He's Drunk

As we arrived at the restaurant, Louis smoothly parked the car and then stepped out, rushing around to open my door. 

With a charming grin, he extended his hand to me and, to my surprise, guided me by the waist as we made our way to the entrance.

My eyes widened, and a flush of confusion crossed my face. This was supposed to be a simple dinner, not the party we'd been anticipating, so his sudden, intimate gesture caught me off guard.

We walked side by side, Louis's hand resting comfortably on my waist. I couldn't help but wonder why he was being so touchy tonight.

Was this part of some elaborate plan or just a spontaneous move? As we approached the host stand to check our reservation, I turned to him with a questioning look.

Louis flashed a reassuring smile. "Oh, this? It's just a rehearsal for how we'll need to act at the party. You know, setting the mood for the evening," he explained, his tone light and nonchalant.

I raised an eyebrow, still puzzled but somewhat amused by his playful approach. I nodded, trying to match his easy demeanor, though the unexpected touch still lingered in my thoughts.

Louis tossed his keys to the doorman with an effortless flick of his wrist, as if the gesture were as casual as a wave. The doorman caught them deftly, nodding with a practiced grace that suggested he'd done this countless times before.

Louis turned to me, dragging out a chair with a flourish and gesturing for me to sit. It was such a classic gentleman move that I couldn't help but smile.

He slid his coat off and hung it over the back of the chair, a small but thoughtful detail that made me feel oddly cherished.

 "What would you like to eat?" he asked, his eyes locked onto mine with a gaze that seemed to promise he'd order anything I fancied. His earnest expression was charming, but before I could reply, a waitress appeared, and her presence was... well, let's just say she was not subtle.

Her gaze lingered on Louis with a hunger that was almost palpable, and I caught her blatant admiration the moment we entered. You could say I have a knack for picking up on these things. As she approached, her breasts jutted out prominently, a deliberate movement to catch Louis's eye. Her attempt at seduction was so blatant it was almost comedic.

"What would you like, sir?" she cooed, bending forward in a way that made me wonder if she'd practiced this particular pose in front of a mirror. Her eyes, fixated on Louis, were practically asking him to whisk her away to some private paradise. Louis, clearly aware of her intentions, chuckled softly, finding the situation as amusing as I did.

I couldn't help but smirk. "I'm sure he'd like a menu first," I said, my inner observer thoroughly entertained by the scene unfolding before me.

The waitress's eyes flickered with a hint of irritation as she snapped back at me, "I wasn't asking you, ma'am." Her gaze quickly shifted back to Louis, clearly intent on keeping the focus on her advances.

Louis's face hardened, and the atmosphere shifted abruptly. His voice, sharp and cutting, rang out across the table. "Watch your mouth! You need to be careful about how you speak to her. It's obvious you're trying to seduce me with those saggy breasts of yours, but trust me when I say I don't associate with low-life sluts like you."

The waitress's face flushed with a mix of shock and anger, her eyes widening as she took in the harsh rebuke. Louis's words were as brutal as they were clear, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

She stumbled slightly, trying to regain her composure. "I'm sorry, I—" she began, but Louis's glare silenced her.

"Now, would you take our orders and get out of our sight?" he demanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. The command was so forceful it seemed to resonate through the room, cutting through the murmur of nearby diners.

The waitress, visibly shaken, stammered another apology before hastily retreating, her flirtatious demeanor completely shattered.

Louis's expression softened as he turned back to me, his voice calmer now. "Sorry about that. I just couldn't stand her attitude. Let's focus on enjoying our evening, shall we?"

I nodded, grateful for the change in tone. "Sounds like a plan."

I took a delicate bite of my lobster risotto, savoring the rich, buttery flavors. Louis was deeply engrossed in his steak, slicing it with the precision of a surgeon. As he set down his knife and fork, he leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

"So, Claire," he said, his tone casual but with a hint of intrigue, "what was your first impression of me?"

I put down my fork, taking a moment to choose my words carefully. Louis's eyes sparkled with curiosity, clearly anticipating some carefully crafted response.

"Well," I began with a playful grin, "my first impression was that you were like one of those over-the-top TV bosses—strict, a bit intimidating, and probably had a hidden agenda involving spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations."

Louis chuckled, shaking his head. "Is that so? I suppose I should be flattered that I didn't come across as a complete tyrant."

I laughed, nodding. "Oh, I'm sure you have your moments. But you have to admit, you do have this aura of being in charge. Like you could make a spreadsheet seem like a high-stakes poker game."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? And what made you think that?"

"Well," I said, gesturing with my fork for emphasis, "there was the time you made us stay late because of a 'minor issue'—which turned out to be a missing comma in a report. I thought, 'Wow, he's serious about details.'"

Louis grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, yes, the infamous comma incident. I suppose I can be a bit meticulous. But I prefer to think of it as commitment to excellence."

I snorted. "Commitment to excellence, or commitment to keeping everyone on their toes?"

I took a sip of my wine, enjoying the easy banter. "I'll keep that in mind. As we continued enjoying our meal, the conversation and laughter flowed easily. The candlelight flickered gently, casting a soft glow over our table. I took another bite of my lobster risotto, savoring the rich flavors. However, as I reached for my glass of wine, I suddenly felt a gentle but persistent pressure in my lower abdomen.

Excusing myself with a polite smile, I said, "Louis, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to visit the ladies' room."

He nodded, waving his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Of course. Take your time."

I stood up, smoothing down my dress and adjusting my leather jacket, which I had draped over the chair. I made my way across the restaurant, to the restroom. 

I took a piece of tissue paper and dampened it with water, carefully cleaning the sides of my eyes where the mascara had smudged. After ensuring that everything was in place, I smiled at my reflection and headed back to our table.

As I walked through the restaurant, I noticed Louis laughing uncontrollably, his laughter echoing in the sophisticated setting. The sight was unusual, and my eyes widened when I saw that he was alone at the table. My gaze shifted to the table, and I counted five empty bottles of wine.

My God!, he's drunk.