by Alexis Gold
“You look…Christina you look amazing…” Jeffrey’s eyes roamed every inch of my body and his tone was almost in awe.
I bit my lip and gave a small smile.
“Thanks, you don’t look so bad either. I think you might stop traffic,” I joked, though I was entirely serious. How I ended up with Jeffrey Bates is a complete mystery.
“It won’t be me stopping traffic, I assure you. So how about we get going?” Jeffrey offered me his arm and I slipped my hand through to rest on his forearm. When I stepped forward, Jeffrey got a look at my heels and he stopped moving at mid-stride.
“Can you sit down for a sec, I just want to see something…” Jeffrey steered me to a sofa chair and I sat, bemused as to why he wanted me to sit down. He got on his knee and then placed his hand on my calf to lift my leg and reveal my heels.
“We bought these today?” he asked me while caressing my calf distractingly. The stilettos were sexy, they were strappy and showed off my pedicure nicely. I was glad I had decided to get a pedicure while I was out sick from work.
I simply nodded at Jeffrey and he smiled almost mischievously. “I think you’ll be wearing nothing but heels again tonight. Thank goodness this dress doesn’t show off your legs. I’d probably get into fights.”
I rolled my eyes as Jeffrey helped me up and we actually managed to make it to the car that time.
The Lincoln Center was full of people as we waited for A Midsummer Night’s Dream to start. Vanessa and Victor arrived just before we did and we met them in our box seats. I’ve never been in a box seat before and I really could see everything. It wasn’t too high or far away from stage; it was just above the normal seating and offered privacy.
“My goodness, Christina, I know I gushed over your dress enough, but you have to tell me where you got it?” Vanessa leaned over Jeffrey to ask me and I felt kind of embarrassed to tell her that it was from Valentino.
Normally, I’d never be able to afford this dress so it was obvious that Jeffrey bought it for me. Vanessa didn’t make anything of it though, she simply gave me another compliment before Victor drew her attention away.
“You know, it’s okay to tell people who your clothes are by, for all they know you have millions stashed in an overseas account somewhere,” Jeffrey joked.
My heart sped up, though, as he was close to spot on to something my parents left behind for me. My father was a successful investment banker. The best in the State of Pennsylvania.
My small family, though humble we were, gained a lot of wealth through his smart investments. I could just never bring myself to touch any of it. The memory of them would be too hard for me to bear, only because I knew they wanted me to have it, so I’d never have to struggle.
Jeffrey was perceptive, though, and his intense gaze never missed a beat, especially when it came to me. He was about to ask me something, when thankfully, the show started. I couldn’t enjoy much of the first act though, because I was worried that Jeffrey would be upset with me.
He took my hand in his after a little while and started rubbing circles against my skin with his thumb. I relaxed a bit and was able to enjoy the show after that. During the intermission, though, Jeffrey held onto my hand while Vanessa and Victor went to use the bathroom.
“So…was my joke not really a joke for you?” Jeffrey asked me once we were alone.
I looked up at him and slowly shook my head.
“So how come you don’t touch any of it?”
I tilted my head to the side, the answer was obvious, he should know.
“I just can’t get over their deaths, really, and anything they left me is a glaring reminder that they’re gone. The money, especially, is like a message from beyond the grave that they love me and just want me taken care of and that…that kills me when I think about it.” I admitted it all to him and he pulled out his handkerchief to gently dab my tears away.
“I get it, I do. I know you must miss them a lot and it fucking sucks that they’re gone…but you have to let yourself think about them, baby. Or else you’ll tear yourself up inside. You have to let yourself remember the good times, let yourself miss them. It’s normal and that is what will help you heal.”
Jeffrey’s tone was earnest and heartfelt. It made me want to cry even more, but I couldn’t break down entirely. We were supposed to be having a good time, plus Victor and Vanessa were going to be back at any minute.
Jeffrey cupped my face and kissed me tenderly. He burrowed into my heart at that moment and I barely realized it.
“So…how much are we talking and how overseas is this money?” Jeffrey quirked an eyebrow at me and I giggled.
“It’s…a lot…for me anyway, and it’s in a Swiss account…as well as a French account.” I sighed, I simply couldn’t not tell him everything. My brain just spat out information at him without double checking if I actually should.
“So, I’m guessing around, fifty to a hundred million altogether?”
I simply looked at him questioningly. How he was so spot-on, and why did the actual number matter to him?
“I’m just curious about your dad, it sounds like he was really good at what he did.”
I nodded, he was a veritable genius and one of the few who actually played by the rules. I smiled when I realized what Jeffrey was doing. He was trying to get me to think about them, to remember and not cry as I did it.
“He was. He was the best in the state, probably the entire east coast, and a genius with numbers and patterns. A lot of people came to him for advice and paid him to handle their money. Some paid him a lot more than others, depending on who they were.”
One thing my father kept as a strict rule was to never breach his clients’ confidentiality. Though he’d drop hints, I never knew if my dad really worked for Bill Gates or some regular Joe off the street who simply looked like the guy.
“See, you’re smiling. Was that so bad?” Jeffrey nudged me, I rolled my eyes at him and smiled reluctantly. Jeffrey put his finger under my chin and turned my head towards him, his lips pressed softly against mine, and then again, before Victor and Vanessa walked back in.
“Were we interrupting something here?” Victor smirked at us and I smiled, embarrassed.
Jeffrey simply chuckled and then made me squeal when he swept me into a low dip across his lap and then kissed me deeply. When he righted me, Vanessa was giggling and I buried my face in my hands for a short moment, further embarrassed.
“Now you guys are interrupting something,” Jeffrey grinned like an idiot and I smacked his chest, causing him to grin like a little kid who could do no wrong.
The show continued and it was beautiful. One talent I always wished I had was the ability to be a ballet dancer. While we were leaving the theater, Jeffrey held me close and then whispered in my ear as we were waiting for our car.
“Did you enjoy the show?”
I smiled up at him and nodded, still feeling a bit awed from the beauty of the ballet dancers.
“I’m glad, and you’ll love dinner at Le Pas, their food is great and they don’t give you skimpy portions either, which is sort of unusual for a gourmet restaurant.” Jeffrey and I got into his car when the driver pulled up, and Vic and Vanessa got into theirs right behind us.
“Hey, you said Victor was your assistant?” I asked Jeffrey curiously.
He nodded and then smiled fondly.
“Yeah, but the man is smart enough to be CFO of the company. He’s too loyal and doesn’t want the stress of the position, though, so I do pay him just as well as a board member; he’s my best friend, but I honestly couldn’t afford to lose his talent.” Jeffrey thought highly of his friend, that much was true.
I smiled; it sounded like when Jeffrey made attachments, they were for life.
“Hey, is it okay if you stay with me all weekend? I kind of want to keep you all to myself.” Jeffrey gave me his best pleading pout and I giggled at his playfulness.
“Sure, but please can we not spoil me too much? I don’t know if I
can stomach another shopping trip that costs well over ten thousand,” I said truthfully.
“So under ten grand is okay, right?” I smacked Jeffrey’s arm playfully and he looked at me as if that was uncalled for.
“What? You said you can’t stomach another shopping trip that costs over ten grand, it’s all in the fine print, baby.” Jeffrey waggled his eyebrows at me and I simply shook my head in defeat.
“You just have to get used to dating a billionaire. I’m going to spoil you, and trust me I could do a whole lot worse than buy you clothes. I don’t like that you drive such an old car…”
My eyes widened at his serious tone and I shot him a death stare.
“You better not buy me a new car, Jeffrey,” I warned and he shrugged as if it was still a possibility. “I’m serious,” I said. He sighed and said fine, though I wasn’t so sure he took me as seriously as I was trying to come across. I pursed my lips at him and then decided to save any further comments for whenever the topic came up again.
“Well, we’ll have to stop at my place later so I can pack an overnight bag,” I said and Jeffrey waved his hand dismissively.
“There’s stuff at my place for you…”
That reminded me of the room full of women’s clothing, as if he had it handy for whenever he had women over.
“Why…why do you have an entire room made for like…women to stay in?”
Jeffrey glanced at me guiltily and then he rubbed the back of his neck.
“It…came in handy I guess…”
I simply shook my head; honestly, how would I be able to keep up with a man who had different women in his bed probably every night.
“Hey, don’t think whatever you’re thinking. That room…it means nothing, it represents a bunch of meaningless nights with meaningless women.” Jeffrey was trying to reassure me, but I used that room, was I meaningless for him, too?
“Shit, I didn’t mean that you are meaningless to me, Christina, you’re not. I’ve never felt the way I do when I’m with you, not to say that you make me feel bad or—fuck, I’m screwing this up. You don’t have to use that room; I’ll get that room bulldozed if it’ll make you happy. We can go to your place after dinner and get an overnight bag,” Jeffrey said all in one breath. He looked anxious for me to react to any of what he said.
“It’s alright…I would appreciate it if we stopped by my place after dinner,” I said quietly.
Jeffrey studied my face for a moment, but before he could say anything further, we pulled up to Le Pas. The valets opened our car doors and one of them helped me out just before Jeffrey could round the car and do it himself.
“Please say you’re not pissed with me, that came out all wrong in the car.” Jeffrey’s tone was pleading as he pulled me to a stop before we could go inside. His gaze was earnest and intent on mine.
“It’s fine, Jeffrey, really I know what you meant…though I wouldn’t mind if you bulldozed the room,” I said cheekily. Jeffrey looked at me while he considered if I was joking or not. I smirked and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“I wasn’t kidding, though, when I said that I’ve never felt this way that I feel when I’m with you…”
I gave a small, shy smile and Jeffrey leaned down to press two soft kisses to my lips.
“Sheesh guys, everywhere we go. Just get a room already, Jeff,” Vanessa snickered as she and Vic passed by us.
“And all out in the open too. Jeff, I thought you had more restraint than that.” Victor, of course, had to get a jab in and he snickered right along with Vanessa as they breezed inside. I just laughed by that point, no longer too embarrassed; they had great timing for showing up.
“Ignore them, they’re jealous of our passion,” Jeffrey said loud enough so they could hear as we followed them inside. Victor gave an exaggerated laugh as we walked up to the host’s podium. Jeffrey gave his name and we were shown to our table right away. Le Pas was really nice, the setting inside was intimate and warm, and there were a lot of patrons inside. One could tell from just how busy they were how good the food there was going to be.
“So, Christina, what do you do for a living?” Vanessa opened up the conversation and I told them that I worked for Urban Plus. “Oh that’s Jeffrey’s agency, is that how you two met?” Vanessa asked curiously.
“Yeah, I went to one of his shoots with my boss and he asked me to help him with his tie.” I glanced over at Jeffrey, who was smiling as if he were proud of himself.
“Yep, that’s how I made the first move, but then I almost let her slip through my fingers because I was too dazzled by her to ask for her number while she was in front of me. I had to track her down through Marissa.”
I guess both Vanessa and Vic knew who Marissa was, because they simply nodded along while Jeffrey spoke.
“Then I showed up at her place a couple mornings later and now here we are.” Jeffrey smiled wide and Victor snorted, while Vanessa looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“You stalked her? How could you just show up at her house? Jeffrey, you are such a psycho, how’d you ever convince her to go out with you?”
I laughed at Vanessa calling Jeffrey a stalker. When she put it that way I could easily see how I should’ve taken Jeffrey as a stalker. Had he not have been wealthy, I would definitely have been creeped out that he showed up at my house.
“Oh, thank God you didn’t think I was stalking you.” Jeffrey was horrified at the possibility and I laughed again.
“I think maybe if you hadn’t had been so persistent in trying to convince me how you felt, I would have come to that realization on my own.” I thought several factors played into the fact that I completely bypassed the possibility of him being a stalker. For one, he was gorgeous, he was wealthy, he was also Jeffrey Bates…he didn’t come across as the stalker type.
“Though, if you were a stalker you’d be a good one, because you’re kind of unsuspecting, I think,” I added and everyone laughed.
“Yeah, he is, which is why I find concern with this whole situation,” Vanessa quipped and I laughed again; she sure was witty.
“I promise you baby, I’m not a stalker, though I’m a little crazy about you,” Jeffrey said with a cheesy grin. I rolled my eyes and smiled reluctantly.
“Aww, Jeffrey you’re so cute when you’re with her,” Vanessa gushed and Victor chuckled.
I expected him to make some quip, but he simply took a drink from his water glass before adding to Vanessa’s comment.
“Seriously, I don’t think you even acted like this with Roxanna…” Vanessa nudged Victor with her elbow and he trailed off, looking guilty as if he made a faux pas.
I glanced over at Jeffrey, who simply sighed, though his mood wasn’t ruined.
“Roxanna was my last serious relationship,” Jeffrey explained, his tone bored. Ah, an ex…I could see why Vanessa would elbow Vic for bringing up the name. I simply nodded so we could move on from the topic of Roxanna.
During dinner, I got to know Victor and Vanessa pretty well. Vanessa had worked for Jeffrey and Stargate for two years before she was finally promoted to her position as head of public relations. She got to negotiate with any interested parties looking to deal with Stargate in any way, whether as a client or potential partner.
She also oversaw Stargate and their public face, which meant she had to approve any articles being done on Stargate and any of its members.
Meanwhile, Victor was Jeffrey’s assistant, whose opinion Jeffrey took very seriously when it came to the company’s operations. The three were also good friends and I could see how Vic and Vanessa got together, they were obviously attracted to and fond of each other.
Plus, their personalities complemented one another so it was fun to see them act and react off each other. Vanessa took down my number before we all parted ways and she promised me a manicure date soon. We said our goodbyes and then I was getting into Jeffrey’s car, once again.
“That was fun, I really liked Vic and Vanessa,” I said, once Jeffrey was insi
de.
“Yeah, I could tell they really liked you, too. Vanessa is very selective with her friends, I know first-hand she doesn’t like just anyone.” Jeffrey looked at me as if I were something special and I bit my lip before glancing out the window at the passing city.
“So what are we doing tomorrow?” I asked curiously, before looking back at Jeffrey, who was watching me with unveiled heat in his eyes.
“Tomorrow? I can’t get past thoughts of tonight, honestly. We can stay in bed all day tomorrow, I’m okay with doing that.”
Jeffrey grinned at me boyishly and I giggled.
