Two weeks had passed since our visit to The Menu. Antonio continuously talked about the time he had there. I guess he needed to tell me about every single person he talked to or saw. I indulged him. He saw the world through a different lens compared to me, and it was refreshing to hear him describe the nasty bitch who was all over this one guy, awkward gay guys who would sit in the corners together and not talk to anyone but themselves, but he kept coming back to two men. He talked about them as if they were the coolest things since sliced bread. He told me how one of them was obviously the others bodyguard and not actually one of the Samples. He told me how they had mostly discussed things about Antonio, go figure, and about all the other samples. It was clear that this guy made a huge impression on Antonio, but more so the handsome, rugged, stoic, tall, muscular, should I go on, bodyguard. Antonio told me he didn't actually say more than a few words to the guy, but knowing Antonio “they talked with their eyes and the movement between their hearts.” Hopeless romantic he is for sure, but I never understood his mushy gushy talk about men. I loved listening to it though. He talked about connection and passion. I don’t think I had ever experienced something like that in my entire life, and I believed I never would. Love wasn't for me, but I never wanted to discourage Antonio from finding his, so I listened and fed off of his excitement and joy.

To my surprise Antonio hadn't said too much about his dinner at The Menu. He had come home earlier than I had expected. I heard him go into the bathroom and shower. Afterwards there was a tentative knock on my door and it creaked open. I was still awake so I had told him to come in. Without a word Antonio crawled into my tiny bed with me and snuggled up to my side. He signed and promptly fell asleep. I knew that something had bothered him, otherwise he wouldn't have come home so early. The next morning he was as bright and shiny as usual, so I didn't push the subject just yet. He would come to me.

Wednesday was dragging like a normal hump day. It was in between the usual lunch and dinner rush we had at the shop. Antonio and I had finished cleaning up and were getting ready to do some inventory when the empty shop jingled with sounds of customers entering. I looked up from the counter to see two men. Gentlemen more like it, both wearing tailored suits. Both were obviously taller than six feet, well built, strong jaws, was I drooling? They looked like federal agents off a movie scene coming in to question a random shop owner. Thinking about agents gave me a little shiver and I nodded a greeting to them both. I watched as the taller man lead the shorter to a table in the corner of our shop. The taller didn't sit but rather looked towards me, then looked like he was telling the sitting man something important. They both nodded as if they we’re agreeing to some plan, and the taller walked toward the counter. I held myself tall and greeted him.

"Hello sir, what can I get for you?"

"Yes, I would like two tall drips with our Costa Rican medium blend please."

"Perfect. Anything to eat with your drips?"

"No thank you, but I would like to make a small request."

"Sure."

"We would like for you to join us."

"Umm…." before I could properly reply or come out of my surprised stupor Antonio came bursting from the back. He obviously hadn't heard the bell or he would've been much more professional as he started his usual word vomit,

"STAAASSSSShhh! The inventory is…" When he looked up and saw the beauty of a man in front of me he had dropped the tray of clean mugs he had in his hands and blushed liked I've never seen him before.

"V-v-vincent?" Antonio Stuttered

"Mr. Bianci! Are you alright?!" The man, Vincent I guess, started to move towards the side of the counter towards Antonio. Antonio looked stunned as he took in the shattered glasses all around his feet. He held a hand up in protest. I didn't think that shade of red existed. He suddenly dropped down to start picking up the mess. Vincent seemed to relax and handed over his credit card to pay. I took his payment and started making the drinks he ordered. Silence shrouded all three of us, really awkward silence. Finally Antonio broke it, 

"I’m so sorry Stacia. I was just surprised. Forgive me Vincent. Is uh… is Daniel with you?"

"Daniel?" I asked

"Mr. Black is my employer." Vincent replied pointing to the man in the corner.

I looked to see the man, apparently Daniel, sitting there smiling like he knew we were talking about him.

"OH! How did you guys know I worked here?" Antonio questioned. 

"Well, we didn’t. We came to visit Miss Ivanov here."

"Me?! Toni who are these guys?!"  My hackles were raised and I was beginning to panic. I had no idea who these men were or what they were after. Antonio finished putting all the shards of glass on his tray any dumped them in the trash. He sighed shakily and responded,

"Well, you know those guys I was talking about that I met at the Menu, the cool ones." 

"Yeah."

"Well this is them. Vincent the bodyguard, and Daniel the Sample."

"Oh." My defenses started to lower. So these guys weren't some random people who wanted to talk to me, and Antonio talked about them like they were gods. Well that was obvious, at least in the looks department. Vincent then turned to me,

"We would love for you to join us."

"I'm not sure I want to."

"Why not?"

"I don't really know you guys, and I do not believe we met at the club, so I am not sure why you want to talk to me."

"Well…" Vincent began but Antonio butted in, knowing I was uncomfortable,

"She can’t! Just because the shop is empty doesn't mean we can stop working. There are still task we have to accomplish before the evening rush ya know. How about we all go to dinner? Say Friday night?"

Vincent just kind of stared at him mulling over the words in his head,

"Alright. Friday, 6pm at the C’est Delicieux in Wallingford yes?"

"Make it 7 so we can get out of here and dress appropriately?" Antonio suggested.

"Until then… Mr. Bianci, Miss Ivanov… Good day."

Vincent walked to Daniel said a few words and walked out. I stood there dumbfound. What just happened? We had a dinner meeting with men I didn't know at a fancy french restaurant that I didn't have clothes for.

"Dammit Toni!"

"WHAT?! I totally just got us hot dates for Friday night, what are you complaining about."

"I don't know them."

"They're fine..." he waved his hand in dismissal. Okay so they were two statues of male perfection, but I was still really unsure about it all.

"Don't worry baby. Ill dress you." Antonio giggled. God, he was annoying, but I'd go along with it. We went back to work, and I realized with a start, Shit, they forgot their coffee!