The Grand Mistress

After a few minutes of strolling, Simione and Hawk reached a place filled with many people. There were few bay restaurants at the place and it was filled with men and women, having night drinks. By the way they acted and just by scrutinizing their clothes, Hawk immediately knew these people were from the lower class. Probably employees of some of the city's big corporations having a few drinks with colleagues to ease off some stress.

"I didn't know some place like this exists," Hawk commented as he had never been in such a part of the city. Although it was filled with people not of his kind, Hawk liked the place. The ambiance was so lively and he was enjoying the view of employees drinking and laughing amongst each other. The ocean too was beautiful to look at that night, it was like a mirror showing the reflection of the night sky and some city lights.

Simione only smiled at his comment and dragged Hawk to the farthest part of the bay. There at the very end, there was a small hut that had been isolated from the rest of the restaurant. In front of such a small hut were a few wooden tables surrounded by fairy lights. As soon as Simione caught a view at it, she let go of Hawk's hand and ran toward the hut.

"Hello Madam Ning," She greeted and bowed to the lady at the counter.

"Hello Miss. It's been a long time," The lady, a bit fat and in Hawk's assessment was probably in her mid fifties , seemed very glad to see the woman he was with. Do they know each other?

After a few exchanges, the old lady finally noticed the girl wasn't alone and her face brightened at the sight of Hawk. She dragged her eyes back to Simione and nodded her head lightly "You have a company miss. That's good, that's good." 

"Oh Madam it's not what you think," Simione waved two hands in protest. She knew what the woman think and she didn't want her to get such impression, "He is a friend,"

"Everything starts with friendship my child," The smile on the lady's face didn't falter and she even gave Hawk a thorough look. Not satisfied, she cued to Hawk to come closer, "Come, come. Let me look at you closer young man,"

Hawk respectfully responded to the old woman's request. He walked and stood beside Simione and let Madam Ning have a good thorough look. Unexpectedly, the old woman held Hawk's arms and pressed it twice. Pleased on whatever she found out, she turned to Simione with all smiles "Good child. He has strong arms. You won't get hungry with this,"

Simione understood what the old lady implies and she blushed thoroughly at that. Hawk however didn't understand the meaning that lay beneath his words and so he only looked at the two women confused. 

"Go on, sit there," The lady told both as if a mother was instructing her children. "I was about to close but since you are here, I wouldn't mind heating your favorite soup. It's not everyday that you drops by,"

"Thank you Madam Ning," Simione was grateful. She then turned to Hawk, ignoring his confused expression and invited him to sit on the empty table. 

As soon as they were settled, Hawk, whose curiosity was already at its peak, couldn't help but ask, "What does she mean when she said you won't get hungry because I have a strong arm?"

His question made Simione's face turned crimson. However, she thought it would be impolite not to tell Hawk what Madam Ning meant and so she decoded the idiom for him. "Madam Ning was from a small country village and in those places the only viable occupation for men was farming. Therefore, most of the families there would marry their daughters to men with strong arms because it means those men were hardworking farmers,"

"Ah I see," Hawk finally understood. Although Hawk once lived in a small village, his old butler really didn't educate him much of the lifestyle there. Besides, he only stayed in that village for a few months and he wasn't able to learn their ways, except from some. 

"So since I have strong arms, I can be a good candidate for a husband right?" He added.

"Hahaha," Simione laughed at it. "I'm not really sure if you can be a good husband, sire. However, I am sure you are hardworking"

"I am?" He sounded normal when he asked but his inside was screaming with pride with Simione's compliment. Right it Hawk felt like his years of hard work paid off just by one single compliment from the woman in front of him.

"Of course you are. Your achievements in business are extraordinary. Imagine how at the age of seventeen you managed to put up the M Conglomerate back to top," Simione started narrating his personal achievements. Hearing those from her very own lips made Hawk Monsanto want to do more. "You are simply remarkable"

"It seemed that you know me well,"

"Everyone knows you. Let me just correct that," Simione emphasized.

"Then since I'm remarkable, I can be a good candidate for a husband then?" he tried to bring up his previous question. He was actually teasing her and Simione could only shook her head amused and sigh.

"Okay fine Hawk Monsanto. You are a good candidate for a husband," Simione gave in. "If not then Han's Scintillait wouldn't approve of you for sure,"

The mention of Han's Scintillait silenced them both for a moment and Simione just wanted to bang her head on the table for being so careless with her words. It's just that she became so comfortable with Hawk that she wasn't anymore conscious of her words.

"So you lived in a village before?" Hawk immediately changed the topic to save the conversation that went awkward for a moment.

Simione was relieved. However since she had already made such a mistake, she guarded her all the things that would come out from her mouth then. Realizing that Hawk was extracting information about her, she replied. "You asks too much Hawk Monsanto,"

"I'm sorry. I really want to get to know you. That's why I'm asking a lot," Hawk apologize, "But you can choose not to answer though. However if you can, I would be glad,"

"Even if I answer your questions you wouldn't know if they were the truth or not," Simione warned him. "People can lie,"

"Then I'll just believe all your lies," Hawk's words ventured like a foolish promise that Simione was left amused with. Her goal was to make him exactly what he was right then but the girl couldn't believe the great Hawk Monsanto would be willing to be that foolish. And for what? A woman he barely knew?

"You sounded like a martyr husband," Simione commented, not sure whether she meant it as a compliment or a criticism.

Hawk wanted to counter however, Madam Ning came nagging with two bowls of hot soup before he could have a chance. "You must be hungry, I added a bit of spice to make it more delicious. Here you go, eat while its still hot,"

"Thank you Madam Ning," Simione replied sweetly. "I'm sure it tastes good as always,"

While the old woman was still there, Simione took a good sip and it ended delighted on how the taste made her stomach crave for more, "Oh heavens! Nothing beats Madam Ning's soup number 4!"

"Do not flatter me child," The old lady chastised. "I actually thought you have found a new favorite somewhere since it's been a long time since you dropped by,"

"That is impossible. There's nothing as delicious as what Madam Ning cooks," Simione winked comically at the old woman. 

"Alright. Alright," Madam Ning rolled her eyes at Simione's compliment as she was very aware she was exaggerating things, "I'll leave you both alone so you can chat a little more. I'll be inside, if you need more soup just call,"

"Oh I'll sure do," Simione promised and when the old woman left the table, her attention turned to Hawk, "Go on try it,"

Simione's voice sounded like she was challenging him. She knew he would like the soup but she expects that he'll be disgusted if he knew what it was made of. Truthfully, Hawk tasted the soup and he seemed very delighted with how it tasted.

"Delicious right?" Simione chuckled at the sight of the great Hawk Monsanto getting a taste of Madam Ning's ill-famous soup number four.

"It is," Hawk agreed without doubt. He was so into it that in the span of three minutes he had finished one big bowl alone. Simione was left bewildered. Did he like it that much?

Simione let loose a loud guffaw when Hawk's bowl dried up. She laughed so hard that she almost vomited everything she ate that night. She ended up coughing instead, "Do you know what it is made off?"

Hawk didn't answer and just looked at Simione, brow raised.

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