7

The car the two business companions sat in pulled through the large metal gates in front of Alistair's house, as the gates creaked while they opened.

Rosalinda's eyes widened, as she remembered the first time she came to this estate and what was waiting outside of it that day. She took a deep breath and watched Alistair step outside the car and head to her side. Rosalinda began to rummage through the small sling bag she had on for something to hit him with. Before she had a chance to gasp anything, she was yanked out of the car, and towards the front doors.

She screamed in anger and began to flair in his arms, as she tried to break free.

"Fucking hell! Nispera li xi ħadd jaqtgħu d-Dick tiegħek u jġibha għad-devil, inti ħaġa grotteska! (I hope someone cuts off your dick and brings it to the devil, you grotesque thing!) She screamed in Maltese, as Alistair raised a brow, and let go of her once they were inside.

"What the hell did you say?" He asked in complete confusion, unknown to the language or accent at all. Rosalinda sat on the marble floor inside, as he shut the door, and looked down at her.

"Why should you care? All I did was tell the devil to eat you alive from the inside out!" She hissed her lie, still continued to mumble under her breath about horrible things that should come to him. Alistair watched Rosalinda seethe on the floor, as she refused to get up when Alistair asked her to.

The man huffed and grabbed under her arms, and lifted her up like a child, but then tossed her across his shoulder. The woman began to wail and thrash against the male, as he sat her down on his couch and kneeled in front of her.

She crossed her arms and legs, and turning her face away. Alistair stared at her face, seeing that her face was slightly red, but took in her otherwise beautiful complexion and round nose. He sighed and gently grabbed under her chin, and turned her face back to see emerald eyes continued to radiate the anger and hatred in them.

"Look, I just wanna go over the inside of the diner. I know you want to upgrade it, so why don't we do so civilly." He suggested calmly, as the woman continued to scowl. After a moment of silence, she sighed, pushed his hand away, and stood.

"Fine," she complied, as the man smiled and stood as well. He began to walk, as she followed, heading up one of the grand staircases he had, since the two staircases met in the middle at the top.

She looked around the house more from the higher angle, then down the longer and light cream colored hallway, into a room that looked to be a study. The two walls were lined with bookcases, filled to the brim, and behind the desk was a large window looking over the estate, the sun beginning to set behind it. Rosalinda sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk, as he sat behind it.

He began to rummage through his drawers, and pulled out a few photos of seats, tables, and other decor and colors the diner could be filled with. He grabbed his phone, and began to text someone, and set his phone down a few moments later.

"So, the interior designer should be here any minute. Could I get you something?" He asked, pressed a button on his desk, as she shook her head despairingly. A woman's voice came through the intercom a moment later and asked what he needed. He asked for three glasses of water, three empty glasses, and a bottle of bourbon, as the woman behind the speaker said she'd be up in a moment.

Rosalinda looked down at her hands, as she noticed the lightly bruised knuckles and looked back at the man who was staring right at her, noticing the bruise beginning to dissipate on his cheek.

"Why are you staring at me." She finally asked through a hoarse voice, clearing her throat.

The man smirked and shrugged, as an older looking woman, appearing to be about in her late 40's, walked in with a taller man, in a purple suit, trailing behind her. Alistair stood and smiled, shaking the man's hand, as the man held it out to Rosalinda afterwards, as she lightly shook it. He took a seat beside her, and looked at the photos.

"Ah, I see you were looking at the photos I sent you, Alistair!" The man smiled, his brown eyes excited to start right away, as the water and bourbon were set down in front of Rosalind, Alistair, and the man ( Rosalinda forgetting what his name was, as she must've been zoning out and ignoring the two).

The maid poured the bourbon into the three empty glasses in front of Alistair as he thanked her and told her she was free to go for the night.

Once the doors shut behind the woman, the men began to talk business, prices, and decor. Rosalinda gave very little input, and frustrated the two men beside her.

***

"What color would you like the walls to be?" The interior designer asked in aggravation, and took a large gulp from his second glass of bourbon. The woman shrugged with a sigh, playing with the end of her shirt.

"I enjoy the off white they already are." She mumbled and rested her elbow on the seat's arm and her chin in her palm. Alistair noticed the woman zone in and out, as he decided he had enough talk of the inside for the day after an hour and a half. The interior designer, Nate Berkus, said his 'goodbye' and left the two alone.

Alistair sat back in his seat and stared at the woman who continued to zone him out. She continued to look out the window beside him at the night sky, as the sun set about half an hour ago.

"Are you not interested in the designs he had? If not we can look-"

"No, it's fine." She mumbled back, as he noticed she never touched the water in front of her and didn't move the whole time. He took a sip of his bourbon, swirled the liquor in the glass a bit, then looked at the woman again.

"Well, we can look at more things next week, maybe go out for dinner-"

"No, you can discuss it. I mean, I just simply own the business and building." She laughed dryly and looked over at him emotionlessly. Alistair shivered at the look, unknown to her feelings, as he groaned softly and ran a hand through his hair.

"You mean, "we" and you need to put some input into this, so we can work as a team." He finished saying, as the woman laughed again, the anger filled her eyes and her body shook a little.

"No, you mean "you". And at this point I don't give a fuck. If anything happens, I'll just find another job somewhere else." She spat and stood up, and threw a spare key at him.

"Go bananas. You might as well just open my safe and take my hard earned cash." She growled and began to head out.

"Wait!" He said and got up from his chair, grabbed her hand, as she snatched it away from him. She looked at him with tears brimming her eyes, wiping her tears away quickly.

"What?! Do you want to take my mother away too?! I mean, if you want to know so badly on why I live the way I do, then let me tell you!l She screamed and pushed him back, as he fell into one of his seats sideways, and looked at the woman with wide eyes.

"My mother is dying of ovarian cancer, my father died three years ago, leaving her to deal with the debt of my college and bills they needed to pay off. Hell! I dropped out of college and immediately began to find a job! I was lucky enough to even get the building I wanted and even decorate the inside! I didn't think my diner would be a big deal, but here we are!" She threw her hands up into the air, a wrathful smile on her face, as she stepped closer, their noses only inches away from touching.

"But you know what? Let's just let my mother die and I have to figure out a way to continue to pay off the debt my family has left, on top of the hospital bills that are going to come my way. I'm the only child they had, cause my mother failed with three miscarriages, unaware of her cancer at the time." She poked him in the chest, hard.

"You can strip me of my money, home, business, and the simple life I live, but I sure as hell wont let you take my pride and family!" She yelled and stepped back, as she wiped the hot tears away slipped down her cheeks.

Alistair simply stared in amazement at the woman in front of him, as he went to open his mouth to say something, she grabbed her bag, that was behind his back, and shrugged it over her shoulder.

"Don't say anything. I don't want your pity or your time. I've had enough. The diner is all your's, just tell me where to fucking sign." She seethed and turned. She headed out the door, slammed the study's door, and front door, behind her once she left.

Alistair still sat in the chair, shock still across his face until it hardened. He groaned loudly, and put his hands on his face, as he sat right in the seat.

"What the hell am I doing?"

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