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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAxOv0jS9Z7X
478Please respect copyright.PENANAES8donE7oG
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAUYoRP2DBkO
478Please respect copyright.PENANAJFoujW7AIv
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAnivojHclkB
478Please respect copyright.PENANA4jgpAhYtzI
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZYiS4k0Sa
478Please respect copyright.PENANAuUCFud6rvc
"Yes, Grace, how may I help you?" Leo asked as he rubbed his eyes.478Please respect copyright.PENANAAxJKa4zPCp
478Please respect copyright.PENANAg61hHfkoAp
"Were you asleep, sir?" Grace asked as she slowly approached his desk.478Please respect copyright.PENANA2yKqbwy5cZ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAB9AHRzVkKR
"No, not really." Leo looked around his desk as though he was looking for something, then he went on to look at Grace.478Please respect copyright.PENANAyxzOC4UZXJ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAI1Ukz7Qerf
"I was just asking because you weren't answering the door and your secretary assured me that you were still in your office."478Please respect copyright.PENANAkEhPApmhZ1
478Please respect copyright.PENANAc8gUaf5J1E
"Is she still at her desk?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAHgS1GNtI66
478Please respect copyright.PENANAV5SUJPLn2A
"I saw her heading out for lunch." Grace looked carefully at Leo. "You do know what time it is, right?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAOG1TdBqcAe
478Please respect copyright.PENANAgWMdLfB50I
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3jzKwfv1v
478Please respect copyright.PENANAZjMaB4RnaW
"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.478Please respect copyright.PENANA2DUiTb5tc0
478Please respect copyright.PENANATmBmSuOuk2
"You look tired. Are you okay?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAL5QjyaR6mW
478Please respect copyright.PENANAZuYB1iDcnW
"I'm fine. Just had a few things on my mind, that's all."478Please respect copyright.PENANAFHYM8O4fLf
478Please respect copyright.PENANAllOFyLgi1l
"You should go out for fresh air. It looks like you need it."478Please respect copyright.PENANAuQw2gJsh47
478Please respect copyright.PENANA1CF40mszF5
Leo wanted to smile at the kind suggestion, but the thought of Angel working with him made his mind go dark and gloomy again.478Please respect copyright.PENANAesJZc4p03P
478Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6XKxs1dZ8
He soon stood up from his seat and Grace took a step back, thinking that she might have struck a nerve.478Please respect copyright.PENANAAOXRXDFhHI
478Please respect copyright.PENANAEFgoHBAUsh
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAUndShXt1Re
478Please respect copyright.PENANA9PpAgqWXy9
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAAEq4Y7nskV
478Please respect copyright.PENANA9i4vgYmx1b
"Huh?" Leo raised his eyebrow. "My father isn't back yet?"478Please respect copyright.PENANARgtf0oFPTI
478Please respect copyright.PENANAQZrbb138yl
"No." Grace shook her head. "So, I called him and he told me to give it to you to sign it."478Please respect copyright.PENANAw0NNLwcUAt
478Please respect copyright.PENANAgyfTOci1uH
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAwfowCxAAF7
478Please respect copyright.PENANAj5Qi6nBiq7
"Thank you, sir," said Grace as she quickly walked out of the office, closing the door behind her.478Please respect copyright.PENANA22lfwbNQsW
478Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4WVJ8GrGs
Leo couldn't help but wonder how he's father had not yet returned to the office. It was so unlike him.478Please respect copyright.PENANAXvT5nz2Nq5
478Please respect copyright.PENANAeGY66SILD4
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAoqxP66mZBw
478Please respect copyright.PENANA1XwzzbLxBL
"You should be knocking when you're coming here, Eric," said Leo as he looked up at his cousin.478Please respect copyright.PENANAokjuvSTZmQ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAU6XPjWCMzH
"Sorry," said Eric apologetically. "I always knock on your door, it's just today is kind of-"478Please respect copyright.PENANAITudNXV3Bc
478Please respect copyright.PENANANkP8fWU38Q
"-different?" Leo finished his sentence.478Please respect copyright.PENANAD2F3TDuA0V
478Please respect copyright.PENANA8XiyrVnTPO
"Yep. So are you coming with me for lunch?" Eric asked.478Please respect copyright.PENANAwERzhwKKbU
478Please respect copyright.PENANAUZKNIHUoGi
"Nah, I think I'll skip lunch today."478Please respect copyright.PENANARrxZMBB3qx
478Please respect copyright.PENANArFlIIBUXBM
Eric raised an eyebrow at his cousin. "Are you sure?" he asked. "You seem to need it more than I do."478Please respect copyright.PENANAkdy0LGwa1o
478Please respect copyright.PENANA4qmVov4zX6
"Why do you say that?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAgwkhZyAZJG
478Please respect copyright.PENANAfnxZR9WD7a
"Because you look famished. I just passed Grace in the hall and she said you looked sick or something."478Please respect copyright.PENANA0sG7lAyxWX
478Please respect copyright.PENANAWUK08rJUbh
Leo rubbed his forehead with his free hand. "I've been thinking a lot, that's why."478Please respect copyright.PENANAZuAjyGk6jP
478Please respect copyright.PENANA02aQYu6X4M
Eric's eyes lit up. "Wait..., is it because of Angel? You're still worried about her working here?"478Please respect copyright.PENANACQb6RXV0k6
478Please respect copyright.PENANAktTZ9fRrGu
Leo shrugged his shoulders. "Well, what do you expect when you came here talking about her in the first place?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAmZJO4D3hXz
478Please respect copyright.PENANAtamzS3CLem
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANA0kf1uGj6en
478Please respect copyright.PENANAbtPC0ldvo8
"What are you saying? Of course she has."478Please respect copyright.PENANAF7UTr2eRwP
478Please respect copyright.PENANAKYjTSDvDfF
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAN4JOgPAxRb
478Please respect copyright.PENANAC6fudLZYHw
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAhGzAlyCFSc
478Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ9Xk5oRcV
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAvsiHF5RKT9
478Please respect copyright.PENANAOnxdSWkB4d
"You don't even have proof of that," said Eric as he started to chuckle. "You're just being paranoid."478Please respect copyright.PENANAxdaqlkANRF
478Please respect copyright.PENANAUfOKC38mT3
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAdEcKYqqpsw
478Please respect copyright.PENANApwh43BUuGA
Leo started to walk out of his office with Eric right behind him. When the two stepped out, Leo locked the door.478Please respect copyright.PENANAxZ212jQLny
478Please respect copyright.PENANAi9vTY4nl0X
"Since you really need to eat something," said Eric, "you can suggest where we can go for lunch."478Please respect copyright.PENANAxQaGatTkhp
478Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3iCXVxeDd
"First let me make a call to my dad. Can you imagine that he hasn't shown up to the office?"478Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z7jXBvGbJ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAoB56e8TJeC
"Maybe he is still helping Carly out with her college transfer. You know how these things take time sometimes."478Please respect copyright.PENANAUKIrDj0eQN
478Please respect copyright.PENANAI6oHgIHEzo
"Ya, but it's lunch time and he should have called me first if he was going to arrive late."478Please respect copyright.PENANAMkRziSi1to
478Please respect copyright.PENANACSzRzfzzZK
"He probably just forgot. You can give him a call as we head out of here. I'm starving."478Please respect copyright.PENANApA8Nnoctg4
478Please respect copyright.PENANATZoU3nTauI
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAyXfgTYLbIG
478Please respect copyright.PENANAzsXWCTr4ls
Mr. McDonell answered the call upon the first ring and Leo was relieved.478Please respect copyright.PENANAPZCUq7S2bv
478Please respect copyright.PENANAF6Ds6tApfU
"Leo, hey," came his father's voice. "Is anything wrong at the office?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAs3Pfrh4AOn
478Please respect copyright.PENANAbTSioW0FFt
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANApX4HgTnobR
478Please respect copyright.PENANA9Sux8r4xwh
"Oh, I'm fine, son. There is no need to worry."478Please respect copyright.PENANApkNjotaLbu
478Please respect copyright.PENANA0FiSCXhGvB
"Where are you anyway?" Eric pressed the button to the ground floor and the doors closed. They soon felt the elevator start to move.478Please respect copyright.PENANAGetWheRRTc
478Please respect copyright.PENANAspTl6EW00V
"Oh..., me?" Mr. McDonell seemed surprised by the question. "I decided to go for a walk in Central park, that's all."478Please respect copyright.PENANAcZAe8ngoHQ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAOFnLoZlSzG
"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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAW9s5vxs24N
478Please respect copyright.PENANA48T2gKIApf
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5WErmcSej
478Please respect copyright.PENANAKe6vtz1FWI
"Okay, see you later, then." Leo cut the call.478Please respect copyright.PENANAggkyC7h3Kj
478Please respect copyright.PENANApGzGvdhYtZ
The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. Eric turned to look at Leo.478Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ5auEAaP2
478Please respect copyright.PENANABBaWkkVaKm
"So, where is he?" Eric asked Leo as they both walked out of the elevator.478Please respect copyright.PENANAfIX0dfdJLZ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAkPzx8G7PVa
"He's taking a walk in Central park," Leo asked as they passed a few people down in the lobby.478Please respect copyright.PENANAXsAadKOVVB
478Please respect copyright.PENANAufJUMe1ylY
"Ah, you see. There was nothing to worry about."478Please respect copyright.PENANAsvzab9mVTE
478Please respect copyright.PENANAy17JwXsKbH
"Ya, there wasn't."478Please respect copyright.PENANAph59fiyTHL
478Please respect copyright.PENANA55m0BUVrwN
The two cousins stepped out through the large glass doors of the building, passing the doorman that stood guard.478Please respect copyright.PENANAfbB7Didc3L
478Please respect copyright.PENANAtz1whq7z0P
"That reminds me," said Eric as they turned down the street on the sidewalk, "which restaurant are we going to?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAsdv8tZB7Or
478Please respect copyright.PENANAarUH0Nldsn
"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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAcZrUJDQmcz
478Please respect copyright.PENANAxAghtX12jB
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAGWTUFkdUvK
478Please respect copyright.PENANAeSSuRGZ9vO
"Did you just say you want to eat junk food?" Eric asked. "Minutes ago, you said you weren't hungry."478Please respect copyright.PENANANT3So1ogmv
478Please respect copyright.PENANAAJlFisYyIq
"I've changed my mind. Am I on a diet so as not to eat junk?" Leo asked.478Please respect copyright.PENANAIROFNBiDaU
478Please respect copyright.PENANAIzkLYBjiD2
"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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAmkHLJDvLR8
478Please respect copyright.PENANAu0I7fbfNKF
"What's wrong with eating junk food, then?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAN4cWv5X2gc
478Please respect copyright.PENANA99UPi0NC7D
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:478Please respect copyright.PENANAe8QjEYmSLD
478Please respect copyright.PENANACeBmekhfXv
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAiyX0B6Ci5G
478Please respect copyright.PENANAPJjMde5jIU
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAPSscie8MsZ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAVwDUIBJFKP
"Okay, if you say so. But if you gain a pound after this, don't blame me."478Please respect copyright.PENANAsdP9WPvqyo
478Please respect copyright.PENANABAj6kDW1e9
Leo turned to look at Eric, walking beside him. "Admit it, you want to eat junk food way more than I do."478Please respect copyright.PENANALDXVfm6e9c
478Please respect copyright.PENANAOw8QaeDPhA
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAtPzZje9fk7
478Please respect copyright.PENANAKGNoZgfXZR
"Great, let's go."478Please respect copyright.PENANA27Cf0pURDe
478Please respect copyright.PENANAlRYjcf4e5f
***478Please respect copyright.PENANAKzE6GmIWAx
478Please respect copyright.PENANAAcXb5oSQ0L
"Comfortable?" Mark asked after Angel sat on the chair he had just pulled out for her.478Please respect copyright.PENANAChrXC5Mhla
478Please respect copyright.PENANAAnz6e8ZMO7
"Yes, thank you," Angel replied as she smiled up at him.478Please respect copyright.PENANAE3aKnz55NB
478Please respect copyright.PENANAwfrzNyXMCz
"Good." Mark gave her a smile and he went to sit on the other side of the table.478Please respect copyright.PENANAdr0JdyIUCM
478Please respect copyright.PENANAQf3uicehtH
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAWH4SIA79f8
478Please respect copyright.PENANA4BGdi9nRY2
"I see you like the place," Mark said, bringing her attention back to him.478Please respect copyright.PENANA8B9yPauYXh
478Please respect copyright.PENANAVaVCiMYJqm
"Yes, it's really lovely," said Angel.478Please respect copyright.PENANAq2j0P4mlqK
478Please respect copyright.PENANAJGjXQurs7N
"We should order." Mark lifted the navy blue menu in front of him and opened it. "What would you like to have?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAq2rjjCnRzs
478Please respect copyright.PENANAedO2QW2nBF
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANA73m66dzJJ7
478Please respect copyright.PENANASVmYQDMq5S
"What is it?" Mark asked as he looked up from his menu and noticed Angel smiling.478Please respect copyright.PENANAHgA5rvy35H
478Please respect copyright.PENANAbThWZDCLXM
"Nothing," Angel replied, still smiling. "I realised I haven't had a ratatouille in like.., forever."478Please respect copyright.PENANAFVSXwCaaa8
478Please respect copyright.PENANAKL1yWW39De
"Looks like you know your french cuisines." Mark smiled charmingly at her.478Please respect copyright.PENANAovtUiXPizh
478Please respect copyright.PENANATlYQGS84Sw
"There was a time when I was on a date and my boyfriend made me try it out. Goodness, it was magnificent."478Please respect copyright.PENANABDt3I3F1V9
478Please respect copyright.PENANAGg6JplXI98
"You dated?" Mark looked surprised.478Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ekeny2rkt
478Please respect copyright.PENANAnRo5Zt5X7c
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAkl5ElpIOxr
478Please respect copyright.PENANAQdijoFJ1LI
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAMTuHHPJbmI
478Please respect copyright.PENANAvWrw8SVlYQ
"What is it?" Angel asked.478Please respect copyright.PENANAjQBNbSEcMk
478Please respect copyright.PENANApLCZRTybpc
"Nothing," he said as he dropped his menu. "I wonder what the guy thought of letting you go."478Please respect copyright.PENANApX8rRmNdL1
478Please respect copyright.PENANAziixUwYkxA
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAyqhedzKIAb
478Please respect copyright.PENANABW2brl72CW
"Well, I think he's a fool letting you go."478Please respect copyright.PENANAGp3M31DotL
478Please respect copyright.PENANAPIXwx2lzhf
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAeQiUFYneIr
478Please respect copyright.PENANArbZt6ZwxEJ
Mark drew out his hand and placed it above Angel's that was on the table. Angel looked at him.478Please respect copyright.PENANAJA0cLD3jv7
478Please respect copyright.PENANA8u0npaitmt
"He was too blind to notice how beautiful you are," he said. "You look heavenly, like an angel."478Please respect copyright.PENANAgHDkiK3K1x
478Please respect copyright.PENANASpbaOA3t4U
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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAg7vr5vmpOI
478Please respect copyright.PENANAfb04TuLzO1
"Maybe. But I'm speaking the truth and you know it. I bet am not the first man to ever tell you that."478Please respect copyright.PENANAZF3xM3ytyZ
478Please respect copyright.PENANATw9V4sfs3d
Angel shook her head. "No, you aren't."478Please respect copyright.PENANAeMFKx6Gvfx
478Please respect copyright.PENANAP5QE6HJk6v
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAiLSPSXakf2
478Please respect copyright.PENANAd9DOjpzMJH
"Ready to take your order, sir?" the man asked politely with a gentle smile on his face.478Please respect copyright.PENANA1vSlPACpC9
478Please respect copyright.PENANALM5bRk7yzb
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAGlg70by37y
478Please respect copyright.PENANA01deZhLTbZ
"Coming right up, and would you like a drink while you wait?"478Please respect copyright.PENANANzVXNcpPri
478Please respect copyright.PENANAmTjBjy5Cbi
"Yes, a bottle of your finest wine."478Please respect copyright.PENANAuKrfE5OaKI
478Please respect copyright.PENANAsKcibDqyQt
"Of course," said the waiter as he smiled at both Mark and Angel before leaving them.478Please respect copyright.PENANA7mxiGhMNVW
478Please respect copyright.PENANAlGGwfc60Rc
"We're having wine?" Angel asked with a questioning look on her face.478Please respect copyright.PENANA7muHfrcA5F
478Please respect copyright.PENANA0ameKU52Ar
"What is it?" Mark asked, this time his face grew a little worried. "Don't you take alcohol?"478Please respect copyright.PENANACH6EQ8PuGq
478Please respect copyright.PENANAyviW0HRArV
"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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAAgBNOlr1ZF
478Please respect copyright.PENANAdoFT6eEf3C
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANAFb53FLr62e
478Please respect copyright.PENANAxkuvLraZBQ
"I like wine. I don't drink beer or whiskey.., those type of drinks."478Please respect copyright.PENANACvS9e6FfhT
478Please respect copyright.PENANApqNLxe5zMP
"Even scotch?"
"Even scotch." Angel said as she smiled.478Please respect copyright.PENANAgingVsIhUZ
478Please respect copyright.PENANAxK8iPln2SN
"Women like you love wine."478Please respect copyright.PENANAsCxN5uHIOG
478Please respect copyright.PENANAQl6ipcGa1Z
"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."478Please respect copyright.PENANA46DgHoX9Ei
478Please respect copyright.PENANA2U01VtaYGW
"Ha. Just now you thought I didn't even take wine."478Please respect copyright.PENANAsInHG0s7nA
478Please respect copyright.PENANAklAtaQFuPA
"Because you caught me off guard with that question."478Please respect copyright.PENANApr6xaXSIgV
478Please respect copyright.PENANAhooyHg9tDv
Angel let out a laugh but one that didn't attract people's attention in the restaurant.478Please respect copyright.PENANA2wNUSzb08p
478Please respect copyright.PENANAMdWIrGt30O
"Ya, I'm sorry about that," said Angel after she gathered her composure. "I just wanted to see your reaction."478Please respect copyright.PENANAchcYOMdQCc
478Please respect copyright.PENANAukX9OTHJfj
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAsSPw0McPjV
478Please respect copyright.PENANA39huEGuNkJ
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAmArPpOZMXu
478Please respect copyright.PENANAscd1xz0AvO
"Shall we have a toast?" Mark suggested as he held his glass.478Please respect copyright.PENANAGv4fnTunFy
478Please respect copyright.PENANAjbY0yUsNEk
"A toast to what?" Angel asked, her fingers around the stem of her glass.478Please respect copyright.PENANANIoY7ebrd0
478Please respect copyright.PENANAcDQ0X62pcl
"A toast for your health, that's one. And also, for you just being you."478Please respect copyright.PENANA9yfqz0bVov
478Please respect copyright.PENANAR6x6bvF5TH
Angel smiled. "I will toast to the first one most of all, and the other reason is quite reasonable...., so cheers."478Please respect copyright.PENANAw4eGA6ir3g
478Please respect copyright.PENANAO5Z0DCeAt0
Their glasses clinked when they touched and they both drank.478Please respect copyright.PENANAoDxvz67UUX
478Please respect copyright.PENANAhUObea3CpU
"This is really good," said Angel after she withdrew the brim of the glass from her lips.478Please respect copyright.PENANAw8jRn16AqK
478Please respect copyright.PENANADYyI6jYPRy
"That's why I ordered the best of the best," said Mark as he put his glass on the table.478Please respect copyright.PENANApXVa4k3AnF
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"I might end up drinking the whole bottle. But that won't be so ladylike of me."478Please respect copyright.PENANALf1fmZkvfM
478Please respect copyright.PENANAMjzUMgydte
"I should be worried." Mark raised his eyebrow at her. "Do you easily get drunk, Angel Barclay?"478Please respect copyright.PENANAvbe9hAKD8Z
478Please respect copyright.PENANAe5LaSw3i1A
Angel took another sip of her wine. "If I have too much, then yes. I can get a little tipsy."478Please respect copyright.PENANAp02u93Gz2N
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"Then we can take it a little slow, shall we?"
"Slow is good."478Please respect copyright.PENANAeShctWvDj6
478Please respect copyright.PENANADkBpO3LYEY
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAxyMcnBc7fO
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***478Please respect copyright.PENANAvXeZNRF8hw
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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.478Please respect copyright.PENANA0OlyxGqcLG
478Please respect copyright.PENANALhEmsaXRFi
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANABmsCgDgAHT
478Please respect copyright.PENANAVBxV6PHqcw
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAfJsNXeTEDA
478Please respect copyright.PENANAevMPvprf0D
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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAYZvyFNKIK4
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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.478Please respect copyright.PENANAUaj7obqN3L
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"God, how I've missed you," he muttered to the wind.