MARRIED ACCIDENTALLY

CHAPTER 34

Vince's POV

This isn't a date, but it feels like one. My lack of experience with taking a woman on a date has me waiting in anxiety until she appears like an angel in the dark, dressed beautifully in a floral blue gown.

Her hair is packed. Her make-up is light. Yet she looks beautiful.

If I want to take Ann’s mind off the annulment and any other guy, I have to do this.

An alluring smile spreads over her face. Remembering what the first action entails, I move round to the other side of the door to open the car for me.

She raises a brow at me, and I urge her to go in with a wave of my hand.

That was what the article says- First, open the car door for her and close it. Second, try to keep a conversation going before you get to your date venue.

Third, remember to tell her how beautiful she looks and how much you love her dress. Fourth, you can comment on her hair or her choice of perfume. At the restaurant, grab her a seat. And let others follow.

It feels silly, but this is what I have to do so I won't reveal how clueless I am when it comes to women and dating.

As soon as she was safely tucked in, I shut the door before going to the driver’s seat.

It's meant to be a date, but I chose to make the penthouse the venue. I have a lot of prying eyes around here, so it would be pretty uncomfortable to do what I intend to do in the mansion.

It's been almost a year since I visited the penthouse. This is an excellent opportunity to show her around the house.

“You look beautiful,” I comment, feeling the loud beating of my heart.

Anytime this happens, Kyra’s words always pop into my head. But those are silly words.

Her smile widens alongside her eyes. “Thank you.”

I look back to the road, debating on what conversation to strike. Annette isn't a woman from my world. She is learning to be part of my world, so I can't discuss work with her.

Besides, this isn't the time for it.

Should I tell her where we are going and why?

Oh, I already did.

Shit! What can I say?

“So you want to cook me a meal?” The soft voice makes me sigh in relief, glad that she is talking on my behalf. 

She finds it very easy to start a conversation, unlike me. She acts nonchalant most times like she has no worry in the world. She sometimes looks carefree, and I envy her for that.

For me, I worry about everything, even when things are going right.

I worry about unexpected attacks. I worry about my soldiers, especially when we go out hunting. I worry about the smallest thing that involves the family business.

This is because I am responsible for all, and if there is anything I hate to lose, those are my soldiers.

“Vince?” Her concern-filled face moves closer to me.

“Sorry. What's your favorite meal?”

She shrugs indifferently. “I don't think I have one. I will eat anything nice.”

“Ok.”

“So, what are you cooking?”

“Still thinking about it.”

Silence ensues for a while before she calls out again. “Vince?” I turn to her. “Are you doing this because I mentioned Mark prepared a meal for me?”

My nose flares up in rage at the mention of that jerk.

She laughs shortly. “This is all too sudden. I can't help but ask.”

“Don't mention that jerk’s name, Annette.”

“Wow. Did you just call me Annette?” She asks with a wide smile on her face. “Call me that again.”

With confusion, I call. “Annette?”

It sounds like a question because I have no idea why she asked me to call her name again. Did I mispronounce it?

Her face lit up brightly, with her eyes sparkling with excitement. My heart jolts suddenly.

“I love the sound of that, Vince,” she informs me. “Almost everyone that knows me calls me Ann. I'm used to that already.”

She sinks deeper into the seat with her eyes closed.

What would it mean to be in love with this woman? How would it feel to have this woman to myself forever?

Suddenly, she flutters her eyes open, and our gaze meets. Embarrassed, I turn away, shoving the silly thought down.

It takes ten more minutes before we get there. I open the car door for her again, watching her stare at the building in complete awe.

“You owe a hotel?” She asks me sharply, and I nod before entangling my arm with hers and stepping inside.

The lobby is filled with people trooping in and out. I nod at the two receptionists before heading towards the lift.

We take the lift, and it rides up fast to the last floor. Our arms are still entangled, but she is oblivious to the touch because of how she keeps glancing around.

When the lift stops, I step out with her and open the door to the penthouse. A low gasp leaves her mouth instantly, making a small smile crawl to my lips.

The first goal has been achieved. I have managed to impress her.

She steps in gingerly, not bothering to hide her surprise and amazement at the beautiful interior, the high ceilings, and the colorful furniture.

This is my solace.

I come here when I need time alone from the rest of the world. Even though there is a hotel building beneath here, I always get the solace I need once I am here.

The walls are strongly built against noise. And there is a rooftop where I can lie down to watch the city and the stars in the sky.

Whenever the silence is enough, I go to the rooftop to enjoy the noise that comes with the night.

“Vince, this is beautiful.” She comments, hitting my shoulder playfully before spinning around to continue her scanning.

The simple touch sends a tingle down my spine, making me stare at the arm she just hit.

Why do I have to react to every single thing that concerns this woman? What is happening to me?

“Where is the bathroom?” She moves back quickly, dropping her purse and the two novels I asked her to bring along, which I am seeing for the first time tonight.

I point towards the room. There is an ensuite bathroom there.

She nods at me before rushing towards it.

My gaze leaves her and shifts to the novels on the sofa. My feet move towards the sofa.

A YEAR WITH THE BILLIONAIRE is the title of the first novel. And the second is HIS SWEETEST OBSESSION.

To be honest, I have never had time to read books since I left college, but I am willing to give it a try.

All I need to do is to glance through them right and tell her I have read them. I have a photographic memory, so if she wants a conversation on both books, I believe I can beat her expectations.

While trying to keep the books back where she kept them, a paper falls off from one of the books and I pick up quickly, out of pure curiosity.

“Read every single page of both books and give me a detailed review of why the authors picked the titles given to both books. Don't forget to enjoy reading them too.”

The paper drops, and I exclaim inwardly. “What the hell!”