I frowned.
“What? You want me to be nice about this? He stepping on our date.”
“He just lost people that are close to him and—”
Jonathan kept his voice low. “I don’t give a damn what he lost.”
I looked at the waiter. “We still need time to order, but thank you for delivering the message.”
“And don’t forget about my orders of lobster.” Jonathan poured more champagne, spilling a little on the table. “I want them neatly packed too.”
“Yes, sir.” The waiter hurried away.
“Really, Jonathan?”
“What? Dimitri is being an asshole.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to be an asshole to the restaurant.”
“What do you mean? I’m sticking it to Ivanov.”
“Hiking up the check effects the people in the kitchen who will now be rushing to make the Mayor of Paradise twenty-five lobsters. Why involve the waiter and restaurant staff with this back-and-forth?”
“But you do see how this is Dimitri’s fault?”
“Of course I do, but there are better ways that this could have been handled.”
“I react my way. You react yours.” Jonathan tapped the menu. “In fact, I may order everything on here to sample it this evening.”
“You will not.”
“I sure will.”
“You know what? This date is over.” I signaled at Banks and Sid and stood. “Have a good evening.”
Jonathan widened his eyes as he stood. “You can’t be serious?”
“Good night.” I got ready to walk off.
He grabbed my arm. “What are you doing?”
Banks was at his side fast. “Let her go.”
Jonathan released my arm and cleared his throat. “Sit back down, Rose. Please.”
“I’m ready to go home.”
“People are looking at us. I have an election. Small things like this can shift the city’s debate. This could cost me numbers.”
“I don’t care—”
“Sit down, order, eat some food like a normal person, and then we'll leave together. This way it won’t make any headlines.
“If you really cared about what people would think of you, then maybe don’t order twenty-five freaking lobsters and take-home a bunch of fucking caviar that’s being paid for by a gangster.” I stomped off.
Banks clapped and took the bottle of expensive champagne off the table.
Sid followed us.
20
The Audacity
Rose
A
sshole!
Rattled, I headed over to where the bathroom was. I needed to splash water on my face and calm down. I turned to Banks. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, sweetheart.” Banks took a swig from the bottle and tried to hand it to Sid who shook his head.
I entered the bathroom, shut the door, locked it, and leaned against it.
The both of them are assholes!
I closed my eyes.
Why would Dimitri not return my calls, yet make a huge fuss with Jonathan and me?
I’d assumed he didn’t see me as important enough since he hadn’t returned communication.
The audacity!
I remembered the expression on his face when I spotted him at his table. So much anger covered his face. A shiver of fear ran through me.
Jonathan is lucky that Dimitri only antagonized him with money? Now what?
I hoped Dimitri or Jonathan left. Personally, I planned to get out of the restaurant as fast as possible. My guards and I would just have to grab an uber and order food when I got back to my condo.
Jonathan will call to discuss this? Would Dimitri call too or just show up at my place?
It was sad, but the idea of him being in my space did something to my body. Part of me enjoyed the rageful jealousy all over his face. The other part knew not to be so foolishly silly.
Okay. Get grounded and then leave this place without any more drama.
Opening my eyes, I gazed around the bathroom.
Wow.
My grandmother always said that one could tell a lot about a restaurant by how clean or not the bathroom was. While the luxury garden theme dazzled me in the dining area, the true showstopper was here.
The Secret Garden’s bathroom was stunning.
It was divided into three separate sections.
Where I stood, it must have been a powder room. Floor-to-ceiling pink marble surrounded me. Plush carpet covered the floor. Two velvet lounge chairs lined the back wall. On the other side stood three vanity tables. Rose-tinted glass made up the vanity table’s mirrors. Hollywood lights glowed above the long mirrors. Crystal chandeliers dangled from the pink pastel ceiling.
I left the door and walked inside, wondering where the sinks were.
At the end of the massive room, two caramel-colored doors stood.
I opened the one on the left and peeked in. Bathroom stalls filled the space. An artist had painted flowers on all of them. Banana leaf wallpaper covered the walls.
I closed that door and went through the other one.
First, eye-catching gold faucets greeted me. They stood above pink washbasins carved in the shape of oyster shells. More shocking pink coated the room. Vases of pale silk roses adorned every surface.
I went to the first sink, turned on the water, washed my hands, and then dabbed my face. My skin had been flushed from Dimitri’s menacing attention. He looked pissed and ready to tear Jonathan’s head off.