10. Ian
Chapter 10
Ian
I don’t know what Mrs. Wilcox’s motive was when she sent Mia as my date, but I’m thrilled that she did.
Mia’s wearing a royal blue dress that hugs her very desirable figure that she normally hides with her work clothes.
“Let’s chat before we go.” I hold out my elbow for Mia to take and I lead her to a corner tabletop in the back of the bar. With what I have to tell her, I don’t want it to be overheard by anyone, especially some reporter posing as a guest.
“Is everything okay? Do I look okay for your party?” Mia looks down at herself as if there was anything wrong with the way she looks. She’s perfect in every way.
I tilt up her chin, and that fire is back with a vengeance. “Mia, you look beautiful.” Staring into her eyes, I realize I want to kiss her, mess up her lipstick, and let down her hair so I can run my fingers through it, skip the gala and take her upstairs to my apartment.
Instead of that, I remove my hand. “I need to explain to you why you’re here.”
Mia shakes her head. “You don’t need to explain anything to me, Mr. Gallo. Ian… sorry. Why you needed a date for tonight when you’re handsome enough to get your own date is your business, not mine. I’m just here to help you with whatever you need.”
She thinks I’m handsome. I’ve been told my entire life I am, but when she says it, it means more to me. Mia feels genuine.
“You don’t understand. My mother, with only good intentions, told the tabloids that I’m single and available. Which has put me on some stupid list of the most eligible bachelors. It’s ridiculous, but the owner of the company that I’m trying to close this deal with…”
“Mr. Sutherland of Sutherland Park Manufacturing?” Mia interrupts.
I’m pleasantly surprised that she knows this. She was doing her homework. “Yes, Mr. Sutherland is a bit old school. Since that list came out, the paparazzi have hounded me, and most recently, my ex-girlfriends. If it looks like I’m dating someone, perhaps they’ll back off.”
“And you’re hoping Mr. Sutherland will have more faith in you and Gallo Enterprises.”
“Yes. Exactly. I need you to just accompany me to this event tonight and then you can go back to your normal life tomorrow.”
“No problem, Mr. Gallo. Sorry… Ian. We’ve got this, and it’s in the bag.” Her enthusiasm is contagious, but adorable.
“Thank you, Mia. You don’t know what this means to me.”
Did she look relieved when I told her she can go home and back to her normal life tomorrow? I know I don’t want her to, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with that feeling except to put it away until after tonight.
“So, where is this function being held?” Mia asks as she takes my arm, and we head out of the hotel and into the waiting limousine.
The doorman tries to get the door to the limo for Mia, but I step in front of him and shake my head. I want to do it for her, so I hold the door open as she gets in and then I make my way around the vehicle and climb in myself.
“We’re going to the Kennedy Center.”
“Wow. Impressive.”
“Why do you look so surprised?”
She shrugs as she watches out the side windows. “I don’t know. You hear of these places on television, but you never think you’d ever actually go. Like they’re a fantasyland, ya know?”
“Have you ever been to D.C. before?”
She shakes her head, “No. This is my first time.” She points out the window. “Oh! There’s the Lincoln Memorial. I did a paper on that in the fourth grade.”
Watching her experience Washington for the first time is a true joy. I’ve been here so many times in my life, I’ve forgotten the magic this place has. Owning an apartment in the Waldorf, I should enjoy the touristy things once in a while. I make a mental note to have Mrs. Wilcox book me an afternoon free the next time I’m up here so I can take in the sights. Maybe even bring Mia with me.
Wait. Huh?
“Oh, and there’s the Jefferson Memorial.” She points out the window again.
“Mia, I need to warn you about what’s about to happen. There’s a red carpet we’ll have to walk down and there will be a lot of people taking your picture.”
She turns to me with the funniest look on her face.
“Like at movie premieres you see on television?”
“Yes, exactly”
“Okay. So?” she shrugs her shoulders as if it’s no big deal.
“So, they’ll be asking questions about who you are. There’ll be a lot of flashing cameras coming at us in all directions all at once. If you want to skip all that, I can have the driver take you around to another entrance, but I’m a major donor, so I have to go down the carpet.”
“Is that what your normal dates would do? Go in another entrance?”
“No, but this is all new to you.”
She looks like she’s pondering the opportunity to avoid the press. “No, it’s fine. I’ll walk with you. The cameras don’t bother me. Besides, we’re trying to impress Mr. Sutherland. If I go in another entrance, that will look suspicious.”
“Okay, well, don’t answer anyone’s questions, and you’ll be fine. Just smile and stay by my side. If at any time you get uncomfortable, just let me know and I’ll get you inside quickly, okay?” I’m not sure she’s adequately prepared for what’s about to happen, but I’ll handle the press.
“Okay.”
“We’re here, sir.” The driver states as we pull up to the entrance.
“Here we go. Don’t open your door. Someone will open it for you.”
Mia nods to me, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her face pale. There is a lot of press here, but it’s too late now. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Both back doors open simultaneously, and I quickly climb out, buttoning the front of my jacket, and make my way around to Mia’s door to help her out of the limo.
Once the press realizes it’s me, the cameras and questions go crazy.
“Who’s the date, Ian?”
“Who’s on your arm, Ian?”
“Ian! Ian! Look over here, Ian!”
Click, click, click, click, click, click.
“What’s your name?”
“What’s your name?”
“Are you dating Ian Gallo?”
“How long have you been dating Ian?”
“Who are you?”
I place my hand on Mia’s lower back, feeling her shiver a bit, and lead her onto the carpet and to the first stopping point the organizers have set up for pictures. We turn and face the press and I smile as the cameras snap a million photos of us.
The questions don’t slow down, but they repeat over and over again.
“Who’s the date, Ian?”
“Who’s on your arm, Ian?”
“Ian! Ian! Look over here, Ian!”
Click, click, click, click, click, click.
“What’s your name?”
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“Are you dating Ian Gallo?”
“How long have you been dating Ian?”
“Who are you?”
The organizer ushers us down the red carpet to another stop for more press to snap our photos, and that’s when I hear it over the roar of the cameras.
“Did you hire this one, too, Ian?”
Mia also heard it. I can tell by the way her back stiffens in my hand. She surprises me, though, when she takes my hand and then turns to me and gives me the most dazzling smile, and my heart flutters.
I don’t know what she’s doing, but I smile back at her as the cameras go bonkers. Mia places her other hand on my cheek and leans in and kisses me, taking me completely by surprise.
I can’t help myself as I kiss her back. It’s a quick kiss, but her lips are the softest thing I’ve ever felt and they’re instantly addicting. I’m mourning the loss of them the second she pulls back.
Mia turns to the reporter that asked that question and gives him a shit-eating grin and I have to laugh at her audacity in the face of all this stress. She’s got nerve and I love it.
By the time we've stopped at each point, the photographers have asked us to kiss each other five more times for pictures. I’m sorry there aren’t more stops on the way inside the building because I want to keep kissing her.
“I’m so sorry, Ian, for doing that. I just couldn’t let that asshole think you would do such a thing.” Mia says as soon as we get inside.
“What? Why are you sorry? He basically called you a whore. Had you not kissed me, I was going to knock him out.” How on earth is she thinking of only me?
“I’ve been called worse; besides, we need to make sure that Mr. Sutherland sees that Gallo Enterprises is the right company for this merger. And reporters like that don’t help any. If we had let that question slide, who knows what all the other reporters would publish in tomorrow’s papers or online.” I watch her straighten up and feel the fire on my skin when she wipes her lipstick off of my lips with her thumb. I have to fight the urge to bite it.
“Thank you.”
She smiles, “You can’t go in there wearing lipstick. It’ll kill the mood.” She laughs.
“No. Thank you for thinking of me out there.” I nod towards the door.
“That’s why I’m here, right? Now, let’s mingle.” Mia walks over to a waiter and takes two champagne glasses and hands one to me.
I don’t think I’ve ever met someone that was thinking of me first, besides my family and friends. Certainly not any of the women I’ve dated over the years. I know Maria would have just ignored that question. She has in the past.
But Mia just jumped in there, fighting for me without batting an eyelash.
Who is this woman and why do I hope there will be another opportunity for me to kiss her lips again tonight?