Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Creed
Dressed in a shirt and suit trousers, I tug on the cuffs of my sleeve. I feel nervous. It’s silly, really. We dined together multiple times in Monaco, but this feels different. She’s mine now. Not just my roommate.
Slipping my watch on, I spray my cologne and style my blonde hair. I grab my phone and keys and walk out of my home and into my car. I’ve booked a quiet restaurant in Mayfair. I want to be out of the public eye so settled on Annabel’s, an exclusive members’ only club.
I want to spend time getting to know her a little more. For how much we have hung out, we know hardly anything about each other. Maybe I know more about her because of her past, but me? I haven’t let anything slip and I feel like I owe her that.
The drive is smooth and it’s not long before I am pulled kerbside outside her apartment. The desire to get out and meet her at her door is overwhelming, but I agreed that we would keep this under wraps for now. Us going for dinner won’t be a shock but still, better to be safe than not.
Reaching for my phone out the centre of the car, I message to let her know I am downstairs. Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I don’t have to wait long when I see her step onto the pavement and fuck me dead, she looks phenomenal.
She’s wearing a short black dress, heeled pumps and her auburn hair curled and to the side. She opens her door and slips in and my eyes flick over her pretty face.
“You look…”
“I know.” She blinks, batting her eyes down as she looks at her nails. “You look very handsome.” She finally draws me in with those big blues and I am lost in her.
Reaching across, I drag her hand to my lips and kiss the back of it. “Hungry?” I smirk against her sensitive skin.
“Famished.”
“Let’s go then.” Slipping my hand back, I push the car into gear and move out into the road and drive towards Mayfair.
We’re greeted at the door and I flash my ID before signing Ana?s in.
“Evening, Mr Lexington,” the young lady greets us whilst Ana?s looks around the room her eyes glistening as she takes in the delicate décor, her lips pulling into a smile. My hand hovers over her lower back as I usher her forward to follow the host and we’re led to a small, intimate dining area.
I thank the host as we take our seats and we’re left alone, tucked out of sight from wandering eyes.
“This place is really pretty,” she whispers and I laugh.
“Why are you whispering?” I smirk, leaning across the table and her cheeks turn pink.
“No idea,” she admits, playing with the corner of her menu.
“It is pretty, isn’t it?” My eyes scan the room. It’s decorated in a combination of flowers and a French chic décor style. It’s stunning.
“Very.” Her gaze drops to the menu, and I just watch her for a moment. Watch the small expressions that cast across her face.
“Thank you for agreeing to come out to dinner with me.” My voice catches her attention, and she slowly lifts her head to look at me.
“You’re welcome.” She crinkles her nose. “But you don’t have to thank me.”
“I know.” My hand skates across the table as I take hers into mine. “But I wanted to.”
Her lips part for a moment, her glistening blue eyes settle on me and my heart flutters in my chest. I have falling so quickly for Ana?s, and I know we’re going to get comments and Royce will no doubt be devastated, but you can’t help who you fall for.
Once dinner has been cleared away, we move away from the wine, and both have a glass of scotch over ice. Her fingers drum on the side of the crystal glass.
“I feel like we need to get to know each other a bit more.” My voice is smooth as my thumb brushes across the back of her hand.
“I agree.” She licks her lips. “So, tell me Mr Lexington, what was your childhood like?”
I smirk and cross my leg over the other.
“Ohhh, straight for the throat.” I chuckle and she giggles along with me. Inhaling heavily, I focus on the white tablecloth, swirling the bottom of my scotch in the glass.
“Privileged.” I narrow my gaze on her; my tone is curt.
“In what way?” She tilts her head to look at me, the crystal glass resting on her bottom lip.
“Never went without, but my dad was extremely strict. He told me constantly I wouldn’t make it, told me that I wouldn’t amount to much.”
Her lips twitch.“Well, he was wrong.” She winks and I chuckle softly
“He was and he wasn’t. I tried a lot of things, but I always stuck to karting.
Knew I wanted to get into racing of any kind, and he managed to get me into a karting team when I was young.
They signed me up and the rest is history.
If it wasn’t for him, I would never have got here.
He knew that. That’s why he did it. So, he still had that power over me.
” I pause for a moment and take a mouthful of the amber liquid.
“Did he get to see you take over Saint Onyx?” she asks and I shake my head, placing my glass on the table.
“No, unfortunately not. He died a couple of years after Royce was born. It was sudden.” I roll my lips.
She gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I smile at her.
“And your mother?” she asks, shuffling in her seat and tucking her hair behind her ear before her fingers are curled back around the glass.
“Was the best mum I could have asked for. She passed five years ago,” I ignore the lump in my throat, and I feel her hand squeeze mine.
“In short, without them, I wouldn’t have the empire I am still building.
” I clear my throat and reach for my glass again, taking a mouthful and coating my tongue. “I owe it all to them both.”
She nods softly, raising her glass into the middle of the table and I meet it with mine.
“Enough about me.” I smirk, nestling back into my chair. “What about your childhood?”
“Tragic.”
My gaze fixates on her as I try and catch her expression. She’s not looking at me, her eyes are on the table, her fingers tapping softly.
“Sorry.” My voice floats across the table and I watch as she smiles.
“My parents didn’t have a lot. They worked numerous jobs, and I kind of brought myself up.
I resented them for a while until I understood it a little more.
I never went without and whatever they had, they gave to me, so to speak.
” Her bottom lip trembles but she catches herself.
“It was just us three, the three amigos. When they weren’t breaking their backs to make the bills, they made me feel like the richest girl in the world.
” She nods, a small sniffle coming from her as she tilts her face up to look at me.
“I lost them close to each other when I was in my teens. My mum went first, then my dad followed a couple of weeks after. Died of a broken heart… or too much alcohol, but I like to think the first.” A sad smile presses against her lips and my heart aches; my chest is tight at what her life must have been.
“I dropped out of college, moved away from my hometown, and faked it till I made it.” She laughs softly, shaking her head.
“I am so sorry, Ace.” My words are wrapped in sincerity because I truly mean it. I know it’s the right thing to say when somebody tells you something sad or tragic, and it comes out so robotic at times, but not this. I meant it with every fibre of my soul.
“It’s fine, these things happen, one of those things… people die.” She blinks and I catch a tear that runs down her cheek, but she swipes it away before I even have a chance to.
“It’s not fine, Ana?s, not even one bit,” I whisper, scooping her hand in mine and holding it tightly.
Silence echoes around the room and I wait for her to continue.
“That’s why I couldn’t get into PR, no big company would hire me. I tried but after non-stop knock backs, I gave up. I started my social media and well, the rest is history.” She smiles at me, her eyes glistening slightly.
“How did you meet Nora?” I find myself asking.
“College. We kind of knew of each other in school but we really clicked when we moved up. Of course, she smashed it and landed a sweet job at some company, not sure if you’ve heard of it, though…” Her lips twist into a smile and I shake my head laughing. “Saint Onyx, I think it’s called.”
My laugh grows louder. “No, I don’t think I do.”
“They’re not too bad. I heard the CEO is a bit of a hottie, though.” She winks at me, and my cock stirs in my trousers.
“Is that so?” I murmur, my fingers linking with hers.
“Apparently,” she says, so blasé, “but I can’t confirm or deny.” She licks her lips in a teasing manner, and my eyes darken, the want swirling deep inside of me.
“Ace,” I growl at her and she sits there all coy.
“Come on, back to chatting.” She pulls her hand from under mine, and I groan.
“But I want you to meet this dashing CEO.”
“I’m busy at the moment, so he’ll have to wait.” She slices her gaze to mine before dropping it to her glass.
“He doesn’t like waiting.”
“Oh dear, that’s no good,” she mumbles, draining the last of her drink. Her cheeks redden as the seconds go on, her chest rising and falling as she sucks in a breath.
“I know,” my voice grumbles.
“So, now we have covered childhood and our deceased parents.” I blink a couple of times, she says it so matter of factly. “I think we should move onto love life… You know mine… what about you?”
Sitting back in my chair, I run my finger inside my collar and tug it out.
“Oh no,” she whispers and I see the panic that etches on her face. “Have I made you uncomfortable?”
I hate that I have made her feel that way. “A little,” I admit, not wanting to lie to her. “But it’s fine, we would have to talk about it someday…” I swallow just as the door opens and the waiter walks in. I order another scotch and Ana?s moves onto a dirty martini.
“Dirty?” I raise a brow.
“Very.” She winks, and I have to try my hardest to refrain from walking around to her and bending her over the table, driving into her until she is screaming my name. “But don’t try and change the subject.” She pouts and I roll my eyes.