Cafe Bianca

Anna's POV

We took different routes to meet Ridley's brother, Michael, at Café Bianca, a posh, five-star restaurant where reservations were often hard to acquire without connections.

"How did you manage to pull this off?" After we were seated, Ridley questioned. Was Jason there?

He grinned wryly and said, "Excuse me?" "I want you to know that I'm now a trusted agent. Do you not believe I am influential in this city?

She jokingly said, "It's Miami, not one of those backwater areas you visit, where anybody driving a BMW is considered a "big deal." Please forgive me, Jerry Maguire.

He put on an injured expression. Obviously, little sister, you didn't get the message. You may be able to acquire an invitation to the club if you play your cards well with Stryker now that I am a big thing.

With a look of disgust on her face, she said, "It's one of the reasons we've agreed to cater a stag party." "And the money, of course. This brings up the question, "Is Jason coming tonight?"

Michael said, leaning back in his chair, "He's going to try."

"Good," she affirmed. "I cannot wait to meet him. Anna is also.

Michael gave me a glance. "Talking about Anna, how are you tonight, stunning? By the way, you look fantastic in that hue.

I reddened. Even I had to agree that the coral and white sundress I was wearing highlighted my tan. I'm doing well, thanks for asking. How are you doing? Where is your hubby at this hour?

Michael had just wed a Palm Beach-based golf professional. Alex Torensen was the person. Since they had a small wedding, Ridley and I had actually catered their reception, which had been rather simple.

He's back at work. Michael twisted his wedding band around his finger and said, "I swear, I see him less and less now that we're married. But to be fair, he has a lot on his plate managing the clubhouse now that he has bought out the previous owner and is doing everything alone.

"Really? That's fantastic news. Will you please congratulate him on my behalf?" Ridley said. "I am aware that he has been discussing doing it for the past few months."

"He finally bit the bullet," Michael added. And despite his hectic schedule, he is happier. Hell, we are both.

Ridley said that Alex must be glad to be free of that jerk.

"Yes, God. The fact that the individual was unwilling to adapt to the changes clearly impacted the company. Not to mention how the jerk revealed his real colors when he learned that Alex was homosexual. With a gloomy grimace, he gave me a quick look. "An outright homophobe. He wasn't even modest enough to attempt to cover it up.

Then, good riddance. I said, "Alex is a great guy and shouldn't have to deal with it on top of everything else. By the way, let him know I said "hello" and best of luck.

"I'll do that," Michael said. If you're ever interested in joining the sport, his offer is still good. From the maestro himself, free lessons. Anyone can learn from him if he can teach me.

I laughed. "What a thoughtful man he is. Inform him that I could one day accept his offer.

"Will do," he said.

Ridley remarked, "Not to change the subject, but did you find out who Jason's friend is that's getting married?"

"No. He's keeping very quiet about the bachelor party," he retorted while perusing the drink list.

I took a drink of my water and inquired as to whether it may be a member of his baseball squad.

Michael gave a headshake. "Is that true? The fact that Jason retired last year is the only reason he can have this party in the midst of the season.

"Really? Wow. I wasn't aware," an astonished Ridley remarked.

He smirked and said, "Since when have you followed baseball?" You couldn't tolerate it as a child.

"I didn't despise baseball, however. I simply grew sick of watching sports on television with your dad and you all the time. If not baseball, it was probably football. If not football, it was either hockey or basketball, she claimed.

Oh well, whatever. Michael said, "You never had time for television. "If there's anything I remember about you, it's that you were never home and were always out having fun with your friends."

She smiled as she said, "Technicalities." Anyway, Adam is a devoted baseball fan who has taught me a lot about the game. In fact, I'm beginning to like it.

Ridley's boyfriend Adam was undoubtedly a die-hard sports lover. It seems that when I was around, it was all he ever spoke about.

"Really? That dude is a keeper, without a doubt. Michael gave me a glance. "How do you feel? Are you a baseball fan?

"I don't object to it. Just a little bit dull to watch," I acknowledged.

Michael, who was pretending to be in great amazement, said, "Did you just say that baseball is boring to watch?" Blasphemy, you say.

I chuckled. "I apologize. I'm not sure. I suppose I'd prefer to play to watch.

Which is why you ought to rejoin the game, Ridley replied with a smug smile. Before you lose the ability to score, hit some home runs.

"Join the game again? Did you play on a team? Michael inquired, oblivious to Ridley's barb.

I said, giving Ridley a wary glance, "I played softball in elementary school."

"So, you've lost interest?" Michael enquired.

"Really not. I just halted my playing, I said.

Ridley remarked, "You have a habit of doing that," with a sparkle in her eye. "I'll bet Jason Stryker knows his way around the field and plays a mean game of baseball."

I sighed. "Would you mind stopping?"

At the very least, she said, "Look at the size of his bat."

Michael guffawed. Is my younger sister attempting to arrange matches?

"Yes," I answered. And it's incredibly irritating.

Ridley informed him, "As you can see, she's tense since she hasn't been bedded in months.

I shrieked. "Ridley!"

"What? She said, grabbing for her glass of water, "I'm only trying to assist.

I said, "I don't need your help," even though she was correct. Since John, I hadn't had any sex. But I wasn't stressed out. I didn't believe I was, at least. Simply put, I didn't like talking about my sex life over dinner with her brother, who was now beseeching me.

"Obviously. Because of your attractiveness, I'm sure men would queue up to give you a romp in the hay. But don't spend your time on Jason. He was severely damaged by his ex. As you go through shoes, Ridley, is now going through women. That isn't something Anna needs in her life.

"Believe me," I pleaded. "I don't give a damn about Jason's appearance or how large his bat is. I'm not trying to get laid with anyone. Particularly a player who is definitely a major player off the field as well. You get it, Ridley?"

She groaned. "Fine. I'll let it go now.

When I saw it, I would believe it.

Changing the topic, did you ever purchase the shoes you were mentioning earlier? I prompted her.

She looked at me poutingly. "No. They had left. But I also purchased another pair. How do you feel? Ridley protruded her sneaker. It was a white glittery pump that complemented her white lace cap-sleeve dress perfectly.

Very attractive. Jimmy Clooney? I queried.

"No, Valentino," she retorted. "More expensive, but I couldn't resist."

"You can never resist, which is why you're always broke," her brother added.

She jabbed him with her tongue.

He grinned before glancing away from me. "Good. Our waiter must have entered a password. I started to believe we were invisible.

Ridley added, "I myself was wondering what was taking so long.

The waiter came up to our table. He was in his twenties and had a youthful Leonardo DiCaprio vibe about him. "Hello, I'm Ben and good evening. Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. Greetings from Café Bianca. Is this a new place for you?

Ridley tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and said, "Oh, heavens no." Why do you think that?

He said, grinning at her, "Because I would have remembered someone as beautiful as you."

Blushing, Ridley. "Nice comeback. You need to be making advances toward my brother, you know. Tonight, he is the one leaving tips.

He laughed as he turned to face Michael. "Well, it's clear that beauty runs in the family. I hope it won't insult you if I stop it there.

He smiled up at him and said, "No, not at all. But if you're out of prime rib, I could be outraged. There appears to be a scarcity wherever I go.

The waiter said, "I'm almost certain that it's still available. I'll check for you, however.

"Thank you," he said.

"Not a problem." The evening's specialties were then discussed with him.

The salmon sounds amazing, Ridley remarked. "I'll probably have that," you said.

"People gush about it. Could I get you anything to drink first, please? This time, he questioned while glancing at me. The question "Other than water?"

Ridley and Michael both ordered martinis, while I chose a glass of white wine.

Michael glanced at his watch and added, "Ben, just so you know - there could be another person joining us. I am a gentleman.

"Excellent. Once I've placed your drink orders and you've had a chance to look over the menu, I'll maintain the watch. Would you want to place an appetizer order?

"I am certain we will. Give us a few minutes, please. Michael answered.

Of sure," Ben said. He filled our water cups again in a flash. I'll be back soon with some new bread.

"Thank you," Michael said in response.

Looking in the direction of the entryway, Ridley said, "I truly hope Jason can join us. By the way, why does he no longer play baseball? He can't be more than thirty years old. Isn't that too soon to be retiring?

"His arm wasn't the same after the injury. By the way, I wouldn't question him about it," Michael remarked, dropping his voice. It's a sensitive issue.

"I bet," I said. How well do you really know this man, then? I inquired as I browsed the menu.

"About five years ago, I met him at a party in Beverly Hills. He enjoys old automobiles just as much as I do, and the two of us have gone to various auctions. In fact, Jason purchased a 1965 Shelby Cobra at the same time that I got my 1967 GTO two months earlier. What a lovely vehicle.

Ridley said, "Are those expensive?"

That was the one. Michael said, "I think he paid over five hundred thousand. And it was just a whim, you know.

"A whim? That man sounds like my kind. I wish I were single and madly in love," Ridley remarked.

"It's impossible for me to even consider having that much money to spend. He must have earned a lot of money playing professional baseball, I said.

"He did, for sure, but it's nothing in comparison to what his grandpa, who died away three years ago, left him. The individual reportedly had run a shipping business and after selling it, made some wise investments. Michael spoke more subtly. He reportedly has billions in net worth at this point.

Ridley questioned, "Jason is?"

"Yes. You didn't hear that from me, however, he retorted.

Looking in my direction, Ridley said, "Wow." "Perhaps we should try to get more money,"

I cautioned her, "Don't you dare." He already gives us more than enough money.

Naturally, I won't. I was only kidding," she said, but I could see she wasn't entirely opposed to the idea.

Michael caught my eye. "How are his parents doing? Have they vanished? I enquired, wondering whether he had come into the family's wealth on his own.

He gave a nod. When Jason was a very little child, they perished in an aircraft disaster. After that, he lived with his grandparents.

What a horror! And there are no siblings either? I queried. Or uncles and aunts?

He said, peering above my head once again, "I know that he has two live relatives from his mother's side. "One of them is a band singer."

"She is? Which one?" Ridley enquired.

Why not put it to him? He just entered the establishment, stated Michael.