What He Couldn't Buy

2

"Oh Rosie! It's been ages!" Exclaimed a stately and perfume drenched woman. She then noticed Amelia, "Well now who is this beautiful young lady?" It was clear that the woman was wondering whether or not Amelia was one of Rosie's grandchildren.

Amelia began to answer "Oh I'm just-"

"She's staying with me for the summer" Mrs. Bell intervened.

"Oh how lovely! Well I hope to see you again this season"

Amelia cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy. Mrs. Bell smiled, "Amelia, you are not my employee, you are my friend. Now let's go, tonight you are making friends that are your age!" Then, the elderly woman and the young lady linked arms and walked to find their assigned seats.

Meanwhile, Chris was standing relatively close to Amelia and Rosie, listening to their conversation. Why is there confusion over her being an employee? God I hope we're seated next to each other, he thought. Quickly, Chris pulled one of his oldest stunts, he switched the location of his place setting so that he was sitting to Mystery Girl's left. Chris quickly walked away, acting as if nothing had happened.

Amelia and Mrs. Bell eventually made their way over to their table. Amelia, spotted some programs for the event that were placed on the table, picked one up and began to concentrate.

"Studying?" She jumped a little in her seat and turned around to see a gorgeous dark haired boy peering over her shoulder casually.

"Well isn't that the purpose of this event? Were supposed to learn..."

He smirked, "So I'm guessing you're new to these events, that program is lucky it has even been picked up" he said, poking the thick piece of paper.

Amelia blushed and looked down at her outfit "do I really look that out of place?"

"Well, you definitely look better than everybody else here- especially that guy" he said, pointing at a man who had already taken off his suit jacket and was drunk despite the fact that the dinner had yet to start. Amelia giggled, using the program to cover her smile.

"It's just so interesting! I mean I knew that factors such as the environment and water privatization have been endangering water availability all over the world, but I had no idea that we could actually help build wells in other countries..."

Chris took his seat next to Amelia and listened to her as she talked about the charity. Wow she really cares about this. She's smart too...

"I'm Amelia by the way," Chris refocused on the beautiful girl in front of him.

"Christopher. Or, Chris actually... So are you out here for the summer? I haven't see you before"

She nodded "I'm staying with Mrs. Bell for the summer, and you?"

"Yeah, I've stayed here during every summer since I was a baby, family tradition I guess. I'm just late this year because I was in Greece for business"

Amelia then proceeded to ask about his opinions on Greece's current economic situation. Wow, this girl is really interested in world news- that's refreshing, he thought. Chris and Amelia were so caught up in their conversation about current events that they hadn't noticed that everyone else had taken their seats and the lights had dimmed.

Usually, Chris would utilize the time during various speeches and performances to flirt with a girl; but he knew Amelia would actually want to pay attention. Chris tried his best to also pay attention but he kept finding himself watching Amelia instead.

Once the lights came back on, dinner was served and an auction began. Throughout dinner, they chatted, occasionally glancing up at the auction.

Chris learned that Amelia had just graduated from high school in Los Angeles and was living in the Hamptons for the summer until she started at NYU in the fall. Amelia learned that Chris was a rising junior at Columbia and was positioned to slowly take over various parts of his dad's businesses. Currently, Chris had already taken over as CEO for all of the hotels and resorts that his family owned (which explained the recent trip to Greece).

"And next, we are auctioning off two tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet's show in the city on Friday night!"

Amelia choked on the water she was drinking at the moment and her eyes widened.

Chris looked to his right, "so you like ballet?"

All she could do was nod as she tried to maintain her composure at the glamorous dinner.

Suddenly, Chris held his paddle up, "$6,000!"

Amelia whipped her head to the left, she couldn't believe Chris was bidding that much money. After Chris' bid, nobody was willing to get into a bidding war with him, and he won the tickets.

"Well California, how would you like to watch some ballet on Friday?"

Amelia nodded excitedly and Chris smirked.

"Come on" he said, getting up.

"But, what if we miss something?"

"I'm sure Rosie can tell you tomorrow if something outrageous happens- but with this crowd, I highly doubt it."

Amelia turned and whispered something into Rosie's ear, before getting up from her chair. Chris extended his hand and gently grabbed Amelia's. She blushed, and followed him out the back of the tent.

***

Shoes in one hand and Chris' hand in the other, Amelia walked down the wooden walkway and onto the sandy beach.

Amelia was about to sit down on the sand when Chris stopped her, took his suit jacket off, and placed it on the floor.

"Okay, now sit"

She laughed and followed his orders.

"So... ballet? I thought you were an International Relations major?" he asked.

"Well my mother was- is a dancer and I've danced since I was two"

Chris was gazing deeply into her eyes, "did you just do ballet?"

"Well I did a lot of ballet but I also did musical theater, jazz, contemporary..."

Suddenly, Chris leaned in and kissed her. She was surprised at first but then gave into the slow and sweet kiss on the beach.

When they stopped, they sat in a comfortable silence for a while, Amelia was resting her head on Chris' shoulder as they just listened to the waves crashing on the shore.

Chris was mid-yawn when Amelia broke the silence, "So do you use that move on every girl who is out here for the summer" she said playfully.

"What?"

"Oh you know, take her out to the romantic beach at night, kiss her..."

"No..." he smiled and kissed her again.