Alex hated the silence as he looked out the window silently.  He didn't even notice others passing.  He could see her angered expression mirrored in the glass.  He wasn't looking at the buildings around or the cars passing by.  Actually, he found the landscape dull, drab.  He lived here and saw it daily though.  She lived a on the other end of town.  The other side of Bloor.  Techniquely, that is still right down town, but when you live in the heart of the city, anything you actually need transportation to get to just seemed like another city altogether.  He loved the down town.  The options, the activities, and the constant flow of people kept him going.<br/><br/>The waiter arrives and he orders.  Spinach and Arugula salad for the lady and a Buffalo Mozzarella for him.  Followed by some Pancetta-wrapped scallops.  He would enjoy the porter house steak and she would have the Moroccan style salmon.  One glass of the Harbor Sixty private label Chardonnay for the lady and The Harbor Sixty private label Cabernet Sauvignon for him.  She continued to stare out of the window coldly.  It was amazing he was able to get the order from her with how mad she was.  He had meant to propose to her tonight.  He had the ring with him and everything and now, he was loosing any such desire.  His hand drops to his pocket to the ring he had there.  So he was a little late?  What's the deal?  He payed extra to have their table reserved beyond the normal time.  His job paid for such luxuries in life.<br/><br/>Alex spent his days schmoozing with the richest people in the city as he told them where to spend their money and how to get more money for it.  He was a stock broker.  Buy this, sell those, hold on and lets see where that one goes were common phrases in his world.  His deals were multi-millions and he got worthy commission.  He had loved the job once, but lately it has lost its charm.  Ever since the market went south, these people got pickier and pickier, more and more cautious.  He had to work more than ever at his job.  He was not use to such demands.  Normally his good looks gathered the people in.<br/><br/>He was an average build.  His shoulders were wide enough that he was never considered girly, but not so wide as to be considered intimidating.  Just a comfortable medium.  He short black hair a long spiked version of the short feather his father would have worn.  With longer bangs.  There was movement to the lines of his hair, but it was not the flat style popular amongst most in his career.  It helped him stand out.  The easy smile and deep brown eyes were easy to trust especially with his propensity to laugh.  (Get a client laughing and they will feel better giving you millions of their dollars.)  He was toned enough that his hinted at a washboard or sixpack without claiming either.  Enough to take care of himself in a fight or on the basketball court, but not so much to have the client really notice.  He had the boy next door feel to him and that made people want to do things for him.  Alex used it well in his job.  Having a dimple when he smiled won many lady clients others just simply could not touch.  He was mid-thirties and adored by younger and older.  But his love, so he thought, was kept only for the one sharing his table.  He was questioning that – and not for the first time.<br/><br/>So he had taken a bit of time after work to shoot a few hoops with his buddy, Jason.  He had deserved it.  He had worked hard today.  Moved a few more clients and earned enough today alone to pay for their month's expenses and this nice meal easily.  One was even dubbed 'dragon lady' by others as they just couldn't get her to move on anything.  He did.  Just the right smile and she did his bidding.  Sometimes he felt this job wasn't too far from prostitution.  It was one of those days.  He hated that feeling.  So yeah, he went to shoot some hoops.  Alex didn't see the big deal she was making of it, but then he didn't get why she liked this place so much anyways.  She never ordered steak once in all their visits and they came often enough.  His hand went to the ring again.  It just felt wrong.  The whole thing felt wrong.  He decided to make an attempt to salvage the night.<br/><br/>The salads arrived as did the wine.  She finally turned to face him.  He smiled.  She fumed more.  “I'm going to my mother's tomorrow.”  She announced.  That was never good news.  She only went to her mother's when she was upset and wanted 'space' to 'think things through'.  Usually it meant she was pissed with him and didn't want to see his face.  Suddenly he knew, this is not how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.  His hand left his pocket, the ring did not.  “Then why don't you go right now.  Save us both the agony of this shared meal.  Take your stuff while you're at it and don't come back.”  He had never gone that far before, but she pissed him off.  He runs his empty hand through his spiked hair and takes his wine.  Alex downs his wine without even tasting it.  He has had this wine so many times and knows the flavor like a kid knows kool-aid, but he didn't even taste it this time.  “Fine, I will.”  She stands and thrusts her hand forward for cab money.  He gives her plenty for the cab to her house and one all the way out to her mother's if she desired.  “Don't foreget your toothbrush either!”  It was how things began and ended was with a toothbrush.  First thing in the door 'in case' of emergencies.  It was always left behind tooo, 'I forgot it'.  Well, this was permanent.  She pulled this crap on him one too many times and on the wrong day.  He was through with her.  He reached over, took her glass and downed it too.  He stayed at the table to eat.  Hell!  He wasn't wasting a good dinner for her sorry ass.<br/>