Chapter 104: You asked for it

Getting inside the restaurant, Simon led her to their family table which was empty and surprisingly have been refurbished and a mini cubicle now kept in place to provide even more privacy. "What happened? The Kentley's table have been refurbished?" She asked as Simon helped her to a seat.

"I was about asking same. Cause I seriously have no hand in this. It's all Tenor." He said with raised hands as he took a seat beside Paige.

"What will you eat?" Paige asked him picking up the menu and going through it.

"How about I eat you?" He asked staring right at her with a raised brow. Paige suddenly noticed how close he was. He could have sat opposite her but he didn't. "Do you know that you can sit opposite me and you'd end up seeing my face even more." She said nicely.

"I love it here." He replied with a grin. "This position allow a better view of not just your face, but your lovely skin."

Paige looked down at her laps which had few explosed portions all thanks to the dress she had on which has a split by the side with the main purpose of showing off the thigh. Her well polished toes sparkled beautifully with a red nail polish she applied earlier.

"Now, is that not my favorite people?" Tenor called walking up to them. "A little birdie told me that you are around." He continued. "Welcome Paige." He turned to Paige and offered a handshake. "It's so nice seeing you again.

"Thank you so much for having me Tenor." Paige replied.

"I don't deserve a welcome from you do I?" Simon asked Tenor giving him a side eye." 

"Oh well, you said it yourself. What more can I say." Came his reply. "How do you love your new space?" He asked.

"Hmmm, it's quite private and more comfortable. But I hope your little renovation won't be charged to my bank? Cause I don't remember asking for any special addition." Simon stated.

Tenor laughed joyfully. "How much are we talking about Simon Kentley. If we are to bill you for the extra renovations, the money will barely get noticed by you. I mean it's going to seem like peanuts." He added.

"I'm not paying for this T." Simon said pointing at the mini cubicles and roses.

"It's all good. We are not charging for it. We just want to provide a good and well appreciated service for our top customers. You all need to be enjoying your money's worth." Tenor added. This made Paige smile. "What are you having?" He asked.

"Anything she is having." Simon replied turning to face Paige, same as Tenor. 

"Uhmm," Paige started holding the menu to eye level. "I'll go for Spaghetti and prawn sauce." She said dropping the menu on the table.

"And a bottle of red wine please. Something old and tasty." Simon added.

"Okay," Tenor replied. "Coming right away. Meanwhile you can enjoy the band while we get your food ready." He said to Paige pointing at the band that was on stage getting ready to start a performance. He left to get their food and Paige turned to Simon.

"Does the band play always or is it just when we visit?" She asked recalling the last time they came.

"They play every evening from 6:00pm. But exceptions are made when a top customer visits the restaurant before the said time. I told Tenor that you like Jazz and enjoyed the last performance. I guess that is the reason for this one then." Simon replied as their bottle of wine arrived. The waiter opened it and served them before leaving. "You are so beautiful." Simon said looking at her lost. 

Paige cleared her throat sharply. "Now that reminds me," she started. "I haven't forgiven you for faulting in your promise. You told me that you'd come back on a Thursday, but what day is it?" She asked him waiting for an answer.

"A Friday." He replied.

"Great. Now what is really your excuse. Cause you gave me nothing tangible on phone."

"I was held up. I found out that my former caretaker at the ranch wasn't doing a great job. So, I had to stay back and look for another caretaker. These things take time you see." He explained. "So am I forgiven now?"

"That would be too easy wouldn't it? You have to work hard to get what you want. Nothing come easy these days." She replied.

"What should I do then your royal highness." Simon asked.

"Hmm, you can start by kissing my legs then." She said sarcastically. Their food arrived and the band stared singing at the same time catching Paige's attention as they sang one of her best songs "can't take my eyes off you." Once the waitress left, Paige who had her eyes focused on the stage started humming the the song. Simon took this opportunity to bend down slightly and without warning, dropped a first kiss on Paige's toes. "What the hell!" Paige exclaimed startled and withdrew her leg immediately. "Simon!" She called him and he burst into laughter sitting down. 

"You asked for it and I was only doing what you asked for." He replied laughing uncontrollably." Why the hell are you scared?" He asked with a fat grin.

"Wipe that grin off your face." She commanded.

"Okay." Simon replied raising his hands up in surrender still smiling. "I'm at your mercy, what would you have me do." He asked.

Paige stared at him for a while before mumbling a laughter. "You should know sarcasm when you hear one Simon." Paige told him.

"Sadly, I choose what I want to hear." He replied. "I chose not to hear the sarcasm in your voice." He told her pushing her stubborn curls back behind her ears.

Paige pushed his hands away gently as she turned to the band again. "I love that song." She said absent-mindedly. "It is one of my best songs, topping my music chart as one of my favorites. Old but golden." She said out loud. "oh no! I'm obviously wasting my saliva talking to someone who know nothing about jazz. You're still a fav of afrobeats ain't you?" She asked.

"Is that why you assume that you're wasting your saliva?" He asked feigning seriousness. "For your information." He started arranging their plates. "I know that song. It is one of Aunt Bridget's best songs. I had to learn the words even without trying. Back at England, it was always on repeat." He told her as he shoved the first chunk of spaghetti into her mouth. 

"I can actually feed myself." She mumbled inaudibly with her mouth filled up.

"I know that." He replied. "The river village at Elfer-town, the one we spoke about." Simon started.

"Mhhm." Paige replied.

"I bought some of their lands. It's an easy way to lure investors to the area and have the government pay a little attention over there. I'm currently reaching out to companies that might want to expand into a community without competition and a community tha can offer them cheap labour. You know having big companies over there will help provide job opportunities to the community members. That way, they won't have to depend solely on fishing as a means of survival. In order to give back to the community, some of these companies will be willing to collaborate with each other to provide schools, skills acquisition centres, hospitals and a lot more for them. It will be a win win." He explained. "So, what do you think?" He asked Paige.

"It sounds great. You're talking about lots of companies. How much land did you purchase then?" She inquired.

Simon scratched his hair with a smile. "A lot actually." He replied. "I'm currently going broke." He lied.

Paige's mouth dropped open. "Oh my God! You didn't have to purchase that much." She said. "What are you going to do now? Getting these companies to agree on expanding to a new location is not such an easy task you know." She added suddenly looking worried with lots of worry lines on her face. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked genuinely concerned.

"You can do a lot." Simon replied seriously. "You can start by giving me a reassuring hug and I seriously want to steal a kiss. I've been longing for your lips since you arrived the Mansion. Right now, a kiss can go a long way." He added.

"A kiss will suddenly replenish the money you invested into acquisition of lands?" Paige asked looking at him.

"It will go a long way." Simon replied holding her wrist. 

"Maybe it's best you remain broke then." Paige told him laughing. "My lips are soft and specially made. You might have to work harder to get a taste."

"You say it like it's a dessert. Gush!! The sound of that. Hearing it from you, it's sexy and soothing at the same time." Simon said.

"Simon Kentley," she called. "Are we eating or not?"

"We are eating mi lady. Let's eat please." He replied grabbing his cutleries with a heart warming smile. Extremely glad that he had her back in his corner.