Bloom [Completed]

Chapter Eleven

"To be honest Billie, I never noticed that I smiled so much around you. I guess you make me slip up." He says simply.

I gaze back into his grey eyes for a moment. Is he serious? Do I seriously have that kind of effect on him?

"You make me smile too," I respond.

"I know," he takes a sip of his coffee and stares at me over the rim. The cup hides the smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but I see it and grin back at him.

I glance over my shoulder nervously at the rest of the cafe. I see only a handful of people still eyeing us but most are leaving us be.

I must relax noticeably because Oliver sighs and sags back into his chair frustrated.

"You're right," he says, "This is much too public. If I'm to get to know you at all we'll have to schedule a second date."

I smile at him pretending to think it over. "Hmmm, let me check my schedule and have my assistant get back to you."

He bites down on his bottom lip to stop from smiling at my terrible acting.

"I'll have my assistant be in contact with your assistant then," he says playing along.

"You don't have an assistant either, remember?" I laugh.

"Then how can I reach you, Miss Dalton?"

"Are you asking me for my phone number?"

"Yes," He says holding my eyes with his.

I blink back at him a little struck by how beautiful he is in this moment before fishing my crappy pink phone out of my wallet.

I cringe, feeling a little embarrassed. A man who owns a company at his age must have all the latest, most expensive gadgets.

I give him my number and he smoothly reaches out of his pocket, of course, the latest iPhone. He punches in the digits carefully before send me a quick text and stowing his phone away.

My phone vibrates in my hand and I smile as I open the message:

:)

I look up at him and put my phone back in my purse. I love sharing this little secret fact that he only smiles for me.

"Just so you know if I could smile right now, I would." He says so seriously its as if he's in any other business meeting.

I laugh a little at this. "It's okay,"

He stands slowly and I realise both our coffee cups are empty and it's time to go.

He gestures for me to go first and I lead him out of the cafe with everyone turning their heads once more to gawk at us as we leave.

In the elevator I sigh as I press level 10 and Oliver follows pressing level 40.
Just as I think we're going to get the lift to ourselves, a man races in and presses another floor.

Oliver gives me a pained expression and I give him a tight smile in response.

As we stop at my floor I look over at him wistfully. I wish that man hadn't stepped in as well and I could properly say goodbye to him. But instead I give him a short nod.

To my surprise however Oliver does.

"I'll have my assistant contact yours, Miss Dalton." He is all serious, giving the other man a sideways look to check if he notices anything out of the ordinary.

"Yes, Mr Daley." I can't help the ear splitting grin that forms on my face as I step out.

I look over my shoulder before the doors close and because Oliver is standing behind the man, where he can't see his face, he too has a giant grin plastered across his face. No doubt laughing to himself at his own private joke he managed to make.

I blush looking down at my heels and stroll back towards the mail room.

As soon as I'm home that evening I get straight into my pjs and climb into bed. I'm all set to binge watch a new season off of Netflix with my laptop huddled into the blankets with me.

I think about how my coffee date with Oliver went. Though a little short, and add in the fact that half the cafe was staring at us the whole time, I think it went well. Him getting my phone number certainly is cause for celebration. But I wonder when he'll text me again? Or should I text him first? Oh why is this so complicated!

I didn't really get much out of him, he's very tight lipped around his employees. He seems a lot more relaxed on his own, like when we were looking at the view out his window together.

But on second thought, I'm one of his employees as well, technically. I wonder what the companies policy on work relationships is?

Just as I'm about to start the second episode, my phone on the bedside table starts ringing.

I leap across to grab it throwing the blankets in the process. I assume it's going to be my Mum checking up on me like she does once a week. But when I see the caller ID, I freeze.

Oliver Daley, it reads. Holy fuck, why is he calling me? My stomach leaps into my throat as I answer hastily.

"H, hello?" I stumbled a bit and cringe internally hoping he hasn't noticed my awkward tone.

"Billie? Hello, it's Mr Daley."
He replies in a completely cool unaffected tone.

"Yes, hi Oliver." I say and smile just a little. He mustn't be alone if he's calling himself that. The thought warms me.

"I have one more meeting to attend and then I'm going to need some dinner, have you eaten yet?" He asks, he sounds hopeful.

I pause for a minute, checking the clock.

"It's 6:00 already what are you still doing at work?" I ask.

"Late meetings today... if you've already had dinner that's fine, we can plan another night this week."

I pause again. He's asking me out for dinner already?! I gulp nervously, I'm already in my pjs what do I do?

"I - I haven't eaten yet no." I murmur into the receiver.

"Good," He says triumphant. "I'll be by to pick you up at 7."

"Okay..." I say a little dazed

"I've got to go into my meeting now, see you then." he abruptly hangs up.

I throw my phone down onto the bed and grin into my hair.

"Ahhh," I cry out with a giant smile.

I glance down at my pjs, what am I going to wear!

Avi bursts through the door then, probably having heard me cry out.

"Did you find another mouse?!" He asks alarmed.

"No, no" I wave him off. "I've got a date!" I say as explanation.

"Oh," he relaxes. "Lucky you!"

"I need to get ready, out!" I say and he retreats closing the door behind him.

I turn back to my closet, determined.

It's little black dress time, I think as I reach in and pull out my most figure hugging dress.