Introductions [Dante, Gabriele]

[Zahra Cohen]

 Zahra leaned against the podium as the rush of people stilled for a few moments. Friday nights were usually this busy, but there had been a large banquet that had taken over the entire Asian cuisine portion of the restaurant, and Zahra had just finished seating the last of the large party. She was waiting for Wren to come back from her break before she took a break. Wren had only been there for an hour or two, but she'd had to run home because her sister had locked herself out of the her apartment - Wren said Dawn had begged to stay for the weekend, and then promptly forgot her key. Luckily, the apartment was fairly close by, otherwise Zahra would have been stuck for another hour.

As it was, she saw the blonde rushing back up to the front area, and Zahra immediately retreated. She was starving, and she was ready for dinner. She was glad Gabriele always let his employees get small dinner portions for free, or else she'd be stuck eating a salad. She only had an hour actually left at work, but since her time had gotten all screwed up she was eating late as it was. She waited patiently in the lovely see-through elevator that took her up two floors to the Italian area. She had her heart set on eggplant Parmesan. Zahra was thankful that her attire was so nice for work - a simple black dress that stopped at her knees with a cream coloured sweater draped over her shoulders to keep her warm. She looked like a normal customer, except that all of the staff knew her by name.

"Zahra!" Gabriele called, motioning to her from the bar. He turned and stood, smiling at her brightly. After he motioned, he turned his head and spoke to someone who was still seated at the bar - the man turned around in his chair and smiled at the hurrying girl.

"Zahra, I was wondering when you'd make it up here. I already put your order in - I hope you don't mind, I've asked my friend to join you. I've got some business to attend to and it's cut our visit short. I told him I knew of a lovely young lady who would be happy to allow him some company so that neither of them had to sit alone," he said with a grin. He placed his hand on her shoulder as she approached them, her pace more refined and slow.

"Zahra, this is Dante, a very good friend of mine," he said.

"Dante, hello," she said, holding out her delicate hand. "I'd be happy for you to join me, I only hope you don't mind," she added with a smile of her own. "Gabriele has a way of making plans for his friends without letting them know until they're happening," she said with a glance up at him.

"Ah, still stuck on that New Year's Party, I see," he said with a laugh. He rested his hand on Dante's shoulder as well as her own. "I promise, you two will have a good time."