19 Bar Blues, Stuart's Ward, And Eating Out
1268 Words
Edward opened his eyes slightly. He had drunk a lot of wine the night before, and now his head hurt. He had the Bar Blues.
Bob was still asleep, but Mike was awake, and he was sitting on the sofa, contemplating what to do next. He turned to Edward: "Hey, are you awake?"
Edward nodded as he went for a cigarette.
Mike: "You have been in NEW YORK for many years. Is it because of Cosette?"
Edward's hand paused, but he said nothing.
Mike: "I remember how, when the old man was injured, you didn't wait for him to get well. You just left, and it didn't take long for the media to pick up the story about your engagement with Leyla. There was a lot of gossip going around too. Some people thought that you wanted to get revenge on Nelson's family after they robbed Bruce's lover. I know your real purpose for being here is for that girl, though. Am I right?"
"What girl are you talking about?" Bob asked. Bob opened his eyes suddenly and looked at them suspiciously.
"Nothing," Mike said.
Bob: "Oh, man, come on! Don't be like that! You've aroused my curiosity! You have no choice but to sate it!"
Suddenly, a ringtone interrupted Bob's word. Edward picked the phone up and answered it, but he was the only one who could hear what was being said on the other end. There was a moment of silence, and then Edward said, "I know, and I will be there soon." Then, after putting away his phone, Edward stood up, took his coat from the closet, and walked out.
Mike raised his eyebrows at Edward, and an interesting smile appeared on his lips. From where he stood, it seemed that Edward was worried about something – and over the years, Mike had come to realize that there was only one thing that could affect Edward's mood like this.
**********
In front of Stuart's Ward – Cosette sneered at the middle-aged couple in front of her. It was her father, Jack Weitzman, and stepmother, Cora Portman. "Why are you here?" she hissed.
A lot of people passed by and looked at them, and Jack couldn't help but feel ashamed. He looked at Cosette and said, "Cosette, we are here to see Stuart. We just want to go in and talk!"
Cosette's eyes were cold, and when she heard Jack's words, a sarcastic smile formed in the corners of her mouth. "You've come to see Stuart, huh?" she laughed. "Or maybe you've come to see if he is dead!"
Jack scowled, and he said sharply, "How dare you speak to your father like this?"
"Did you treat your children like this?" Cosette sneered.
"You!" Jack gasped, unable to find the appropriate words for the situation.
Cora reached out and patted her husband's back, saying, "Jack, don't be angry. The doctor said that you should avoid having mood swings. They are bad for your health." Then Cora looked at Cosette. "Cosette, your father's health is not good, so please don't be angry with him."
Cosette: "Stuart won't want to see him!"
Jack: "You!"
Jack's face turned completely black, and he began to try to break into the ward, disregarding what Cosette had said. Before he could make much progress, though, two men appeared, and they restrained him and his wife. Cora looked at the men and screamed. "What are you doing?" she cried. "Let me go!"
The first man looked at Cosette expressionlessly and said, "Edward has commanded that no one should disturb Stuart while he is resting. What should we do about these two people?"
Before Cosette could reply, Edward appeared. He ignored Jack and walked over to her.
Cosette hadn't expected Edward to appear so suddenly, and she didn't know when he'd hired the bodyguards for Stuart's Ward. She was glad they were there, though. After all, Stuart would have been angry and disgusted if he had been disturbed by Jack and Cora.
When Cora saw Edward, her pupils shrunk, and a look of fear flashed in her eyes.
Edward nodded to the bodyguards, and they grabbed the couple and dragged them away. Jack said nothing, but Cora did not stop complaining until she was out of earshot. "Cosette!" she shouted. "You are just his mistress! Edward is already engaged to Leyla! You are shameless!"
Once they were gone, Cosette raised her eyes and looked at Edward. "Thank you," she said.
Edward: "I am sure that you can think of a better way to show your thanks."
Cosette: "What?"
Edward: "Would you buy me a meal? I'm starving."
Cosette nodded her head as affirmation.
Edward: "I'll be waiting for you in the car."
Once Edward finished speaking, he turned to leave, and Cosette returned to the ward. And as she entered the building, Stuart looked over at her and frowned. "What's wrong?" he wondered. "Was there someone making trouble just now?"
Cosette shook her head in negation. "It was nothing," she said. "You have a good rest. I have something to do."
"Oh, okay, take care," Stuart said, and as she turned her back to him, a look of bitter hatred appeared in her eyes.
**********
Cosette was sitting in the car, silently, with her hands folded on her lap, when she suddenly felt Edward's cold breath on her face. She swallowed and stammered, "W-What are you doing?"
"Seat belt," Edward replied.
Cosette quickly buckled the seat belt across her chest and clicked it into place.
Edward leaned back in his seat and asked, "Where are we going?"
Cosette: "What?"
Edward's glanced over to where Cosette was sitting. "Where do you want to eat?"
Cosette looked at the time. It was nine o'clock. "Oh, right," she said. "We should have breakfast."
"You didn't have breakfast!" Edward exclaimed. His voice was very soft, but she heard the anger in his tone.
"I only had a few sips of milk and a little bread," Cosette admitted.
Edward frowned as he started the car, and Cosette looked out the window wordlessly as the car pulled away from the curb and merged into traffic. Edward drove for a long while until they came to a quaint building that Cosette didn't recognize, and as he parked the car, she asked if it was a restaurant, but he said nothing in return.
As Edward got out of the car, he was greeted by a valet. He handed the valet the keys and walked around to the opposite side of the vehicle. Then, as Cosette got out of the car, he took her hand and led her inside.
Edward's palm was cold, and it caused Cosette's heart to tremble. She wanted to take her hand back, but she didn't dare.
The owner of the place was obviously familiar with Edward. When he saw Edward, he greeted him immediately: "Oh, hey, Edward, welcome!"
Edward greeted the owner politely, and then he led Cosette towards the stairs to the upper level. Before they went more than a couple of steps, though, she pulled on his hands and said, "Let's eat on the first floor." She preferred to eat in public if possible, and Edward was agreeable to her request – and the owner showed them to a booth facing the street.
Once they were comfortable, the owner returned to their table. He smiled at Edward and asked if he wanted "the usual". He said that he did, but that they still needed a menu for Cosette to look over. And then, by chance, she ordered the same thing that Edward had. This coincidence made the owner laugh, and he said, "Miss, you have the same tastes as Edward. Every time he comes in here, he orders the same dish!"
- Writer
