Purple Romance

''I will pay and leave. Are we good?''

''No, I can only have a good appetite by watching you eat'' he said and pulled her back on the seat. His actions made it look like they were close and had a good relationship. Yvonne and her friends looked at them curiously.

''Growing up, Jordan has given in to her a number of times so Mirabel sometimes acts irresponsibly. I hope you don't mind?'' Yvonne said as she smiled at Joel.

''Well, that is probably her charm because I like it when she acts all immature'' Joel said making Yvonne's smile to disappear. Even the ladies with her all read through the lines. His message was clear; he didn't mind at all that she was wilful.

''Mirabel is so lucky to have someone like Mr. Asante to take care of her'' the other girl who hadn't spoken since said as she looked at Mirabel, ''I just hope she reciprocates it. Everyone in our circle knows she has had feelings for Jordan for a long time. After all, first love is always the hardest to let go. She has loved him since high school, right, Mirabel?''

''Are you done messing with me, Yvonne? If you and your lackeys don't leave the table this minute, then don't blame me for not been courteous''

Mirabel said to them. She was already feeling inferior that Yvonne that b***h knew who Joel was before she did and now they were trying to paint her bad in front of him. She usually didn't care about her image and what people thought of her but strangely, she didn't want to be stripped so bear in front of him, not especially after she had bragged about herself to him. What kind of person would he think she was?

Joel looked at her. He couldn't help but compare her to his little kitten he was going to get married to. Surprisingly, they had volatile temper and were impulsive too. He frowned; what was he thinking about? They were different people, besides, hi little kitten was more adorable than this little woman here, still he couldn't let these people bully her.

''Mr. Asanti, can I have your business contact?'' Yvonne asked nervously. She wasn't about to let this chance go away.

''You would have to ask the little woman you and your friends just looked down upon right now'' Joel said and pointed at Mirabel.

''Huh?''

''Whatever she says is what I will do. You see, I am in a one sided unrequited love with her. I hate it when she gets angry. We came out here to have a simple meal but you and your friends barged in on us and just destroy my chance of having a good time with her, so if you want my number and the job, you have to apologise to her right now''

Mirabel looked him and he smiled at her. She blushed and lowered her gaze shyly and bit her lips.

''So, what do you say?'' Joel turned to Yvonne and her friends who had contorted faces. Not willing to waste anymore of his time on them, he picked his shades and Mirabel's bag, he held Mirabel's hand standing up, ''you had your chance. Let's go babe''

''I'm sorry, Mirabel, please forgive me. I need this job''

They heard Yvonne's shaky voice as they stood up. Mirabel was shocked as she looked at Yvonne. For the first time, she looked defenceless and desperate. She was somewhat moved but still. Thinking about all the times she mocked her, it made it hard for her to sympathise with her.

''She already apologised, Mirabel. Why don't you accept it and let go?'' The girl in red trench coat said furiously. She didn't know how important the job was to Yvonne but seeing her apologise to a brat like Mirabel made her angry. they were all from the same circle, what right did Mira have to demand an apology from Yvonne?

''If you forgive her so easily, I will punish you later on'' Joel leaned closer and whispered into Mirabel's ears and she shuddered.

''Yvonne, let's go. my dad has a lot of connections, as long as I bring it up to him, he will let you join any company in this country''

''Amalia, stop. C and C is different from all fashion companies. It is like the crème de la crème in the fashion world. Mirabel, I admit, we went overboard with our actions. This job means a lot to Yvonne and she has been preparing tirelessly to prove herself. Can you please let this go?'' the black coat girl said.

''Well, at least one of you has awareness of the situation but what to do? I don't usually do forgiveness'' Joel said and pulled Mirabel along as he went out of the restaurant. In the end, they didn't even touch the food.

''This is all your fault, I could have handled that little bitch on my own'' Yvonne roared and took her purse, leaving the restaurant.

''Wait, she was the one who told us to do whatever we wanted with Mirabel. Why is she suddenly blaming us?'' The girl in red trench coat asked hysterically.

...

Sitting inside Joel's car, they were both quiet and awkward until Mirabel's stomach rumbled and growled loudly. Her face reddened as she tried to cover her stomach with her purse.

''I will take you somewhere to eat'' Joel started the car without waiting for her reply. He drove out of the car park into the main road.

They soon arrived at a private restaurant and he pulled over. They got down and she followed him into the restaurant where they were shown into a room.

Inside, Mirabel looked at the table that was already packed with food and turned looking at him.

''I sent a message for them to prepare this since you seemed very hungry'' Joel offered an explanation as he pulled out a chair for her to sit.

''Thank you'' Mirabel sat down and looked at the sweet and sour pork ribs pasta. She was sure this kind of high end restaurant didn't usually make this kind of food. Did he specially order this for her? As she thought about it, she subconsciously looked his way and met with his gaze.

''You can start eating first, I need to make a call'' he said to her and turned back to the door with his phone. Mirabel looked at his back view and decided not to think too much into it and started eating.

''Alright, give her my number and send her away first. I know what to do'' Joel said to his secretary as she looked at the woman who was busy eating. It made him want to also eat. Due to the nature of his work, he had often skipped meals and would end up eating something light. He hung up and kept staring at her for a while before joining her on the table.

He picked his chopsticks and started eating. The way she ate unreserved somehow perked his appetite and he felt like also eating a lot. He didn't know when he would have the opportunity to eat like this again, he didn't want to miss his chance.

Mirabel licked her lips after finishing her bowl. She looked over and saw that Joel was halfway into his food, she gulped down as she watched him. She really felt like stealing his food but that would be so uncharismatic of her. She had to hold it in. Dhe tried to hold it in but her eyes gave her away and he caught unto it.

''Do you want some?'' he asked and she nodded her head. ''This is mine, what would you give me if I let you share my food with me?''

''Huh?''

''You want my food, so I asked what would you give in return for the food. You must have guessed by now that this restaurant doesn't usually make these kind of food. I specially ordered this because you seemed to be in a bad mood and from my experience, women tend to eat a lot more when they are angry''

''I don't have anything to give you that you don't already have? You are even the owner of a fashion company. I had to even find that out from my enemy'' she said sarcastically.

''We weren't that close for me to tell you the kind of work I did''

''I know, and I am not blaming you. are you giving that to me or not?'' she asked and pointed at the plate.

''On a condition''

''What condition?''

''You come out to eat with me anytime I call you''

''Huh?''

''Don't take it the wrong way. I don't usually have a good appetite and I just realised that you are someone who likes to eat, so I want to make a deal with you. I know a lot of places where they serve good food, I can take you there to eat and also boast my own appetite. It is a win-win deal'' Joel looked at her hoping that she wouldn't find his request weird.

In fact, even he himself found it weird that something like that came to his mind but he had to take his chances. The last time he went to the hospital, the doctor told him he was malnourished, so he desperately needed to work on it.

''Deal'' Mirabel said and took the plate from him immediately and started eating. Her swift actions made him laugh and shake his head.