The Things I Used To Love About You

10

I stood nervously outside her apartment door. I was starting to feel guilty. She didn't know half of what I was dragging her into tonight.

My parents would be there. I could already envision their reactions and deep down I knew it wouldn't be positive. Lord knows shit would hit the fan when they discovered she bartended for a living. It was shallow but it was a reality.

Then the issue of making sure she wasn't photographed. I could only hope the threat of losing their jobs and social standing as enough the stop the gossip.

I also may have omitted the fact this wasn't the only appearance she was expected to attend way more than one event. I would cross that bridge when I got to it.

I gave the door three solid knocks before adjusting by black suit. The lock on the door slowly turned and I couldn't help the intake of breath I took when she entered my line of site.

She looked stunning. I started by staring at her shoes. The heels appeared to fit perfectly, and the light glistened off the crystals that adorned the bow, the dress hugged her figure in all the right places, her thigh peeking out sending my mind reeling to complete the image of how the rest of her looked underneath the dress.

Her wrist was adorned with the tiffany bracelet I had bought, and she complimented it with a few of her own rings decorating her fingers. Fuck. That slipped my mind, I'd never seen her wearing one, if I'd known she liked them I would've bought some.

Finally, I looked at her face. She had light makeup on, for some reason I was grateful for that. She was naturally beautiful and if her makeup was any heavier, I felt it would take away from that beauty, hiding the freckles scattered across her face. Finally, her hair was down. Her dark curls sat just above her shoulders. She had so much hair and I wondered how she condensed it all into the bun she usually wore to work.

"You look handsome." Her smooth voice broke my train of thought, and my eyes snapped up to hers.

"You look stunning." She offered me a small smile. "I'll just grab my phone." She quickly turned and walked inside. I stuck a foot in her door and glanced around her apartment. It was more like a studio with everything in one massive room. It was also kind of empty with everything packed away in boxes. I didn't miss the pile of boxes in one corner that contained the items I had bought her.

"Found it." She startled me as she appeared in front of me holding it up.

"Are you moving?" I asked unable to keep my questions to myself. I held out my arm to her and she hooked her arm in mine.

"Yes, at the end of the month."

"Why?"

"My lease is up." She answered quickly.

"Anything important I need to know about tonight?" she quickly changed the topic.

"I'll tell you once we get to the car."

I lead her down to the back exit of her apartment building where my driver was waiting for me. We were less likely to be seen by anyone that way. I ushered her out of the door and into the car quickly relieved by the absence of prying eyes.

I watched as she took in the interior of the car. Her face showed mostly indifference, but I couldn't help but notice the sparkle in her eyes as she glanced around. One thing about Aida was that my money didn't seem to impress her. I wondered what did.

I reached over her opening a compartment containing the glasses. I grabbed the bottle of wine from the same compartment before pouring us each a glass.

"Is that a bottle of Château Margaux 2015?" she teased humour lacing her voice. I laughed nodding as I held my glass up clinking it with hers.

"I've never actually tasted it before." She took a sip, and I smiled watching her grimace in disgust. She turned to me an incredulous look on her face. "I can't believe I recommended this to you, and you liked it." She took the bottle from me reading the back label.

"Who said I liked it?" I replied as she studied the bottle. She gave me an amused side eye before placing the bottle back and sitting back in her seat as she continued to sip on her glass.

"So tonight..." she started, and I sighed as I twisted my watch on my wrist.

"I may have lied and told my parents we are together." I glanced out of the window not wanting to see her reaction.

"Ok." She replied, "Whose event are we going to is there something you need to achieve?"

I looked at her surprised by her lack of reaction. She was staring out of the window, her finger spinning the rings that adorned her fingers in her lap.

"I need to secure a merger with another company. It's my first move as CEO. I also need to clean up my image."

"Clean up your image? Did you do something wrong?" she turned to look at me and I couldn't help but feel ashamed of my answer.

"With women."

"Ah I see." She nodded before sipping on her wine again.

"I told you I can't be pictured with you, so I don't see how I'm helping your dilemma here."

Fuck. Nothing got past this woman. I knew she wasn't stupid; she was extremely observant and although she seemed quiet her silence was not to be taken for granted. She had good reason. She was in a way... calculating.

"I've already discussed this with the people involved, that you don't wish to be in the public eye. I insisted that only pictures I approve can be published. Photos from behind, photos when you are unrecognisable. I respect your wishes, and I don't want to jeopardise your job."

She nodded uncertainty written all over her face.

"Why me?"

"I'm not sure."