Why do you need it?

Chapter forty-three

Anna shifted in the car seat, embarrassment etched on her face. She puckered her lips and glanced outside the car window. 

"We're here, ma'am," he said showing his white teeth. The restaurant was built in the form of a cabin. It had wooden doors on the right and glass doors on the left. The two types of doors had double doorknobs. Yellow lights radiated from the roof of the entrance, illuminating the exterior of the restaurant. There were wooden tables and chairs just by either side of the entrance for customers who preferred outdoor eating. The walls on the right and left sides of the entrance served as gates, which prevented passersby from seeing customers as they ate. The restaurant was decorated with beautiful green plants and flowers which beautified the building. It wasn't a very classy restaurant like she'd thought but it still had a very good standard. 

As they entered, she noticed the neat white and brown marble floor and the beautiful rattan chairs and wooden tables. About four chairs were arranged around each table, which had glass cups on them. The menu was also placed on each table. Several chandeliers were hung at the top of the restaurant which illuminated everywhere perfectly, giving the whole room a traditional look.

They took the seat close to the glass window, sitting across each other. Anna picked up the menu list in her front and went through it. She saw varieties of dishes such as jambalaya, lobster mac and cheese, new England clam chowder, deep-dish pizza, Cajun Shrimp and chicken pasta, lobster roll, tater tot hotdish, prime rib, and buffalo wings amongst many others. She thought of Mr Williams immediately after she spotted buffalo wings. 

Her stomach churned in anticipation of food, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since morning. She wasn't even sure of what to order as she stared at the menu list. She needed something very filling. She quickly looked through the most important thing- the price of each dish. Even though she was hungry, she needed to know if their dishes were pocket-friendly. She was relieved when she saw that it was something she could afford just as Jaden had said. 

"So, what would you like to order?" Anna asked, smiling at him and looking relieved. 

"Uhm...let's see..." He said, taking a cursory look at the menu. 

"I think I'd have jambalaya with a mud pie." A very beautiful young female waitress walked up to them, asking for their orders. Jaden told her his and she looked at Anna, anticipating her reply.

"Lobster roll, buffalo wings, a bowl of clam chowder and an orange juice, please." She said, looking up at the waitress who answered her with a wide smile. 

"Miss, I think you have a really large appetite," Jaden said, cocking his head. 

Their order came in some moments later and Anna immediately started with the soup. 

"Wine, please. Bogle chardonnay," Jaden said, lifting his hand to have the attendant's attention. He simply nodded his head as he watched Anna eat. Anna looked at him briefly, wondering if she was the one that was paying for the wine. She hoped that the wine wasn't an expensive one. She had zero knowledge about wines. She'd always preferred juices.

He ate his jambalaya very slowly, watching her from the corner of his eyes as she ate ravenously. 

"You look cute when you eat," Jaden said, smiling at her. 

"I do?" She asked, raising her brows in question. 

"Hmmhmmn." He nodded.

The wine was brought to their table almost immediately. 

"Do you care for wine?" He said, pouring himself a glass of wine as he opened it.

"No, I'm fine with just juice. Thanks." Anna poured herself a cup of juice also, sipping it gently. 

Anna suddenly remembered that she wanted to ask him about Kathryn.

"Jaden, you do know Kathryn, right?" She asked, looking innocently at him as she bit the buffalo wings.

"Yeah, everyone knows the intriguing cousin of Mr Williams. She's one to die for. What about her?" His eyes were on her, while his hands worked on his jambalaya.

"I was thinking you'd probably know a way I can get through to her. Her email address, her phone number- anything. Although, I'd prefer her phone number. Thing is, I need to get across to her for something really urgent. Can you help me out?" She pleaded.

"That wouldn't be a problem," he said and Anna almost leapt for joy. "But, may I ask why?" His eyes were filled with curiosity and he drew his thick brows together.