Two days later, Vance called Nicolette asking her to meet up at a restaurant near his office.
"Can you come here after work?"
"Sure. What's up?" Nicolette asked casually.
After only hearing the sound of breathing, she probed, "Vance?"
"Yeah. Clara is dying to meet you..." He trailed off.
"Who's that? Didn't she attend the engagement party?" She thought she heard the name before from Vance but she didn't remember.
"...Clara... The one I'm seeing right now." She suddenly pursed her lips before relaxing.
"Oh! Sure, shall I be there by 7?" She confirmed. After he said OK, she cut the call.
It was lunch and she was with her friends. They teased her for being asked out. She chuckled and said, "Not really. To introduce some English girl to me."
At 6:20 p.m. she took the bus and by 7 p.m. sharp Nicolette reached the restaurant after a short walk. He walked to the reception and asked for the table on her name. When Vance called her before he had told her that the reservation was on her name.
She went to the table where the two were already there sitting beside each other in the semi cabin. "Good evening," Nicolette greeted them and sat on the opposite side of the table.
"How did you get here?" Vance asked Nicolette.
"By the bus, usual." She said.
"Well then, Clara, she's Nicolette Perin."
"I heard about you, Clara. You can call me Nicole." Nicolette smiled to the other lady. She had blonde hair with blue eyes. A deadly combination of beauty. Nicolette remembered the time when Vance had called her ugly. Perhaps dark brown hair with brown eyes did not suit his taste.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you. He told me that you won't come between us?" Clara inquired.
"Can't you just take my word?" Vance was irritated. Clara was a very persistent girl. He felt awful for having Nicolette answer that.
"I will not. And I hope we can be friends." Nicolette said with a calm tone.
"Shall we order something?" Vance cut in.
"Stop shouting." Nicole said to him.
"I am shouting?"
"I like calm," Nicolette turned her attention back to Clara. "So do you mind being friends?"
Clara was stunned when Nicolette told off Vance so smoothly. "Yes!" She somehow thought it was good to be her friend.
"That's good then. Let's order." When Nicolette was about to call for the waiter, she thought she should be more considerate. "Vance, you wanted to order."
"Do you have anything against me?"
"No. Why?"
After a pause he finally said, "Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Then don't say. Call the waiter and order."
"Sure, milady." Vance then called the waiter and the three order together.
After they had dinner, they spoke for a lot of time over the dessert.
"Nico, I am older than you by three years. So if anyone bullies you or makes you cry, be sure to look for me!"
"She has a brother and he is older than you. She won't need you."
"Vance, this is the fifth time I am asking you. Please, stop shouting and disturbing us." Vance was not able to understand her at all. He was definitely not shouting. Sure, his voice was a little loud, but they were in the VIP area, that too in a quiet corner. Clara had such a high pitch voice and she was getting excited for every two sentences. Tsk.
"Right, you spoke so much today. Aren't you feeling tired?"
"No." Nicole responded and turned to Clara, "You can also look for me. I will help you the best I can."
They had already paid the bill but the were endlessly talking. "Alright girls, time to go home."
Nicole glared at him, now completely pissed off. "You must be hungry from all the talking." he said, her glare not changing in the slightest. Vance looked away and thought, let them enjoy.
"Order another spaghetti," a gloomy Nicolette said. She started eating right after it was served.
The conversation still continued. "Hey Nico, I should introduce to my cousin! He is an amazing guy!" Clara said.
"She's not interested," Vance interrupted them once again. His urgency, however, made Clara raise an eyebrow.
"That's true. I really can't give any time."
"Aww, that's bad. He would definitely like you," she said gauging him.
"You should not be so persuasive. She said-"
"Vance, next time you introduce someone to me, go back home right away." Nicole thought Clara was going to be a horrible person initially, call it her bias towards foreigners. But it turned out that this half American blonde lady could become a good friend in the future. And the man was really intruding their space.
"Really Vance, as much talkative as you are, you are interrupting us a lot." Clara had some courage to speak like that to him this time. Though Vance was a fun loving person and would speak away, people treaded carefully around him.
"Really? You thought you can talk to me the way you wish?" Vance's attitude had a rather sudden change. He stood up abruptly and walked around the table to Nicole. It was the first time seeing him mad. She was suddenly worried if she would be in trouble. But what hurt the most was how he was acting as if she was invisible. He caught her observing him, yet he did not hold back from stopping her introduce her cousin to Nicole. What was he trying to establish?
"No Vance, I really didn't mean it. I'm so sorry," Clara held his arm which he jerked away. She was on the verge of tears, probably because of fear, Nicolette thought.
"Get up. I'll drop you." He said to Nicole and walked out.
She really wanted to stay with Clara but she gave up her internal struggle and softly said as she hugged her, "Bye, Clara. I'll message you."
"He'll break up with me..."
"For this? You worry unnecessarily. Stop crying and go home and sleep," she said and hurriedly went out. When she just reached the exit, she saw Vance's car coming out of the parking lots beneath. He stopped in front of her and she quickly got it.
"Sorry, Nicolette. That wasn't very pleasant," he said a few seconds after she got it. Nicole was surprised.
"Wow, weren't you mad just now?"
"I still am. Who does she think she is? You know what? She really doesn't deserve me."
"What an ego! She must be feeling so bad. You should say sorry to her."
"And you too. Why are you so talkative today?"
"Because there are things to talk."
"Yeah, sure."
She sensed his irritation, which was rather pointless in her opinion, but did not say anything.