The group of seven breezed into Azure Star. While not opulently decorated, the restaurant exuded understated elegance with its floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with natural light and its clean, modern aesthetic.
Bypassing the four-tops in the main dining room, they were led to a private room.
"What's everyone having?" Alex passed the menus to the ladies. "Order whatever you want—it's on me. Let's achieve the pinnacle of dining out."
"The pinnacle?" Emma asked curiously.
"You know—entering standing up, leaving crawling out," Alex deadpanned while sipping his tea.
"Pfft!"
Tom choked on his tea while the women dissolved into laughter.
"Alex, you're impossible!" Grace wrapped him in another bear hug, practically smothering him.
"Do you treat all your pets this way?" Alex grumbled.
"Only the adorable ones!" Grace grinned.
"Miss, wouldn't you agree with me?" Alex appealed to their amused server.
"Absolutely, sir," she played along with a smile.
"A kindred spirit! Now, let's order before we keep her standing here all night," Alex urged. "We'll start with the chef's signature platter, and that amazing shrimp dish from last time—what was it called?"
"The Crystal Shrimp with Citrus?"
"That's the one! Trust me, you'll regret not trying these. They're house specialties. What else catches everyone's eye?"
They each selected a dish, building an impressive feast.
"Alex, I've been good to you, haven't I? Helping with that account wasn't for nothing," Grace poured him tea with an angelic smile.
"You've been adequate. Though if you ever make good on all those previous dinner promises, I might upgrade that assessment," Alex took a casual sip.
"Let's not dwell on the past! Besides, I'm counting on your continued support," Grace revealed her true agenda with a winning smile.
"Grace loves lightning, so I'll chop down power lines with a cleaver. How's that for dedication?" Alex offered.
"Perfect!" Grace beamed.
"I want to see lightning too!" Rachel pouted adorably.
"Wait for rain," Alex replied dryly.
"Alex plays favorites!" Rachel sulked.
"Well, Alex and I go back to college and started here together. But don't worry, Rachel—you can always count on me!" Grace declared proudly.
"Right, because you've got your life so together. Like a moth trying to light other moths' way," Alex deflated her immediately.
"Classic!" Tom roared while the others tried to hide their laughter.
"Excuse me? How exactly is my life not together? Explain yourself," Grace planted her hands on her hips.
"Should I remind everyone about that winter break when we were both temping here? You told your parents you were 'gaining experience' to get rent money, then crashed at my place and spent it all on clothes. Fine, whatever, but the state you left that apartment in... everywhere you looked there were—"
"Stop right there!" Grace lunged to clamp her hand over his mouth. "Not. Another. Word."
"Mmph... fine... stopping..." Alex's muffled surrender finally earned his release.
"Come on, what was everywhere?" Jackie pressed eagerly.
"Here, have some tea instead," Grace hurriedly filled Jackie's cup. "Never mind him!"
"Now you're embarrassed?" Alex smirked.
"It was an emergency! Besides, your place was way too big for one person—what else is a 1,000-square-foot apartment good for? And I moved out right after graduation!" Grace defended herself.
"'Emergency' is generous. 'Charity case' feels more accurate," Alex observed, earning him a death glare from Grace who fell into a sulky silence.
"Uh oh, Alex, you made her mad!" Rachel pointed out unnecessarily.
"Better apologize fast!" Jackie advised.
"This dinner tab might be changing hands," Sarah commented with amusement.
"Are you actually upset?" Alex nudged the suspiciously quiet Grace.
No response.
"Come on, give me a smile!" he coaxed.
She shot him a withering look and turned away.
"Well, at least the eye-roll is working," Alex noted cheerfully.
Grace whirled back to glare at him properly.
"So you're really mad?"
A silent nod.
"Not speaking to me?"
Another nod.
"Great, I've been demoted to chopped liver," Alex sighed dramatically.
"Alex Stone, I'm going to strangle you!" Grace tackled him in another crushing hug.
"Alright, children, the food's here. Let's eat!" Sarah interrupted their roughhousing with fond exasperation. Emma watched the exchange with a mixture of envy and fascination. Their relationship defied easy categorization—more than friendship but not quite romance, something rare and precious. Tom just chuckled while Jackie and Rachel cheered them on from the sidelines.
At Sarah's motherly intervention, Grace released Alex with one final glare. He straightened up, rubbing his reddened face and neck where she'd grabbed him, then promptly forgot everything at the sight of food.
"Well? How is everything?" Alex surveyed the table.
"Delicious!" Sarah smiled appreciatively.
"So good!" Rachel managed between bites.
"Alex, when did you discover this place? Why didn't you tell me?" Grace demanded around a mouthful, their recent tussle forgotten.
"Last Saturday, actually. I called you, but you were off having some overpriced French meal with what's-his-name. Your loss!" Alex shrugged, diving back into his food.
"Oh right, that night!" Grace recalled.
"Must be nice, Grace—so many admirers you never have to pay for dinner!" Jackie teased.
"Jackie, as your namesake, let me give you some advice—don't follow her example. Find one good one and stick with them," Alex cautioned.
"Alex, you don't understand the female perspective. It's important to have options, carefully evaluate them all, then select the best candidate," Grace explained loftily.
"Alex, you must have plenty of admirers yourself!" Rachel probed. Emma's chopsticks paused mid-bite, suddenly very interested in the conversation despite pretending to focus on her food.
"Nope," Alex denied flatly.
"Oh please, I know better!" Grace's eyes gleamed. "My turn for some revelations!"
"Go ahead—I've got nothing to hide," Alex continued eating unconcerned.
"Come on, Grace! We've known Alex forever but never hear about his love life!" Jackie urged.
"Well then!" Grace cleared her throat dramatically. "Let me tell you about the legendary Alex Stone. Full scholarship all four years of college despite regularly skipping class. Won the regional debate championship semifinals so decisively his opponents conceded, then forfeited the televised finals because the opposing team was four beautiful women. Turned down six-figure corporate offers to find his own path. As for romance? Everyone wanted to date him, but he played this carefully crafted bad boy act, checking out girls while pretending to be a rebel. Yet somehow he's been single since joining the workforce!"
The table stared at Alex with new eyes.
"Bad boy?"
"Checking out girls?"
They exchanged bewildered looks.
"Grace, are you sure? Our Alex?" Jackie asked skeptically.
"Oh, you've only seen his professional side. I lived with him—I know better! Sure, he looks like a proper businessman during the week, but weekends? He'd wear flip-flops to fine dining restaurants and flirt with the waitresses!" Grace declared.
"Weekends are for relaxing. You wouldn't understand," Alex affected a mysterious air and returned to his food.
'Yeah right!' Emma thought skeptically, clearly still harboring doubts about him.
"Hey, save some of that for me—that's my favorite too!" Grace made a grab for Alex's plate, which he naturally defended. Their squabbling resumed while the others chatted and ate, enjoying the entertainment.
"Sarah, are they always like this?" Emma asked quietly.
"Pretty much. They're our office comedic relief—keeps things lively!" Sarah smiled warmly.
"They seem so close," Emma observed.
"Envious? Don't worry—I know you and Alex got off on the wrong foot, but he's actually wonderful once you get to know him. Let him mentor you; you'll learn a lot," Sarah advised kindly.
"I'll keep that in mind," Emma nodded, while thinking: 'Perfect gentleman at work, secret scoundrel in private. I knew it! I'll catch him in the act and expose him completely!'
This girl really knew how to hold a grudge.