Restaurant of Love

Love...a four letter word that I personally considered to be irrational and therefore beneath me. I mean I'm Charlie Crippley, the next in line to take over the fortune 500 company for my family, and I had plans for my future. Graduate college, travel the world and push my family business further in the world of Quantum Mechanics. Yes, I had my fair share of relations with the opposite sex, but only as a means of entertainment, no one worthy of my time to be honest. And that was bound to change.

It all began in my Business and Ethics class one morning, and normal day as per usual with the continuous drawl from Professor Rigsby, an uninspiring lecture with the ability to put the most caffeinated individual into a deep slumber, but I digress.” So based on what we just read, do you believe it necessary for employers to limit the amount of freedom employees are allowed to post online?”,inquired Professor Rigsby. Silence fills the classroom. “Come on, guys. In order to learn,it requires participation. Mr.Crippley, what's your take on the topic”” questioned Professor Rigsby.” Well, in my opinion, I believe it is necessary that employees are given strict guidelines on how to express their opinion online. The moment you are hired by a company, all you do is reflected on them. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for them to keep the company in mind. I don’t see it as taking their freedom, that’s a tad dramatic, don’t you think?’,I answered. “So you feel comfortable having you voice silenced to meet the bottom line?”,said a voice from the back. “ It’s not being silenced, employers are just saying there are just certain opinions that should nor be communicated about, in order to keep the company without drama”, I replied without turning to the debater. “ So you’re saying it's completely fair for an employee to receive a written warning, if not termination, for protesting the injustices of the country?, said the voice angrily. Finally, I decided to turn and take a look at my aggravated classmate, and was taken aback. In a seat two rows behind, sat the most beautiful girl I had ever set my eyes upon. She had the most beautiful auburn hair, dressed in a sleeveless, black tank top and a tattoo on her left shoulder which I couldn’t make out from my seat. “ Well?”, demanded the girl. Her question knocked me out of my trance. “ No, that’s not what I meant,”I replied, trying hard not to seem flushed by her. “ No, I don’t believe someone should be fired for protesting, especially in our current climate. But I do believe certain topics don’t have great optics for a business.

You can protest, but if a picture shares a connection with you looting, it would reflect badly on the company, do you understand?”, I continued. “ Yes, but by limiting our opinions and posts,it interferes with our freedom of speech, do you understand what i'm trying to say?” she relied. “ Okay, this has been a good discussion, unfortunately we’re out of time. Remember term papers are due Monday. Have a great weekend.”,said Professor Rigsby.

I began to pack all my belongings in my bag as quickly as possible in order to catch up to her, I had to at least learn her name.I left the classroom in such a haste as you find her before she left the campus.As I walked briskly through the hallway, looking frantically for her through the many faces I passed, each time disappointed at it being someone else. As I began to lose hope, there was slight tap on my shoulder. As I turned to look at the face responsible for the tap, I suddenly felt so elated as I realized...It's her. She stood in front of me, now wearing a red leather jacket with a grey beanie (no wonder I couldn’t find her). “Hey, you dropped your wallet as you left the classroom,just wanted to return it”,she explained. “Thanks, I appreciate it”, I uttered nervously. “It’s no problem, Charlie...read it in your wallet”.she exclaimed. “Now it doesn’t seem fair that you know my name, and yet I don’t know yours”, I replied. “It’s Samatha...you can call me Sam”,she proclaimed. Sam, a name has never sounded sweeter.”Nice to meet you Sam,” I replied. “ I have to thank you for finding my wallet, in some way”, I begged. “No, it’s alright”,said Sam. “ How about drinks? There’s a nice restaurant around the corner. Would you please accompany me?: I inquired hopefully. “ I could do with a drink, as long as you’re paying”, she joked. “ Only because you gave me back the means too”, I joked back. She smiled at me, and the whole world fell away and time froze. I could spend an eternity looking at the smile and never tire of it.

As we entered the restaurant, I realized Sam was a bit uneasy. “Is everything okay?”,I asked. “ Yeah, it’s just that I wasn't expecting this restaurant. It’s really expensive and I’m really underdressed. “ Oh don’t worry, you look beautiful. Just leave everything to me”, I reassured her. As we entered the restaurant, I could feel Sam tense up as we approached the maitre d.

“HI Michael, was hoping to get a table for the evening?”, I asked.

.“Well, of course Mr Crippley. If you would follow me”, replied Michael. A Look of utter bewilderment was spread across Sam’s face.We were seated at a table for two in the center. “ May I bring you a menu?”, inquired Michael. “Yes please”,I replied. I turn my attention to Sam, “ Would you be okay with me ordering wine?” I asked “No, I would love some wine. Red please”, she uttered. “ Can we please have a bottle of Merlot. Thank you Michael.” My pleasure, sir”, replied Michael. Sam sat nervously looking around at the other patrons donned in fancy dresses and suits.” Okay, I have many questions?” she questioned. “Ha ha. Okay I can guess what they are. Well, my family are...comfortably situated financially.”, I explained. “So you’re rich?”, she asked. “We are comfortable”, I uttered.” That’s exactly what a filthy rich person would say”, she joked. “So because of your status, the restaurant allows you to bend the rules about attire?”, she asked. “ Yes...mostly because my family owns the restaurant”, I whispered shyly. “ Oh wow, that’s a lot to swallow”,she said. “ So what, you bring all your dates here, splashing money and authority around, because i'm not that type of girl”, she proclaims confidently. “ Actually, you’re the first girl I brought here. I can see you’re different.”,I said. Sam stares at me with a calculating look. “ You’re not sure that I’m telling you the truth”, I said sadly. “I’m sorry, it's hard to believe, we have been in the same class for a few months and you haven’t noticed me until now. I’m just not sure this isn’t some game you play on your dates.” she said. I begin to smile, which she notices only increasing her ire.” What’s funny?” she asked. “No, it's nothing, it's just that you have called this a date twice, and that makes me happy”, I said with a smile. “ I just meant the word in general,” she uttered with a blushing look. Michael returns with a bottle of the restaurant's finest Merlot, pouring it into two wine glasses. “ Can you leave the bottle?’,I asserted. “ Of course, Sir”,said Michael. I raised my glass up.” A toast to new beginnings, with new people...and the blessing that I don’t have to spend hours at the DMV getting things replaced”, I acknowledged jokingly.” To new beginnings, and to your stroke of luck meeting me”, she joked. It was there and then that I realized that Cupid's arrow had done its job. As we chatted throughout the night,with patrons coming and going, and two bottles of Merlot, I have never had an individual transfix me as Sam had. She had a smile bright enough to brighten anyone's day, a beauty to rival that of Aphrodite. I have no idea how I could have missed her, useless months left without having her in my life.

As we said goodbye outside the restaurant, I stared in her eyes which felt like eternity,at which point I grabbed a hand as she was entering an Uber. I gave her hand a kiss, to which she smiles. “ You’re really that old school chivalry stuff, huh”, said Sam. “I want our first kiss to be special, and yes there will be another date, I will show you chivalry is not dead.I will call you tomorrow”, I declared, watching her close her door and take off as we locked eyes. I entered the restaurant again, off to pick up my bag and saw the two empty bottles of Merlot, and with a smile I bagged one of the bottles, so as to never forget the day my life changed.