SATURDAY, 3rd MAY 2022.
~Coffee & Vanilla Café~
Elena had to go all the way to secure a private spot in an expensive café because of the calibre of person Mark was.
She didn't mind the hole that was drilled into her purse as this meeting was very important. Her actions were intentional.
As the meeting was scheduled for four in the evening, Elena had to arrive at the café a few minutes earlier being the post. Secondly, Mark kept to time, the kind of attribute she wanted in a man.
By 4 pm on the dot, Mark made an appearance at 'Coffee & Vanilla Café'. Handing his car key to the valet, he walked in his Gray coloured suit.
Before attending any event, Mark always researches the location to know what kind of dressing style would suit the place. And as expected, he knew the city like the back of his hand so when Elena mentioned the location, he already knew that 'Coffee & Vanilla' was not an ordinary café.
Automatically, he knew what to wear.
A minute later, Mark was shown to the private space Elena sat waiting for him. There were no doors here, but a private space ensured confidentiality no matter how it was structured.
The moment Mark walked into the booth Elena lifted her head to meet his gaze. He stood tall while looking down at her with a small smile playing at the corner of his lips, his hands inside the front pockets of his pants.
He smelled of something like the tactile sensuality of rich black leather, textured with addictive patchouli and vetiver.
That was only something Tom Ford Ombre Leather that envelops like a second skin could do.
His perfume was rich and just like his presence, it enveloped her entire being and swallowed her whole.
Elena must have been really entranced with every perfect detail about Mark's look for the evening because, by the time she recovered, he was already saying something to her.
"Elena, can I sit here?" Mark asked as he touched the top back of the chair across from her.
"Yes, please sit," Elena said while gesturing for him to take a seat while scolding herself inwardly. Who knows how many times he must have had to ask the same question? She couldn't believe that she had forgotten to give him a seat.
"I'm so sorry for stealing some of your time on a Saturday," she quickly added as he sat across from her.
Mark shook his head. "I'm glad I could take a break from work."
'Is he saying that he had no other activity to attend to on a Saturday other than work?' Elena seemed to take a moment to digest that information before the waiter came to take their order.
"I will have an Affogato." Elena closed the coffee menu and handed it back to the waiter.
"Flat white. Thank you," Mark said and passed the menu back.
Elena leaned into the table and asked, "You don't want any snack to go with it?" They both had only ordered two different types of coffee drinks with nothing to go with it.
"If there is any perfect recommendation, I will go with yours," Mark said to her with a smile.
Almost immediately, Elena turned her head to the waiter. "Two croissants. Please." Then the waiter nodded and left.
"How is work?" Mark inquired as soon as they were left alone. He hadn't been keeping tabs on her, but he could tell that nothing major has happened to her in the past ten days they didn't talk or see each other.
After all, 'Deluxe Stores' was a family business.
"Fine," Elena answered. "How about yours?" she inquired, not knowing how to elaborate on the 'fine' answer she gave to him.
She was struggling to have and hold a casual conversation with him.
"Stressful," Mark replied. "I hate dealing with people as I prefer being locked up in an office and working alone. But throughout last week, I couldn't get what I wanted."
Elena raised a questioning brow, grateful that their conversation was heading somewhere. "So, you are not a people person?"
"I'm not. I have never been, but with my status, I can't avoid being social."
"That's why you show up at parties and functions once in a while?" Elena probed with interest as she seemed to be getting a hang of the reason Mark Wang didn't make the headlines often.
"Yes." Mark breathed. "So… what about you? Are you a people person?"
Hearing that question, the small glint on Elena's face disappeared along with her leaning on the backrest of her chair. "I used to be. Currently, I'm not, but I want to be."
In the past, she used to be a socialite having acquaintance with a lot of people, but after her family fell from grace to grass, she lost touch with the outside world. But now, she wants to make her way back to the limelight. Not that she enjoyed it, but because of her revenge scheme which she needed his help with.
Although Mark understood her statement and was starting to get the reason for their meeting, he refused to say a word. Elena was going to talk about it sooner than later.
He would rather let her have the first word as the host.
Soon, the waiter returned with their order and served them on the oak table.
From the time Elena tasted her Affogato till the time she picked up her croissant, Mark had been watching her carefully. But as soon as she bit into the buttery pastry and chewed the piece in her mouth, he asked, "How is it?"
Surprise crossed Elena's face as her lashes blinked a few times. She didn't know he had been waiting for her take on the croissant, but as soon as she recovered, she nodded pleasantly. "You will like it."
With that verdict, Mark picked up the croissant lying on his plate and took a sizable bite.
As he chewed on it, the rich, buttery flavour filled that came from the generous amount of butter used in the dough filled his mouth.
Instantly the smile returned to his lips. "The sweetness is subtle, providing a pleasant contrast to the savoury notes from the butter."
Elena smiled. "I think you should be a satisfied food taster."
"Hahaha…" A soft chuckle escaped from Mark's lips. He used the back of his hand to stifle it. "Thank you, but I guess the reason you wanted to see me today is more important than my quality taste buds you just discovered."
At the mention of the important conversation they were yet to have, Elena released a soft sigh. She picked up her glass of Affogato and took a generous sip to draw courage before fixing her gaze on him.