REALISTIC OUTLOOK
To be happy all the time was not realistic no matter how Nadine, Reid’s mother made the writings in her journal flowery. Every page was selling a hint of happiness that Reid wasn’t buying as he read the book but he did adore the optimism his mother had.
In the spirit of celebrating mother’s day, Reid finally got his alone time after getting rid of the insufferable couple that rubbed their happy marriage in his face every chance they got and it made him regret spending time at their place. Yet, he kept coming back.
Other than the fact that he was enthralled with his mother’s poetic and witty writing, he was appalled by Colton’s disregard for the champions League game abandoning him for Athina. The level of betrayal had him shaking his head with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Reid was tired of waiting and decided to call it a night. As he closed the book in his hand to head off to bed, the front door opened.
He watched as Maria walked in gently like a novice thief. It didn’t sit well with him that she was coming back this late but was not too bothered since he knew who she was with.
“You’re coming back quite late,” He said, startling as she jumped in fright.
She moved closer to him and switched the light on. “What are you doing here?” Maria asked with questioning eyes.
Reid did not grace her with a reply so she questioned him again.
“Why are you here? You have your own house.” She voiced out sternly.
“I’m having it repainted and the smell of paint makes me nauseous,” Reid replied though he didn’t feel like he owed her any explanation. The place was like a second home to him and he could come and go as he pleased.
He stood up from the couch, walking slowly towards her, and asked, “I take it your date went well?”
She nodded, “Yes it did. Why are you still up though?”
“Had a few things to take care of and thought of having something to drink before going to bed.” Reid shrugged, hoping she bought his response without asking further questions.
“Would you like to join me for coffee?” He asked as he passed by her heading for the kitchen.
Maria was struck silent by his request as she turned to him. Reid saw as a million expressions marred her face before she settled for an answer.
“Coffee won’t do be any good if I plan on sleeping well tonight,” She replied and was about to bid him goodnight and head upstairs but he stopped her with another request.
“How about chamomile tea then? It would help you sleep well.”
Reid didn’t want to sound persistent but didn’t know the best approach for a conversation. The tactics that came to mind was one aunt Corinne, Colton’s mom had thought him. Inviting someone for a meal or a drink was a simple way of starting a conversation that often led to a relationship.
Aunt Corrine was probably the nicest person on earth it was an impossible mission to refuse her. He had never thought he’d ever act on her communication advice or even try it on someone like Maria.
She was right after all as Maria nodded and followed him into the kitchen. She dropped her purse on a chair at the kitchen counter and took a seat beside it while Reid got to work.
If Colton or Athina could see him right now, they’d laugh their asses off. He was making tea for the woman he complained he could barely tolerate.
He put the kettle on the cooker for the water to boil and searched the kitchen for the jar where the tea was kept.
Reid didn’t care but felt it was the polite thing to do by ask how her day went. The idea of his friend and Maria being in a relationship of the sort didn’t sit well with him but who was he to complain.
He expected Maria would be her usual self by shunning him and reminding him to mind his business. Surprisingly, she was cool and delved into the details of how the date went. He imagined this was how it was between friends but had it keep it at the back of their mind that they were far from that.
He barely listened to her ramble as he prepares the tea. He feigned interest by giving a few nods, wow, and really. If she caught him in the act, he had no idea cause she kept on indulging him with plenty of information.
Reid suspected she must have had a drink that loosened her up. The tea was ready so he poured both of them a cup.
Maria thanked him as she took a sip out of the mug. Her eyes shut as she swallowed and savored the taste of tea on her lips.
“It’s wonderful. I’m surprised you know your way around the kitchen,” Maria remarked.
Reid let out a chuckle as he sat opposite her. “I’m actually hopeless. Don’t be deceived by the tea.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Aside from making coffee and tea, I have no idea how to make anything else.”
“Not even Noodles?” Her eyes widened while trying to hold in her laughter.
He shook his head, “I either put too much water that it becomes soggy or it gets burnt. If Athina finds me in her kitchen, she’d have my mind.”
He was hopeless in the kitchen yet fascinated by the array of foods that could be created in the small space.
Maria laughed at the image of Athina screaming at Reid for being in her haven.
“What about you? I suppose you love cooking which is why you built a restaurant.” He looked up at her and noticed how she avoided meeting his eyes.
“Uhh not really. Athina had always been fascinated with foods and learning to make all kinds of dishes but I on the other hand just wanted to eat.”
She added, “In my teen years, I found this hobby of trying out all kinds of foods from different restaurants in different cities and even wanted to travel to other countries to try out their foods. I became a fast-rising food blogger that many people came to for food and restaurants recommendations. But the thing is, after exploring many restaurants I wasn’t satisfied. It was difficult to find a restaurant that provided good food in every sense that it was affordable, good service, and atmosphere. Then, Athina came up with the idea of creating our restaurant that provided exactly what we wanted,” She sighed and took a sip from her tea.
Reid was impressed as well as intrigued. She had a purpose and fulfilled it well. He knew a bit of the backstory of the creation of the restaurant through the background check Kyros had done for him. They had a decent capital that helped them execute the plan successfully and to have been done by women in their twenties was a formidable feat.
“That is incredible and it turned out well for you guys.” He picked up his mug and drank from his tea.
“It did, well until the unfortunate event of Athina moving away and mismanagement of funds.” Her mood turned sour as she said the last words.
“Ahh, that reminds me. I wanted to talk to you about the menu,” Reid said.
The waiting finally paid off and the small talk he didn’t want to do but later enjoyed was because of this. He promised his plan wasn’t to change the restaurant completely but refurbish it. After hearing the story of how the business plan was created, he didn’t know how she’d react.
Maria groaned out loud. “Is it always business for you? Don’t you take a break?”
“I do. When I’m with friends,” He said bluntly.
Reid had not meant for it to come out that way but the damage had already been done. Maria’s expression had changed like she was slapped in the face. Things were going well and he just had to ruin it.
“Right,” She murmured to herself and cleared her throat. “What about the menu?” She asked in a business-like tone.
Reid didn’t read much into her change in attitude and went straight into business. He handed over the journal he had with him to her and said, “Before you ask, I have tested every one of them, and if you’d like you can try them too and decided if they’re suitable for customer consummation.”
He couldn’t believe the words that came out of his mouth cause of course the foods were bloody perfect. Not just because it was his mother’s creation but he had hired a renowned chef to bring the foods to life and he executed it perfectly.
He had one taste and fell in love and was sure Maria would too. Worst-case scenario, she refused to put them on the menu. That couldn’t even happen cause it was the main reason he wanted in the restaurant business.
“Did you create this?” Maria asked astonished as she scrolled through the pages.
“No, my mom did.”
Maria looked up at him and held his gaze. Reid felt questions were going to start pouring. Questions he’d probably not answers to.
If she noticed his apprehension, she didn’t show it and said, “I’d love to taste every single one of them.”
Reid’s eyes almost budged out of their socket in surprise but he kept his cool. “Really? That’s wonderful. I’ll set an appointment with the Chef.”
Maria nodded in support of the idea. “What do you think if we have a special section for these meals.
You could choose what to name it,” She suggested.
In his twenty-nine years of living, he had never found someone attractive just by the words that came out of their mouth. He did not have to say in words how much the foods in the journal meant to him yet she understood and accepted it without question. The special section she had suggested was something he had in mind that he wondered if she could read minds.
It was the perfect setting for the perfect meals. A smile marred his face at the thought of his mother’s dream finally becoming a reality.
They discussed a wide array of menu placement, amount of meals offered, discounts, and prices. Things were quickly coming to order as they planned simple details and forgot about the time.
They were soon interrupted by the loud sounds of vigorous activity going on upstairs in the master bedroom. They paused to hear clearly thinking something was amiss but the loud moans coming from Athina proved otherwise.
“Ugh, those two have got to be fucking kidding me. They are worse than animals,” Maria groaned.
“Tell me about it. That is one of the reasons I sleep in the guest room further away from them,” Reid laughed.
“I wish I had my place. I adore both of them but they can be very loud,” She stressed her words and drank the remaining content in her mug.
“If you want, I can get you an apartment.”
Her head snapped towards him as she said, “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I already arranged apartments for the staff coming from the headquarters to help out here. And fortunately, it’s close to the restaurant’s location.”
She seemed to be considering the offer for a while before agreeing to it. “That would be amazing, thanks. It feels like ages since I lived alone,” She said dreamily.
“Whenever you’re ready let me know I’ll have my secretary give you details of the place. How do you think Athina would feel about it though?”
She smiled smugly, “She’d have your head when I mentioned you suggested it.”
Reid chuckled and cleared their cups to wash. She jumped out of her seat to help do the dishes since he had made the tea. He refused and told her to go to bed while he cleared up.
Maria was too stubborn to listen to him so she offered to at least assist him by putting the cups where they were meant to be.
They put off the lights once they were done and before they departed to their separate bedrooms in different wings, Reid said, “Goodnight pinky.” He shut his door before she could respond and could imagine the scowl on her face.