Purple Romance

Walking into a restaurant, she immediately spotted the person she was there to see. She went ahead and pulled a chair out of the table and sat across the man who looked up impatiently at her.

''My time is precious. How dare you call me out and then come late?'' Joel said as he looked at her. Compared to the shabby dressing she did on the night of the incident, she was quite well dressed today.

''I had a flat tire and had to call for a taxi. Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to hail a taxi? Today could be considered my first time of sitting in a taxi thanks to a certain someone'' Mirabel said and looked at her wrist watch, ''I am only a little over thirty minutes late, do you have to be so impatient with me?''

''I wasn't the one who promised to be on time?'' Joel retorted as he picked the menu book from the table the waiter had brought to him earlier on. He was in a good mood after finally getting that brat 'dancing in the sky' to marry him. That was also the only reason why he decided to meet this little woman with qualms here.

''What would you like to eat? Tell me, my dad asked me to treat you to a meal. I didn't want to at first but I am in quite a good mood, so I don't mind doing a little good deed'' taking the menu book out of his hands, she smiled after saying that.

Message: I didn't want to buy you a meal but I was forced to.

Joel got the message clear from her words. He stared at her, wanting to just strangle her to death. How could such an irresponsible person exist?

''Next time, I am surely leaving you to your fate'' he said back to her and she frowned before laughing.

''Don't worry, there will be no next time because Laura is already in jail. You see, I don't usually let go of my enemies especially the ones that hurt me''

''Are you always this casual with every man?''

''Not every man but any man I don't really see as a man''

''Why are you speaking informally to me?''

''Because it's easy to speak that way, you are allowed to speak that way to me. I don't mind''

''I mind, so please add respect and choose your words carefully before using them with me''

''Okay, no need to get worked up, sir'' Mirabel pouted her lips expressing her displease at his serious tone.

''Let's just eat and go our separate ways. I still have something to do later on''

''Yes, Mr. Joel. Waiter!!'' Mirabel called out for the waiter and he walked to them.

''Welcome, Miss. What would you like to order?''

''I will have sweet and sour pig ribs pasta'' Mirabel said and handed the menu book over to Joel. He closed it and placed it on the table before saying to the waiter.

''I will have the same thing but add a little sauce to mine''

''Do you also like the sweet and sour pork ribs pasta from this place'' she asked excitedly and leaned closer subconsciously. When he looked at her, she flushed and sat back adding, ''sir?''

Why was it so exhausting having a simple conversation with him? He was so serious.

''Yes, I like it'' Joel said after studying her expression. He knew she was finding it difficult to cope and decided to be lenient with her since he was the older and more mature one.

''Huh?''

''You asked if I liked the food here and I just said yes, I do''

''Oh'' she smiled and revealed her perfectly arranged white teeth.

''Mira? It's really you?'' Yvonne said as she looked between Joel and Mirabel.

Seeing her so suddenly, Mirabel's mood turned bad. She sighed and looked at Yvonne who was with two other friends who were standing aside.

''What a surprise, seeing you here?'' Yvonne said and pointed at the two ladies with her, ''you remember Mirabel, right?''

''Yes, I remember her. She was the one who used to tag along anytime you had a date with Jordan. I wondered how she was doing and such a coincidence that we met here like this'' one of the ladies in a red trench coat, holding a Chanel brown bag said haughtily.

''Watch your mouth, what do you mean I always tagged along? I would never have gone to those stupid get together of yours if Jordan hadn't told me to, okay?'' Mirabel said and looked at the lady. What she hated the most was when people said these kind of things about her. Growing up, most part of her life, she was being taken care of by Jordan because her parents were too busy to care about her life. That was probably how she came to like him because she had no one by her side and only knew how to rely on him.

Looking at Mirabel, Joel could understand the situation more clearly. These ladies weren't her friend and only stopped to look down on her. He leaned back on his seat, taking the situation on carefully. He wanted to see if she could handle them or she needed his help.

''Why so touchy? I was just reminiscing here'' the lady said back.

''Today, you are not with Jordan. Aren't you introducing your friend to us?''

Yvonne said and looked at Joel. Her eyes fell on his wrist watch and she almost gasped. That watch was crazily expensive and there were only three of them in the country. The last time, she saw Jordan and Lucas wearing two and now this man had the last one. she scanned him from hair to toe. His sun shades that was on the table was a branded one. The trench coat was part of the new coats that were launched a month ago by C and C Clothing but how could he be wearing it when it wasn't yet out for the public to buy.

Yvonne was a fashion critic and knew everything that happened in the fashion industry. Her sharp eyes could easily determine the worth of a clothing, she would know right away whether it was real or fake and looking at him from head to toe, she knew better that everything on the man was real and authentic. Where did Mirabel find this kind of man? A memory of the man came to mind and she decided to test the waters.

''Please, are you Joel Asante Marks, the CEO of C and C Fashion house?'' she asked and the two ladies gasped as they stared at Joel who looked indifferently at them.

''Do I know you?'' he asked nonchalantly. Not a lot of people knew about him because he was extremely particular about his privacy. The only times he availed himself to the public was when he was either interviewed for a magazine cover during the time he wants to launch a new clothing line. He recognised her from the moment she came to their table but he had chosen to pretend about it. She had sent an application to his company for a job vacancy that was opened for a fashion critic but and was due to be invited for an interview a week's time. But, seeing her attitude just now, he had doubts about whether he wanted this kind of person at his company.

''Not really, but I am a fashion critic and I have my own Vlog with a lot of followers and subscribers. I have attended almost all of your company's fashion shows and even applied as a fashion critic. It is really a rare surprise to see you out here, Mr. Asante'' Yvonne said, her eyes glistering with excitement.

Seeing her lustful gaze on Joel, Mirabel suddenly became insecure and clutched her fists under the table. She knew better that Yvonne was beautiful and that she could never compare herself to her but seeing how she was getting the attention of Joel was really driving her crazy. She frowned and picked the glass of water from her side and drank all of it, banging the glass on the table to attract their attention but it was all for naught as no one paid attention to her.

The waiter brought their food out and when Yvonne saw that they were going to eat, she quickly added, ''it is very rare to meet someone like you outside. I also happen to know Mirabel. Since we all came to eat, why don't we join your table?''

''Sure''

''No''

The answers varied as both Joel and Mirabel turned to look at each other. Mirabel was fuming mad as she glared at Joel who accepted Yvonne's request with asking for her opinion first.

''Mirabel, it's just a meal together. Do you have to be so wilful?'' Yvonne said as she beckoned on the ladies to join them and they quickly without hesitation, did. The table of two which suddenly turned to a table of five was full.

''I just lost my appetite'' Mirabel said and stood up to go and Joel stopped her.

''Sit down, are you bailing out on me? I didn't know you were so irresponsible? You were the one who asked to buy me a meal and now you want to leave without paying for the meal?'' he asked her.