Chapter 12: Does The Place Remind You Of Your Childhood?
When Travis entered the driver’s seat, Arianna automatically put on her seatbelt. She was tired and uncomfortable, but she was always a little afraid when he drove.
Travis wasn’t the best behind the wheel. Though he looked like a movie star when he was driving, he took crazy turns and was spastic when it came to breaking. His driving was very inconsistent with his elegant yet extravagant persona.
One time, she and Travis went on a couple of hours’ drive together. After enduring his erratic driving for so long, Arianna threw up as soon as they stepped out of the vehicle.
She figured this was why he didn’t usually drive himself.
Travis took a narrow route with many detours. As he took another sharp turn, Arianna fought the urge to vomit. She opened the car window and let in the cool air of the night.
“Car sickness?” He asked her teasingly.
“I’m not feeling well today. Could I go home and see you another day?” Arianna was having a hard time admitting defeat.
“Just a meal together, you surely can’t be that sick.”
His tone was a little cold but flirty at the same time. This made Arianna extremely annoyed.
She mumbled, “I already ate.”
“Then have it with me again.”
She quietly observed his cold expression. Did he think he ate dinner with her boss?
Arianna hated rumors and misunderstandings. She firmly stated, “I ate dinner in the office alone.”
Travis didn’t say anything. He turned and stared at her face but was interrupted by the honking of an oncoming vehicle. He quickly swerved back into his lane.
Arianna’s palms were sweaty, and her heart was racing. Her eyes were wide open as she looked back at him in bewilderment.
He smiled at her as if nothing happened and laughed, “So you’re afraid of death, too?”
“I’m not afraid. But I just hope I die looking my best.”
“Why does that matter when you’re dead?”
“Well, if you die ugly, you might scare yourself in the mirror when you’re in hell.”
“You believe in heaven and hell?”
“Don’t you?”
He let out a cold grunt and stopped talking.
They were in the old town district now. It was lined with quiet bungalows that were hidden among the neon-lit buildings.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
The rest of the city had been renovated beyond recognition; however, this end of the town remained untouched. It brought back many unpleasant memories from her childhood. Her old friends lived around here. The nausea worsened.
Travis pulled into a small parking lot before stopping the car. He looked over at her in the shadows for a moment. Seeing that she wasn’t ready to get out yet, he stepped out of the vehicle and walked over to her side.
He opened the door for her and presented her like a true gentleman with his hand. She slid her hand into his and slowly got out of the car.
Arianna looked at the shop in front of them. It was uncharacteristic and straightforward. She could see the walls were white and had no decoration through the window. There were original wooden tables and chairs and coarse curtains. This was a place that Travis would never visit on his own.
He asked her with great interest, “Does this place remind you of your childhood?”
Arianna said dryly, “I don’t think so.”
“Ah, I forgot. You were essentially royalty. You probably never experienced a day like an ordinary person.”
Although he was being sarcastic, he wasn’t wrong. She never had to worry about a single thing as a child, and she always got what she wanted.
When other kids were eager to get new clothes for Christmas, she was packing away clothes she only wore once or twice to be donated. When other girls were bragging about their first Barbie, her closet was already full of them.
A middle-aged man came out and greeted them, “Good evening, Mr. Cooper and Madame. Please take a seat anywhere you’d like.”
Travis led Arianna to the patio at the side of the building. It was lit with strings of light bulbs, giving a warm glow. There was one other couple off to the side, but they were already finishing up their dessert.
After pulling Arianna’s chair out from the table for her, Travis sat down across from her.
Seeing her admiring the lights, Travis said, “Well, I hope you’ll like the food as much as the décor. Here, you eat according to what the chef prepares for you. No menu, no choice.”
Arianna smirked, “You were able to find someone who is more arrogant than you are.”
“Well, you have to book a week in advance before coming here, but luckily, people don’t eat this late, so they agreed to seat us when I called this morning.”
He took a sip of his water before continuing, “I hear they have the best cabbage and bean curd dish here. Have you always been a vegetarian?”
Arianna wasn’t much of a chef. Her meals usually consisted of steamed or raw vegetables and some sort of pasta, bread, or rice. Though she knew there were many amazing vegetarian creations, she was too lazy to even try them.
The waiter began to serve them their courses. It was obvious that the chef was extremely skilled. But Arianna had no appetite. She still felt sick to her stomach.
She had a few bites of each course before pushing the food around the plate with her fork. But Travis seemed to be enjoying the food.
He commented on the main course, “This tastes like what my mom used to make. ”
Arianna listened to him rave about the food repeatedly.
Though Travis didn’t mind that Arianna wasn’t eating, the waiter couldn’t help but ask, “Is the dish not to your satisfaction, miss?”
Travis interjected, “She is not well today. The food is delicious.”
“Well, in that case, is there anything I can get you, miss?” he asked politely.
“Actually, could I have a green tea, please?” Arianna requested.
“At your service.”
After he left, Travis finished chewing his food before wondering, “Interesting that he is giving you such special service. Why is he treating you like somebody?”
“The other women you bring here aren’t given this special treatment?”
Travis looked into her eyes, “No.”