Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
Miller
Sitting across from Denise in one of my favorite restaurants, The French Table. An elegant and pricey place, that is a little too on the nose but has delicious food. The soft glow of candlelight casts a warm aura over our intimate table, creating an ambiance of romance that could set the perfect mood. The soothing melody of jazz music fills the air, adding to the evening.
As our server approaches with the menus, I can’t help but steal a glance at her, marveling at her beauty in the light. Her eyes sparkle with excitement, her smile radiant as she peruses the menu with a sense of eager anticipation.
When the server returns to take our order, I suggest a selection of cheese souffle and wild mushrooms, hoping to impress her.
I watch with delight as she eagerly agrees; her smile contagious as she returns to the menu.
She sets her menu down and folds her hands in front of her.
“You know, you have my phone number. You could have texted or called.”
“You would prefer that I don’t show up to your work and stalk you?” I joke.
“If it becomes a problem, don’t worry. I’ll make it known.” She grins.
“Like to me, or the cops?”
“Funny. Are you more of a chicken or beef kind of guy?” she asks.
“I’m more of a fish type. I like both chicken and red meats, but I’m huge on seafood.”
“Okay, so let me try to guess what you’re going to order.” She places her finger on the menu, and the tip of her tongue peeks between her teeth and the corner of her lips.”
“I got it, grilled tuna with garlic aioli.” She looks up with a sure-of-herself look.
I playfully make a buzzer sound. “Close, but no cigar. The broiled swordfish here is pretty damn good here.”
Our appetizers arrive and moments later, our server arrives to bring us our wine glasses and take our dinner orders. Denise is admiring the adornment of food in front of her and offers him a smile as she orders. Denise savors each bite, moaning in appreciation as she sips on a glass of crisp white wine.
“My goodness, these flavors are dancing across my taste buds.” She sighs.
After we eat dinner, we linger over dessert, sharing a single plate of a decadent chocolate lava cake, wafers, and vanilla bean ice cream with a drizzle of raspberry coulis. As we savor the dessert, her eyes sparkle with delight, mirroring my excitement.
“What do you have going on tomorrow?” I ask.
“I have class and then I need to study for an exam.”
“For what class?”
“Differential Equations.”
“Math. My favorite.”
“Excuse me? Who in their right mind loves math?”
“Someone who is into the sciences and maths of the world.”
“Is that what you do?”
“Math and science?” I try not to laugh.
“That’s not a profession. I know that. But do you do something in that kind of field?”
I told her about my work and my company while she sat there in awe. She listened while I told her what we do, and what kind of projects we’re hoping to do in the future.
“So, does that mean you can help me with studying?”
She sits on the floor, in front of my glass coffee table, a stack of textbooks and notebooks spread out before her, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tackles the complex equations and theories laid out on the pages.
Sensing her frustration, I lean over and give her a reassuring smile as I reach for one of her textbooks.
“Let’s tackle this together,” I tell her, my voice calm. “We’ll figure it out, easy peasy.”
“Easy peasy?”
“Hey, you want help? Or are you going to make fun of the things I say?”
With my guidance, she worked through the problems that I laid out the step-by-step details for. I explained and showed how to do the problems, demystifying the daunting concepts on the page. I break down the problems into manageable parts, offering tips and strategies to aid in her understanding.
We work together, and I feel excited reading through her textbook, bringing me back to my college days and how much I enjoyed this kind of pursuit of knowledge.
As the hours slip away, I’m sitting on the couch, reading a book, while Denise lies on the couch with her feet on my lap as she writes furiously in a notebook. I look up at her and she meets my gaze with a grateful smile, her eyes shining.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice filled with emotion. “I think I grasp the concepts. I don’t think I would have been able to without your help.”
“You did all the hard work. I just simplified it for you.”
As the clock ticks past midnight, casting long shadows across the hard lines of my living room, the air is thick with coffee and textbooks. Despite the late hour and the exhaustion weighing heavily on our shoulders, neither one of us show any sign of slowing down.
I love the thrill of learning and the exhilaration of discovery. However, knowing that she has her exam in the morning, and I need to be at the office before eight in the morning.
“My brain is officially fried.” She closes her notebook and removes her feet from my lap as she stretches her cramped muscles, letting out a contented sigh, before relaxing against the couch couches.
I, too, rise from the couch, stretching my arms above my head with a satisfied groan, before walking to the sliding glass doors leading to my balcony that overlooks the city where the moon hangs low in the night sky between buildings, casting a glow.
Denise steps beside me as I reach to open the door. We step outside together, away from the confines of my living room, slipping out into the cool night air.
Outside, the moonlight and lights from buildings create an enchanting glow. Denise takes a deep breath, letting the night air wash over her like a soothing balm as she scans the scene in front of her.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” I ask.
“Breathtaking view,” she agrees, her voice filled with wonder.
We stand in silence for a moment, lost in the beauty of the night, the only sound coming from inside my home from the low music I had playing. She looks down at the city below, seeing lights flickering and cars passing. We’re thirty floors in the sky. The tallest building on this side of the city, and I love my home. I have a view of downtown and can practically throw a rock at my company from where I’m standing.
Without a word, I reach out, my hand finding hers in the darkness. Our fingers intertwine, a spark of electricity shooting through us at the contact, igniting a fire that burns hot and bright in the depths of my soul.
Before either of us can think, I lean in, my lips touching hers in a tender, hesitant kiss. It’s a moment of pure, unbridled passion, a collision of two drawn together by an irresistible pull.
Time seems to stand still, the world falling away around us as I lose myself in the sweet, intoxicating taste of each other.
Under the darkness of night, under the watchful gaze of the moon, we kiss and continue to lose track of time.