I'm glad I guessed that you're a wine drinker."676Please respect copyright.PENANA8fsFpUz2Hf
676Please respect copyright.PENANAs4oV3WOPaF
"Ha. Just now you thought I didn't even take wine."676Please respect copyright.PENANAQn2GeVsSZ5
676Please respect copyright.PENANAkFs442k1yW
"Because you caught me off guard with that question."676Please respect copyright.PENANAM4rL6gt6Mv
676Please respect copyright.PENANAW4h3pdcQGS
Angel let out a laugh but one that didn't attract people's attention in the restaurant.676Please respect copyright.PENANAXOJW3npnK0
676Please respect copyright.PENANA6lZ6JWAdY4
"Ya, I'm sorry about that," said Angel after she gathered her composure. "I just wanted to see your reaction."676Please respect copyright.PENANAcm84Ltnslj
676Please respect copyright.PENANA3maBjt52cK
Mark had an amused look on his face and he didn't notice how charmingly he smiled at Angel until the waiter came back pushing a serving tray. On it was a black champagne bucket with a bottle of wine in it with ice all around. Alongside the bucket were two wine glasses.676Please respect copyright.PENANAl96i7uRSVx
676Please respect copyright.PENANAbL2XiHKtqU
The waiter placed the two glasses in front of Mark and Angel, opened the bottle of wine and poured into the glasses. Afterwards, he placed the bottle back in the bucket, kindly excused himself and walked away.676Please respect copyright.PENANAc1ezZgbh8q
676Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6X5aCtwjx
"Shall we have a toast?" Mark suggested as he held his glass.676Please respect copyright.PENANAR57XkWpZbF
676Please respect copyright.PENANANEaZTEsWC1
"A toast to what?" Angel asked, her fingers around the stem of her glass.676Please respect copyright.PENANAokCUaBZIal
676Please respect copyright.PENANAgD0g26r5wA
"A toast for your health, that's one. And also, for you just being you."676Please respect copyright.PENANA0xEJuJxBhc
676Please respect copyright.PENANASeLFASK6Zt
Angel smiled. "I will toast to the first one most of all, and the other reason is quite reasonable...., so cheers."676Please respect copyright.PENANADrkVY8MQsI
676Please respect copyright.PENANAOScslwq08w
Their glasses clinked when they touched and they both drank.676Please respect copyright.PENANAMRocEboMch
676Please respect copyright.PENANAOH4ZYlpuS8
"This is really good," said Angel after she withdrew the brim of the glass from her lips.676Please respect copyright.PENANAhQkloJo8os
676Please respect copyright.PENANA4UT1Kmgirz
"That's why I ordered the best of the best," said Mark as he put his glass on the table.676Please respect copyright.PENANA1csnp3dBx0
676Please respect copyright.PENANA8zkKVwKE2x
"I might end up drinking the whole bottle. But that won't be so ladylike of me."676Please respect copyright.PENANAfylXLk4bkO
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"I should be worried." Mark raised his eyebrow at her. "Do you easily get drunk, Angel Barclay?"676Please respect copyright.PENANAGdiaGUzt2T
676Please respect copyright.PENANApcl9tId2w5
Angel took another sip of her wine. "If I have too much, then yes. I can get a little tipsy."676Please respect copyright.PENANAvB9ihV55b8
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"Then we can take it a little slow, shall we?"
"Slow is good."676Please respect copyright.PENANAlgL2p5eme7
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It didn't take long for their to starter arrive. And as they had their meal, they continued to chat unaware of how much they enjoyed each other's company. But they had more matters to discuss, and they both knew it.676Please respect copyright.PENANA0pQ10Z3SIk
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***676Please respect copyright.PENANAItLmShJdrX
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The white tulips in his hands smelled fresh and divine as he walked, his eyes focused ahead. The place around him was quiet except for a few words he heard aloud at a distance. As he walked, he turned to the voice and saw a group of people, almost all of them dressed in black, gathered together surrounding a white casket. The person speaking before them was a priest, all dressed in white and purple robes with the Holy Bible in his hands. Those closer to the casket, crying silently and holding tissues to their noses were obviously the family to the deceased.676Please respect copyright.PENANA2QGuq42KZe
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Death was a sad thing, especially if it happens to take a loved one away from you. But such was life. Death itself was inevitable and it was up to those alive and in the present to move on. Though it's hard for many others to do so.676Please respect copyright.PENANAciIPrujfgh
676Please respect copyright.PENANAuDqM7qsE5b
As he continued to walk away from the funeral procession and through the neatly arranged tombstones in the graveyard, he approached her grave. There stood a white marble tombstone that he had set up just a day after her burial. He was glad that his wife hadn't visited the graveyard with him. She would have been pissed to see such a magnificent tombstone and would have blamed him for wasting so much money on a dead person.676Please respect copyright.PENANApQEweX4f4q
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As he got closer, he stood there for a minute as he read her name in big black capital letters. He bended over to put the white tulips on the ground, next to the tombstone. After straightening up, he took a few steps back.676Please respect copyright.PENANAEQNxAIl5Vn
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He sighed as he smiled at the white tulips. If she were here, she would have smiled back at him, taken a sniff out of them and said thank you.676Please respect copyright.PENANAQ43DKS2WMx
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"God, how I've missed you," he muttered to the wind.