Alinard three

Opposite Alison was the man she bumped into yesterday. He requested to sit at the vacant seat opposite her and she allowed him.

He wore a simple T-shirt and light jean trousers. His hair hung low and seemed heavy, it looked damped but towel dried.

He looked dashing nonetheless with the light enhancing his grey irises.

Now she thought about it she was reconsidering her decision to let him sit here.

For one, it was oddly quiet and the tension was very much thick. She wanted a quiet and relaxing dinner, not this.

Secondly, she was afraid to look at him he might think she was swooned by his beauty like the waitress writing her number on the napkin she handed to him.

She stared at the food in front of her, and for some unknown reason, her appetite went out the window.

Her spoon roamed the plates thoughtfully.

"That is getting cold" His voice broke through her.

Startled a bit, she sat upright and gave him a quick awkward smile.

She ate her food slowly, "Tell me do I make you uncomfortable?" he asked staring intently at her.

She choked on the food in her mouth, the coughing was spontaneous and uncontrollable, and she coughed more trying to get the strayed food out of her windpipe.

He noticed her struggle and frantically poured her a glass of water.

Handing it to her, she grabbed it her grip a bit shaky, and placed it on her lips she sipped slowly.

Why won't she stop embarrassing herself?

"Are you okay now?" he asked.

She nodded feeling little.

"You are still going to answer my question" he reminded.

"I don't feel uncomfortable in your presence it's just that you are a stranger, It's just a bit awkward," She admitted.

A handsome stranger.

She reprimanded her thoughts.

"Well I could say the same but that is not the way I see you," he replied, she stared at him dumbfounded for a moment. She made sure her jaw was not hanging open.

Curiosity enveloped her, how did he see her then?

"Oh," she muttered collecting herself.

"I am new here in this town, I came here for business reasons and you were the first person I talked to or bumped into. I might be a stranger but seeing you for the second time removes that. Since you are the only familiar face I know here, you are the closest thing I have to a friend." he paused as the waitress brought his order. Her eyes moving flirtatiously, he spared her no last glance.

"I do not live here. I also came here for business, one more day I would head back home." She replied feeling a little at ease.

"So what is your name? My friend for a day." his deep voice tone reverberated in her as he spoke.

He was so friendly, it was a bit weird to see someone being this friendly with her.

He did call her 'My friend for a day'.

Her cheeks turned crimson red feeling hot as his stare never left hers.

She lowered her eyes avoiding his stare, "I don't think I should tell you that." she said chewing on her lettuce cockily.

Okay, he is handsome and had no stress hunting for ladies to warm his bed.

He should not mistake her for some lady he could flirt his way through her.

She was always careful when meeting this type of man, besides she has a lot of responsibilities enough to remove any thoughts of being in this handsome male bed.

He smiled briefly at her. For the record that is the most beautiful smile, she has ever seen. Brushing his lush hair backwards, "You don't trust me."

"Yes, plus I don't know you.", she said truthfully.

He kept his mouth shut and ate his food. He has never seen a woman who unnerved him in just a few seconds.

She was being unnecessarily cautious, he watched as she ate, loving the rhythmical movements of her mouth.

She looked even more younger and beautiful than their meet at the elevator as he suspects there was hardly any makeup on her face.

She had this pretty oval angular face, it made her more feminine. Her nose, straight and pointed stood out proudly from her face.

He could not help but be mesmerized by those green eyes of her, somehow he felt she could see through him with those eyes of hers.

She had shapely eyes and lush lashes. Her lip was thin with the lower fuller than her upper.

Her beauty was different, he felt attracted to that face of hers.

His phone beamed as he turned his focus on it.

Alison stared at him as he stood up from his seat, she wondered if she made him uncomfortable to the extent he was bored of her presence.

"I need to go," he said with a hint of sadness.

"Oh, okay"

"Something came up," he informed.

Gesturing he called the waitress who trudged toward their table.

"Your bill sir," she said to him, her gaze a bit dreamy.

"Could you add her bill?" he motioned to Alison who was surprised by his actions, the waitress frowned slightly in Alison's direction.

"No, no, no. That's unnecessary, I will pay my bill myself."

"It is no problem," he reassured.

He watched as she stood up from the table and came to him.

Her scent was intoxicating.

"Can I speak to you privately?" She asks.

He nods and moved a little away from the waitress.

"Please let me pay for my bill. I don't want it to seem like I can't pay my bills."

What can he do to impress this woman?

"I want to pay for you."

"You could but you would be robbing me of my little dignity."

"Okay, we will split the bill."

He saw her smile lightening her face.

He felt at ease, they turned their attention to the waitress and gave her both their cards.

Collecting their receipt he gave her one last smile, "Nice meeting you..."

"Alison" she blurted but realized she said her name.

Feeling embarrassed, she noticed his full-blown grin.

"You tricked me."

"Alison," he said with a smirk

She playfully rolled her eyes at him ignoring him and went back to her meal.

Laughing mildly at her behaviour, the frown and shocked expressions making their way on her face.

"Bye Alison." He said and left. She watched his retreating back until he went out the door.

Finishing her meal, she had the waitress clear her plates as she ordered a hot chocolate drink.

Her thought kept going back to him, he was too warm with her.

Sipping slowly, she brought out her laptop and sketchpad.

Putting on her headphones she relaxed her head against the glass wall listening to music as she started sketching.

She ran a look at the sketches she had done so far and tried to make some adjustments.

Feeling tired and wearied out she checked the time on her phone.

10:30

No wonder she felt her body ached thoroughly, and she headed back to the hotel.

Immediately she entered her room and landed on her bed falling into a deep sleep.

*

Rolling her sleeves to her elbow.

Checking the time she felt she was punctual enough. She felt comfortable in her jeans and her white shirt.

Putting on her boots, she called her driver and he informed her he was down.

First, she went back to the branch office of her company.

Rushing through busy individuals she reached the meeting room and saw Rebecca seated at the head of the table.

A man stood facing his back on her.

She assumed that would be Mr Adriano.

"Thank God you are here." Ms Rebecca said in relief.

Alison smiled briefly at her.

"The traffic was hectic." She replied drawing a seat.

Leonardo was startled when he heard that voice.

It sounded familiar he turned around slowly and saw her.

Alison's eyes widened in shock as she saw the familiar face of the mysterious man that she bumped into and eaten with last night.

What was he doing here? she wondered recovering from the little shock that waved through her.

He slid into his seat his eyes never leaving hers.

She lowered her eyes.

"Leonardo this is Alison."

"Alison, Leonardo" Rebecca introduced them.

He is Mr Adriano, her jaw hung open "Nice to meet you, Ms Alison." He smiled knowingly at her, she couldn't do anything but nod.

"Leo, she would be your project manager and the architect designing your new restaurant."

Leonardo loved the way destiny and fate were working.