At a private, Italian restaurant. New York City.
(*Speaking French here by the way.*)
"The place is beautiful, I'd never think it were in New York." Caroline said with a smile, as she observed the surroundings of the private lounge.
Taking in the atmosphere, scrutinising the contrasting textures. The large dark brown leather sofa and white chalky walls. The white marble table, a vase with a branch from a verbena tree encompassing the room with a slight lemon scent.
"Where are they?", Alex asked on the side his eyes darkening to a Navy blue. Frustrated that his search was fruitless, only knowing that she is a doctor who now writes in medical journals. Curious to see who's the one hiding all her information.
The mother and son were dressed in coordination, or specifically that his mother had asked him to wear the teal coloured tie despite his dislike for anything but black.
Her soft and well managed hands placed over his large callused one's.
"Let's wait for your father... I haven't seen Yuki in forever, I bet she's gotten even more beautiful." She said with a slight blush. Making Alex raise a blonde eyebrow at his mothers strange behaviour.
"How beautiful can a girl be to make you blush...she's not you?" Rubbing her hand with a sly smile. Causing her to slap his shoulder bashfully.
"Hey! You can't get out of this", prodding a finger in his rib. "And yes she's gorgeous, a perfect mix of mother and father." Her delicately made up face, unable to hide her sadness.
They both looked up as a man strode towards them with eyes filled with amusement. Sat beside his wife, she helped him rearrange his greying black hair. Placing the hair back into the corresponding parting.
"They're slightly delayed because she flew in last night." Placing a hand around her waist, supporting her.
Soon just after he had sat down, they could hear the sounds of men speaking in Japanese getting closer. Both their voices had a smooth and authoritative air, though one of them was more curt than the other. Despite this, Alex who had studied the language, although unable read and write, understood roughly what was being said.
(*Speaking Japanese*)
"Dad I cant believe you agreed, are you trying to make her hate us now?"
"The opposite. One day she'll thank me." A little indifferent. "And good thinking for using that 'she flew in last night excuse'."
"But she did?"
"You and me know that she tried to escape the hotel. That's why she's delayed."
"Is that why you had her dragged here at gun point?" He spat sarcastically.
Alex at this point, as they neared the door was drinking a cup of black coffee. Hearing what was said slightly choking he spluttered a mouthful of coffee on the floor. His mother concerned handed him a napkin, as she patted his back. Hiding his smirk with a hand as his dark eyes gleamed with amusement.
'Seriously, what a handful.'
Alex being the arrogant and nonchalant type, always seeing himself as someone to be respected. Let's just say that there was a bit of shock when Yuto Nakamura entered the room.
It was clear to him that the two men were related, both tall and refined. The type that clothes would only hide their muscular physiques, but only a real fight would determine the result.
Alex particularly felt the cold aura radiating from Mr. Nakamura, unsure of what he did. His pale grey eyes were staring at him animalistic, though his lips were in a polite smile. He could feel that there was definitely something wrong with the way he was looking at him, noticing small beads of sweat falling from his fathers face from the corner of his eye.
'Father knows fear?'
Unlike his father Hayato showed a polite image, showing a hand to shake, introducing himself to them.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hayato. Yuki's older brother." Approaching them jovially.
"Alexandre." Replying with a slight grunt. With a bit of dissatisfaction, noticing how good looking they were he felt unconsciously inferior.
Standing up and straightening her sequinned,teal dress saying in realisation. "So you must be Hayato?, were you too shy to meet me last time?" Her dirty blonde hair shifting to one shoulder.
"No. I was just a little busy with a project that was due." Smiling and lying perfectly through his white straight teeth. The mole under his right eye adding a seductive charm, his long, coal like hair neatly framing his face.
'A standard lawyer.' Alex thought as Yuto placed a hand in front of him.
"Alexandre Auclair" His back straightening unconsciously.
Replying with a hint of murderousness,hiding it behind his hooked lips and gesture. "I know. Your parents have told me a lot about you."
Alex gritted his teeth, baring with his cold touch.
"Why don't we just go and wait in the room? Yuki we'll be here soon anyway." He persuaded, glancing at his father.
"Why don't we, Edward?" Trying to lighten his oppressive aura.
"Sure." Placing an arm around his wife's shoulders.
Although, it appeared that what he was doing was just a polite gesture. Alex felt it was more like he was trying to protect her from the jaws of a wild animal. Noticing Hayato curling his lips.
****
A waiter politely took them to a private room, overlooking a scenic view of the restaurants herb garden. The large window bringing with it a layer of warmth and sunlight.
From the circular marble dining table the kitchen could be seen, ambiguously separating the rooms by a wisteria tree. The purple blooms falling to the floor, the only distinct colour in the all white room.
Talking amongst themselves, they numbered several topics including the state of economy, the friendships they have in common. As well as tastes in fashion and culture, none of them mentioning the impending marriage to Alex's frustration.
Hayato, who suddenly got a text in the midst of a conversation about his preference for criminal or contract law-clearly a snide question by Alex.
Standing up a little too happily, patting his shoulder as if apologising. "Yuki's here, I'm going to escort her to the room."
Lowering his voice to his father, saying in Japanese.
"I hope she doesn't hate me that much."
His father simply replied with a mocking smile.
After leaving the room the oppressive aura like a thick layer of frost, covered the room.
Uncaring having spent most of her life with a Mafia man herself, she asked kindly. "How has Yuki been recently?" She said nudging at her husband, to give their son a pep talk.
Raising his eyebrow at her, showing a rare tenderness in his eyes. "She just finished her postgraduate degree a couple of months back and I suppose learning from her brother, she's been into dealing race cars."
"Really?" Her eyes widening with surprise, as he nodded his head at her.
"He took her phone away from her to get her to come here. Hayato was a little worried about her hating him, so he went to apologise to her first." He said as if apologising for his sons erratic behaviour.
As they talked, Alex slightly surprised about how many words the man was saying. When he felt a hand slap him on his back, making him turn around to give his old man a dirty look. His back to the door.
(*Speaking French*)
"Are you a child?" Growling under his breath.
"No. But you're mine." Whispering with every intention to jeer at him.
Noticing his unreadable look, he mentally sighed looking into his hands. His tattooed hands were adorned with gold rings, one of which a status symbol of his position as king of the underworld. Represented by a thick gold ring, with a square shaped black diamond in the centre.
"When are you going to explain what you're planning?" Looking at his father with a side glance.
With a bright smile, placing a hand on his shoulder at his expectant gaze. "You have to figure that out yourself."
His blue eyes narrowed, his thin lips secretly hooked up. "Your 26. I had you when I was 24, I want to at least see the grandchildren of my eldest child."
Provoking him he quietly clicked his tongue saying quietly through gritted teeth. "I'm not interested." Frustrated by his fathers crazy mind games.
With confidence, he smirked shamelessly at his son, eyes full of amusement and mischief. Watching him give him predatory looks. "You will be."
The sounds of melodic laughter and the tapping of heels grew clearer, arriving towards their reserved room.
Noticing a woman entering, escorted by Hayato, he showed a toothy grin stopping his son so he wouldn't look just yet.
"I can only tell you this. You'll never regret the decision I made for you, may be you'll even thank me."