Chapter 826 Late Introductions

Chapter 826 Late Introductions

"I'll have your gazpacho and a pen and paper, if you don't mind," Alex replied, keeping his smile up.

Guylaine and Kary had no idea what was on the menu and wondered how Alex knew. It didn't look like he'd ever been here, either.

"Of course, I'll bring that right up. What about the ladies?" the owner asked, smiling at them.

"Umm. I'll have a menu, please?" Guylaine asked, a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, my. Where are my manager's manners? He didn't leave you one? I'll have that fixed immediately," he answered, looking appalled.

The owner rose and left with a quick gait, rushing to get a menu, and from their perch, they also saw him look sternly at his manager as he grabbed the menu.

The man looked shocked he had forgotten such a basic thing, and his face turned sour.

"How did you know the menu?" Kary asked Alex in a whisper.

"I didn't. I just said the first thing I imagined this place would have. Lucky guess," he replied.

Kary had to hold back the chuckle rising in her as she imagined he had panicked momentarily at the question as they did, but hid it better.

When the owner returned, he handed the women a menu and sat across from them, looking Alex in the eye.

He slid the pen and paper over the table, keeping his mouth shut.

Guylaine saw this and wondered if this was some code, and her theory of Alex being a criminal grew more staunch in her mind.

Alex grabbed the pen and rapidly scribbled something on the paper before sliding it back.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

When the owner glanced at the note, his eyes widened for a second, and he crumpled the note before returning to his wide smile.

"So. Have you ladies decided what you want to start with?"

"Ah, yes. I'll have a gazpacho as well," Kary answered.

She barely had enough time to glance at the menu, but most entrees were cold things. And the Gazpacho was the least weird thing, in her opinion.

"Another Gazpacho, very well. And you, milady?" the owner asked, looking at Guylaine.

"As for you," she added, glaring at Alex.

"If anything ever befalls her while she's with you, you'll have hell to pay."

"Mom!" Kary whisper-shouted.

"What?! He needs to know I mean business," Guylaine rebuked.

Alex laughed it off.

"Don't worry, Ma'am. I would never let anything harm even a hair on her head. Rest assured that she is safe with me."

Alex wasn't sure of his own statement, but he couldn't let the woman believe he was a danger to her daughter. He also couldn't let Kary think he doubted himself.

'For now, let's play the confidence card. It's better if everyone thinks I'm in control one hundred percent.'

The owner soon returned, holding the bowls and a small plate in his hands. He set them down on the table before pushing them in front of each of their owners.

"Here we are. A Salmon Tartare for the lady and two gazpachos for the lovely couple," he said, smiling at them.

"Thank you, uhm..." Alex started saying, but froze.

"Dear lord, how rude of me; I forgot to introduce myself. I'm so used to people coming here, begging to meet me, that I forgot you didn't know my name. Gabriel Duffour. It's a pleasure meeting you," he introduced himself with a curtsy.

"Pleasure to meet you, Gabriel. I'm Alexander Leduc."

"And I'm Kary Deveille. This is my mother—"

"Guylaine Deveille! The pleasure is all mine," Guylaine interrupted her, batting her eyelashes.

Gabriel leaned in, grabbed her hand, and kissed the top of it.

"Nonsense, Ms. Guylaine. The pleasure is all mine," Gabriel said, winking at her.

"Ahem!" Kary cleared her throat loudly.

Her mother sat there, red as a tomato, her heart pounding, while Gabriel laughed it off like it was nothing.

"When you are ready to eat your main course, please give me your order directly. In the meantime, let's talk. I love meeting new people, especially ones with similar interests," Gabriel said, sitting back down and grabbing his cup of wine.