Quinten had arranged for Samantha to meet him at the Golden Lily a Japanese hibachi style restaurant. Samantha had never been there, it was way out of her modest price range. It surprised her that he had said,"I'm going to take you to the Golden Lily,because you deserve the best." After she hung up with him she thought,"How does he even know what I deserve?" She was still confused about Quinten,what Analisette said about him raping Lolita had stayed imprinted in her brain but she wanted to know for herself. People could always say things about others,but to hear it directly from the person its about is a different story. She had to know. Samantha liked Quinten,he was sweet. "Don't forget too many sweets can cause cavities,"She remembered what her corny dentist from when she was a child had repeated to her many times and laughed.She pulled into the parking lot of the Golden Lily.It was located by the water about six blocks from Romona's.She looked out to the water and inhaled the salt water smell,and smiled.There was something about the scent that made her think of good times,of her parents. As the sun began to set in the distance she headed to the entrance of the restaurant.
Walking in she felt under dressed in her black ruffled sleeveless button up blouse and khaki cargo skinny jeans and strappy gladiator high heels. Most women were in dresses and "Very Fancy"suits. The hostess looked at her and smiled and said,"Welcome to the Golden Lily,can I help you?" Her tone was that of a saleswoman knowing that the costumer couldn't afford what they were selling in the store. Samantha looked at her like she couldn't be serious. "Do you speak English? hablo English?"The hostess said in an antagonizing tone. Samantha got real close to her and said in Spanish,"Your lucky I don't slap the taste out of your mouth bitch." The woman looked at her confused. Samantha laughed then spoke in English,"I'm meeting someone here, his name is Quinten." The woman straightened up and a look of fear appeared on her face as she stumbled to grab a menu and set of silverware,"I'm sorry I didn't know.Let me take you to him.Again I'm sorry." Samantha watched her and thought,"Wow.He must be a somebody if shes acting like this." She followed the hostess and ignored everything she had said,she was to captivated by the inside of the restaurant. It felt like what she thought japan would be like, the inside was decorated with dark cherry wood tables and floors. What looked like a small bamboo forest breaking the table selection into specific sections,One for the tables available for groups then tables for two and in the center you could see the fire from the hibachi and people cheering and cooking instruments spinning in the air. It was beautiful. Samantha smiled to herself at the thought that if it wasn't for Quinten she would have never seen this. Realizing the hostess was waiting for her at the beginning of a section she walked over to her quickly. The hostess walked her over to Quinten who was standing with a smile and a red rose.
"Thought you got lost."he said meeting her half way and giving her a warm hug and kiss on the cheek.She smiled and returned the hug and kiss,"No,just looking around." He pulled out her seat and waited for her to sit down then pushed her chair her in gently and took his seat. "Didn't know I was dealing with such a gentleman." she said with a smirk that turned to a smile. Quinten unrolled his napkin and placed in on his lap,"Didn't know you were dealing with me?" She looked away not knowing how to reply to his words. She honestly didn't know why or what she was doing,only knew that she was in front of this man who brought her so much confusion. She looked at him and seen a rose on top of her dinner plate,"Is this for me?" Quinten nodded and smiled coyly. "Thank you,that's very sweet of you." she smelled it and continued,"You know what they say about red roses right?" He shook his head and looked at her pretending not to know."They mean love,"she said awaiting his reaction to what she said. He laughed a reply,"Then I should have brought you two." Samantha slowly nodded with a smile and thought,"Hes smooth ill give him that."
Samantha opened the menu and looked at what The Golden Lily had to offer.There was different variations of fish,beef,chicken and sushi. She was a bit overwhelmed. Then when she looked at the prices she felt guilty."Damn,do they have it shipped from Japan?"she muttered loud enough for Quinten to hear. "Don't worry about price,money is no object." She looked at him over the menu after he said that. "You know I could get some of this stuff for a quarter of the price from this Japanese spot I know on the east side?"She said still feeling guilty. He smiled and shook his head. She looked back at the menu when Quinten broke her concentration,"Are you ready to order a drink?" She nodded and watched as he lifted his hand and snapped. A young Japanese man came over quickly and asked,"What can I get for you Quinten?" Quinten looked at him with anger,"Acknowledge who I'm with as well." Samantha looked at the boy who was fearful as he stuttered to ask her what her name was. "I'm Samantha,whats your name?" Samantha said with a reassuring smile. "My name is Naoki" He said looking back at her with a smile. "Well Naoki, what do you have to drink here?" She said in a friendly tone. As Naoki went over the list of drinks she looked over at Quinten who seemed to know what he wanted already. As Quinten finished his order she said,"Bring me something non-alcoholic that you like." Naoki looked at her then at Quinten who nodded. Naoki hurried away to fetch their drinks.
"So Quinten,what do you like to eat here?" As he began to say different things he liked and why she watched how passionate he was about the different ingredients and cooking methods. "Did you study cooking?"she asked curious to figure him out. Quinten looked down,"In high school i did,before i dropped out." Samantha was shocked,"Why did you drop out?" He looked into her dark brown eyes and said,"Well,my parents passed away in a fire.My little sister needed someone to take care of her. I had no choice but to drop out and provide for her." His words were cold,she could tell that he regretted having to drop out. "You have a little sister? How old is she?" Samantha asked with a smile. His eyes looked like glass as he fought back tears,"She would be twenty right now.She was shot when she was eighteen." Samantha's heart reached out to him,"I'm sorry for your losses.My parents died in a car accident when I was young,I only had foster siblings." He nodded,"I'm sorry for your loss too."
As Naoki came back and placed their drinks on the table he awaited their food order. Quinten masked his emotions and spoke like a boss to Naoki. Samantha watched him in awe,he must be so strong to hide such a past. She admired him. Suddenly the words Analisette said returned to her and she had to know. When he asked her what she wanted she replied,"What ever he's having Naoki." She really didn't know what he had ordered but knew she had to talk to him alone,and that would be the quickest way. She took a sip of her drink and watched as Naoki hurried to the chef closest to them to put in their order.
Quinten watched her.She was beautiful. So simplistically beautiful. He wanted her since the first moment he seen her,he had never told any one he had talked to about his past like he had just told her. Then to find out that they had both lost their parents,just sealed the deal. But he knew that she wanted to say something, something about that woman who spilled her drink at the club.She must have told Samantha something to change her thoughts toward him. Samantha was acting different after that woman did that. He waited to see if she would say something about it. He told himself,"If she asks,i will be honest and tell her everything.I don't care." Samantha looked at him watching her and asked,"Do I have something on me?" He laughed,"No,I wont let you go out like that Ma don't worry." She smiled. Then chose to go around the topic,"When I said i was here for you the hostess looked scared,and when you told Naoki what you did i seen that same fear,whats that about?" Quinten shrugged,"I guess its because of my reputation." She smiled,"What are you some type of mob boss?" He smiled then got serious,"No,I'm a drug dealer." She looked at him expressionless. "Samantha I know where your going with this."Quinten said taking a sip of his drink. She unwrapped her silverware and placed her napkin on her lap,"Well,I want to know if what I herd was true." He watched her waiting for it,"Which is?" Looking up at him,"I really like you,and I will be the last one to judge someone on their past because Ive been through so fucking much and I know that you have too. But I herd that you rapped Lolita. I just need to know the truth,that's all." Quinten tightened his jaw and looked away then back at her,"Look, sometimes we get a call to do things.If I say "No" that's my head,Lolita was trying to get out of the business her boss gave a call, we handled it. I didn't have sex with her Samantha,I touched her yes,but I didn't have sex with her." Samantha didn't know how to respond to what he was telling her. "Samantha,I never wanted this life.When I was young i told myself it was only for a little while until i could find better to provide for my sister,but who wants to hire a dropout? No one Samantha I tried so hard to do right and couldn't. Now I'm deep in this shit and I wish I could get out but I cant. I felt bad about what I did,especially after I herd what she was going to do to herself. You have to believe me please." Samantha put her head down trying to hold the tears back. Then Naoki came to the table and asked,"Are you ready for your food or do you both want a minute?" Quinten said,"Give us about ten more minutes." Naoki walked away and Quinten grabbed his chair and put it beside Samantha and put his arm around her and lifted her chin."Ill never hurt you Samantha.I cant take back what I've done,but i would take that back." She placed her head on his shoulder wanting to believe him,but unsure if she could."I know you don't know me from a hole in the wall,but everything I've told you tonight is the truth and ill never lie to you." She looked into his eyes and seen that he was being truthful,"Quinten I have to think about this,and I need you to understand that I need time." Quinten nodded then kissed her on the cheek and moved his seat back and waved over Naoki to bring the food. Sitting in front of her he began to think,"This Lolita shit will haunt me for the rest of my life.I have to handle it.The only way I know how."
As they ate Samantha looked at her phone and realized that she had a text message from Cyclo,"Meet us under the bridge at midnight." it was about ten o clock and she wouldn't skip out on Quinten just yet. "Quin,Ima be honest with you,I don't really know where we are going to go from here.I want to get to know you as a person not what you do." Quinten wiped his mouth and nodded,"likewise,I just want a chance to show you." Samantha smiled for the first time since he told her,"Ill give you a chance silly,I just want you to not be so flashy,I know this place isn't you." He laughed,"Wrong.I like great food,that's my weakness." She smiled bigger,"That's good,because I cook great food." His jaw dropped,"You could cook?" She nodded with a huge smile. "For our next date we should cook together."Quinten replied to her smile. "What makes you think we will have another date?"She said in a serious tone wanting to see his reaction. His jaw dropped. She laughed,"I'm just foolin,calm down." He smirked and shook his head.
In the parking lot she popped her trunk and sat on the rim and took off her heels and put on white and black racing shoes. "What are you doing?"Quinten asked curiously. As she laced them she looked up at him,"I'm racing tonight." Quinten looked at her with anger,"Why would you do something like that?You could get hurt!" She looked back with a who do you think you are face and replied,"How do you think I make money? The shop only pays me enough for my apartment.Girls got to live." Quinten ran his fingers through his hair realizing that he was wrong for coming at her like that then spoke the only resolution he could immediately think of,"I could give you some money if you need some." She stood up and began to unbutton her blouse,"Ill never take money from anyone.I work to provide for myself.Thank you but no thank you." Watching how strong she was,he replied,"I'm sorry." She was wearing a black Camisole under her blouse and a white bra,she looked hot and ready to fuck someone up if it came to it. "Do you race often?"Quinten asked dryly. She shook her head from side to side,"About every three months.I work with five people,one wins we all win. And when we win, we win big. when I was younger I used to do it every week. Once i had enough for a place I slowed down." She walked over to her drivers side and threw her blouse in the backseat. "What are you doing for the rest of the night?"she asked Quinten as she turned on her car then walked toward the back to close the trunk. He looked at the gravel of the parking lot,"Got to do some business." She looked at him with a half smile and concerned eyes.Looking up he walked over to her and stood face to face with her,"what if i don't come back tonight?" She looked into his eyes,"What if I don't come back tonight?" They both smiled. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him warmly,"You be careful OK,I'm not done with you yet." He replied,"Will you let me wish you luck?" She released her hug and looked at him with a smile,"yes." Quinten leaned in to kiss her,Samantha thought for a moment then said to herself,"Fuck it!" and leaned in and kissed him-hard.
Quinten watched her drive off and felt alone without her.She was so warm and sweet. But he remembered what he wanted to do to Lolita, and put on his game face. Walking into his Lincoln truck he opened his phone and dialed.
...."I want Lolita dead by Friday.Make it happen or instead of her it will be you."
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