18

“Well here goes nothing!”. I took a deep breath and got out of the car.
Xander gave me his arm and I placed my hand around him. I look at the building in front of us. It’s the popular La Visa restaurant. It is the most popular restaurant here in New York. They serve food from about fifty different countries of the world. I heard that a plate of food here cost more than a thousand dollars. My friends and I always wish to come here. It is on our bucket list. I can’t believe I am standing before the restaurant.
The doorman prostrated to us as we passed. The whole restaurant is empty.
“Good evening Mr and Mrs Cage, the dinner is upstairs”. A lady wearing a waitress uniform directed us to the stairs.
“Why is the restaurant empty?”. I asked Xander as we climbed up the stairs.
“That’s because Mr Hu has rented the whole restaurant!” Xander stated as if it is nothing.
Book a whole five star restaurant for just a dinner? Mr Hu must be very loaded! No wonder Xander said he is his very important client.
We reached the top of the stairs and from where we are standing, I can see people interacting with each other.
I began to panic again. This will be my first time in the same room with the elite and I honestly don’t know how to feel about it.
“Relax, nobody is going to eat you! They are also humans like you!”. Xander whispered into my ear.
“I never said they were going to! I am just nervous!” I honestly revealed.
“Nothing is going to happen while I am here! Chill out and smile!.” Xander assured me as he pressed my hand.
Just smile! You can do this Ashely! I said and put a smile on my face.
When I have finally composed myself, Xander lead us to the section of the dinner. They are about twenty five people or so in numbers. Somewhere gisting in groups while others where seating.
“Mr Cage, a pleasant surprise seeing you here!”. A man wearing an expensive suit like Xander’s stopped and greeted us.
“Mr Callus evening to you !.” Xander greeted the man with a tight smile.
“Evening to you too! And you are this beautiful lady?”. Mr Callus asked, staring at me. I don't like how he is looking at me like a creep.
“She is my wife!”. Xander said and held me tighter In a possessive manner.
“Wife? I am quite surprised! I don’t know that the almighty Mr Xander Cage is married. When did it happen?” Mr Callus asked.
“Well now you do! Please excuse us!”. Xander said and moved us away from Mr Callus without answering the last part of his question.
“You seem to find it annoying.”
“That’s because I do. He talks too much for a guy. Always looking for gossip.” Xander said, sounding irritated.
Xander moved us deeper into the hall towards the directions of a group of Chinese people.
“Ah Mr Cage! I was beginning to think that you bailed on me.” The Chinese man in the middle said with a warm smile on his face.
“I won’t miss it for the whole world Mr Hu!” Xander stated.
“I trust you! And if I guess right, this beautiful lady here is your wife?”. Mr Hu said.
“Quite right Mr Hu. This is my wife Ashely Cage!” Xander introduced us.
“A pleasure to meet you sir.” I greeted
“A pleasure to meet you too. I must comment, Xander, you got yourself a beautiful wife.” Mr Hu commented.
“Thank you for the compliment!”.
“Now that everyone is here, let’s eat!” Mr Hu said and everyone moved to their seats.
I found the whole dinner very boring. The men were talking about business which I have no understanding about while the women were acting like the typical rich woman. They were all keeping to themselves. No one wanted to talk to the other.
The only good thing about the whole dinner is the food. Damn! It is out of this world. I am having an Italian steak medium cooked.
After one bit of the food, I fell in love with Italy. I am surely going to keep trying Italian food from now on.
After I was done eating, the boredom came back! I wish I had a phone to keep me busy right now.
I could not be more happier when I saw the men stand up.
Yeah! It’s time to go! I cheered inwardly.
“I look forward to working with you Mr Cage!”. Mr Hu said as he shook Xander.
“Likewise Mr Hu!”. Xander said and smiled at him.
“Let’s go?” Xander gave me his hand and help me up. I said my goodbye to Mr Hu who invited us for his wife’s birthday next week and we left.
“O thank God!” I sighed as soon as we entered the car.
“Was the dinner that bad?”. Xander asked me.
“I was just bored!.” I said and leaned on my seat. This dress and shoes are killing me.
“Wait until you attend other dinners, they are usually more dense than this!.” Xander inputs as he drives out of the restaurant parking lots.
“If so then I am not looking forward to attending any more dinners!.” I murmured.
“You will get used to it after attending two more, trust me!.” Xander said but I gave him no reply. I am so exhausted. I know that I didn’t do anything other than sit but I was still tired.
Rick people, I will never understand them. They attend parties just to sit and do nothing or talk about businesses. At least the food was good! I give them the credit for that.
“Hey, I know just what will cheer you up!”. Xander exclaimed.
“And what may that be?” I turn to face him. curiously
“Car karaoke!!” Xander said, making me laugh.
“Seriously? A car Karaoke with your terrible voice? How is that supposed to cheer me up?.” I murmured.
“O please I don’t have a terrible voice, in fact my voice will more than cheer you up! all the girls i have been with can testify to that!” Xander winked at me. My face held a look of disgust when I realized what he meant.
“Ewww! Keep the story of your affairs away from me!.” I said keeping my disgust look while deep down within me, a part of me felt a little bit jealous that he has been with a lot of girls.
“Ewww? No girl has ever ewww me!”. Xander frowned at me.
“Well there is always a first time for everything right?.” I rolled my eyes at him.
Xander turned deaf ears to me and on the radio. Essence by Wiskid, Tems and Justin Bieber started playing.
“Say I wanna leave you in the morning' But I need you now, yeah, yeahI find you, I give you all you needing I know you what you likeI feel it com in time is of the essenceI tried to teach you But I might need some lessonsI need to give it allI tried to leave but I can't I don't know why, you're the one Turn me out of my mind
You don't need no other body
You don't need no other body
Only you fi hold my body
Only you fi hold my body
You don't need no other body”
The second filled the car without any of us singing. Once the second standard started to play,
Xander joined in the song.
“Say na me dey mess up your mind And na me dey make you free up your mind Say your body talk to me niceSay na my love, you dey need for your lifeYeah our love no be lieSee yeah we dey together yeah day and nightYeah if I leave you go kpaiYeah if you leave I go kpai (oh, oh whoa)I'm strokin' your body, babyLovin' your body, babyAs you're whining' your body, baby, so crazy Loving' your body, babyGyal iwo ni temiI just wanna let you know, ohope every day that I dey by you…”
And when the chorus started again, I could not help but join;
“You don't need no other body
You don't need no other body
Only you fi hold my body
you fi hold my body
You don't need anybody else..”
Xander and I sang on top of our voices. When the song ended, we both laughed and laughed. Xander was right, the car karaoke did Cheer me up!
“See I told you!”. Xander murmured. I actually enjoyed my day. Even though the dinner was boring as hell, it’s nice to see Xander laughing.
Xander got out of the car and that was when I realized that we were home already. Xander walked me to the door of my room and we both stood silently looking at each other.
“Em good night!.” I nervously said to him. I don’t know why I am suddenly feeling that way.
“Good night to you too!.” Xander said and turned to go back to his room. For some reason, I feel very disappointed. I don’t know why or what I was expecting from him.
Just as I was about to open the door of my room, I felt a hand grab me and turn me around.
“What the …” the rest of my words were swallowed by someone’s lips on mine. I was shocked for a moment and didn’t move my lips. It took my brain a minute to see that Xander was kissing me.
O my god! Xander is kissing me.
I didn’t know what to do because I have only kissed a guy once and that was in elementary school.
I decided to put into practice what I have read in novels!
I move my lips along with his and Xander kisses me hungrily. He moved his hand from my arm down to my waist as he pulled me closer to him.
The kiss went on only for about five minutes before Xander let me go!
“I have wanted to do this since the night started! Good night!” Xander said and left me standing dazed in front of my door.
****