A la Carte

Chapter 17

Derek was coming home today and Charlotte could barely contain her excitement. They had skyped and called whenever they each had a spare moment, no matter the time difference. She wasn’t fetching him from the airport, but he had given her his word that he would stop off at the apartment to say hello. Charlotte bustled around the penthouse, making food and cleaning and slowly as the time wore on, her nerves subsided when Derek sent her  a text saying that he had landed safely and was on his way to her. 
The loud noise, shook Charlotte out of the depth of her slumber, she yawned and groaned when she felt how stiff her neck was from where she’d fallen asleep awkwardly on the couch. The noise was actually not the buzzer of the front desk, but a knock on her door. When she opened it she found Dimitri standing there expectedly with a grin upon his handsome face.

“Oh, it’s you.” She said, deflating when she saw him standing there. He frowned sadly.

“You don’t have to sound so excited, Char.” He said, giving her a wink. She sighed.

“What do you want?” She asked tiredly, her short nap, not having rejuvenated her at all.

“I just want to talk.” He said.

“Dimitri…” She started.

“Hear me out?” He pleaded.

“Okay fine, come in.” She said and closed the door behind him when he stepped inside.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” She asked, the polite hostess within her was asking.

“Yes please,”

“Coffee okay?” She asked  and didn’t wait for him to respond as she flipped the coffee machine on. Once the coffee was made, she transported the two steaming cups to the lounge where Dimitri was intensely gazing at some pictures on the wall. He turned as she approached and he smiled when he saw the coffee in her hands. The next few events that followed could only have been described as happening in slow motion. She didn’t see the broom handle that had fallen from where it was lying next to the couch and as she tripped the coffee went flying and landed on the immaculately dressed Dimitri, who just so happened to be wearing a white polo shirt and denim slacks. The cups crashed to the ground with Charlotte and the coffee went all over Dimitri, who bit back a curse as the hot beverage soaked through his clothes.

“Shit, I’m so sorry,” Charlotte apologised profusely, as a waitress she was mortified at what just occurred. Dimitri grimaced tugging the soaked shirt away from his abdomen.
“Well, that’s not usually how the girls fall for me,” He joked. She laughed, despite her embarrassment, only Dimitri would joke like that.

“Can I go clean up in your bathroom quick?” He asked.
“Sure it’s down the hall.” She said and grabbed the very broom she’d tripped over to clean the mess up that it had caused. Just as she started, there was a knock on her door.

“Who the hell is here now?” 

When she opened the door, she was pleasantly surprised to find Derek standing there with a bunch of flowers in his hand.

“Derek!” She cried and leapt into his arms, giving a long, hard kiss.

“I’ve missed you so much,” He whispered into her ear.

“I missed you too,” She smiled, he handed her the flowers.

“For you, pretty lady,” He said.

“Thank you,” She beamed, “They’re beautiful.” She was just about to go into the kitchen when  Dimitri walked out from the hallway, what made matters worse, was the fact that he wasn’t wearing a shirt and a defined abdomen and tanned skin was on display. There was a sharp intake of breath.