Later that evening, I had a dinner date reserved with Parker at his family's newly opened restaurant just downtown.
'I really need to talk to you about something important,something that has to do with us.' Were his exact words and the curiosity to find the core of his words kept bargaining my soul the entire day at school.
"Adda,the car is here!" My mom shouted from the bottom of the stairs as I was finishing my makeup in my room.
"I'm coming!" I shouted back,grabbing my things and making my way down.
"You look beautiful." She complimented as I entered the kitchen.
Smiling, I responded." Thank you mother, I won't be out for too long but please don't bother yourselves waiting for me." I said,squeezing her in a tight hug.
Stepping outside, I shivered. It was a damp November Night and quite cold.
"Typical English Winter Weather!" I scoffed underneath my breath as I walked over to a dark red Rolls-Royce that parked before my front door.
A uniformed chauffeur jumped out to open the door for me.
"Good evening,Miss Brown." Leith greeted me,"You look quite lovely tonight."
"Thank you Leith,I could really get used to being complimented the entire night,every night!" I joked,we laughed as he drove off.
Leith has been a loyal Chauffeur of Parker's family for a number of years. He was in his early forties and such a humble, free-spirited human being he conveyed. And the funniest!
The traffic was far lighter than it was during the day and the streets were much less crowded, in fact,they were almost empty beside one or two young couples wandering about, hands intertwined.There was something so placid and engrossing about this old part of London we resided in.Certain streets demonstrated old vintage portraits, colors and art.
Upon arriving at the restaurant front door,I noticed Parker making his was to my door.In a split of a second, the door flew open and my presence was acknowledged by a large bouquet of freshly alive Daffodils.
Parker withheld out his hand to help me out of the car and as soon as both my heels clicked the Mable shiny floor of the restaurant,I embraced him with a deep yet short kiss.
"Evening Miss Daff." He breathed out warmly as the kiss broke.
"Evening." I said,gazing into those green perfect eyes.
I took in how handsome he looked. He wore a dark blue tuxedo which fitted every part of his body just right,with a plainly pure white shirt and his hair was a bit messy and a bit wet,as if he had just hoped out of the shower.
The smell of his expensive cologne filled my nostrils,pleasantly.
[PARKER'S POV]
I couldn't help but observe how marvelous she looked. She was wearing a red mid-thigh bodycon dress which had a huge opening at the back,exposing her rich, delicate skin.It wasn't just simply plain,it screamed of customization,tailored,elegant.Both the pearls she had on had a milky sheen which made it the perfect foils for her glossy dark browned hair and her tawny-caramel complexion.
I was particularly pleased by her dress color choice since I had painted an image of her in any red gourmet for the evening. Reading her,I was instantly reassured that I had captured an essence of her on my canvas-her beaut,her warmth and inner grace that seemed to radiate effortlessly from her. She was beyond words the most beautiful woman I had ever fell for.
"You look as radiant as ever." I said
"Well,you don't look quite bad yourself." She smiled.
"Come on,let's go inside." I led her in the restaurant.
*Phone Rings
"Ohhhh,let me quickly take this my love." I said,taking out the non-stopping buzzing phone inside my pocket."Clare,could you accompany my girlfriend to our table in the meantime, or better yet,show her around. I'm quite sure she'll be fascinated by the place.Especially since it also consist of London's best portraits and an antique studio on the third floor. " I said to the tall brunette waitress standing before us.
I saw Adamma's eyes flash with contentment from my last sentence. She was a devoted art ideologist,a lover of paintings,nature, art and anything worth to the soul.
"I'll be right back." I said to Adamma,leaning closer to her ear and placing my hand on her lower back,I whispered,"Don't miss me too much,but if you do...." I traced my fingers slowly up and down her exposed skin,I could feel her shivering at my touch.
"Come find me." I whispered seductively,she gulped
"Parker speaking", I moved to answer the call.
"Is there anything you need me to get for you ma'am?" Clare asked as we came to a halt next to the reception.
"A glass of white wine will do please." I replied
The restaurant was very pleasant to one's eyes. It had three floors, vintage furnished and elegant modern touches.Since it was the last day before the actual grand opening, only workers were around to familiarize themselves with the place. I couldn't be more glad to actually be honored to view the place in solitude, without people around.
After Clare bought me the wine,I told her I'd like to just wander around on my own and explore the place to the core. I had been dating Parker since high school,known him since kindergarten but I had never had a chance to explore every restaurant his family owned. But I had been to a few of his family's other restaurant around.His dad was an English professor and his mom an artist.
They also owned some of London's finest restaurants and hotels around and witnessing such accomplishments from his folks,he had always been driven to elevate higher.
I moved away,strolled up to the third floor, my eyes roving around the place,taking everything in.
My jaw almost dropped to the floor as my heels clicked to the last step of the floor, coming to view with the art studio.
I loved art,antiques and Diana,Parker's mom was a history Philosper and owned one of the finest antiques shops around which she invariably had some of the best and most beautiful antiques available in London,many of them garnered from the great houses of France and Europe.In her days,she used to travel extensively on the Continent,searching for all kinds of treasures,but she mostly specialized in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century French furniture, porcelain, decorative objects and paintings. She also carried a few English Georgian and Regency pieces as well to complete her style. However, her impeccable credentials and reputation of being a dealer also came upon her immense knowledge of fine French furniture, which was her great expertise lay.
I was instantly drawn down to the far end of the floor, near the tall windows which showcased the lake view. There,a beautiful huge magnificent piece of art was hang on the wall. I stood before it in awe,admiring the rich,complex yet fascinating puzzles of the painting.I admired it's beautifully carved wood frame and the scenery of the art displayed from the painting.
There is just something about the eyes being captured by a breathtaking piece of art,or painting. Right there in that moment if you just let go of everything, every reality thought and just allow your soul, mind and body to travel inside the beauty that stands before you and transcend your existence into art itself,it's one of the most priceless but unquestionably incredible feeling of escape ever.
"Ready to dine yet?" A familiar raspy yet tender voice whispered in my ear from behind me,bringing my senses back to reality.
Smiling, I turned around."Ready." I muttered.
"Well,after you ma'am." Parker said with a smile
And just as we made our way back downstairs,I couldn't help but wonder what it was he wanted to tell me over dinner. And what confused me the most was how overly nice he was ever since we got to the restaurant, which was quite unlike him. Parker was never the kind of guy who is easily smoothened or easily shows up his teeth but he was being too nice to me. Was it a sudden change due to pity of what he wanted to talk to me about, that had something to do with us?
Could it be he was breaking up with me?