Post by Tyler Keenan on Sept 21, 2016 18:15:40 GMT
Expensive. Luxurious. Professional.
They are but a few words than can be used to describe the Exquise. Located not far from Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, the restaurant is well-known for being one of the most expensive places to dine out in the whole of the United States. With its cuisine heavily influenced by French dining, including the name being a play on the French word for 'exquisite', everything was always laid out and prepared with absolute precision and gusto.
And that was the way that Tyler Keenan liked it.
During his numerous trips to Los Angeles for family visits, the Exquise had become one of Tyler's favourite restaurants to dine in. He liked professionalism, he liked expensive products to suit his expensive tastes and the Exquise had everything that a man like him wanted in a restaurant. The staff were lovely and welcoming, the furnishings delicate and warming and the food and drink, the product, was enough to make even the harshest gourmand or oenophile swoon in ecstasy.
It was simply...Delightful.
Driving up and parking his car outside, Tyler smiled as he lay his eyes upon it. Everything about the place was superior, like him. He adored it. Leaning on his car, a white Aston Martin DB5 V12, he smiled and looked around, gently taking off his sunglasses and placing them down to hang in the breast pocket of his blazer.
Dressed in a snappy grey, three-piece suit with a skinny black tie, along with polished black loafers and aviator sunglasses to boot, Tyler Keenan was ready to make an impression as he always did. A single man, a bachelor on the prowl. He was not the alcoholic, self-loathing man of the past but a man of fine tastes once again, he did not let alcohol touch his lips unless he was sure it was perfection.
He locked his car and threw his keys in his blazer pocket, before placing his hands delicately in after them and looking around. He was not the only person to be dining at the fine restaurant, oh no.
He had brought a companion with him for this adventure, one into the land of cuisine.
Waiting at the front door of the establishment was a man that Tyler would recognize anywhere in the world at any time. An older gentleman, with finely combed grey hair, a firm chin and hazel-coloured, piercing eyes. Dressed in a black suit with a slightly blue-toned shirt, he was ready and waiting to dine for the evening.
It did not take long for the man to spot Tyler arriving, immediately standing up straight and start to walk down the steps towards him. He was a slightly overweight man due to his age, but he still had the stride of a confident soul.
"My boy!"
Tyler smiled as his father, Vernon Keenan, met him on the stairs. The two men embraced in a familial fashion, before looking at each other with a smile. Patting him on the back, Vernon pulled his son back in for another hug and sighed.
Tyler smiled as his father, Vernon Keenan, met him on the stairs. The two men embraced in a familial fashion, before looking at each other with a smile. Patting him on the back, Vernon pulled his son back in for another hug and sighed.
"Welcome home." He smiled. "It's great to see you."
"Good to see you, Dad." Tyler grinned. "I'm glad you took the time out of your busy schedule to come and eat with me."
"Pfft." Vernon waved his hand in dismissal. "I'm sure my investors won't mind me missing one board meeting. Besides, I'm sure they'll understand why. The prodigal Keenan son has returned home!"
Vernon Keenan was a very wealthy business magnate, perhaps even so to be considered a tycoon. Having founded his first business venture, an real estate company, in 1963 when he was twenty years old, he was renowned for building up and selling his shares in many different companies, before settling down as the CEO and majority shareholder of a Wall Street firm back in 2010.
"Well, I won't forget it." Tyler smiled, looking towards the door. "Have you checked us in?"
"I have." Vernon grinned, his smile very much resembling his son's. "And I have had a browse at the waitresses whilst I was waiting for you and I have to say, my boy, there are a few that could make you an honest man if you let them."
"Dad..." Tyler sighed.
"I know, I know." Vernon held both hands up in the air. "But you have to think about the bigger picture now. The fact is that now Evelyn..."
"Can we just go in and eat?" Tyler smiled. "I'm starving."
"Of course." Vernon nodded, noticing that he had perhaps struck a nerve.
The two men carefully made their way up to the front door of the restaurant, immediately being greeted by one of the waitresses.
"Good evening, sirs." The waitress smiled. She seemed to notice Tyler standing behind Vernon almost immediately, shifting her eyes from him to the desk in what seemed like a millisecond, before grabbing some menus from underneath the table. "If you'd like to follow me."
With a nod, the two generations of Keenan made their way through the restaurant towards the table they had booked to eat at. As he took off his blazer and carefully placed it down the back of his chair, Tyler noted that the inside of the restaurant was very orientated towards French architecture, especially on the walls.
Sitting down across from one another, the two men were handed menus and left to make their decisions, with the two eventually deciding on two steaks, one medium rare for Tyler and the other well-done for Vernon.
"She seems nice." Vernon noted, watching the waitress walk away as she took their orders for food and drink to the kitchens. He also noted that she occasionally looked back to see whether or not the young Keenan was staring at her. "And I believe that she might be interested in you. Smart girl."
"Mhm." Tyler replied, looking down at the desserts menu that he had picked up.
"Why don't you go and see whether she lives nearby?" Vernon turned his head to his son. "Or maybe you could get her phone number?"
"No." Tyler sighed. "Remember, I live in New York."
"Is that it?" Vernon crossed his arms.
"What do you mean?" Tyler looked up at him.
"Are you sure that's the excuse you're going for?" Smiling, Vernon stared back.
"It's not an excuse!" Tyler chuckled. "I'm not one for long-range relationships. Everyone I know who's had one has said that it wasn't worked out."
"Okay, okay." Vernon nodded.
"Besides," Tyler folded his arms. "I'm not looking for anyone. I don't need a girlfriend."
Vernon grinned. "There it is."
Vernon grinned. "There it is."
"There's what?" Tyler chuckled, frowning in surprise.
"The true reasoning behind all of this." Vernon stuck his finger out towards his son. "You're still sore."
"Dad..." Tyler groaned.
"There's no shame in admitting it, son." Vernon sighed. "But you have to face the facts, my boy, You got dumped. She wasn't the right girl for you. Move on."
"But she was..." Tyler muttered, looking around aimlessly.
"Hm?"
"Nothing." Tyler perked up.
Vernon raised his eyebrow for a second, before continuing on with his monologue. "You know, from what I've heard from your mother and your sister, there are apparently quite a lot of women who look up to someone like you. Whether you like it or not, your modelling pictures are making you into some sort of sex symbol."
"Where did you hear that?" Tyler grimaced.
"From the bits that I've picked up, some of Kitty's friends adore you."
"Great, that's just what I needed." Tyler smiled. "Kitty's posse swooning when I walk through the door."
"What is the matter with you?" Vernon folded his arms. "You used to agree with me when I brought up things like this! Where's that Tyler Keenan gone? The eligible bachelor? The ladies man? You used to love talking about all of this."
"Yeah...not anymore." Tyler sighed.
"Oh, my boy." Vernon grimaced and sighed, placing a hand on his son's shoulder from across the table. "Is it really that bad?"
Tyler did not speak. He simply nodded.
"Have you even picked up the phone?" Vernon's tone turned serious.
"No...I can't..." Tyler sighed. "It's too hard. I don't know. I try to, I honestly do, but every time I pick the phone up I can't bring myself to do it."
"That's because your pride is damaged." Vernon chuckled. "Your confidence is hurting."
"My confidence is fine." Tyler growled.
"That's what you think." Vernon nodded. "But once you peel the layers..."
"Stop it." Tyler sighed. "Come on."
"Fine, fine." Vernon nodded.
Tyler went to speak, but then noticed that their food and their drinks were being brought over. Waiting to speak, he smiled as the food was placed down and the drinks were handed over, before directly looking at the waitress. She was quite beautiful, with brown hair tied back into a ponytail, red lipstick and petite features that perfectly fit onto her face. She seemed quiet shy. It was obvious to him that she was hoping he would say at least something to her.
"Sorry I didn't introduce myself before." Tyler smiled. "Tyler Keenan."
"Yes..." The waitress blushed. "I know who you are."
"Why are you so nervous?" Tyler simply smiled. "Do you want me to sign something for you?"
"I..." The waitress looked around. "I guess...but only if it's not a bother..."
"Not at all." Tyler's smile turned into a grin. "Meet me outside once I've finished, I'll sign whatever you want me to sign."
"Thank you so much!" The waitress gleamed. "I'm a huge fan of your work. You're a very good model."
"It's fine, don't worry about it." Tyler nodded. "And thank you. I'll make sure to tell my production crew."
Watching her walk off, he was certain that she turned around and winked at him.
"Happy now?" Tyler turned to Vernon, who had already started to eat.
"Very." He nodded.
"Jesus..." Tyler laughed. "You're unbearable."
Vernon did not reply, he smiled grinned and looked down at his plate.
With a smile, Tyler simply shook his head and grabbed his cutlery, before beginning to eat, his worries melting away for just a little bit.
For this small amount of time, he was content.
