FIEST ENCOUNTER
(So close,yet oblivious)
Shadow_vee
The next morning, breakfast was light and simple,scrambled eggs and toast with a cup of tea.They had light conversions,Andre spoke about the board meeting he was to attend that morning ,outlining the progress of the project,the challenges, and his insights on possible directions and few changes he planned to make today. Damien a little bit irritated, leaned back dropping his cutlery and commented, "Wasn't this supposed to be finished already?"
Andre raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips twitching with amused sarcasm. "You shouldn't bother yourself with things that don't concern you anymore," he said lightly.
Damien who at this point was already getting angry, "They are too slow without correct supervision,I brought the idea for this project in the first place isn't it ironic that I'm no longer 'concerned'?"
Andre's reply was sharp but smooth, carefully measured with the intention to hurt. "Ideas are timeless, Damien. Whether or not you proposed, they move on without you."
Zepher, leaning back in his chair, looked at both of them silently he wasn't in the mood to crack jokes.Although it might seem him and Damien where never on good terms they were actually very cool with each other and understood themselves better than anyone and he was beginning to get irritated with his father's move he wasn't expecting it to get this deep.
"How about we all get out of this house today? Just a casual outing Darla?Damien?"
He stared at them waiting for a reply.
Darla raised her eyebrows before nodding in agreement,Damien stares straight at their father before nodding in agreement saying "I think we need fresh air" prompting Marina and Andre to exchange a glance that asked, without words, what on earth is happening here?
By mid-morning, they were ready to leave. Zepher and Darla dressed casually, as usual, while Damien went for low-profile: dark shades, a simple jacket, jeans. He knew he was too recognizable to go unnoticed and tried blending in as much as possible. Security was conveniently left behind as Zepher took the wheel, navigating through quiet streets with a grin that suggested a sense of freedom anyone could tell he was a pro and had done this countless times."No wonder blogs are unable to keep tabs on him"Damien thought to himself.
Their first stop was an art gallery. Zepher's eyes lit up as he explained certain pieces to them, tracing the brushstrokes and the textures while Damien leaned slightly against a wall, skeptical but attentive. "I don't get why you brought us here it's obvious you came here for yourself,why do you even love all of these," Damien said, glancing at a canvas of abstract swirls, "but… this one actually looks good." His tone carried mild surprise. Then, his critical side surfaced. "Though most of those well known pieces are stolen, you know. African art some of them are in museums across Europe, like the British Museum or the Louvre. Hardly anything there is original." Zepher chuckled,"well this are straight from real artist not stolen ones" the conversation drew them deeper into the gallery's quiet corners, arguing with Darla laughing over their interpretations.
Afterward, they moved on to a Channel store where Darla could wander and indulge in her finds. Once done, Zepher suggested stopping for a croissant and espresso at a nearby café. "They have the best coffee in this part of town. Trust me," he said, flashing a grin that left Damien no choice but to follow.
Inside the café, they took a corner table at a cozy spot where they could eat without interruptions. Orabella approached from behind the counter, her usual smile in place, exchanging light conversation with Zepher, whom she seemed to recognize from his previous visitation. She asked for their orders.Damien, scrolling through his phone, lifted his gaze at just the right moment when she was done taking their orders and was about to leave and their eyes met briefly. A flicker of recognition flashed in Orabella's mind, though she couldn't quite place it. Damien on the other hand would usually have admired her more for she was beautiful but he had a lot on his mind and a pretty lady was not one of them.The moment passed as she left to prepare their order, brushing the thought aside. Returning to the table, she carried the croissants and espresso, sneaking one last glance at Damien, trying to figure out where she had seen him before, but finally letting it go, her curiosity buried under the day's normalcy.
After they left, she leaned across the counter and lowered her voice.
"Did you get a look at his face? The guy sitting with his back to the counter."
Claire shook her head. "No. Why?"
"He looks familiar… like I've seen him somewhere before. I just can't remember where."
"Maybe he has come here before."
"Yeah… maybe," Orabella murmured, though the feeling still lingered as she continued arranging the cups.
On their way back home, Zepher tapped the steering wheel lightly before glancing at Damien beside him and Darla at the back seat.
"So, what do you guys think about the café?"
Darla answered first, stretching comfortably in her seat. "It was actually really nice. Their standards are higher than some of those extravagant places we go to. The ambience too… it felt warm."
Zepher nodded in agreement, then his gaze shifted to Damien. The next comment sounded casual, but the smirk on his lips said otherwise.
"The waitress was really beautiful too," he added lightly. "Too bad you're already betrothed. You could have asked her out."
Damien didn't even bother looking at him. "I'm not in the mood for a relationship with any woman right now."
"Ohhh," Zepher dragged the sound playfully. "That's… a new development. I think that's good." He chuckled under his breath. "Although i heard Laila is pissed at you."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Damien replied flatly, eyes still fixed ahead.
"It's cool if you don't remember," Zepher said with an exaggerated shrug. "Hehehe."
Damien snorted. "Am I so interesting that you stalk my every move?"
"Me?" Zepher asked, feigning offense. "Nahh. Dad told me about it."
"Dad?!" Damien and Darla exclaimed at the same time, both turning toward him in disbelief.
He shrugged his shoulders while smiling.