"How nice. You still remember me". Berry said, not looking or sounding offended in the least.
Stuart blinked. He could not remember Berry's exact name but he remembered that it was related to a fruit and before he could even comprehend anything, he ended up blurting, 'Fruit guy!'
"why are you here?" Stuart asked, in sound indifferent in his formal voice. Berry leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I have an appointment with Miss Garnett, but for some reason, they asked me to come to you instead", berry said and shrugged. He also sounded indifferent but not like Stuart.
Stuart was surprised by his neutral tone. He had only been with Berry for less than a day but he somehow had a feeling that Berry was someone who was always up to no good so he did not expect Berry to be like this.
If he could turn back time, he would have opened the damned file. Maybe then, he wouldn't be so shocked.
But since Berry was being normal- kind of- he decided to play along, "Welcome Mr. Yates". He greeted and Berry nodded in response. Unexpectedly, their meeting started and ended smoothly and Stuart could not be more relieved.
He stood up and Berry stood up with him. They shook hands, signaling the end of the meeting then berry turned to leave.
As relieved as he was, Stuart was still surprised. Something in his head kept telling him that this was not the man he met two weeks ago. Maybe they just had similar features. When he saw berry, he was quite sure that he would be harassed but went well surprisingly.
This left him puzzled, and before he knew it, he had already opened his mouth, "wait!".
Berry turned around with a wide smile on his far and at that moment Stuart knew he would regret calling out to him. He should have just let him walk away. "yes, Stuart".
'Great! No longer Mr. Garnett. He was so going to regret this!
Stuart had nothing to say as he started at Berry for a while. It seems like Berry was dressed to kill today. He was wearing a grey silk shirt with two buttons at the top undone revealing the thin silver chain on his neck. His hair looked like it was continuously ruffled by his hand. His grey shirt was matched with black pants and expensive looking leather shoes.
Asides from that, his demeanor screamed elegance and luxury because of the diamond encrusted watch on his wrist.
"I guess I have to give my stylist a raise?" Berry said and chuckled. That was when Stuart snapped out of his daze like state. He gulped before sitting down and clearing his throat.
"why are you wearing gloves today?" he asked the first question that came to his mind. He was curious about those black leather gloves since Berry was not wearing them that day.
Berry looked down at his gloved hands and answered, "My hands are very precious to me. Wouldn't want to ruin them". He shrugged.
Stuart nodded slowly, not knowing what to do next. He had stopped Berry without knowing why now they were both looking at each other.
"let's talk over lunch?" Berry suggested out of the blue and Stuart did not even know when he agreed.
Now Stuart was seated alone in a private room in the restaurant. Berry had gone out to god knows where and Stuart had not seen anything of him since.
Just then, the door opened and Berry came in with a server behind him. Their food was arranged on the table and Berry soon sat as the waiter left.
"help yourself". Stuart heard Berry say and he rolled his eyes. Berry did not have to tell him that.
As he picked his cutlery, he noticed Berry's unashamed gaze fixed on him, making Stuart extremely uncomfortable. "so, you are a chef?" he asked just to see the awkward silence.
He saw Berry smile before he opened his mouth, "Are you asking to know or because you are curious about me".
Stuart's hands that were holding the cutleries paused halfway. How could Berry twist his simple question to this?
Stuart sighed and shook his head. 'nevermind. I will just eat and go back to work. He thought it himself and continued eating trying his best to ignore Berry which was impossible because Berry's eyes were following his every movement.
"You look much better than the last time I saw you". Stuart paused again at the remark. He agreed with what Berry said and did not see it as anything weird. He had indeed taken care of himself and was looking healthier. "it just makes me love you more".
Stuart almost coughed out the half chewed food in his mouth as he started at Berry with wide eyes. That stupid grin he had seen that day at Berry's was back on his face and that look in Berry's eyes made Stuart aware that this was just the beginning of a long day.
"Have you thought about what I asked you?" Berry asked as he peered at Stuart's flustered face.
"yes I have, and my answer is still no!" Stuart managed to reply calmly before going back to his food. From the corner of his eye, he saw Berry's downcast expression but he could care less about it.
"too bad. Seems I would have to try harder". Stuart did not mind what he said. Berry could do whatever he wanted but Stuart's answer would always be no. It wasn't just about not being able to replace Kevin. He just could not see himself being with someone like Berry.
"I should leave", Stuart said and stood up from his seat carefully and met the sharp and displeased eyes of Berry.
"You are not done eating yet", Berry remarked as he stood up from his seat as well, "I can leave if you are uncomfortable having me around". He said calmly that Stuart started to feel guilty.
It was true that he was uncomfortable with Berry around but hearing Berry say it just didn't sit well with him. He felt like a bad person.
"It's not that, I am just not hungry", he said trying to get rid of the huge block on his chest. He saw Berry nod thoughtfully before he said, "If you say so".
Berry sounded indifferent again which puzzled Stuart. He would say words that made him feel something then say another word that made him seem like a fool.
Stuart turned to the door about to leave when he heard Berry say, "See you tomorrow" with a wave of his hand. Stuart only ignored him and stepped out. He had done whatever needed to be done with Berry today. There was no need to see him tomorrow. He did not want to see Berry ever again.