Chapter 16
Elle
I didn't want to use the word awkward, but this was kinda awkward.
He reminded me a little bit of Brad actually, slightly serious and quiet, a little unsure of himself. Then again, I was the same, or at least used to be. I think, though, over the last couple of years, I'd changed quite dramatically as a person.
“So, Ray, what do you like to do outside of class?”
Ray was my date, a guy who Tess had set me up with. He was in her class and was apparently a nice guy. A safe pair of hands. That was the phrase she'd used.
Wow, so hot.
“You need to get yourself onto the dating scene, Elle,” Tess had said. “Seriously girl, you've been here months now. It's time for you to explore some of the guys out there and get some action.”
I'd got some action. Not that anyone knew about it.
It still bothered me, the way Crash had just run off like that. He'd gone all weird and distant and then suddenly marched off. “I'm done here.” That's what he said. As if I was some f*cking toy to be played with and discarded.
I had been so tired that evening but could barely sleep at all. It just infuriated me how he acted. I mean, did he think he was better than me or something? Just because he ran a casino, he thought he was the bees knees.
Well, screw him.
“I guess I like films,” said Ray. “I watch a lot of movies. And books, I like reading.”
Yep, he really did seem like a safe pair of hands.
“Oh, OK. What sort of genres?” I had to try to make an effort at least.
“I like superhero films mainly. And Dan Brown, he's my favorite author.”
“Oooo, OK, so if you were a superhero, what power would you most like to have?” I asked it excitedly, trying to inject some energy into the conversation.
He seemed almost shocked by the question.
“Er, I suppose flight would be fun.”
“Oh come on Ray, what about invisibility so you could spy on all the naked girls in the changing room.” I plastered a cheeky smile onto my face.
Frankly, I'd gotten bored of small talk. Enough already.
“Um, yeah I guess.” He seemed embarrassed by it. “Sorry, but I need to use the bathroom.”
He stood immediately and paced quickly off to the toilets at the back. I mean, seriously, the last thing I needed was another Brad. This guy was boring with a capital B.
A waiter walked by and I grabbed at his arm to get his attention.
“More drink please.” I said.
“Um, yes miss. What kind?”
“Anything. Wine. Another of these.” I lifted up the empty bottle of Chardonnay from its cooler.
“Yes miss, right away.”
Maybe if I got drunk I'd have more fun? I don't think I could have less.
....
Ray didn't get any more interesting to me as the meal went on. He was cute, and appeared more so after a few large glasses of vino, but that wasn't enough. If he harbored any sort of ambition that I was going to put out, he'dhave to reset his expectations immediately. That wasn't going to happen.
I ended up having the lion's share of the next bottle of wine. I mean, come on, if there was one thing college guys could be guaranteed to do, it would be to drink. Not this guy. He just sat there nursing his wine as he mumbled on about his ambitions for what would probably be a very dull office-based job.
Truth be told, I'd stopped listening by the time the desserts came out.
No, I began filling my mind with other, more interesting things. Like the fact that I had another dance performance coming up. One on an actual stage at an actual event. OK, so I was pretty stricken with nerves by the prospect, but that's what life's all about, right? Stepping out of your comfort zone and doing the things that scare you?
And yeah, I loved dancing. I loved it so much I'd begun to go to classes on the weekend as well as several week nights. The expense of it grew, but I didn't care. I'd sooner spend my money on dancing than drinking or going out.It's what made me really happy.
Tonight, though, the drink was making me happy. Or, at least, it was distracting me from the downright awkwardness that was infecting this night.
I'd have words with Tess when I get home, that was for sure.
My eye was caught as the door to the restaurant opened up. An elderly man walked in, greeted by a concierge who hurriedly took his coat. He looked contemptuous, his eyes full of disdain as he glanced around the restaurant.
I don't know why my eyes stuck with him but they did. Probably because not much else of interest was going on right now. The concierge pointed towards the back corner of the restaurant and the man starting making his way there.
I arched my neck, watching as he went. When I saw who he was meeting I felt a surge of lust and anger at the same time. It was a bizarre mix that I hadn't experienced before.
Sitting in the corner of the restaurant was Crash. He sat with a glass in front of him and a look of pleasure on his face. I hadn't seen him come in. It was probably when I'd hurried off to the toilets to escape one of the many awkward silences with Ray.
He stood as the man approached, a snide smile on his face as he reached out his hand.
“What's so interesting back there?” Ray asked.
I spun my head back around towards him.
“Someone you know?”
“Erm, kinda.” I said, caught out.
“I know him too.”
Huh.
“Who?”
“The old guy. His names Walter Lithgow. He's a wealthy investor. I've read about him. I'm surprised he'd come to eat in a place like this.”
“Really?” Suddenly things were getting a bit more interesting.
I wonder why Crash is meeting with him. Probably expanding on his oh-so-wonderful business.
“You know the other guy don't you? I can tell by the way you're looking at him.”
“Um, yeah, I guess I do.”
“Ex boyfriend?”
I laughed. Well, huffed would be more accurate. “Not exactly.”
“But you like him, don't you?”
Wow, he was being very forward all of a sudden. Maybe the modicum of wine he'd actually drunk was having an affect.
“Pffft. No.”
He chuckled lightly. “It's obvious you do Elle. You keep glancing over at him.”
I had nothing to say. Was I that obvious?
“So who is he?”
“He's no one. Alice's boyfriend's brother.” I knew Ray knew Alice from class.
“Right. Another Logan brother then.”
“You know the Logans?”
“Not personally. I've just heard about them.”
My interest levels for the evening were at an all time high. And it was about Crash. F*cking typical.
“What have you heard?” I asked casually, trying not to show my obvious interest.
He smiled, seeing right through me. “Just that their father died a while ago and they run multiple businesses. I heard about Charles Logan when Michael Cooper died not too long ago.”
“And who's Michael Cooper?”
He huffed. “You really are new around here aren't you! He was a billionaire investor. Charles Logan did business with him for years, or so I heard. And then, weirdly, he died not long after. I can't remember the details. Think they were both murdered.”
I knew that about Crash's dad but hadn't heard about this Cooper guy.
“Jesus, that's crazy.”
“Yeah, crazy suspicious.”
“How'd you mean?”
“Again, I'm not one to spread rumors, but these Logans aren't the shy and retiring type. Bit weird when Cooper and Logan both get murdered within a month of each other in the same sort of way. It's all underground stuff, all very cloak and dagger.”
He stopped, taking a rare sip of wine.
“But if you know the guy you probably know more than I do. Like I say, it's all just a rumor.”
I sat back in my seat, Alice's words of warning from before rattling around in my head. She'd talked to me about Crash and his father, telling me how reprehensible they were. Well it was probably a good thing that nothing happened between us after all.
But something had happened. I couldn't get that out of my head. What the hell was it about this guy that sucked me in? We seemed to run into each other all the time, as if the fates were teasing me and trying to piss me off, dangling this Adonis in front of me like a carrot on a stick.
I took another gulp of wine, the alcohol now truly loosening me up. Ray continued to talk in the background but my mind was taken on other things now. I nodded and made the odd comment where appropriate, but really my thoughts were set on Crash.
He'd infiltrated me completely now. Not only had he saved me once or twice - the mugger and from total solitude and potential embarrassment at the twins' party - but he'd also seemed so damn nice when doing so.
He was a total enigma. One second making out with me and the next walking past me as if I didn't exist.
I mean, what the hell was this guy's deal?!
I noticed Mr Lithgow walking off from the table out of the corner of my eye and made a split second decision. I don't know why I did it, but it just happened. Blame the booze. That was the easiest option.
Without even considering how it looked to Ray (frankly, by this point I didn't care any more), I stepped up from my chair and marched over towards Crash in the corner.
“Right Crash, I want an explanation, and I want one now.”
Holy shit, what was I saying!
His eyes turned up towards mine suddenly, a look of utter bemusement on them.
“Elle, what are you doing here?”
“Don't pretend like you haven't seen me. I've been sat just over there for the last 2 hours.”
The corner of his mouth raised slightly in a smile, as if he found my exuberance and sudden lack of sense comical.
“Well I'm sorry Elle, I've only just arrived. I must have missed you. Now, please, I'm in the middle of an important meeting. Do you mind leaving?”
I stood there, my eyes set on him, unmoving. “Not until you explain to me why you're so - I don't know - inconsistent!”
“Elle, please, just go.”
I stood firm.
“Why did you just walk away the other day? You treated me like shit Crash.”
I had totally lost it now. Everything was coming rushing out like water from a broken dam.
“Elle, I'm sorry. I'll talk to you later.” He was speaking through gritted teeth now, his eyes darting around the place at the eyes on us. “You're making a scene. Just go, now.”
There was a growing menace in his words. He wasn't asking me, he was telling me.
“You can't order me around Crash. I'm not one of your minions.”
“Please Elle, for the last time, just leave.”
At that moment a voice came from behind me, old and dry. “Is there a problem Crash?”
“None, Elle here was just leaving.”
I turned to see Mr Lithgow just behind me. He looked down at me with a sneer, as if I was nothing. Pompous old bastard, who the f*ck does he think he is?!
I felt an arm grab at mine, pulling me away. It was Ray. I could hear him apologizing to them, saying I'd been drinking too much.
The world began spinning as he moved me through the tables, everyone looking on at me, staring at me as I left.
Great Elle. Very good, you've just broken your own record for the most embarrassing f*cking thing you've done when drunk.
Bra-f*cking-vo.