Chapter 10
Alex
The afternoon at the office seemed to drag on forever. The business reports on my screen and the decisions that needed to be made in the meetings didn't interest me in the slightest. I nodded at the right moments whenever someone looked at me for too long, just to seem like I was deep in thought.
But instead, my thoughts were on my encounter with Beth, who seemed to shine from within even in her comfy clothes.
And I don't just mean because of the nipples visible through her shirt.
But I knew that very aspect was what would make this whole thing so difficult.
Because I didn't just want her. I also wanted her shop, and most of all, I wanted to win against Jake.
That was going to be tough, and I still had no plan for how to break it to her as gently as possible.
Maybe I should just leave it out during our first dinner?
Assuming there would even be a dinner, since Beth hadn't contacted me yet.
So it was that I practically lunged for my smartphone every time it made a sound, whether in a meeting or a moment later in my office.
But the first two times, it had been Jake, who just wrote:
Well, have you laid her yet? Or did she slap you one?
I chose not to reply, because it wouldn't be the first time my messages, threatening the beating he definitely deserved for that text, had landed in the hands of the press. It took a lot of self-control not to write back, but at least I was learning something.
The second message was from an unknown number. I could already feel the excitement rising inside me. Beth?
But it was just one of my many acquaintances, hoping for a repeat of our sexual adventure because, as she wrote, her husband had just left her and she was in desperate need of some love. The nude photo below the message impressively underscored her need.
And I'll admit: the body was something to look at, and I was a little surprised at myself, because I didn't even think about turning her down and just deleted the message. It didn't interest me in the slightest. In the past, I would never have passed up an opportunity like that.
Was I getting too hung up on this one thing? What if Beth didn't get in touch at all? Wouldn't a little distraction with the blonde from the photo have done me some good?
BEEP BEEP BEEP
My smartphone rang again. For a fraction of a second, I thought about just letting it go and decided that if it was another acquaintance from the past, I'd treat myself to a little diversion. After all, it had always brought me joy before.
But as I skimmed the message, that thought was already forgotten, because this time, too, it was an unknown number. But this time, it was Beth. And she wrote:
This is Beth. If your offer still stands, let's go to dinner.
I glanced at the clock, then my fingers flew across the keys and I replied immediately:
I'll pick you up at 7 p.m. in front of your flower shop.
Nervously, I stared at the screen, waiting for the reply.
I saw she was online. But she wasn't responding.
The seconds ticked by, and I debated whether I should send a quick OK?
after it. But wouldn't that make me seem weak?
Would it mean I was waiting for her approval?
Okay, that's exactly what I was doing right now, and I felt ridiculous.
Then the online indicator disappeared, and I wondered what that meant. But then everything happened fast. Beth was online again, typing, and suddenly there was a message that brought a grin to my face.
OK
That's all. But that's enough to give me an erection at the thought of our shared experience in my villa and her nipples under her T-shirt.
"Eric," I said, after thinking through the next steps and then pressing the small speed-dial button to connect to my assistant.
"Yes, sir?" he answered.
"Get a red evening dress from the best boutique in the city. Not too sexy, not too plain. Size 6. Have a courier deliver it to..." I paused, fumbling with my smartphone to find Beth's shop on Google Maps.
"The shop on 4th Street?" he asked.
"Exactly," I said, grinning, pleased that my assistant was such a sharp guy who just knew what I wanted.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Eric?"
"I mean... it's no problem, but..."
"Spit it out," I encouraged him.
"Are you sure about a 6? Maybe she's a 4 and that could be taken the wrong way?"
"I'm sure," I said, thinking of how many naked bodies I'd had on top of me, under me, and in all sorts of other positions, and had later seen their clothes with the size tags lying on the floor.
"Okay, boss," he said, and we hung up.
Satisfied, I spun a few circles in my swivel chair, enjoying the view of Downtown Manhattan whenever my personal merry-go-round brought it into view, and had to admit to myself that I was simply excited. I was excited for Beth, for being one step ahead of Jake, and for our dinner.
The afternoon flew by, and just as I was about to leave to get ready, my phone rang again.
"Eric. Really. It's a 6," I said, seeing that it was my assistant calling. "And if you're about to say you're skeptical, I'm telling you we're running out of time."
"It's not that, boss. I've already passed everything on. It's..." he paused. "He's on line 4."
"Thanks," I said, pressing the button next to the four, whose little red light I hadn't even noticed before.
"What do you want?" I snapped, skipping the pleasantries.
"You didn't answer, Alex. We have a bet going, and it's not proper to leave the other person in the dark."
"And you're the one who sticks to the rules?" I asked, feeling my left eyebrow arch.
"I just want to let you know that I'm going to drive over there again today and then I'm going to..."
"You're staying right where you are. I'm in the game, and I'm taking her to dinner tonight," I cut him off, feeling a little bad at the same time for calling Beth a game, because... well, why exactly?
Damn it, could it be that I actually cared about her?
"Oh, if that's the case, I'd better head right over," Jake said, and I could practically hear the gloating in his voice.
"Are you the asshole who just reminded me of the rules of a bet and is now breaking them? Do I need to remind you that you leave your opponent alone when he has a shot? Those were our rules for any bet, even back when you still worked for me."
"As you can see, things change. I don't work for you anymore, and that shop on 4th Street and the little thing in it, they're mine and I..."
"You're an asshole, that's what you are," I snapped, glanced at the number on the display again, and slammed the phone down.
The number on the display was from his office. I know exactly where it is and estimated that it would take him about half an hour to get to Beth and her shop. And that's only with good traffic. I, on the other hand, could be there faster.
I skipped the detour home; it wouldn't be a dinner in a tuxedo, and my regular business suit would have to do. If it helped me get there before Jake and pick up Beth, that was fine by me.
******
"Who's the little golden boy? Who's the little golden boy?" I heard a woman say in a high-pitched voice to a baby she was rocking back and forth in her arms as I entered Beth's shop. Other than her, me, and the baby in her arms, no one was here.
She paused when she saw me and looked at me, bewildered and... could it be that she was trying to hide the baby, hastily placing it in the bassinet? What was the big deal about Beth's employee bringing her baby with her?
"Is... is it you?" she asked me, her cheeks seeming to turn red.
"I don't know who you mean, but yes, it's me," I said with a grin.
"I mean, are you Alex?" she asked, rubbing her eyes nervously.
"That I am. Did Beth tell you about me?" I asked, walking toward her and looking over the counter into the bassinet where the little baby—judging by the color of his onesie, a boy—was babbling to himself.
"You've got a cute kid there," I said, and had to grin because the little guy looked at me, smiled, and it seemed like he was holding his little hand out to me.
"Hey there, you," I said, extending my index finger so our hands touched. He was warm, and his skin felt wonderfully smooth.
"A golden boy, just like you said," I replied. "What's your name?"
"Veronica," she answered, looking almost as if she were in shock.
"It's all right. I'll stop touching your son. Excuse me," I returned. "And I won't tell your boss you brought your son to work, if that's what this is about."
"It's not that, it's..." then she paused and glanced toward the stairs where Beth had disappeared the first time. "Oh, there you are. He's already here," she said, her face bright red as she pointed at me.
Then Beth came into my field of vision. She was wearing a black dress, and my world stood still for a moment. She was...
Beautiful.
And the dress fit her perfectly. The neckline was classic, not too sexy, showing a little something but not too much, and it accentuated her curves in an elegant way. And her styled black curls were... incredible.
"Hey," I said, sounding almost like an insecure teenager, and cleared my throat. "You look amazing."
"You too," Beth said, looking a little uncertainly between me, Veronica, and the baby.
"I'm early, but do you mind if we leave right away?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"No, not a problem. I... I just need someone to zip up my dress completely," she said, about to turn to Veronica.
"I'll take care of it," I said. "Then your employee can look after her son," I said.
"She's not my employee. Just a friend who's helping me and..." the two exchanged long glances as Veronica picked up the sweet boy again.
"It's great that she's watching your shop despite having a baby. Thanks, Veronica," I said to her. She just nodded silently, still looking a little downcast.