Mr CEO (Liam Payne AU)

0.8

Chapter 8

She analyzed me with a weird expression on her face. Is she really thinking about having dinner with me for that long?

"So what do you say?" I ask nervously.

Why am I nervous? It's just going dinner with a girl, nothing major.

"Sure." She smiled.

"Okay. Just let me put these papers in place and we can go." I say.

I put the papers on top of my desk adding a sticky note on top asking Joanna to make copies first thing in the morning. I put my blazer on and grabbed my briefcase before we walked out.

In no time we were on my car and I politely opened her door which made her blush. She was cute with her red cheeks. I walked to my side and started the drive.

"Any suggestions? I was thinking on this French restaurant my friend Niall, the one who hit you with the door." She laughed. "Recommended me."

"That sounds good but..." She said.

"But what?" I asked.

She smiled embarrassed and looked into her lap.

"That sounds very expensive. I am not wearing appropriate clothes for that place." She whispered but I could hear her perfectly.

"It's fine. We can go somewhere else. Where would you like to go?" I ask.

"Can I be honest?" She asked and I nodded. "I'm dying for a good In-n-out burger."

I laughed loudly making her bite her lip in embarrassment.

"To the In-n-out it is." I say with a smile on my face.

She is going to be my cheapest date. But she is also going to be the date that eats the most. I can tell. Wait! But this is not a date.

"You are awfully quiet. What's on your mind?" She asks.

I keep my eyes on the road but I can feel her small green eyes penetrating my soul. It should be uncomfortable but under her gaze it was not.

"Work." I lied.

"I feel like you think too much about work." She pouted.

"I do. It's the most important thing." I say.

"No, it is not." She disagreed, of course.

"Why not?" I ask her.

"Because there are things in life that are more important." She said.

"Like what?" I ask.

"So much! I don't know where to start!" She said sounding rather excited.

"We are here. We order and then you tell me about it." I smiled at her as I parked the car.

I jumped out and walked to her side but found that she was already out.

"I was going to open it for you." I said.

"Liam, I got two hands and I can do it myself. Stop being a proper gentleman." She said.

"All right but the dinner is on me." She was about to protest but I added. "And I am not taking a no as an answer."

"All right all right. You win that one." She laughed slightly making me smile.

We make it inside and luckily there are not much people around. I suspect it is because it is rather late since I finish working way later than most people.

We ask our burgers along with fries and sodas. It is delivered in no time, fitting everything in one try that I carry to one of the tables. I sat down on one side of the booth as she sat on the one in front of me.

I took off my blazer as Violet grabbed French fries and brought them to her lips. I bite my lip and repeated her actions.

"Look at us. We are quite funny to look at." She laughed.

"Why?" I ask.

"You all proper with your business suit and I am with dungarees with paint everywhere. Quite odd." She explained.

"I guess." I say.

We began eating on our burgers and I laughed as I sat ketchup on top of Violet's nose.

"What?" She asked oblivious.

"Your nose." I managed to say as I point to my nose.

She cleaned her nose on a napkin as her cheeks turned bright red. She was too cute right now.

"I'm such a mess eating. This is the second time we eat together and it's also the second time this happens." She says with a little smile.

I laughed as I remembered the very first time this happened.

"So tell me about those important things in life?" I asked changing the subject.

"Well, where do I start?" She asked herself. "Family and friends should be more important than work. But especially emotions or moments that are special and relevant to who we are as people."

"So for you is more important have friends than a work?" I ask.

"Absolutely! Work gives you money. Friends give you laughs, support, love...the list goes." She said.

I couldn't help but admire how her eyes glistened as she spoke. I was surprised with her. It's like if every time she speaks she awes me more.

"I love my work so I don't really see it like that. It does give me a little money but it gives me so much more." She tells me. "How is your work?"

"Work is busy, stressful, boring...and so on." I say.

"It makes you happy?" She asks.

"Yes. I'm a workaholic or so I been told." I admit. "Even as stressful as it is, I love my work."

"Then it is a good job." She smiles.

"Tell me about your work." I say.

"It's not very interesting really. I have this little classroom at the community center. On Mondays and Wednesdays morning I give classes to adults and old people and on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings to kids." She explained.

"So you are good in art?" I ask.

"I guess if I have the job." She laughs. "I studied arts at college."

"Oh I didn't expect you attended college." I comment.

"Well yeah I did." She says. "Worst time ever. But I met my best friend Zayn there so it was cool. He works with me at the community center. He is amazing drawing."

I don't know why but I felt something ran through my veins at the mention of this Zayn guy. I hope she doesn't have a boyfriend if she is here with me. That wouldn't be nice.

"So this Zayn guy and you, are dating?" I ask.

Surprisingly, she begins to laugh very loudly. I look at her with furrowed brows as she wipes tears from laughing to hard.

"What's so funny?" I ask.

"That you thought me and Zayn are dating." She said. "I will never ever date Zayn. He is an amazing guy but he is and will always be just my best friend."

"Why so?" I ask.

"He is not my type. Plus he is engaged so." She says.

God I feel so pathetic now. She must think I am a jerk who doesn't think a guy and a girl can be friends.

"Why did you ask? Was Mr. CEO jealous?" She raised a brow.

"No, it's just that it wouldn't be okay to be here alone with you if you had a boyfriend." I admitted.

"Fair enough." She smiled.

"So you mentioned that college was the worst experience of your life. Mind to elaborate?" I asked.

"Oh yeah that." She bites her lip and looked down.