Italian Ego

Chapter 4

Xavier looked up from his seat at the kitchen table when Elle walked in with a smile on her face. He pushed away his half-empty plate of toast, bacon and eggs to lean his forearms against the counter.

"Good morning, sunshine," he greeted with a smile. 

Elle smiled back and walked over to peck him on his cheek. He had always called her sunshine. It annoyed her in the beginning, but after over eight years it was safe to say she almost liked it.

"Morning, Xavier. I'm going jogging," she said as she spun around to grab a piece of toast from his plate. "You wanna come with?"

"I already went and I distinctively remember trying to wake you up so we could go together."

"You tried to wake me up? When?"

Xavier shrugged. "About an hour and a half ago. You gave me a couple of... choice words, shall we say."

She grinned. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again I promise you.

He shook his head as she headed towards their front door. "That's what you say every day!"

Elle chuckled as she pocketed her phone and began running her daily mile. She loved running, almost as much as cooking. It was a weird combination, she admitted, but one she couldn't explain.

She was even on her high school track racing team a few years earlier. She smiled to herself as she remembered the shock in her coach's eyes when she told him she wanted to be a chef. Priceless.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She stopped in her tracks and answered it without checking the caller ID.

"Elle speaking," she said into the phone distractedly.

"Seychelles, sweetie, I wish you would stop cutting your name short."

Elle smiled as she heard her father's annoyed tone. He had always hated it when people called her that, which is why she loved it so much.

"Well, if I had a choice I'd have chosen a name like Sarah. Something common and-"

"Unoriginal?" he demanded. She could actually picture him rolling his eyes. "I didn't call to discuss your name. We're having a few business colleagues over for dinner tonight. One of them is bringing over his son. I want you to meet him, so be here by six o'clock sharp."

Elle frowned. "Dad, I can't. I have to be somewhere tonight."

"Where?" he demanded.

"Well I have a date with this guy and-"

"Date?" he interrupted once again, practically shouting. "Since when do you have dates with men I don't know?"

"Since I was eighteen, Dad! I'm not a kid anymore."

"Look, Seychelles, I don't care whether or not you do have a date. Just be here."

The line went dead. Sometimes she hated him.

How could he be so inconsiderate?

Elle shook her head and put her phone back in her pocket. She put the music up to full blast and told herself that from then on all his calls would go to voicemail. The man had no shame sometimes, and one of these days she would give him a piece of her mind. Just not yet. As cowardly as it might seem, she wasn't prepared to go down that road yet.

She was just so upset that she'd have to let down Sandy and her brother. Not that she thought he would be upset. He would probably be relieved. After all, how many guys wanted to go out with their little sister's best friend?

She shrugged and concentrated on her steps. Ironically enough, as hard as she was concentrating, she never saw the dark stylish Mercedes coming straight towards her. The second she saw it, however, she froze. At the last minute it swerved to the right and came to a stop beside her.

She was still frozen as the door to the driver's side swung open. A very angry looking man stepped out and strode directly towards her. It was very difficult not to stare up at him in awe. He was even taller than her brothers! At six feet five inches he stood a foot over her. That wasn't the only thing he had going on for him, however. He had a face that was perfectly symmetrical. Almond shaped eyes that were topped by beautifully shaped eyebrows. His eyes were the so blue. One of the deepest blues she had ever come across. She had seen those eyes before, they were very familiar, but she couldn't place where at the moment. They were currently shooting blue fire at her. 

She snapped out of the daze she was in.

"What is wrong with you?" he shouted as her gripped her arms and shook her silly.

Something snapped inside Elle. "Don't you touch me! You were the one who almost bumped me!"

***

Alfonso stared in shock at the tiny woman who was standing in front of him with her hands planted firmly on her hips. No one... No one talked to him that way... ever. To say he was stunned was an understatement. A major one.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" he asked in a dangerously low voice.

Elle felt chills run up her spine. His voice gave her goose bumps, but she wouldn't give this arrogant jerk the satisfaction of seeing through her like that.

"Who do I think I am?" she repeated incredulously. "I'm the person you almost ran over with your damn car, that's who I am."

Before he could open his mouth, she turned on her heel to run back home. She was caught by surprise when he gripped her arm before she could leave.

"Where are you going?" Alfonso asked.

"What's it to you?"

He narrowed his eyes. For some reason he was reluctant to let go, but he knew he had to. He dropped his hand and took a step back, all the while keeping eye contact with her. They stood that way for a while. She was the first to break the eye contact, ducking her head shyly. Without another word, she once again turned away from him and ran.

She didn't look back, even once, but she could swear she felt his gaze on her retreating form.

***

"I'm telling you guys the truth! I could've died," Elle said as she was reading a book with her head on Xavier's lap and her feet on Sandy's.

It was their usual spot. Although their living room was fully furnished, each of them had fallen in love with that particular three seater. They had each argued over it for the first month, but then developed a routine. Xavier on the left, Sandy right, and Elle lying in between. None of them had qualms anymore.

"So what did the driver do?" Sandy asked, not really paying attention to the story.

Elle snorted. "The craziest thing! He blamed me! Can you imagine? If I wasn't a girl I'd have ripped him to shreds on the spot!"

Xavier laughed. "Since when has that stopped you? You've always been a violent little thing."

"That's not the point," Elle protested.

"Was he hot?" Sandy asked as she spared them a glance.

Seychelles hesitated. She knew Sandy would see straight through her if she lied, but she didn't want to admit it.

"I don't remember. All I do remember is that I zoned out after the phone call from my dad and I was jogging slightly inside the road and well..." she trailed off realising that she was babbling.

"Wait, your dad called you?" Xavier asked. "What did he say?"

"He invited me to dinner tonight," she said as she shot a guilty look towards Sandy.

"So you rescheduled?" Sandy guessed.

"Well, not exactly. I tried, but you know how adamant he is."

"Damn you, Elle!" Sandy burst out as she stood up suddenly.

Sandy never ever yelled. Her two best friends stared at her like she had grown a second head. "Why do you let the man bully you like this? We had an agreement. You promised me you would go out with Alfonso tonight."

There was an uncomfortable silence that followed after Sandy's outburst.

A moment later Sandy sighed and sat down next to Elle. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry for shouting, but I'm not going to pretend to be okay with this."

Elle cleared her throat. "It's already five-thirty. I'll just shower real quick and get going. Dad said he's expecting me at six."

When she went into her room Xavier shot Sandy a nasty glare. "What is wrong with you?"

Sandy shrugged. "Look, I want what's best for her more than anyone else, and letting her old man walk all over her is not the solution to her problem. I mean, she's the strongest person I know, but when it comes to him... She's so, I don't know, feeble. I bet he doesn't even know who his daughter really is."

"I get that, Sandy. I just hope you don't force her to make a choice between her father and her best friend."

They glared at each other silently. Sandy sighed and gave a slight nod in his direction.

When Elle came back into the living room she was washing a pair of skinny jeans, a crop top and a stylish jacket, much to Sandy's pleasure.

"Wouldn't your old man expect you to be dressed in something formal?" Xavier asked as he took in her appearance with raised eyebrows.

"Oh I'm sure both he and Sandy's brother would, but I'm also sure that we all know how unpredictable I am," Elle said with a cheeky grin and a wink towards Sandy.

Sandy winked back. "Now that's the Elle I know! Have fun."

"I doubt it, but I'll try."

Then she was gone.

***

She may have seemed confident to her two best friends, but Elle really had no idea how to cram two dinner invitations in one night. She decided to go to her parents' house first. It was a fairly large three story structure within a decent, albeit quiet neighbourhood. She arrived over thirty minutes late, but better late than never.

She found her parents and three other couples, the Smiths, the Olivers and the Hatchets, along with men who looked to be in their early twenties, sitting in the parlour. They all laughed at something Mrs. Oliver had said when she came forward and cleared her throat to make her presence known.

Naturally, she was fussed over during the first few minutes, telling everyone what she was doing currently and what she planned for her future. She could see the look of admiration in her audience's eyes when she told them about her internship at one of the best known hotels in the state. She did not, however see the look of pride in her father's eyes.

One of the younger men, Clide, led her from the small group to take a walk in the small garden before dinner was announced. She went along willingly enough. After all, what did she have to lose?

"Our parents have known each other for quite some time now," he said as he led her to a green bench beside the water fountain in their beautiful garden.

She offered him a polite smile. "I know. I've known Mr. and Mrs. Oliver my whole life."

"I think they may have plans for us."

The way he said 'us' had her putting her guard up. She tried to figure out a way to put a stop to this conversation in her head.

"I think so too," she said as she lowered her voice to a whisper. "I'm so embarrassed. They keep doing this!"

"Doing what?" he asked, clearly puzzled.

"Trying to set me up with random guys, of course!" she in a hushed tone. "I'm dating the most amazing guy! But Dad doesn't approve so he keeps trying to get me to meet new people. I knew I shouldn't have come."

Clide frowned at her, then his face cleared up. "It's alright, Seychelles. I like challenges."

Elle fought the urge to roll her eyes in irritation. Couldn't this guy take a hint? She heard her name being called from not too far away. Both she and Clide looked to their left and saw her father. Clide's face broke into a grin. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what, or who her father wanted in her future.

"How's it going you two?" he asked with a goofy grin.

"Pretty good, sir," Clide replied with a sideways glance in Elle's direction.

Elle looked up and met her father's eyes. The look of pride she had always sought from him was currently there. So many thoughts and feelings went through her head. Anger, resentment. One of them stood out above all the rest. Disgust.

Clide excused himself, leaving the two alone.

"You're wearing jeans," her father pointed out.

"Yes, well, I didn't see the need to get all dressed up," she said with a shrug.

"What do you think of Clide?" he asked, changing the subject.

"He's okay, I suppose. Kind of dull, though."

"Dull?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yes dull," she said as she gazed at the water fountain. "I feel sorry for whoever has to end up with him."

"I was hoping it would be you. I'm already planning the wedding, actually," he said in a joking manner, but Elle knew he was being serious.

"Well then," she cleared her throat. "It's a good thing it's my life isn't it? Because there is no way in hell that will ever happen."

She walked past him towards the drive-way.

"You're heading the wrong way, Seychelles."

"No I'm not, Pa. I told you I have a date, why do you think I'm dressed in jeans? Tell everyone something important came up."

Murray stared at her retreating figure with his mouth gaping. Not once did she turn back to see his reaction. That stunned him even more.

This wasn't his daughter. Who was she?

***

She was late.

Alfonso's mood turned blacker by the second.

First; he couldn't get the girl he had almost killed out of his mind. Those stunningly beautiful brown soulful eyes and how they sparkled when she was angry. That dainty little nose and those soft kissable lips.

Second; he was being stood up for the first time in his life. Whoever this girl was he hoped it was a life and death situation that had kept him waiting because he was not a patient man.

Drumming his fingers against the table's surface, he was about to reach for his phone to call Sandy when he spotted the maître d` leading someone to his table. It looked like she had finally arrived. He got up to hold her chair for her as she sat, being the perfect gentleman he was.

He glanced down at her as she stopped before him.

Wait.

She was...

Her.

Her.

***

"What are you doing here?" Alfonso asked curiously as soon as the maître d` left.

Elle c****d her head to one side, studying him. Now she knew where she had seen those eyes before. Sandy.

"I should be asking you that," Elle said hesistantly. "You're Alfonso?"

Al's eyes cleared as it all fell in place. "Yes, yes I am. You're Seychelles?"

"I go by 'Elle'," she said as she met his gaze.

"Well I prefer to call you Seychelles."

An uncomfortable silence followed. Elle looked at everything, but him, while he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Look," Elle said nervously. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I really didn't see where I was going. I just had to get that off my chest."

He smiled, displaying a set of perfectly even and white teeth. "It's okay, really. We can start over."

Elle snorted. "How corny."

They both chuckled.

Over the next two hours Alfonso could have sworn he laughed more than he had in the past ten years. He had a connection with this girl, he just knew it. They disagreed on every single thing, but as strange as it sounded, he found it refreshing. Every one of the women he had been with in the past always pretended to be something they were not, simply to impress him.

The only thing they had actually agreed on was how great the food was. It was a small, but comfortable family restaurant that was quite popular and fairly priced.

"I like your car," she said as she pushed away her dessert plate; empty.

That was another thing he liked about her. She ate what she wanted to, disregarding what her date might think. He had always thought some of his previous flings were trying to starve themselves.

"Thank you," he said, reaching over the table to wipe off a smudge of chocolate from the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

Her eyes widened at the contact, as did his. She glanced at the clock hanging at the top of the wall they were seated next to.

"Gosh! Is it that late? I have to go..."

Alfonso smirked. She was running. "Of course. I'll escort you to your car."

He rose to stand beside her chair. He grasped her dainty hand in his and pulled her up next to him.

They walked hand-in-hand out to her car. Once they were outside Elle unlocked her door and looked pointedly at her hand, which was still being held captive by his much larger one.

"This was fun," he said as he slowly let go of her hand.

"Yeah it was, surprisingly." Elle said as she opened the door to her old Corolla.

"We should do it again," he murmured as he brushed a loose strand of her hair from her face.

"We'll see," she said evasively. She hesitated before she stretched up to her tip-toes and pecked his jaw lightly. "I'll see you around."

She jumped in her car and sped off. Alfonso touched the spot where her lips had touched. The little slip of a girl had him feeling like a teenager again.

He pulled out his cell phone, punched in a number and waited.

It was ringing.

"Hi Al, what's up?"

"Hey, Sandy. I need Seychelles’ number."