A Complicated Table For Four

"What's wrong?" Julian asked and looked at the direction she was looking at. "Oh!" He said and held her hand tighter. "It's fine. Today is my off, anyway."

One of the waitresses ran to them and began to apologize, "There's a problem with your reservation, Mr. Julian. You were running late, and there wasn't any table for the customers that were ready to eat."

"Then?" Julian asked in annoyance.

"We had to change the reservation to that of the couples eating there. But, of course, we can make room for you and your girlfriend to join them. We thought you were coming here right away because your reservation was for seven, but you came late to secure the reservation," the waitress complained.

Abi just watched Julian interact with the waitress and kept silent.

"Abi?" He raised his brow at her. Abi jerked back into consciousness and looked at him in a confused state. What was he saying? Or what did he say, rather?

"Would you like to join them over there? There was a last-minute change due to our lateness," Julian said and frowned.

"It's fine," Abi said and smiled at the waitress, who looked like she wanted to pee her pants.

"Thank you so much, ma'am," the waitress bowed before Abi. Abi just smiled at her and watched Julian drag her to the table Leo was sharing with Ophelia for their date.

Both of them weren't on talking terms anymore. She had been ignoring him since morning. She gave him the silent treatment and fended for herself. She had asked him for permission to go out but didn't tell him she was going on a date with Julian. Ah! She should have told him, because there's nothing he would have done to stop her, even though he was looking at her like he wanted to murder her in the very next seconds.

He's on a date with his fiancée, and she was on a date with the man that once made her heart skip a beat.

"I'm sorry. Here are the couples that reserved the table," another waiter came around.

Ophelia looked at Abi with a smile. Her smile grew wider when she saw her with Julian. She was now getting the realization of life and moved on with her life.

The frown on Leo's face didn't go away. In fact, his jaw clenched, and his face reddened.

"Nice to meet you, Abigail," Ophelia flashed a beautiful smile at her.

"You know her?" Julian asked with surprise.

"No," Abi replied curtly.

Ophelia scoffed when she heard that. It was clear that Abi wanted nothing to do with her. She also wants nothing with her too! 'Smart bitch,' She praised Abi in her head with a wide smile on her face.

"We'll soon be leaving," Ophelia said and looked at Julian. She was checking him out and began to work on her seduction.

Abi's eyes narrowed when she saw Ophelia packing her boobs together in her coat.

"Ah! It would be like we scared you away. You should wait to finish your meal," Julian replied with a smile.

In as much as he wanted to be with Abi alone, he doesn't want to look bad and send them away when they could both enjoy their food. He turned his head to look at Leo and looked away. It was the same reaction he was giving. That coldness and nonchalance. It didn't worry him because that's his attitude.

"Thank you," Ophelia grinned and placed her hand on Leo's hand.

Abi's eyes didn't miss that. She said nothing and watched Julian order for the both of them.

"You still like chicken and chips, right?" Julian asked Abi, who nodded.

"Let's eat the same thing then. That was what we ate when we came here for the first time," He asserted.

"I want sauce with mine, not ketchup," Abi muttered with a very low voice.

"Gosh, Abi," Julian rolled his eyes. "I still remember all what you like!"

Abi just smiled and brought out her phone. Ava had sent her a message. She just chuckled when she read it.

'I've managed to get Michael. He's now my boyfriend, dear sister.'

'Wait till I come over to screw you up. Your teacher sent me your grades, so you're not paying me a visit next week,' Abi typed back.

'What?! Why didn't you tell me that? I would have gotten straight As,' Ava replied with a crying emoji.

'It's only mum that would pay me a visit next week. You'd be fine without a gift from me in a month,' Abi replied.

'No!!!' Ava typed back and sent a sticker of two ugly monkeys crying with rotten bananas in their hands.

'That's you and Michael. Tell him that if you're not among the top five in the school at the end of the exam, I don't approve of him as your boyfriend,' Abi sent with a serious face emoji.

'Yes, mama,' Ava replied.

Abi read her message and kept her phone back on the table. She likes Michael because he was handsome and smart. Her mom and his mom are distant friends who just got closer lately. He's a rich kid, but that doesn't go to his head. She knows that he likes her sister too, but Ava is just too bold of a girl.

Abi admires that character in her sister and would always use it to tease her when she gets the chance to. Abi was also the one monitoring her sister's grades after noticing how poor her sister's grades were. And damn, she was serious about them breaking up if her grades don't become better after the exams.

Michael should get her to be all brainy and smart if he loves her. He would come to his senses when they both break up because Abi wants a better future for her sister. According to her, education speaks for you when men become mute.

The chicken and chips arrived soon, and Abi was glad it was smelling so nice. "So, are you and Abigail together now?" Ophelia asked with a smile. "Not yet," Julian replied sadly.

"What are you waiting for? Do you even have plans to marry her?" Ophelia was annoyed with all the delay. "Of course. I love her so much, and she would get married to me as soon as all this is over," Julian retorted.

"You forget that I'm now a married woman, Julian," Abi laughed a little. "But you'd get divorced very soon. All this happened because it had to be done. My feelings can never change for you," Julian held her hand and looked into her eyes.

Leo watched them and cleared his throat noisily. Ophelia quickly held the glass cup to his lips, and he drank from it. "So, do you want to have any kids, Abi?" Ophelia asked Abi, but she didn't answer her. She just ignored her and ate her chips gracefully.

Ophelia bit her lips and looked at Julian. "Ah, yes! Abi and I wanted to have three children then," He laughed and glanced at Abi. "How do you still remember that?" Abi was surprised.

"We had the conversation here, and I just kind of remember it," He smiled sweetly at her, and she returned the smile. Leo just watched them without saying anything. His grip on the fork tightened when Julian took a napkin from the table to clean Abi's lips.

He leaned in and dabbed gently on her lips. He then pecked her right cheek quickly and moved back. Abi blushed and stared at her lap. She was embarrassed for some reason and began to pick at her food.

'Stupid girl,' Leo insulted her in his mind. "I'm so happy this morning, so I'll pay for the food," Ophelia said and stood up to go and pay.

"I'll be back. I have to use the restroom," Julian stood up and walked away. Abi's heart began to beat faster when she learned she was now alone with the devil.

She swallowed her spit nervously and quickly stuffed her chunk into her mouth. He wouldn't talk to her because her mouth was busy with the chicken. Alas, she was wrong to think about that.

"What do you think you're doing, Abi?" He asked with a voice that lacked emotions.

"I took permission to go on this date," Abi replied, refusing to meet his gaze.

"You're grounded," He hissed.

"You can't ground me. I'm an adult!" Abi scoffed.

"I'm your husband," Leo replied.

"Oh, really? Then, may I ask you about the outing you had with her?" Abi questioned him.

"It's all business," Leo replied.

"Then, my outing with Julian is all business too. Stay out of it, and I'll stay out of yours. I don't even care if she sleeps with you or not because I'm more of your slave than a wife," Abi said with a cold tone that made his gaze linger on her.

"I don't think you're my slave," Leo said with a low voice.

"You may keep lying to yourself a thousand times, but I'm not stupid," Abi spat.

"You are," Leo replied, adjusting his seat.

"What?!" Abi widened her eyes. Did he just boldly call her stupid?

"I hate you so much, Leo," Abi fumed and hissed.

Leo didn't reply. He just stared at her, furrowing his brows.

"You wanted to have three kids with him?" He interrogated.

"Of course. It's a shame that my first child would be with you. I just pray the baby comes out beautiful like me, not like you," Abi said, calling him ugly.

Leo's cold look pierced through her, and she looked away. Julian approached, sliding his arm onto Abi's neck. Abi was caught unaware and looked at him from up close. He was still handsome.

"Shall we go to my house?" Julian asked.

"Why would I go there?" Abi stammered.

"My mum wants to meet you to apologize for what happened three years ago," Julian explained.

"So, when do we go?" Abi asked.

"Now!" Julian dragged her up.

Leo's eyes scanned her, regretting letting her out.

"We have to visit a gift shop," Abi remembered.

"You don't have to give them anything," Julian chuckled.

Ophelia beamed a smile. "People would think you're really dating."

"What took you so long?" Leo was pissed.

"I ran into Ronny," Ophelia exclaimed.

Leo knew what they might have done and stood up. "Tell Ronny to give you a ride. I have a place to be."

Ophelia pouted. "But you know—"

Leo walked away.

"Thank you for paying for our food," Ophelia said.

Ronny waved at her from a distance.

"Hey," Ronny said.

"I might have to come with you. He left me here," Ophelia pouted.

"I'll drop you home," Ronny said.

"Who was that man beside your sister-in-law?" Ronny asked.

"Her boyfriend," Ophelia lied.

"Does that mean you and Leo are still in love?" Ronny asked.

"Yes!" Ophelia answered proudly.

At Rhyte Taste Restaurant:

"That would be three hundred dollars, sir," Riley said.

"I know. I need your love for my money to be sufficient," the man said.

"Paul!" Riley gasped.

"What are you doing here?" Riley asked.

"I came to eat," Paul rolled his eyes.

"Pay up!" Riley reminded.

"I don't have money," Paul blurted.

Riley swiped his card.

"Thank you—" Paul walked away.

Riley folded her fists.

"Nothing's going on between us," Riley said.

"No one asked," Zoe replied.

"I wasn't talking to you," Riley glared.

"Are you admitting you're mad?" Zoe laughed.

Riley bumped into Zoe's shoulder.

"That rude brat!" Zoe fumed.

Smoke seemed to rise from her head.