Chapter 3 SHOCKED BY HIS AUDACITY

Emma stared in disbelief at the clown sitting across from her, shocked by his audacity. Her shock gave way to rage, as hot tears of anger welled up behind her eyes. This had to be the worst she'd seen in her long history of unfortunate dates.

She shot up to her feet, picking up the untouched glass of beer still sitting on the table and pouring its contents on Tony's face. Still unsatisfied, she reached across the table and landed a slap she was sure would leave an imprint right on his face. Tony swallowed his protest as the slap landed on his face. He held his hand to his cheek, nursing his wounds.

"Fuck you!" Emma screamed in his face as she turned around and stormed off. She just wanted to get as far away as possible from the pervert sitting at that table. Why did she have to be so unlucky in this quest to find love?

The tears stung her eyes as she fought hard to keep them from bursting out like a broken dam in front of all the spectators who'd turned to look at the show she put on for them. She walked as fast as her legs could manage, bumping into a man on her way out. She could sense the man turning around to look at her in anticipation of an apology. Too bad he wasn't getting any from her. Everyone deserved a share of the anger boiling in her stomach.

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Eric stood, mildly irritated by the lady who'd bumped into him on her way out. He'd expected an apology, as halfhearted as it would have been, but at least a gesture of courtesy. But the lady had stormed off without turning around to say anything. He wondered what her problem was. Why did everyone in town expect their problems to be evenly distributed amongst the people around them? He shook his head and looked around for his date tonight; Olivia, his best friend, actually the only friend he'd made in a long while.

She'd been the only woman who had a different effect on him, something about her coolheaded wisdom endeared her to his heart. She was his conscience and reason in the face of tough decisions. Olivia was only six months older than him but she'd never let him rest about it, always holding it in his face and proudly wearing her self awarded sash as his elder sister. He never argued with her about that though, she did have that much effect on him. She was the elder sister he never had, the one that always came into the dark basement to console him after Aunt Agatha's whip had torn through the flesh on his buttocks.

"Aww, there's my favorite baby brother," Olivia smiled her dimple-adorned smile, flashing her perfect teeth at him. Eric couldn't help the smile that crept up to his face as he immediately forgot about the lady who'd bumped into him.

"It's just six months, Olivia."

"Which is technically enough time to make me your elder sister," she stated, pulling him down for a hug.

At 5'10", Olivia wasn't a small woman, but she insisted on pulling Eric, who stood at 6'3" down to her height, claiming that "it was improper in her African tradition for a younger person to tower over their elders while greeting them."

Eric always laughed at her claims seeing as she was barely even African; both her parents were from the Dominican Republic.

"Nonsense, my ancestors are from Africa!" she'd always proudly declare in her defense.

"So what's up, how's your week been?" Olivia asked, picking up the menu booklet to tick her order. Eric picked up the booklet once she was done and smiled at her choice; pasta carbonara.

"You're not over your love for pasta," Eric teased with a knowing smile.

"Well, a girl's got her cravings, yeah?" Olivia winked playfully at him.

"I'll take the same thing she's having," Eric handed the booklet over to the waiter standing sentinel beside their table.

"So...," Olivia tapped her fingers on the table in anticipation of some good gossip.

Eric shook his head and smiled fondly. She'd always been so interested in his life ever since their first encounter in their freshman year at business school. She'd been on a scholarship from her local college council and he'd been sponsored by Miss Johnson. She redefined his definition of women even with her confidence and competitive spirit. There was an underlying soft side to her that balanced her fierce spirit.

"How's your week going?" Olivia reiterated, her eyes widening in emphasis and anticipation.

"It's only Tuesday, Liv. The week's just started," Eric reclined back into his seat, a smile dancing on his lips.

"I know what a day in your life is like. Talk about three weeks in one day," she rolled her eyes as she joked knowingly.

"Well, work has been a madness these past few weeks. Trying hard to launch my latest project as you know. So far, Miss Johnson's been pulling in a lot of her contacts to finance my vision."

"Yay," Olivia did a mock dance in her seat at the good news.

"This is good news. Even though I have my reservations about Nicole's mum. I'm happy for you," she rested her elbows on the table and wore a kind smile.

"Yeah, now that you mention, she's always rubbing it in my face that I owe her. I just feel like I'm walking into a trap she's spinning on the go," Eric sighed in exasperation, clearly disturbed by the gravity of his revelation.

"Hey, don't talk like that. Sorry, I even said anything. This is good news, okay? You'd be launching one of your biggest projects yet, you deserve a little celebration," she set her palm on the table, beckoning for Eric to place his hand in hers. She gave him a friendly squeeze to reassure him. "Sorry, I'm jinxing your deal. It's gonna be fine."

The waiter wheeled in their order on a cart and set down the dishes on the table, placing the ice bucket holding a fine bottle of wine right in the middle. He expertly uncorked the wine bottle and poured them both some of it before taking a bow and stepping out to give them some privacy.

"Let's talk about you, how's Olivia's Kitchen coming?" Eric asked after taking a sip of his wine.

"Well," she danced in her seat dramatically before continuing. "I'm putting together a little fundraiser dinner next week, I'll send you the details later. But just know that a lot of rich folks are going to be in attendance and I'll get my hands on their money," she joked and they both shared a laugh.

Olivia was a fiercely driven woman, working hard to get what she wanted for herself. Where others saw obstacles she saw stepping stones. Eric had a thing for women like her, but she'd spelled out her place in his life right from the onset. With her, it was genuine respect and admiration, nothing like what he felt in the presence of Miss Johnson. He shook his head to get her out of his mind. It was a fine evening and he was determined to enjoy it with his friend.

"Hey," Olivia snapped a finger in his face.

"Sorry, got lost in thought there. Were you saying something?" Eric apologized.

"I was asking who you were bringing as your date for my fundraiser," she repeated, a cunning smile dancing in her eyes.