The Billionaire's Christmas Story

CHAPTER FOUR

Malia

I really did like the dress a lot, but the fact he'd told me to wear it was nagging at me. Since I was in kindergarten, I had my own sense of style. I used to drive my mother crazy with some of my choices. I choose my clothes because I like them and I'm comfortable in them. I wear what's appropriate for the occasion, but rarely what everyone else would be wearing. Designer labels didn't impress me either. I'd found dresses at second-hand stores that were just as nice.

When he simply said, "Put on the outfit I sent you," that was when the idea came to me. My mystery man had sent me two outfits today. He told me to wear the one he sent, but he hadn't specifically said which one. It made sense to me that he couldn't really be offended if I happened to wear the wrong one then, right? I took a bubble bath while I considered it. By the time I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel, I'd come to a firm decision. I was wearing the elf outfit. If he was offended... oh well, what had I really lost?

As I fixed my hair and did my make-up I thought about what he'd said about going to an "exclusive" restaurant. I decided that I'd take the dress with me and I would change after I played a little trick on him. There was no harm in a little fun. I didn't know if they had a dress code though and I may get asked to leave. This way I would have the dress to change into.

My hair and make-up were ready for a night out. I put on the elf dress with the shoes that went with the dress and then slipped the elf slippers over them. I wore a pair of diamond stud earrings that my parents had given me when I graduated high school, they were my favorite pair, and I'd always thought they'd brought me good luck.

I chose a delicate silver chain that would complement the dress and after I put it on, I tucked it inside my elf suit. Jeffrey arrived right on time, and when I opened the door and saw his face, I wished I'd had my camera at the ready.

"Um, Miss Malia... did you open the other box?" The poor guy looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel in his head.

"I did, I like this one better," I said, as I slipped on my black trench coat.

"Oh, well..." I couldn't keep a straight face. Jeffrey looked relieved when he realized I was laughing. "Oh, it's just a joke, thank goodness," he said.

"It's a joke on your boss, Jeffrey. I am wearing this to dinner."

"Oh, I don't think... I'm not sure you should... well he's kind of..."

"Serious?" I finished for him.

"Yes miss, he's very serious. I don't think he'll be pleased."

"Too bad," I told him with a wink. "It sounds like he needs to learn to loosen up a bit." Jeffrey didn't say any more about it, but I could tell it made him anxious that I was going through with this. I couldn't imagine a man so generous that didn't at least appreciate a little humor. Besides, he wasn't really my boss. What was he going to do?

When Jeffrey drove the limousine up in front of the restaurant, I almost lost my nerve. When he'd said exclusive, I had no idea he was talking about Per Se. It was THE most exclusive restaurant in New York and if he didn't own his own table here, then he'd made these reservations either weeks or months ago. When Jeffrey helped me out of the car he raised an eyebrow.

"You're sure about this miss?" he asked.

I looked back at the fancy restaurant and all of the fancy people going inside and I suddenly realized that I was sure. If this man couldn't take a joke, what have I lost? A fancy dinner? I'd obviously not met him after nine months of working at Kinley Inc.; I'd likely not see him too frequently after this. He probably works somewhere up near the top like everyone seems to think, judging from the fact that he was obviously wealthy so I doubted we'd have to mix and mingle much. I was going for it; I thought it would be fun.