by Angela Blake
“Then I don’t fit in that category,” I solemnly told him. “There’s nothing beautiful about me.”
He took a hand off the steering wheel and pressed it down on my leg. As soon as I felt his heavy palm on my skin a jolt surged through my body. I had never really been touched by a guy before and this was new territory for me. It was a little awkward to feel him touching me.
“Do not belittle yourself,” he told me. “I am bringing you to this dinner for a reason, after all. There is a light in you that no other can match.”
I didn’t know what to say to that and simply nodded back once and turned back to stare out the window.
As I did, my mind began to trail off and I pondered about the past relationships I had gotten into when I was younger. I may have never slept with a man but I did have two boyfriends before.
Both of those relationships were pure mistakes. The first boyfriend I ever had was back in junior high and it was with a jock, a football player. He was really handsome and really big – Adam kind of reminded me of him a little if it was just in terms of physique – but we didn’t last more than a month. He was just too dumb. I didn’t want to bite into the stereotype that football players were idiots but he kind of made it true.
My second boyfriend was a little smarter. He was on the debate team in college and he was a writer but this time his intelligence got to the better of him. He was a little bit of a pompous asshole and was misogynistic to boot. He expected I would simply bend down over a table and let him fuck me because “that was my job as a woman.” Needless to say I broke up with him.
Adam, on the other hand, seemed like a strange mix of the two while still being someone entirely different. He had the body and menace of my first boyfriend but the brains of the second. However, he was a little soft-spoken and he always chose his words carefully, making sure he would never seem insulting or hovering above anyone else. There was an air of humility with him while at the same time authority and menace.
Maybe the rumors were true. Maybe he was involved with the mob. Only a man like Adam could demand such respect and fear.
I didn’t get to ask because as I turned to face him and ask another question we pulled up to a very beautiful resort. It was then that I noticed we had drive all the way to the beach, off to an exclusive part of town solely for the rich and famous.
The building itself was extravagant, to say the least, and even the valet who took and parked the car had on a uniform more expensive than anything I owned. He seemed cute too but when compared to the raw power and presence of Adam the valet looked more like a puppy sitting next to a lion.
An usher then took us and guided us through the building’s large double doors. Adam took my hand and I wrapped my arm around his as we walked inside.
The ceiling was over sixty feet high and brightly lit by several large, extravagant chandeliers. They had electrical lights, however, shaped only to resemble traditional candles. Everything from the walls to the floor and ceiling were in beautiful white with golden trims and designs. Some of the walls had elaborate paintings that were a good eight feet high and around ten to twelve feet long. They all looked like the kind of paintings that belonged in a museum, not a fancy resort-restaurant.
“This way,” he told me as he led me through the crowd of circular seats. We passed through the back and it was then that I noticed the front area of the dining hall had a big jazz band getting ready to play.
Finally we reached a large table situated in a nice little private cove, a VIP area if I ever saw one. There were already a few gentlemen seated there and only one other woman. She was obviously older than I, around thirty or so, and had long blonde hair that curled towards the bottom.
“Good evening,” Adam greeted the folks at the table. At my final count there were at least eight people, including the woman. He then escorted me to a seat and helped me get on.
I didn’t know what to say as they all turned to greet us. I just smiled and bowed my head as a simple curtsy. When I got to relax in my seat I quickly came to the horrifying realization that the dining table was set with so many spoons and forks I had no idea where to start.
Names were passed and people introduced. I didn’t catch most of them except for because he was a popular director, Victor Harding since he was the CEO of a phone developing company and the woman, Melanie Cortez. It turned out she wasn’t just someone’s trophy wife – she was the CEO and President of a big web development company.
When the food arrived I started to fret. I didn’t know where to begin and I didn’t want to look like an uneducated idiot. Not only would I get embarrassed I’d also make Adam look bad.
“Uh, I-I think I should go to the ladies’ room and powder my face,” I said, hoping it sounded sophisticated enough.
Adam, underneath the table, pulled me back down to my seat and then leaned in closer to whisper, “The soup spoon is the second one from the right, right between the tea spoon and the fish knife.”
I let out a sigh of relief, grabbed the spoon, and observed the others real quick as they dined. I followed suit, carefully sipping my soup in a way that it wouldn’t be messy. Pretty soon I got the hang of it and as each new dish was delivered Adam whispered instructions in my ear so I wouldn’t get lost.
“So, what do you do?” Melanie suddenly asked me right as we were getting into dessert. The live band had taken a break and it was quiet enough for us to converse.
For a brief moment I panicked but then I figured I didn’t have to lie, “I work for Mr. Rousseau as an app developer.”
“Oh, I assumed you were a model,” Victor then said. “I didn’t know such a beautiful woman could be so smart.”
I didn’t know if he was just being a misogynistic asshole or if he was just joking around. Fortunately for me, Melanie cut in right on time.
“Are you calling us dumb or ugly?” she asked Victor. “Either one is not going to end up nicely for you.”
Victor raised a hand in apology and said, “I-I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just saying I assumed you were more involved in show business given how beautiful you are.”
“Her father is Maurice Verdandi,” Adam then added. “You might want to rein in your tongue there.”
Victor bowed slightly at Adam, “That is very interesting to know. I hired Mr. Verdandi a couple of occasions and he definitely did an exemplary job every time. It is so nice to discover that his daughter is just as bright as he is.”
“Apology accepted,” I then said. I felt a little braver now that Adam actually stood up for me. Melanie helping as well was the icing on top. “However, I would refrain from letting your poor choice of words become a regular habit if I were you, lest this behavior get you into deeper trouble than you can handle.”
Everyone at the table applauded me. I didn’t know if they were impressed with my flair or with my guts to say such things directly at Victor’s face.
Adam reached underneath the table and grabbed my hand. He gave it a little squeeze and then whispered into my ear, “Very good. When we first arrived you earned their admiration with your beauty alone. Now you’ve earned their respect as well. I was right to take you in to work for me.”
I leaned in closer to him and whispered back, “You sly bastard. You set this all up, didn’t you? What are you trying to prove here?”
At first I thought he would get offended by my words and for a moment it seemed so. He balled his fingers into a fist and it looked like he was seething in anger but then he let it go and then answered, “Yes, this was all set up so that I could show these puppets on string that I am more than what they think of me.”
“What do they think of you?” I had to ask.
He sighed, looked at the folks at the table – who were all busy in their own conversations now – and finally said, “An upstart gangster who rose too quickly up the ranks. Many of these people pretend to be my friends but when my back is turned they sneer and disown me as one of their peer
s.”
I took a moment to eye each person at the table. Even though I just met them I did get the feeling that they were all playing a wicked game of faces, each one pretending to be nice and sincere when the truth was they all despised each other. They had to be social because the media was always looking at them but behind the scenes they were the kind of folks who would backstab each other if the opportunity presented itself.
That made me wary of them all, even of Melanie. Maybe she was just being friendly to me and protecting me from Victor solely so she could get an inch at Adam.
“I’m starting to feel a little dizzy,” I then told Adam. I was hoping this excuse would get us out of this place.
Adam looked at me and then asked, “Would you like to leave? We can leave.”
“I-I don’t want to ruin your image in front of your peers,” I told him. He did bring me here for a purpose, after all. “Maybe we should stay a bit longer and at least finish a few drinks.”
“We can drink at home,” he told me. “I have a bottle of scotch that has yet to be opened.”
My lips quivered and I hesitated for a moment. I looked at him and explained, “I-I’ve never had a one-on-one drink with a man before. I don’t think I’d be a really good drinking buddy.”
Honestly I was just hoping he wouldn’t take advantage of me and get us into some kind of sexual entanglement. I knew how men’s minds worked. They’d get a girl drunk and helpless just to fuck her and then leave her. While I didn’t think Adam was that sort of man, I still felt apprehensive about lowering my defenses with him.
“J-just one drink,” I answered. I figured that was the safest course of action.
He nodded in approval and then looked up to the rest at the table, “You’ll have to excuse us. Bella and I have some business to attend to. We’ll have to leave for the time being.”
“Oh, but you won’t be able to see the rest of the show,” Victor tried to act like he was sad to see us go.
I just shrugged it off and replied, “That’s okay. I’m pretty sure they don’t require our approval to showcase their musical prowess. It was nice meeting you all.”
Melanie eyed me and smiled as we stood up and left. The others waved and Adam gave the obligatory handshake to each one until we were finally out of the area. He led me back to his car and drove off to his manor, which turned out to be on the other side of the city. When I looked at my phone to check the time I was shocked to see it was already ten-thirty. Maybe I should just cancel this and have him drive me back home.
Yet when I looked at him I saw a certain radiance emanating from his being. It was like having me there with him at that dinner lightened the mood in the dark corners of his heart. Feeling guilty about asking to leave, I dropped the idea and just waited until we arrived at his place.
The First Petal Drops
His manor was even more extravagant than his office. Where his office was sleek and modern, his manor looked like it was centuries old. The walls were made of elegant stone covered in white plaster and gold finishing. Each door was like a work of art, featuring exquisite engravings lined with silver and gold. Inside the halls the floors were of marble tiles covered with dark crimson carpets. Glass and wood cabinets filled with porcelain dishes and cups lined the hallways and corners, alongside large jars and vases. Paintings, presumably from the Renaissance, filled the walls.
One of the most beautiful pieces on display was a small chest sitting on a pedestal. It seemed like it was made of pure silver and had fairy figures etched onto its sides. I took a glimpse everywhere but I could not spot a key in the vicinity.
Yet surprisingly there were no maids or butler bustling about. It was oddly quiet and I turned to Adam just as he shut and locked the main door.
“Where is everyone?” I asked him.
“Where is who?” he asked, feigning ignorance. I knew he knew what I meant.
I rolled my eyes and explained, “Where are all your maids and workers? Your house is so big; you must have people tending to it daily.”
He chuckled – perhaps the first time since we met – and answered, “I do have attendants but they do not stay here in the manor. There is a large second building just behind this one and they all stay there. It has its own recreation center, pool and more. My father always treated our servants like they were family and I wanted to follow in those footsteps.”
I was a little shocked at his response. I did not expect him to be so gallant and kind to his servants. As a matter of fact, I had half-expected him to be more like a rural gangster who treated servants like slaves.
Adam led me first to a large living room. It had a set of large, black leather couches, a fireplace and a big television set hooked up to a very impressive home theater system. It looked like he had built his own theater right into a living room.
I took off my high heels, placed my purse down on the floor by the fireplace and curled up on the leather cushions. I watched as he took off his shoes, gently placed them down beside my own, lit a fire in the fireplace and then walked over to a small fridge next to a large shelf of Blu-Ray and DVD collections.
He opened it and took out a pack of ice which he then dumped into a couple of glasses. Before he walked over to the couches he pulled a bottle of scotch from a corner, poured into the glasses and then finally joined me.
He handed me a glass and I took it willingly as he sat down right beside me. I swirled the glass a bit and took a sniff. It seemed really strong but that was the kind of drink I liked. I took a sip and instantly felt a strong punch hit me in the face.
“Woah,” I remarked. “This is really good but it’s so strong.”
Adam took a sip from his own glass, twisted his face from the impact and then nodded in agreement, “It is, isn’t it? Well, it’s one of my finest and I figured this was the ideal time to open it. It’s a perfect celebration.”
“Celebration?”
“For tonight,” he answered. “You really proved yourself out there and because of that you proved my worth to those hypocrites as well. I would call it a double success.”
I took another sip. This time I really felt the blow. “Jesus, this drink is so damn good but I know for sure I’m going to have a really painful hangover in the morning.”
Adam looked at me and asked, just out of the blue, “Why did you come to me to fix your father’s problems? Why didn’t he do it himself?”
I didn’t expect him to ask me about our work so late at night. I stuttered as I tried to think of the proper explanation while I spoke, “I-I was just mad, to be honest. I was supposed to meet my father yesterday but when I got home I found him there, drunk and worried beyond belief. I was so furious – at you, to be honest – and I wanted to vent out by speaking to you directly.”
“Now you have. Are you still mad at me?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” I told him. I sipped again for a boost in confidence for what I was about to say. “You were cruel to punish my father so and yet so kind to let him off the hook for something as trivial as making me work for you.”
Adam sipped and put down his glass, “I only do what I think will benefit my firm. I built that company from the ground up. I’m not some upstart gangster the way people think. My father was involved in organized crime, true, but I am not and I want to reflect that truth in the decisions I make. Punishing your father was fitting for the issues his employer brought upon my firm but letting him go to gain you was also beneficial. It was just a logical solution to both problems.”
I too put my glass down and then looked straight into his eyes, “How am I a benefit to your company?”
“We have no major apps that our investors can download and utilize to keep track of stocks, rates and more,” he replied. “I need mobile tools to propel my firm forward and to innovate in areas we are lacking in. If your father and his men can recover what was lost and if you can develop some tools for my investors to use then I gain everything and lose nothing.
”
“Thank you for putting so much trust in me,” I said when I realized just how much he put at risk with me.
For the first time since we got here our eyes locked and I could see the flames dancing in the depths of his gaze. Before I knew it I was once again melting from his stare – it was cold and cruel but at the same time I felt a strange pull of attraction towards him. The fact he was handsome as fuck only amplified that sensation.
“Green,” he whispered as he stared deep into my eyes. Without another word he reached to me with his hand and caressed my cheek. He cupped my face and held on gently, holding me in close and intuitively I inched a little closer to him.
His touch was warm and heavy. I was a little shocked to discover how rough his fingers were – I had assumed they would be soft from all the time spent working in front of a computer and a telephone but they had calluses and were very tough. I could only imagine the hardships he went through as he built his empire.
Yet despite its roughness I felt a soothing sensation as he caressed my face and looked at me with fondness. It was just so… good.
No. I couldn’t let myself drown in this moment. I just met this man… but he was so handsome! Ugh, it was so frustrating to be right here, alone with him, drunk and in front of a fireplace. The mood was right, the setting was romantic and he wasn’t as bad as I thought he would be.
My heard swirled. I was drunk. I broke off our gaze and reached for my glass and took another big gulp. The impact hit me hard and I nearly passed out dizzy. Fortunately I managed to hold myself up and I turned back to look at Adam.
He hadn’t moved and was still looking at me. It was then that I realized he wasn’t just staring at my eyes but he was looking at my whole body. His eyes roamed ever so slowly and it felt like he was undressing me with his gaze. He didn’t try to hide the fact he was looking straight at my cleavage, at the way my dress revealed my shoulders and neck and how low the cut showcased my legs.
