by C. L. Stone
I scanned the perimeter, as if I could turn my head enough to take a look behind me, but I couldn’t do so without completely turning around and being obvious. The back of a spoon just showed me wobbly images. No chance at a window reflection.
My curiosity was getting the better of me. How was I supposed to attract this guy without him us being able to look at each other? This was a bad place to sit.
Who was I dealing with?
When I was finished with my food, as much as I could stomach in my nervousness, I waited for a pause when Ace was talking.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Do you know where the restroom is located?”
Ace’s eyebrow cocked once, some concern showing. I tried to smile to show I was fine. He relaxed and motioned behind me. “That way. There’s a hall.”
I pushed my seat out just a touch, enough to rise and stand. I turned and casually moved in the direction Ace had pointed.
As I turned, I skirted around the table next to us, and got just a glimpse. Now was my chance.
Loïc’s age was hard to determine because his eyes were so wide, giving him a youthful appearance. He had dark hair was cut in a stylish, uneven locks, dipping just below the top of his ears, with several locks hanging around his eyes. It was pitch black enough to almost appear blue in the sheen of the lights overhead. He wore glasses, the only frame being silver at the nose and the parts that went behind the ears. It ensured the lightness of his eyes contrasted heavily with his darker hair.
I couldn’t see his eyes well enough to catch if they were gray or a very light green. He didn’t look directly at me when I passed.
His suit was plain, with a black jacket, an unadorned, thin black tie, and white shirt. With him sitting, there wasn’t any way to tell the brand. It was the accessories I noted most, where his wrists had leather and silver chain cuffs stacked on each other. His ears were pierced with large silver disks in the center of each lobe. A couple of fingers on each hand had thick silver rings.
It was enough that the accessories made a statement. The style was unusual, eye catching, but made him appear sharp, a person who knew what he liked and didn’t care to follow tradition, yet still blended in elegantly.
I had to look ahead to watch where I was going, and was disappointed when he hadn’t looked up when I spotted him. I hoped at least passing by, he got a glimpse. Maybe on the way back, he’d notice me more.
I did get a quick glance at his companion as I passed, at least face to face.
He had broad shoulders and seemed taller than Loïc. His brilliant, dark brown eyes were piercing, almost critical in the way he looked, yet it was his lips that toyed between seriousness and joking.
His hair was cut short around the ears, enough to see skin, except for on top, a lot like Soma’s style. Only the tight brown curls at the top of his head was cut shorter, and evenly. He wore a thin turtleneck, black and a good look for him. He wore no accessories at all, except one ear had a Bluetooth earbud.
When he looked at me, it rattled me through. He didn’t ignore me. He noticed everything.
And then there was the smooth way his eyebrow lifted, curious.
It had me second guessing which one was Loïc. Ace said he’d be interested in me and that I’d draw attention. Was I wrong about who was who?
It wasn’t until I had passed that the Southern accent filled my ear, loud enough I knew he wanted me to hear it. “I have to say, Mr. Courteau, the proposition is interesting. I can see the appeal of Charleston. The women are breathtaking.”
My mouth cracked slightly, and I raised my head. I had been right the first time. Loïc was the French-accented one, which made sense given his name.
I moved on toward the hall that Ace had indicated. On the turn around the corner, I got one more look at Loïc.
His entire focus was on his dinner partner. Despite Ace wanting me to be appealing in some way, and the way even his dinner partner had spoken, he seemed oblivious.
Maybe he was just being courteous to his dinner partner.
What was he hiring his business partner for, anyway?
I followed a white-paneled hallway. The end of it made a left into the kitchens. Midway where there were two doors indicating restrooms, I entered the women’s. I went to a stall, waiting for what I hoped was an appropriate amount of time to pass before I could venture out for another look, and hopefully a chance to make sure I was seen by Loïc.
As I was alone, I considered Ace and his plan. Loïc almost seemed bored. Wasn’t he irritated about Ace taking his table? Was this business meeting, as it seemed, important enough to keep him from getting distracted?
For a rival, Loïc seemed relatively calm. The only one I saw trying to goad anyone was Ace.
Soma was the one keeping score...of something, like it mattered.
Ace was the one wanting me to be the distraction for Loïc.
Who started this rivalry, and was Ace really a victim? The more I considered this, the more I wondered if this wasn’t some sort of playboy pranking system.
This didn’t seem right to me. Ace may have had the opportunity and time to be someone like that, but his mannerisms were completely opposite around me. There was something to Loïc and Ace, but I was pretty sure now Ace wasn’t being completely up front with me about the situation.
I didn’t have time for playboy games. If that’s how he wanted to be, fine. If he kept his promise, why did it matter to me?
Disappointment seeped in. Maybe I had started to like him more than I thought. Yet a terrible ‘one up’ game between him and Loïc seemed a complete waste of money and time when they could be doing something else.
I left the bathroom stall, checking myself in the mirror. The crème had worked and the makeup had stayed in place. None of the makeup seemed to have smudged onto the dress. I touched my hair, swept to one side and part of it cascading down my shoulder. The blond still took getting used to, but it did seem a good choice. I only needed to touch up my lipstick a little before going back to the table.
I didn’t dare stay for too long, as it would look too strange leaving Ace at the table. Still, I hesitated on returning. Never had I felt such pressure being in public, and I was eager to escape being in the center, trying to draw attention from one person while simultaneously avoiding attention from everyone else. Especially if this was some game I was in the middle of.
I stepped out of the bathroom, touching my skirt to ensure it wasn’t riding up too high on my thigh.
From around the corner of the hall appeared Loïc.
I froze, and then corrected myself. I held my head up, walked slow, and tried to make eye contact. I wanted to see his face. I wanted him to see my face. Words formed on my lips, and I readied myself for some sort of polite conversation while passing. Hello. How was your food? Have a nice evening. I wanted to be ready to pause in the hallway if he wanted to continue any small talk.
His light eyes were cast down to the floor, and then to the wall, and then down the hallway, beyond me.
I took him in, studying the clothes. There were no labels I could find. Whatever designer he worked with didn’t leave branding at all. It seemed to be of quality, but there was no indication at all of where they had come from. I wondered if Gretta that Soma had mentioned, if she did his clothes too. Was that the designer that all the local elites used?
The silver rings and his glasses reflected lights from above. The whole ensemble was interesting. It was like he didn’t care what he wore, but at the same time, he took steps to enhance what was a normal suit and tie look.
What got to me more was his lean stature, the way he walked, and the seriousness of his face. Sharp and aware, but completely disinterested in his surroundings. His lips were relaxed, his light eyes didn’t bother to stick to anything. Bored.
I found I wanted to get his attention, because I wanted to know if he thought I was interesting.
I needed him to be, if I had any chance for Ace to help me out. However, I just really wanted to
know if I was interesting at all.
Slowly, just as we were about to pass in the hall, his gaze fell on me.
But not on me.
Not on my face.
He looked at my hair, at my dress with a flicker of his eyes.
And then walked by.
No smile, nothing.
I slowed after he walked past me, struck by how I’d been dismissed. He knew I was there, but was completely oblivious other than I was someone he was passing on the way to the bathroom.
Tension wound up my chest and stomach. It wasn’t the first time I’d ever been so dismissed but before it had not mattered so much. I was risking exposure in public to attract his attention, and I’d been completely ignored.
Whatever Ace had expected, I had completely failed. Loïc had absolutely no interest in my presence.
What would Ace say once he found out? I wasn’t much of a distraction if I couldn’t get Loïc to even look at me. Would he consider my part of the bargain a failure?
Did it mean he’d be unwilling to help me sort out the mess in Atlanta?
I walked on with a wash of tears at my eyes, not daring to shed one. It blurred my vision, but I didn’t care. It felt like I couldn’t look at anyone else who would snub me in quite the same way.
In some way, that brush off by Loïc rattled me on a personal, self-conscious level.
I kept a small, tight smile on my face as I sat once again at the table.
Ace took one look at me and sat forward, eyebrow cocked. “Feeling okay?”
I nodded slowly, unable to express my fears, in case Loïc’s companion sitting behind us overheard. I also wasn’t sure I wanted to talk about it.
I didn’t really understand my feelings, about why I felt so hurt to be snubbed.
Was he shy? Did he not want to make eye contact? Even though Ace had told me little, it didn’t seem completely likely.
Or maybe I was just making assumptions. It still felt so dismissive.
Ace was quiet for a long moment after I sat down. He gazed at my plate and then spoke quietly. “Would you like to try some dessert?”
“I don’t think so,” I said quietly. I couldn’t help my tone, sad and defeated. I wasn’t in the mood to take any more advantage of his hospitality when I couldn’t do what he asked of me.
Ace pressed his lips together firmly and held my gaze. Silently, he was asking me if I was okay.
I forced a smile, but it was weak. I don’t know why I was stressing myself out so much about one moment in the hallway. I was never very good at hiding how I felt in the moment. I never felt the need to hide before.
Ace sipped wine and went on about a book he had read once, but I knew he was talking to fill the silence. Shortly after, I heard the chair behind me scooting along the floor, and Loïc sitting down.
I stiffened, longing to look behind me but knowing I’d just get his back.
Walking out quickly after that would have brought too much attention, so I forced myself to rejoin the conversation. Once I started to become animated, Ace seemed to relax, but not completely.
When the waiter came around and asked for dessert, he selected two but asked for them to be put in to-go containers. He put on a broad smile. “You may be full now, but you don’t want to miss their chocolate assortment.” The next part he spoke quietly. “It’s good enough to brighten any mood.”
The warmth in his tone, the way he looked at me, I was eager for it. Ace liked how I looked. He told me. He believed I was good enough to attract the attention of Loïc. He was trying to help and also very considerate, even if occasionally brash. Maybe he was a playboy with a score to keep but at least he was nice. This time when my eyes watered for his unfathomable hospitality, I blinked rapidly and my smile became genuine. Ace knew I was troubled and was trying to be supportive without drawing attention.
And I appreciated that he wanted to make me feel better. I should be honest with him about what happened. Maybe he was right about Loïc and it was good I was helping him? At any rate, I didn’t believe even if I had failed, that Ace would simply kick me to the curb. I tried. I would continue to try. I’d do other favors if I could help. I wouldn’t give up so easily. I just needed him to tell me what was going on. I’d no wish to join their rivalry if it was silly, but I wouldn’t get in their way. If they weren’t hurting anyone, did it matter?
When dessert was brought to the table in a paper bag, he paid the bill and stood, coming around to my seat to help scoot it out.
I rose, ready to not look at Loïc, or at his partner. I wanted to walk past as smooth as he had, to seem bored and to not care.
Except when I walked past, I locked eyes with his dinner partner. He smiled pleasantly with broad lips parting.
It broke the coldness I wanted to portray. That wasn’t me. I matched his expression. Hope you’re having a nice night, Mr. Stranger. Hope you get the job or business thing you’re here for.
There was a small wince from him, a tightness at the corner of his eyes, and then a grimace that appeared right on the edge of his lips, sympathetic...and confused.
He could tell I was upset. Hopefully, he didn’t pass on what he noticed to Loïc.
Not that Loïc would even care.
Ace followed me to the waiting area just outside the restaurant. He passed the to-go bag to me and motioned to the settee.
“I’ll put in a call to Soma,” he said. “I should have done it earlier, but...I have to admit, you have me distracted lately. Time for my trip to the little boys’ room.”
I smiled for him, but when he disappeared down the hallway toward the restrooms, I sat back, breaking my posture now that I was out of sight of Loïc and Ace. I inhaled deeply, letting out a long, slow breath between my lips.
I wasn’t cut out to be sneaky like this. It felt too restricting. Too unlike me.
Cornered
(Ace)
Ace hurried away from Evelyn. The moment he was out of view, he had his phone out. He typed out a quick text to Soma, asking him to bring the car around. Soma was no doubt not a block or two away, waiting, but it could still take time if there were many tourists in the streets or slow traffic.
Ace opened the swinging door to the men’s restroom and paused as the door closed behind him.
Should he or shouldn’t he? Seemed a good place as any. Who would notice? Soma always said he was impulsive and it was better to wait, but he wasn’t sure he could right now.
He sent another text, this time to Loïc.
ACE: Find me.
He didn’t have to say where. Loïc no doubt saw him heading this direction.
Ace went to the sink, leaning back against it, arms folded over his chest.
Her face.
That broken smile.
He fumed, his muscles tightening. Despite everything that had happened to her, not since getting sunburned, being told about the police...she hadn’t once looked as defeated as she did returning from the restroom.
Only one person he knew could make a girl feel like that.
It was only a few minutes before the bathroom door opened and Loïc entered.
Loïc tugged at the knot of his thin black tie. He stood still just outside of the swing circumference of the door and remained there. “Dinner not going well?” He thickened the French accent as he spoke. The devilish arch of his brow was the only indication he was amused.
“What did you say to her?” Ace asked, a little louder than he intended. His voice echoed enough he was sure someone else could hear behind the wall if they wanted. He grumbled and then spoke quieter. “What did you do?”
The arch disappeared and Loïc revealed nothing in his expression, an expert in stoicism. “I said nothing.”
Ace wasn’t sure he believed him. “You’re breaking your own rules, Loïc?”
“I did nothing,” Loïc said. He crossed his heart in front of his chest with two fingers. “I swear. I didn’t say a word.”
“Did you have to get up while she was in the restro
om? Whatever you did, she looked really upset.”
“Maybe that’s on you, not me,” he said. He straightened and sliced through the air with an open palm. “I followed the rules. I was curious, so I got up to take a look for myself. I’ll admit that. But I never spoke to her.”
“You did something.”
“You’re paranoid,” he said. His lip curled in the corner, cunning and devious. “If you asked me, I think she’s just bored with you. Talking about places you’ve been and a yacht you don’t use. What a showoff.”
Ace rolled his eyes. “She seemed okay until she passed you by. You seem to have a repelling effect on women. Or attract the wrong sort. Did you get rid of Crazy Hotel Girl?”
Loïc’s lips dipped into a frown. “We haven’t been able to find her, although word was she wanted to come pay you a visit. If she’s anywhere close by, I suspect she’s using cash or I’d be able to find her easier. It’s actually why I was in your garden this afternoon. I was scouting for vulnerabilities in case she stopped in herself. Her and her friend broke into a hotel room rather easily. Unexpected. She may get just as creative if she wanted to break into your house.”
The thought chilled Ace. It wasn’t that he couldn’t defend himself again, but the fact that Soma, and now Eva, were there. What if they got into the middle of it? They could end up on camera. Especially Evelyn. A gossip blogger is the last thing she needed right now. “Something has to be done. We made a deal. Whatever we did, it doesn’t follow us home. It doesn’t invade our private lives.”
“She turned out more clever than I gave her credit for. But we’ll take care of her. Maybe you should be looking into this new girl. You don’t know anything about her. She came out of nowhere, didn’t she? What’s her name again?” Loïc cocked an eyebrow. “The hostess seems to believe her name was the same as mine, but I know that isn’t true.”
“Nice try.” Ace stood taller, hands at his sides. Loïc wasn’t stupid. He got a good look at Evelyn now, and it wouldn’t be long before he discovered who she really was. He wasn’t going to just hand it over. He just hoped by the time Loïc figured it out, Ace was able to finish up what he needed. “You are the one who called to cancel my reservation here tonight, yeah?”
