Maya hoped that Melissa couldn't hear how traitorous and rushed her sentences were as she made arrangements to meet with her.
She told herself she was doing nothing wrong and just reuniting two siblings together again and again even as she agreed to meet Melissa at the Grand opening of the famous "Luca" daughter branch.
"So?" Xavier asked as she cut the call, turning to meet his curious face.
She beamed, "She made reservations at the Luca. Table 15. She agreed to meet me but we both know she'll be meeting you rather and warning alert: Her fiance will be there." She glared warningly at Xavier, "Mess this up and don't come back asking for my help,"
"Cross my heart," he solemnly promised, "I've just one request though, can you show up at the opening first before Melissa sees my face. Just smooth the edges over."
"Xavier, can you stop being scared of your sister? For all we know, she just might have forgiven you." Maya was amused at the fear still in Xavier's eyes that wasn't allayed by her reassuring words.
"Please, Maya. I know you have done enough and I might just be asking for too much. But please just show up at my side. You can leave after that,"
She wanted to argue but he held her hands.
"For moral support,"
She erupted into an involuntary chuckle, "What?" Her voice was that of amusement and surprise.
He gave her a lazy grin that was both cajoling and breathtaking, "Please,"
She huffed in exasperation, "I'm leaving after 30 minutes if I arrive there with you."
He nodded again and again, smiling, "I'll take whatever you are willing to give."
"But there is one problem, reservations are sold out and Melissa only has a table for one."
He had a smile that made him look so much younger and damn boyish it made her heart break as his lips curved into an arrogant grin, "I know a guy."
***
"You know the frickin owner of Luca, like the Luca?" Maya whisper yelled as they tried to match the strides of Mr. Luca who was in front of them.
Pepper red jacket and slacks, grey tips on Blonde ponytail, wiry glasses. The face behind the conglomerate the Luca, Maya noted even as she stared at him yet again just to be sure.
"Stop gawking," Xavier said, a smug grin on his face as he walked beside her, "I told you that I know a guy,"
"Guys are handymen, old college classmates who sell hoarded tickets__" he grimaced at her.
"Who do you think I am, a garage owner."
"Oh so modest, Xavier. A real classic," she mumbled sarcastically, smiling.
"I know right."
"But how do you know the Luca?"
He raised his brow, "I am the Xavier."
She waited for more follow-up explanation, "That is reason enough now stop fangirling over a married man, it is weird," he mumbled and smirking strode past her while she stared at his broad shoulders shaking her head at the incredulity of his massive ego.
"You look beautiful by the way," he muttered casually not even sparing her a glance.
Maya gave her simple cotton short gown which she had paired with dangling stud earrings and strappy brown sandals, a short glance then shrugged.
"Thank you," she mumbled, even though it sounded more like a question, he nodded staring ahead.
"Hope that was appropriate?" He gave her a sidelong glance.
"I mean complimenting you," he explained seeing the confusion in her expression.
"Of course, it is Perfect," she cursed inwardly at how badly she had stuttered even as they were directed to a VIP table where Xavier was to seat and wait for her to disappear to the toilet then he'll reappear in her place and that will give him room to talk to his sister.
"Hey, Good luck. Don't mess this up," he said jokingly.
She glared at him, a smile on her face betraying the serious front she was trying to put up, "We won't be here if you didn't mess up things in the first place. That is your thing."
He shrugged, "That is my charm I guess,"
She shook her head amused, "That will leave you old, with less hair which will be grey mind you, a nasty attitude and a lonely home."
They both stared at each other momentarily, "I'll always have full hair." He whispered after some time making her chuckle at how vain he was.
"How do you plan to achieve that?"
"Two answers. Good genes and I know a guy,"
Her eyes widened at his answer, " Any more celebrities you plan to pop out in our nearest future?" She asked and then realizing what she had insinuated by mentioning she'll be sticking around till he was grey and old, she flushed.
"I'll just be going now. Melissa called me some minutes ago," she voiced out, and despite how air-conditioned the room was sheen of sweat formed on her forehead which made Xavier give her an amused look before she hastily left almost breaking into a run.
He shook his head at her retreating figure, not knowing why she had stared at him like she had just seen a ghost.
Maya could be such a mystery atimes, he thought, a little smile on his face as he thought of himself old, grumpy yet with full hair but more than that no matter how hard he tried to shut off that part of his vision, no matter how hard he didn't want to think of it, he saw Maya beside him as always wanting to pick a fight so they can bicker at each other.
Even as he made an order for a sparkling grapefruit wine, he found himself realizing that he loved being with Maya, being on her team whatever that means.
Being with her even though it caused an ache in his heart and head atimes, he couldn't deny that he had been a happy man and the past few days have only brought them closer as they hatched the plan to reunite him with his sister.
He never had any successful friendship in his life, but as he smirked sipping his wine, he couldn't help but find himself noting that this is what a true companion should feel like, this is what someone else fully having your back means and damn was the feeling Beautiful.
And though he might have to suppress the desires he felt for her which rushed through his vein and were torturous but he would rather have a part of Maya than nothing at all besides he was beginning to realize what was missing in all the meaningless flings he have had all these years.
Someone beside him, who get him, who listens to his jokes and tell him how pathetic they are while laughing, who slips a finger into his just to remind him someone got him amid his swirling unsettling thought and just kept quiet allowing her steady heartbeat and her presence bring him back to her.
His favorite call girl, Stacey couldn't offer that. Only Maya could and now he just wanted that for as long as it was there.