4Note: The author would like to thank the readers GreenstoneRie, especially Spontaneous Juju for the helpful reviews.
The Writer Lady
by Dandy352
She looked up from her laptop screen, thin rosy lips curving into a faint smile. The glass window on her left was blurry with raindrops. Chocolate brown eyes held their gaze, amusing herself with the people across the street hurrying with their colorful umbrellas in hand. She let out a soft sigh, knowing it was going to be another long day at the cafeteria.
Leaning back, she took the last remaining zip of her cappuccino. Long slender fingers trailed back on the letter keys of her laptop but managed to disentangle to signal a waiter to come.
"Yes ma'am?" The waiter asked, bending politely. He was a thin man with a stern face contrary to his gentle soothing voice. Like the rest of the waiters, he was wearing a white long sleeved polo topped with a black vest and a ribbon to match the required black slacks and black leather shoes.
"I'd like to have another cup of cappuccino and a slice of cheese cake please." She said, smiling warmly as he listed her order.
"That will be a hundred and seventy five Ma'am. Is there anything else?"
"No, that will be all." She replied, reaching into her bag to pull out a pink leather wallet. She took two purple bills and handed them to the waiter. "Here you go. And keep the change."
"Thank you Ma'am. Your order will be here in two minutes." He said kindly before he signaled her orders to his co-waiters in the cashier's. Turning to her again, he pointed to her used utensils and asked. "Do you mind if I take these?"
"No, go ahead please."
It only took seconds to clean her table, and bowing politely, he took his leave.
Alone again, her eyes drifted back to her laptop screen. How she managed to come up with yet another interesting idea and finished the nineteen chapters, she doesn't know. Oddly enough, it just always has to be the last chapter that leaves her hanging.
'Should I let them be together? Or do I kill her? What if- ugh, no, that won't do!'
Nathaniel Harris was trying and miserably failing to keep from staring at the beautiful woman on the next table. He watched, playing with his straw as she glared at her laptop like it was her loathed enemy, her slender fingers left hanging in the air. She sighed deeply, scowled and practically shoved both hands to her dark hair. He stifled a laugh, helping himself with the potato chips. It was like watching a live show and the scenes keep getting better and better.
He found her pouting again, then type furiously, pause, sigh and carelessly shove her hands back to her hair making it look like a tangled mop.
He leaned closer, finishing his iced tea. She was glaring harder this time, and he was torn between laughing hysterically or being the gentleman he was known as and quietly make his way to the restroom before he burst out laughing.
Regardless, she leaned back, shoulder slumped and brown hair sticking out in all areas. It was so frigging adorable, he found himself chuckling.
She threw him a startled glance and he froze as those eyes focused on him. Minutes ago, he was content just watching her, but now...
"You seem to be really troubled." He found himself commenting without really thinking.
She blinked at him rapidly and thrilled, he watched her eyes widen with the realization of him staring. A deep shade of pink adorned her cheeks, and she ducked her head low, hands swiftly rearranging her hair to a less disheveled state. Nathan found it hard not to smile.
"Hot cappuccino and a slice of cheese cake." She hesitantly looked up. Relief filled her face seeing the same waiter put down her orders next to her laptop.
"Thank you." She said, trying her best to avoid glancing at the stranger who finds her dilemma entertaining.
The waiter was gone when she heard him speak again.
"If you don't mind, can I join you?"
She wanted to yell at him, scream and tell him to leave her. In fact, she would have done so, had she not looked up to see him smiling friendly, already standing beside the chair opposite hers with the perfect British accent.
She was suddenly aware of his height, not to mention his built. He was wearing an apple green shirt underneath his silver coat. For a guy, he sure knows how to carry skinny jeans. Realizing he was watching her, she had to force her eyes to look elsewhere.
"Ahm, sure." She murmured and looking grateful, he automatically took his seat.
She suddenly feels bewitched. If it's got something to do with his beautiful cerulean eyes and gorgeous face, she probably would deny it, not until she was alone in her room writing in her diary. Yes, she was that kind of girl, not to mention, she has always been a sucker for blue eyes.
She need no one to tell her she was lost in her own world once again for a waitress apparently popped out of thin air and was now waiting to list down his orders.
"I''d like to have the same as hers." he said. She just had to look up and meet his eyes. She really wanted to smack herself this time, or maybe him for that matter when she saw him smiling at her, amused.
"I'm Nathaniel Harris. You are?" He said, his hand waiting for a handshake from her.
She could feel her discomfort rising up to another level. "Esterelle, Esterelle Amano." She said at last, taking in all her courage to shake his hand. She took it back and touched it with her other hand just to test if she did or did not feel that electric shock just now.
"So you're Asian." He stated conversationally.
"Yes." She answered in a soft voice.
For some reason, that information was enough for him and she found him staring with keen interest in the scenario outside the blurry glass window. Feeling a bit of relief, she diverted her attention back to her unfinished work.
Her deadline's nearing. She was down to the last chapter but that was no reason to rejoice. The last time she checked, she had to wait a month and a half for the inspiration for the perfect ending of her last published work to come.
"Alia Alanoelle's Flicker of Happiness."
She looked up and wasn't surprise to see him staring at her, again.
"Excuse me?"
His lips curved in a half smirk. "Sorry you just-" Hesitantly, he pulled out a hardbound book from his silver coat. "You remind me of Jewel Franks from Alia Alanoelle's book."
For a moment there, she felt her heart jump involuntarily. Her fingers stopped typing or attempting to type for that matter since she still hasn't got a clue what to write next.
"Flicker of Happiness." She said absentmindedly, her full attention on him.
"Yes. You know this book?" he said conversationally.
She just smiled, and her fingers somehow reached for the shutdown button. Perhaps, a break wouldn't hurt.
"I've read it. A friend suggested it. Regardless, I do not see any reason why you'd compare me to Jewel Franks." She said, closing her laptop.
For a moment, he looked stunned, surprising her when he started laughing. She didn't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that he manages to find her every action amusing and now funny even.
"I meant it in a good way really. It's just- well for the record you're both Asian. She's partly Asian if you recall. And when I saw you messing with your hair-" he stopped to see her blushing but continued anyway. "I was reminded of the part when she was terribly confused whether to assassinate her scheming half brother or runaway without telling anyone."
"Did I look that crazy?" She asked, curiosity getting the best of her. She knew Jewel Franks alright. Beautiful Chinese woman with a weird taste of fashion. She was described to have a great craving for adventure, exactly why she find herself a magnet for troubles and embarrassing situations most of which involved her stalker Tristan Walter, another interesting character in the form of a closet singer hiding in a hooligan's body. He has always found Jewel Franks' cheerful personality adorable. But he admitted she was terrible in decision making and even phrased her as the most beautiful walking lunatic when she didn't know what to do with her life. Whatever Jewel Franks was, she's definitely one strangely fascinating heroine.
For a minute there he thought he unintentionally made her mad. He was already thinking how to defend himself when he realized she doesn't look offended and was staring at him with wonder in her eyes. Encouraged by her not negative reaction, he decided to push his luck.
"Not really, just a little bit." He answered.
He couldn't help but watch as her expression change from mild amusement to hysterical laughter.
He had to admit, he likes the sound of her laugh, even when she was laughing at her own self, well, technically.
He was about to join her laughing when she spoke. "I've got to say, that was the first time I was compared to an unusual character."
He smiled back, and she was surprised to find herself enjoying his company.
"So, does that mean you're a fan of Alanoelle's?" She asked. He wasn't certain if she meant it to sound as if daring him but it sounded like that to him.
"I guess."
"You guess?" She questioned him with interest. He took the bait.
"Well, it's actually a first for me to see a somewhat living version of a character I just read. I'm just intrigued is all."
"Intrigued, I see." She said, nodding humorously.
"How about you? Are you a fan?"
Her brows rose funnily enough and she had to bite back a chuckle. "Not really." She said, shaking her head as she took a zip of her less warm drink.
Just as she did, the same waiter who served her food came back, this time to give him his.
"One cup of cappuccino and a slice of cheesecake." The waiter said. Her new acquaintance was about to thank him but he was called by yet another customer just when he received the bill. Bowing politely, he left them.
"It's my first time to try this combination actually." Her companion said, referring to his cappuccino in hand.
"Really? Try it. These two form one tasty combination!" She said encouragingly, beaming as she took a bite of her own cheesecake, followed by another zip.
"I can see that."
"Huh?" She looked up to see he was watching her with amused eyes, again.
When he didn't take his eyes off her, she chose to avoid eye contact. "I see you enjoy watching people." She commented nonchalantly.
"Don't you?"
She smiled, which he finds oddly alluring. "Well, I don't usually keep an eye on my fellow customers." She said humorously, eyeing him wearily causing him to chuckle once more.
"So you noticed." He said, leaning so he can take a closer look at her face. "And yet you let me sit here with you."
She stared at him, and it wasn't hard to tell she was analyzing him. Not bothering to hide her amusement, and with a slight hint of embarrassment, she said, "Well, it's better than doing my work getting distracted with your staring."
He grinned, suddenly feeling tested. "I'm sorry I couldn't help myself."
She finds it tempting how he sounded sincere yet teasing, taunting her even.
"So, tell me about yourself." He said, urging her. She took it he enjoys analyzing her as much as she does with him.
"If you don't mind, I'd rather you tell me about yourself." She said, dismissively, taking another zip.
His brows rose in stun. What can he say? The woman was full of surprises.
Shrugging, he put down his cup. "For starters, I have a deep appreciation of beautiful things. You know, once I see one, I just have to know more." He said, his eyes daring her to keep looking at him.
She would have blushed but knew better than to make him think he has the advantage.
"So that's why you're here." She said making sure he was looking at her eyes.
He laughed amused once more. "Yes." Slicing his cheesecake, he added. "You sure have a way to handle admirers."
She smiled, leaning back, content with his impression of her. "Is that a complement?"
He answered her with a smirk, feeling a heavy weight has fallen off his shoulders. "Yes, it's a complement, definitely a complement."
He watched her finish her second cup of cappuccino. The woman was attractive. It would take a blind person not to see that. Light pink was definitely her color. She was so to say the perfect definition of simplicity at its best. Plus, her sense of humor was definitely charming.
"Would you like another cup?" He offered as she put her empty cup down. She gave him an appreciative smile but shook her head.
"No, I'm good."
"A glass of water then?" He asked again. He wasn't sure why but he felt relieved when she nodded this time. He gestured a waitress to come and asked for two glasses of water.
They both waited for it. It wasn't until she started drinking hers when he dared himself to speak again.
"Since we both know why I'm here, I'll take my chances." He began, fingers playing with his cup. Staring at her, it felt to him that a new dose of courage was building up inside him. "Would you like to go on a date with me?" He asked, sounding conversational but they both knew better.
She looked at him, slightly bewildered but covered it up with yet another smile. "Confident, aren't we?" She smirked, amused.
"What can I say? You're not one ordinary girl."
"Good to know you caught on." She said, nodding faintly in good sense.
"So?" He asked again, looking expectant.
Her brows were up as she stared at him. The man was something alright. But as he said so himself, she was no ordinary girl.
She surprised him when she took her laptop, putting it back on the case then into her bag.
Alarmed, he was about to stop her when she rose up but she saved him the effort.
"I can't promise you a date." She said, looking uninterested. For a moment there he thought she's going to reject him. But then she smiled, and he realized she enjoyed their conversation too. "I'm a little busy now. But I do like my cup of cappuccino every three in the afternoon." She said, then walked away, leaving him to ponder on the strong impression she left on him.
A/N: This story has been in my laptop for quite a while. I decided it's better off being read. What do you guys think?