Page 32 of Tarek

“Listen you can play with your hair and your kids but don’t play with me.” I know my temper is about to rise, so I move out of the line, and I head back to the valet. Maybe this is a sign not to do this, whatever this is.

“Why are you leaving?” Tarek’s stern voice stops me in my tracks.

I exhale and look around. Of course, he is standing there looking gorgeous in his all black suit, smelling like the sample section in a Vogue magazine.

“I tried to call you, and you didn’t answer. The whole evening is off; I should just go home.” I want to go back up to the host and slap the shit grin off her face.

Fuck her for trying to make me feel some sort of way.

Tarek hurries down the stairs. “No, no. Wait tell me what happened? My phone died, I am so sorry.”

I begin to relay the story of the hostess and myself. With each line, Tarek face remains expressionless.

“I do apologize. I really want to have dinner with you…. please.” He stretches out his palm toward me. Gently I place my hand in his.

“Come with me.”

* * *

TAREK

I’m fucking fuming. No, it’s more like my temper feels nuclear. At first, I was worried that Penelope would ghost me only to realize my phone is dead. I did the next best thing and head to the security cameras to see if she had arrived. Shockingly, I see my hostess raise the phone to her ear then speak. From Penny’s calm, deadly expression, I know there is hell to pay as she begins to descend the stairs.

I rush down to the valet, like a mad man, where the hell did she think she was going? I cleared my schedule just for her.

“Where are you going?”

“If you must know, your hostess, just told me to go to Popeyes or Mc Donalds since I didn’t have a reservation.”

“What the fuck did she say?”

Penny flairs her nose and folds her arms over her chest.

I put my hand out to her. “Penelope I’m sorry, my phone is currently charging. Give me a chance, let me fix this.”

Sighing she places her hand gently in mine.

With a firm grip, we climb the stairs back into the restaurant, my hostess instantly smiled until she saw who’s hand I was holding.

“Mr. Fairisles,” she begins to stutter.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Janet, sir.”

“Janet, who did you call on the phone?” A violent rage is simmering under my skin.

“Um, I…” She looks around at her colleagues for help. They all turn their backs and continue to work.

“If you lie, I will become your worst fucking nightmare,” I seethe. Penny begins to rub my arm.

“I called no one, sir.” A tear slips down her eye as a small crowd gathers outside. Smartly another hostess begins to usher the newcomers to their seats.

“No one?” I ask.

“I pretended to call someone,” Janet bottom lip trembles.

“Did you speak to this woman here?” I ask, tugging Penelope to my side. Her expression is flat and unreadable as she gazes at the hostess.

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