Love Odyssey by Roberta Seret

Author:Roberta Seret
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wayzgoose Press

14

New York City

Le Restaurant St. Barth was squeezed tightly between a Japanese restaurant on one side and a Chinese restaurant on the other. Discreet in its French elegance, the front door was designed with stained glass flowers that were sparkling red and green from the overhead light. A handsome man, tanned and wearing a white suit, opened the door and greeted Anca.

“Bonsoir, Madame.”

“Bonsoir, Monsieur.” She smiled back and he escorted her into the restaurant.

Anca was surprised and delighted by the elegant room. Antique crystal chandeliers reflected the vases of colored roses on all the tables. She had heard this was the newest restaurant in New York, and a hard reservation to get.

She saw her own reflection in one of the Venetian mirrors and moved toward it to freshen her lipstick. Despite her age, forty-two, Anca looked much younger.

Another young man greeted her, smiling. “Bonsoir, Madame. May I help you?” He reached out to take her coat.

“Je vois quelqu’un m’attend. Someone is waiting for me.” She looked in the direction of the bar and waved to Alec.

“Ah, oui, he’s talking to the owner.”

She noticed the men were engrossed in conversation and walked over to the long zinc bar. Quietly, she sat next to Alec, smiled hello, and helped herself to some cheese and crackers that had been set out on a plate.

While Alec was busy talking, she surveyed the restaurant. Dozens of vases were filled with roses of all colors and scattered through the rooms. There was a sweet fragrance as if she was in the middle of a garden, un jardin extraordinaire.

One small candle stood next to each vase in a specific design, so that the soft flame would warm the flowers and enhance their aroma. Every table was a display of beautiful people, well-dressed, jeweled and stylishly coiffed. They were the movers and shakers of New York City, and they were all pleased to dine together as if the restaurant had been created for their private fun.

There was a buzz in the room.

Anca noticed a woman at a table directly in the center of the large room, apparently dining alone. She had a red-dyed mink coat draped around her shoulders, although there was no chill in the air. She wore her black hair in a chignon that looked as if it had been planted on the top of her head like a bird’s nest. She had a Bic pen in her hand and was writing in a small notepad. From time to time, she’d look at the door to see who had entered the restaurant and then she’d jot down something on her notepad. She’d turn her bird-nest head from left to right and listen to conversations drifting from tables nearby. She’d return to writing in her notepad and continue the same routine again and again. Must be a society journalist, Anca thought.

A heavy woman, moving slowly in her three-inch heels, approached the bird lady’s table and they kissed cheek to cheek. Anca recognized her from the newspapers—something about a trial, insider trading, or taxes.

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