Not Until Then

Not Until Then Chapter 3

I unlocked my door and headed straight to my room. It was only seven in the evening so a night walk wasn’t out of the question yet. Who was I kidding? Even if I came home at ten, it wouldn’t have stopped me. It has been a habit. Night walks kept my mind off of things.

I traded my pencil skirt and blazer with comfy shorts and a plain white shirt. I pulled my hair up in a neat ponytail. I strode to the shoe rack for sneakers but then I noticed something off. Where was one of my Jimmy Choos? I had three but there were only two staring back at me. With a frown, the memory caught up with me. I couldn’t believe I just left it at a badminton court.

After pulling on my sneakers, I grabbed a slice of wheat bread from my kitchen and headed out the cold night.

Pacing the sidewalks when December was fast-approaching was worth the time. It was cold, yes, but that was what made it mind-occupying. The soft, icy breeze stroked my skin as I walked leisurely and refused to think of anything. The streets were still busy as people were going home from work. Or school. I couldn’t care less.

I took my usual route around Fifth Avenue, passing by Le Diner, a restaurant serving French cuisine. Jonathan hadn’t asked earlier but I loved French food. I suddenly felt my stomach go hollow. But I wouldn’t go in there wearing this now, would I? I had to admit though, the idea was tempting.

I was staring at Le Diner from across the street when I noticed a commotion in the restaurant. I squinted to see clearer and to my utter amusement, it was the Ramirez from last night, Gabriel, arguing with a waiter. It seemed like he was extremely exasperated. My feet shuffled across the busy street to its own accord, earning vociferous horns from the cabs.

The exceeding opposition to go to a fine dine restaurant wearing nothing but shorts and a shirt evaporated as I neared Le Diner and got a better view. They were indeed in a heated argument. The waiter was holding out what seemed like three credit cards to Gabriel but he was yelling at him. Not that I could hear; it seemed like it from outside. I was already in the glass double doors when a waiter opened the door. He was looking at me disapprovingly and I knew what he was about to say, “Ma’am, we do have dressing codes—”

“I’m just here to fetch a friend.” I cut him off, slipping ten dollars in his hand. He looked at it for a moment then nodded me in.

I was vaguely aware of eyes trained on my direction but I paid them no attention. I strode straight to the table I went in for. “You must be kidding me,” I heard Gabriel half-yell as the waiter handed him another credit card “It can’t close down! There must be something wrong on your part!” He persisted, looking determined and miserable at the same time.

The waiter looked nervous when he reasoned, “No, Sir, your cards really are unauthenticated. We tried—” This was said when I was already at a good distance.

Without any second thought, I got my wallet from my pocket, pulled a credit card and handed it to the waiter, cutting him off. The waiter and Gabriel turned to me, like they had only realized I was there. “Here,” I spoke. “Charge it here.”

Gabriel looked at me in disbelief. Then in blatant annoyance. But he didn’t object when the waiter walked off with my card. He turned away from me. That was when I realized that he had company. A woman. An elegant, drop dead gorgeous woman. “I’m sorry for that; I really have no idea that Dad declined my credit cards.” He apologized, peering intensely at the woman.

The woman tucked her long, red curls behind her ears and smiled at him. “It’s okay, Gabriel.” She reached out to lay her hands over Gabriel’s.

I immediately averted my gaze and choked down the urge to run away. I felt like an intruder… well, wasn’t I? Much to my relief, the waiter approached me soon and handed me back my card and a receipt. I got my card but left the receipt. “Keep that,” I smiled at him. The waiter nodded and walked off.