Date Night (Peterick)

Chapter 4

"This is my guest, Peter." The middle aged woman introduced me to another woman of roughly the same age.

"Its wonderful to meet you Peter. I'm Margret." The woman reached out her hand to shake mine.

"Oh, please. The pleasure is all mine." I smiled and returned the gesture and gently shook her hand.

"I hope that Jane has only said good things about me!"

"Oh, the best!" I smiled at the woman who lit up at the thought of someone speaking good of her.

"Really?! Like what?"

"Well Margret, if I had to do that, we would be here all day." I joked, to which she laughed.

"Well It was good to see you dear, but we must go see everyone else." Jane said from beside me.

"Of course! We will talk later?" Margret smiled at the both of us.

"Definitely darling!" Jane smiled and gave Margret a hug. We both stood there as Margret walked away.

"She slept with Mary's husband Jeff." Jane said rolling her eyes. "She is only ever invited to these parties so Mary can flirt with Margret's husband, Phillip."

"What happened to Jeff?" I asked, knowing that I haven't met a Jeff and I've met mostly everyone here.

"Mary killed him." Jane said looking at the ground in a sad voice.

"Damn.... Mary doesn't play."

"I'm kidding dear!"Jane laughed as I awkwardly stood beside her and felt stupid. "He's gone for business. Or so he claims. He's always been the touchy type, both before and after Mary."

"How do you know?" 

"Because, darling. I've been sleeping with him for the past 5 years!" 

"I thought you and Mary are best friends?!" I asked shocked. I can never keep up with the gossip and secrets at these parties.

"Please, people with money like this don't have friends. Mary is a bitch and she will be the first to say it. She knows her husband sleeps around. Just not with who. And Jeff knows she sleeps around. It's honestly the perfect marriage. They benefit from each others wealth but don't have to suffer through each other in bed. If only I got so lucky."

"Well were is your husband then?"

"He's actually dead. Car crash 10 years ago." 

"And you weren't involved in any way?"

"Heavens no! Jackson may have been a horrible husband, and the sex may have gone stale, and I may have only married him for the money, but in a weird way, I did love him." She said. We stood in silence for a moment not knowing what to say.

"Come, darling. Let's get drinks as I tell you about how Janet had a man killed so her husband could move up in his company. Without her intervention, he never would have become C.E.O. That lucky bitch."

*     *     *     *     *

"Wait, so Janet killed Thomas, so George, her husband could move up in the company?" Patrick asked, engrossed in the gossip of yesterdays party.

"Well, that's what Janet claims." I said taking a sip of wine. "But Susan, who worked as George's secretary, told Beatrice who told Mary who told Jane that Janet had George killed because they were sleeping together and he was about to come public with the affair." I elaborated.

"Wait. How does Susan know that George and Janet were sleeping together?"

"Because Susan's husband was best friends with George and George confessed to both Susan an her husband. Supposedly."

"Wow. The top 1% is a small dangerous world" Patrick gave a small chuckle.

"Yeah, it definitely is. Also, this stays between us because I'm not really supposed to share information about my other clients."

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me." He giggled. Every time he giggles, chuckles, or laughs in any form or way, I can't help but smile. "You know Pete... I have really been enjoying our date nights." Patrick confessed.

"I've enjoyed them too." I smiled at the thought.

"Which is why... I don't want to, but I think we have to end them." He said softly. I almost dropped my fork when the words hit my ears.

"What? Why?" 

"Because... One of your rules is that I can't develop feelings, but I think I am." Patrick fiddled with his pasta end the end of his fork.

"But...." I tried to come up with an excuse as to why we shouldn't stop here, but I couldn't think of one. He is right, and I can't make him pay me to date him if he has feelings for me. "Okay... You're right. We can't keep doing this then."

"I'm sorry, Pete." Patrick said

"I mean, are you sure? Its not like you're in love with me." I smirked, hoping he would change his mind.

"No.. But I can't do this to myself." 

"No. You can't" I sighed. This is why I don't actually date or get involved with men who know what's good for them, because I am not good for anyone. "You were my favorite client to be honest. You were since our first date."

"I know. I have been looking forwards to our Sunday night dinners for the past month." Patrick held out his hand and I grabbed it. "Walk me to my car?" Patrick asked.

"Of course." I said with a sad smile. "Wait, you paid right?" 

"Yes." He said standing up. We both silently walked beside each other out the restaurant, and around the block. We walked slower and slower the closer we got to the car.

"Hey Patrick." I grabbed his attention before he had a chance to open the car door.

"Yeah?"

"I think... This date meets the qualifications for a kiss." I said, pulling him closer to me. 

"I thought the same thing, but I wasn't going to say anything. I don't make the rules a-apparently." Patrick said with a slight stutter.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"I've never actually kissed a guy before."

"Perfect, because your first kiss should be with a man who think your special, and worthy of all the love and happiness in the world." I said before pulling him in closer. I connected our lips and felt the warmth come off of him. This simple kiss has me feeling the warmest, and most alive of any kiss I have ever had before it. I pulled away after a few seconds and smiled at Patrick, who was still in slight shock.

"Are you okay?" I giggled at his reaction. Such innocence for someone his age.

"I'm great." He finally broke into a smile. He opened his car door and slouched into the seat. "Goodbye, Pete. And thank you."

"Good bye, Patrick. I hope you have a good night, and may every night and day be just as good." I smiled and closed the car door for him, not wanting to prolong the already difficult goodbye. I walked away until I heard his car start and pull away, then I turned around to watch what will be the last I see of Patrick.