Beautifully Damned

seven: formidable

wandering romance by jorja smith

Imogen.

We arrived at the restaurant and this was serious shit. Maxime came and opened the door for me, handing the keys to the valet. We made our way inside, him checking us in, and the host being thrilled to see him. She escorted us to a back section with only limited people, I assumed it was the VIP section. He pulled out my chair for me to sit down before going to his own.

"You didn't have to do this you know." I said as I picked up the menu

"Pull out your chair? Don't be ridiculous chérie of course I did." He chuckled staring at me as I read the menu.

"No, I mean this" I waved my hand motioning for him to notice the are we were, "You could've gotten us a regular table and I would've been fine" I said.

"This was nothing compared to what I have planned for us chérie" He said as he waved at a waiter to come

I raised a brow at his response and quickly put down the menu, "Salut! Puis-je avoir le 'Coq Au Vin' et la salade s'il vous plaît" I asked the man.
[Translation: Hi! Can I have the 'Coq Au Vin' and the salad please]

He nodded before turning to Maxime who muttered something about the chefs special and their most expensive wine. The waiter hurried off and shortly returned with a drink they call "Musigny Grand Cru". He poured us both glasses and I couldn't help but notice Maxime staring at me.

"What?" I awkwardly laughed, not knowing why I was so nervous around him.

"You have a very beautiful smile" He leaned back in his chair

"Thank you" I smiled and looked into my lap

"So tell me, when will you break up with this 'boyfriend' of yours? I don't see him around" He asked causing me to pick up my drink

"Um— well he doesn't wanna come visit so I don't know" I blurted out and realized I was oversharing. "Sorry that's the least of your concerns" I laughed

"No no, after all we're friends" He spoke

"But what about you, don't you have someone to go home to" I leaned up

"Chérie, I'm looking right at her" He said as he narrowed his eyes at my body language

"Maxime." I spoke

"Yes baby?"

I shook my head and looked down. The waiter returned with our dinner, we ate and talked more. Turned out we had more in common than I would've imagined, he made me laugh. The more we talked, the more I got caught up in my own small world. I shut down those thoughts and butterflies as fast as they came.

"I'm serious, my sister pantsed me in the middle of my fathers Gala" He told me.

I laugh uncontrollably, "Oh my goodness, please, my stomach" I let out as I held my stomach paining from the laughter.

"And your dad?" I asked taking a sip of wine

"He yelled 'Maxime, Louise, vous ne me tuerez pas, que Dieu m'aide' in the middle of his speech" He laughed looking a bit conflicted.
[Translation: You will not kill me, may God help me]

"He sounds like a great dad, I'm sure you two are very close" I said in attempt to brighten his mood

"He was, we were" He replied, making my heart drop, "He died two years ago" He shrugged.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know. I-I wouldn't ha-" I started until he interrupted me

"No it's okay chérie" He said as I reached my hand out to grab his arm.

I looked into his eyes a minute too long and shifted my gaze to my lap and took my hand. That was a lot, and this is a business dinner?
———

We finished our meal and he insisted on paying, hence his glare when I pulled out my purse to pay. He escorted me out to the car, where he helped me in before going to his own seat.

Maxime drove us back to the hotel, and even walked me up to my suite. I had to admit I had a good time, but quickly threw that thought out the window. We got off the elevator making our way to my suite.

"This was nice, I had fun" I said

He smiled, "I'm glad, will you be coming up for what they call...a nightcap?" I shot him a glare that summed up my answer

He laughed in response, "What are you doing tomorrow?" He asked

"Nothing I was just gonna stay in and order room service" I responded.

"In Paris, you want to stay in? No, let me give you a tour of the city" He proposed

"I don't know Max" I groaned, really thinking about how much fun I had tonight

"Chérie, the city has so much to offer, you'll love it. And me when I'm through with you" He said as we arrived to my suite.

I rolled my eyes "Okay, what time?" I gave in, noticing a grin pull on his lips

"I'll pick you up at noon" he said

I nodded, "Thank you for tonight, I'll see you tomorrow" I said smiling at him

"Goodnight, Imogen" He said before I hesitantly pulled him into a hug.

I unlocked the door and went in to see a cozy Yasmin with popcorn as if she was waiting for the movie, 'my life', to begin. She squealed at my arrival and jumped from her seat.

"Okay, how was it?" she asked me

"I actually had a really nice time, we're going out again tomorrow" I put my stuff down and headed to the bathroom.

"Shut up! You're going out with Sex on Legs twice in a row?" She got that giddy look in her eye

"Relax Yas, I made it clear we're just friends" I turned on the shower, starting to remove my makeup and wash my face in the sink.

"Friends...right. But what do these friends have planned for tomorrow?" She sat on the sink looking at me.

"Well he wants to take me on a tour of the city tomorrow" I answered as I stepped into the shower

"That is totally a date" she mumbled.

"Yasmin can you let me shower, I'll tell you everything when I get out" I yelled

"Okay okay" She walked out before screaming "Woohoo, goodbye Chuckie!" I laughed at her enthusiasm and shook my head
*******

UM HEY?

So what do we think?

Can we take a moment to say how much we stan Yasmin?

Suggestions?