Choking On Sapphires

57 Wonderful Tonight

You'd gotten yourself all tarted up, just like he'd asked. He wanted to show you off and you wanted to show yourself off, it was a win-win with how you'd put yourself together. You've scurried to the front door, seeing his car come down the drive, tail practically wagging in your dress. You'd chosen a dark green velvet one, long-sleeved but off the shoulder, your bustier tight to hold up your chest on a bouncing display, waist cinched and hips full as the fabric flowed over them, hugging them and flattering every bit of you. Your hair was down and loose, as it seemed he liked it and it was a lot less painful than the high updo's that gave you headaches by the end of the night. You laid it in big loose finger curls at the top and blooming out in soft, romantic bouncing ones down your back. You'd put on heavy duty jewelry as you did want to shine brighter than any woman out tonight. Emeralds to match your dress, one dangles at the end of each diamond strand of earring, a short chain of them matching in stones around your neck, not to distract from your cleavage which you wanted him entirely distracted by tonight. A single large emerald ring and dark lashes to match how sultry you felt. You do the usual, Claire answers the door as he pulls up, you right behind her, she raises an eyebrow at you and you move around the door, holding your dress up, your black fur coat already on and collar fluffed and high to protect you from the February chill.

You couldn't hide the smile on your face for him if you'd wanted to. He looked smashing. A tailored suit, which you're guessing were your habits rubbing off on him, a white collar button up shirt with his gold pocket watch shining like his rings in the golden hour light of the sky. He still had the same oversized wool coat that made him look menacing but you'd grown rather fond of the intimidating silhouette. The same black wide-brimmed hat to match the coat, eyes under it dark blue and heavy at the sight of you.

"Genevieve my love, you can only be outdone by yourself." he shakes his head slowly, taking a long drink of you in. He hands you a bouquet of flowers from behind his back and you stifle a feminine giggle that erupts uncontrollably from you at the gesture.

"Oh, Alfie." you coo. "They're beautiful." They weren't lavender for once and you welcomed the change. You suppose the choice of flowers in winter wasn't much and these must've been expensive. "And so are you." you say suggestively, a hand to his chest as he gives you a slow but innocent enough kiss. "Put these in my room please." you say to Claire who rolls her eyes at the two of you before grinning herself.

"Of course Miss." her tone laced with sarcasm. "Go on you love birds." she says laughing as she shuts the door behind you.

"Shall we?" he asks with a charming smile and a quirked brow, holding his arm out for you and you lock yours in it giving him a happy smile and nod.

You'd never been nervous sitting next to him before. You could act out on anything you felt now. You'd been reserved and in denial for so long it was hard to just let yourself go in public but you were going to try. So you scoot closer to him in the benched seat, he grins and puts his arm around your shoulder.

"Should we discuss some sort of... ground rules?" you ask quietly, watching the countryside pass by in the frame of the window.

"Ground rules?" he asks with a furrowed brow.

"Well, we both have reputations, images to uphold. I didn't want us stepping on each other's toes by accident."

"Ah. I see what ya mean, yeah. Good idea, love." he nods.

"As I see it, in business nothing changes. We don't act like we're together. Professional is professional."

"Of course, absolutely."

"But in public in our free time..." you shrug your shoulder. "I wasn't sure how much affection to show or to expect."

"If someone I work with approaches us, I suppose we'll keep it subtle, yeah?" he smiles at you, big doe eyes looking up at him.