Carl smiled and he approached her.
"Anne, what are you doing here? Carl asked.
"Mr. McAlester it's a restaurant. So I came here to have dinner," she replied.
"yeah, I know but all by yourself?" he said sitting opposite her where Carlos was sitting.
"for some reason, couples usually come to this restaurant for date nights unlike single people," he said
"single people like you," she teased him and Carl laughed.
"Actually, I came here for business reasons. I and the CEO of Stone's perfume with some of my employees have been talking business for about an hour, upstairs" he said.
"so exhausting" he muttered.
"Then I bet you must be tired," she said.
"not really, just exhausted from work…
So you haven't told me why you're here alone. Where is Carlos?" he asked searching with his eyes.
"he was here like a few minutes ago before the rain started. We were actually on a date but he had to leave because of an important work issue" she said.
"he left you in the middle of a date?" Carl asked with raised brows and she nodded with a sad expression.
'why would Carlos do that? Some people don't value what they have' Carl said in his head.
"Mr. McAlester, do you have any idea what important work made Carlos have to leave," She asked.
"umm… maybe he had an important task to do with one of his clients," Carl suggested and Anne rolled her eyes.
"What?... I said maybe," he said
"I know, I just miss him that's all," she said in a sad tone.
"I understand, but Carlos loves you so much and that's all that matters right now." Carl gave a faint smile.
"Oh look, the rain finally stopped," he said looking at the transparent glass sideways.
"thank goodness, I have to go home now before the rain persists," she said.
"Sure," Carl said and Anne stood up from her seat.
Carl's lips were slightly parted in awe as Anne stood up from her seat. His eyes were dazed at Anne's beauty like she just cast a love spell on him.
He admired her beautiful black dress as he got a clearer look at it since she was now standing on her feet.
'Carlos is a lucky man' Carl said in his head.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Anne asked suspiciously
"…mmm mmm" Carl cleared his throat as he came back from his fantasies.
"…Aren't you cold? Don't you feel cold?" he asked anxiously.
To be honest, Carl wanted to say the words "because you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen" but knowing Anne, she wouldn't take it as a compliment.
And besides, it would've sounded too flirtatious.
"Oh!... For a moment there, I thought you were acting like a pervert again staring at me like that" Anne laughed.
Carl was stunned.
He thanked the heavens inside of him for not saying what he originally wanted to say.
"I don't think you've actually forgiven me about that kick," he said.
"I have, I'm only messing with you," she chuckled and he smiled at her.
They both left the restaurant together.
"If you're feeling cold I could give you my jacket," Carl said
"Thanks but no thanks, I'll just take a cab and get home, " she said.
Nevertheless, Carl took off his fur jacket leaving him with a black t-shirt, and wore it on Anne so she could feel warm.
She didn't resist because she was a little cold and Carl's jacket did the trick by keeping her cozy.
It was a frosty night.
"The weather is too cold and I don't want you to get sick.
...And you're not taking a cab I'm driving you home," he said and took her in his Maybach and they drove off.
It was a few minutes drive and they were quiet the whole time, probably because Carl did not know what to say to her.
Their eyes were fixed on the road.
"Okay you can stop here, this is where I live," Anne said, pointing towards her house.
He parked his car right in front of her house and they both came down.
"you could've just driven off without coming down," she said taking off his jacket.
"I wanted to see you go inside your house," he said,
"oh well, here's your jacket." She said, handing it to him.
"right" Carl took it from her.
If Anne wasn't in a relationship, he would've insisted she keeps the jacket.
"Mr. McAlester, I'm really thankful for your hospitality," she said sincerely.
"I'm just being myself," Carl said.
He saw that she was rubbing her palms together and he knew that she was cold.
"You must be cold and tired, you should go inside and have some rest," he said.
"goodnight Mr. McAlester,"
"goodnight," Carl said and she turned to leave.
"Anastasia," he called her, and she turned to face him after reaching her door.
"yes, Mr. McAlester," she answered him waiting for his response but Carl just called her name out of the blue.
He wanted to see her pretty face before she leaves.
"Can I be your friend?" Carl blurted. "I mean, you don't have to call me Mr. McAlester all the time."
"So what should I call you then?" she asked
"Carl, just Carl is okay." He said.
"…and In case you need help in anything or if your heart is troubled you can reach out to me and I'll be of service" he added
"hmm… we'll see about that" she smiled.
She got inside her house and Carl drove off.
"wow" Dexter voiced out, startling Anne.
"what's your problem Dex? you just scared the shit out of me" Anne sighed, holding her chest.
"I'm sorry I scared you. Is just that I peeped through the window and to my surprise, I saw you and prosecutor Carl together, hmm… isn't that weird?" Dexter said, raising his eyebrows in a teasing manner.
"so fucking what?!?" Anne rolled her eyes and Dexter laughed.
"Okay look, you left this evening on a date with your psychotic boyfriend, Carlos and now, you're coming back with a good-looking prosecutor?" Dexter said and sat down on the couch.
"How did you do it?" he asked.
"Carlos had something important to do and he left and I coincidentally saw Carl at that same restaurant.
Can you now stop acting like a Detective already?" Anne said.
"Carl?? You now call him by his first name?" Dexter asked, feeling stunned.
"you know what? I don't have to explain myself to you. You might be ten times taller than me but you're still my little brother" Anne said going to her room.
"Okay okay, Anne wait," Dexter said and Anne halted her steps and faced him.
"What now, detective"
"you said Carlos had something important to do and he left you in the middle of a date. Doesn't that tell you something?" he said and Anne inhaled deeply.
"If Carlos respects you and sees you as a priority he'll definitely leave or postpone whatever important work he's supposed to do for you,"
If it were a normal day, Anne would've looked for an excuse to justify Carlos's actions but this time, she had nothing to say because Dexter said nothing but the truth.
She knew Dexter was right but the love she has for Carlos made her think otherwise.
Anne went to her room and checked her phone expecting a text from Carlos but there was none.
'where are you, Carlos? Are you back home?
Please call me when you get this'
Anne sent the text to Carlos.
She kept on checking her phone, expecting a reply from him or a call but there was absolutely none.
*****
The next day morning...
Linda was sitting on her bed, wrapped in a quilt.
"Why are you such in a hurry? It's barely 7'o clock in the morning" Linda said in a sleepy tone as she watched Carlos put on his clothes in a haste.
"Linda, I have to go now okay? Please let me breathe for goodness sake" Carlos said tying his shoes.
Throughout the night, Carlos and Linda were having rough marathon sex of different styles.
Maybe that way, Linda would give Carlos space for some time before she's ready to sleep with him again but that is what Carlos thought.
"Don't tell me after our night of ecstasy you don't feel anything for me at all," Linda said
"Of course, I feel something for you," Carlos said.
"Oh really?" her face lit up with a smile.
"I feel disgusted and sorry for you," Carlos scoffed and left, banging the door closed.
"aaahhhh" Linda yelled in frustration as she throws a glass cup at the door.
...….
Later that morning, Anne was at the grocery store. She was putting on a white long-sleeved knitted crop top, exposing her flat tummy and her tiny waist.
The black bra she was wearing inside was quite visible since it was a knitted top and she was wearing black denim pants and white sneakers to match.
Her hair was packed in a high ponytail and she looked extra gorgeous as usual.
"I'm so confused if I should buy soya milk or skimmed milk," Anne said to herself contemplating what to buy while holding both kinds of milk.
"soya milk is better I guess," a calm voice said, behind her.
However, Anne recognized Carlos's voice and scent anywhere, anytime.
Anne turned to face him and Carlos smiled at her.
"oh, see who finally decided to show up after leaving me in the middle of our date," Anne said, dropping the skimmed milk back on the shelf.
"sweetheart," Carlos tried to hold her waist but she stopped him.
"geez, Anne, I know you're upset with me and I'm sorry for what happened. Just give me another chance to make it up to you pleaseee" Carlos pouted.
"Another chance so you can bail on me? You couldn't at least text me your girlfriend, it's like I don't even exist" Anne spoke her mind.
"Baby don't say that, It skipped my mind," Carlos said, feeling disappointed in himself.
"it skipped your mind? Am I becoming irrelevant to you? Carlos what is going on?" she questioned him with a sad look on her face.
"sweetheart it's nothing, I'm just busy these days." He cupped her face, giving her a searching look.
"Anastasia, you're the most important person in my life and you know it. My life is totally meaningless without you.
You're always in my head every now and then and staring at your beautiful eyes makes me want to worship and obey your every command
... and I'll gladly do it without any hesitation because I love you with all of my heart..." Carlos poured out his heart and before he could finish, Anne shut him up with a kiss.
Carlos held her and deepened the kiss. It was this woman he wanted to be with at all times.
Anne on the other hand just wanted reassurance from Carlos to clear her doubts. She wanted him to hold her and tell her that she was the only one that mattered.
"I want us to go for a picnic just the two of us, whenever you're ready," Carlos said to Anne after they broke their kiss.
"Let me make up for our date," he said still holding her.
"how about we have our picnic this evening? Will it be fine by you?" Anne asked to be sure.
"perfect! I promise I won't bail on you" Carlos assured and Anne delivered a sweet smile.
She felt at ease and happy.
They both left the grocery store and to Carlos's surprise, he saw Linda walking towards him and Anne with an evil grin on her face.
Carlos's heart began to beat rapidly after seeing Linda, he knew she wasn't just coming to the grocery store but to make things awkward for him.
He feared what would happen since he was with Anne.