"This isn't exactly... a normal arrangement." He pauses as I begin taking another sip of water. A drop somehow misses my mouth and captures his attention. The drop makes its way down my chin... and neck... and then its way down my chest as his eyes...
I wake the next morning to my unfamiliar surroundings. The whole loft is silent, it's quite peaceful actually. I throw on a navy robe hanging not too far from my bed and stroll into the kitchen. Every cabinet is filled with all different kinds of food, I'm having so much trouble deciding on just one thing to eat... so I stick with my usual favorite and start mixing some chocolate chips and pancake batter.
There's a soft knock at the door. I cautiously make my way to it, who the hell could it be? The only person who knows my new address is Tammy... I slowly creak open the door to find Mr. Donagy standing in the hallway with a white box. It has a pearly luster to it and is wrapped in gold ribbon, leading me to believe it must be important. Mr. Donagy smiles delighted at my presence. He really is such a sweet, genuine man. "A package for you, Miss Leign," he offers the box to me. "For me?! You really shouldn't have, Mr. Donagy," I joke. His cheeks blush, "O-oh no, Mr. Sutherland dropped it off at the desk last night with specific instruction to bring it to you in the morning." I accept the box from him and smile kindly back. He tips his hat before returning back to the elevator as I close the door. I place the luxuriously presented box on the island and stare at it briefly. What could Jacob possibly have to give me? I carefully pull on the two ends of the bow, unraveling it. I remove the top to reveal cream tissue paper with a note laid on top. I unfold it to read: "Dear Savannah, For when I return... Looking forward to seeing you. Yours truly, Jacob" Bewildered, I lift up the tissue paper to reveal a black, satin and lace slip and thong set.
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I hold it in my hands with disbelief that it is actually mine... It's the most expensive lingerie I've ever even seen in person. The lace is embellished with diamonds that I don't doubt are real. I bite down in my lip unable to fight a smile. For a guy who doesn't want a girlfriend, he's sure spent a whole lot of time and effort helping me move and redoing my room. And I can't even imagine how much money he's spent on me so far between the room renovation and now this gift... It was all a bit confusing. But, we did sign the an agreement, so I shouldn't let my thoughts run wild... Right? Right... Anyway, I neatly fold the slip and return it to its packaging, leaving the note out. I scan through it one more time with a smile while touching my finger tips to my lips.
I skip back to my room to get my polaroid camera. I prop the note up against the open box with the thong and slip strategically displayed on my blanket to snap a picture. I fan myself with the printed picture while I wait for it to develop, looking at the ceiling for the perfect spot to place the hook. Within a few minutes I have the hook screwed into place, string tied, and picture secured directly over the middle of my bed. It's the first addition to my new polaroid ceiling. I lay with an arm supporting my neck and the other laid across my stomach, staring it at while it twists suspended above me. I know seeing it every morning when I wake will instantly be a good start to everyday day from here on in.
About a month later, the eve of my twenty-first birthday, I open my eyes after a good night sleep and stretch my arms over my head as a screech. I catch sight of the polaroid of Jacob's gift and shut my eyes to relive the day I moved in... until, I'm rudely interrupted by a phone call. "Hello?" my voice was still raspy from just waking up. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVE!" Bree shouts too loudly into my ear. "Thanks, best friend! How's the rehearsals going?" I kindly ask. "Oh... horribly. The director is very... meticulous. He's been keeping us from dawn till... the next dawn," she yawns. "Well, at least you'll get a break to drink it all away for my birthday tomorrow night," I comfort her. There's a long pause. I think we might have lost connection...
