The rest of the week flies right past me, and before I knew it, Saturday evening is quickly upon me. Joan has travelled down to the city with a tailor made dress for this special occasion. Daphne has sneakily found herself in the Shopping centre, with her new friends Jaylin and Thea, and brought me a pair of heels to go with the dress. If I did not already feel like Cinderella before, I definitely feel like her now. I just hope Scarlett does not know where I live, so she cannot rip my dress to pieces, and then laugh in my face as she gets whisked to the ball by Xavier.
I have come to the very confusing, yet undeniable conclusion, that I am attracted to Xavier Bright.
And not just because of his mouth watering looks, or mysterious yet kind nature. Xavier has been nothing but generous, gentle and understanding since the start of my journey at Lighthouse Industries. The lingering touches, his loving behaviour towards Daphne, the Sainsbury's shopping trip, and dinner at his house adds to the pros of this conclusion. The other cons are his workaholic ways, stupid Scarlett Jones with her plot to try and get Xavier back and the fact that he keeps is past very hidden.
As I slip into the silk material dress, it immediately shapes itself around my body. The shoes go perfect with the dress, giving me some height for the night. Daphne has been begging for me to straighten my hair, so I have given in to her wish, and she has the pleasures of straightening my waist length hair. That is right - waist length! Joan is packing away her things, when I step out of my bedroom and enter the living room. Daphne puts down her phone, her mouth wide open as I twirl around. Joan wipes away a few fallen tears, and tells me I am beautiful and other soppy but heartwarming compliments. Daphne hugs me tight, and asks for pictures, Joan telling me to have fun, stay safe, use protection and that she will call me back when she arrives back to her home in the village. They both walk me down to Xavier when he arrives. His black suite and tie attire was breathtaking. He wore it with power and elegance. When he gets a full look of me, his eyes widen and his mouth drops open. I chuckle at his reaction, walking over to him.
"You look so... wow!" He says, speechless. I smile brightly at him.
"You scrub up pretty well yourself Mr Bright." I tease, smirking at him. He laughs slightly, before noticing Daphne and Jo. Daphne waves frantically at him, and he waves back.
"Who is with Daphne?" He asks me, concerned.
"That is Joan. She is a very good friend of ours, so don't worry." He tell him. He sighs, and nods his head. He opens the passenger door for me, helping me in. He then gets in the car himself, driving off to the ball. His sports car is no pumpkin carriage, but it will do for tonight.
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The Anderson Ball was everything I expected it to be. Everyone is rich and dressed to impress, the music - posh, and classy, as well as the buffet table. Xavier has not left my side since we have arrived. Even when talking to other business men and women, I am with him, being introduced to everyone - including his mother, Claudia Bright.
"Mother, I would like you to meet Ziayn Xu, the new interior designer at Lighthouse Industries. Ziayn this is my mother Claudia Bright." Her eyes analyse me, taking in my appearance. Her eyes widen, as if she has remembered something, but says nothing. She slightly raises an eyebrow at me.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mrs Bright." I pluck up the courage to talk, holding out my hand for her to shake. She looks at it in disgust, and turns to her son.
"Xavier, why have you brought an employee to the Anderson Ball? Do you know how scandalous this looks? You should've come here with someone like Scarlett Jones!" Claudia tells Xavier, looking at me with pity in her eyes. She does not even know me, to compare me to Scarlett.
"Mother, Ziayn is not just an employee - she is my friend, and I don't regret asking her to the Ball. And stop talking about Scarlett, it is finished between us!" Xavier sternly scolds his mother. She rolls her eyes, then draws her attention to me.
"Don't even think about using my son for his wealth and company. God knows where you have come from, and I don't need you or anybody else ruining his reputation." She snarls at me, before walking away.
I don't think Claudia likes me.
"I am so sorry about that." Xavier begins. I just hold up my hand, and he stops talking.
"I just need some air." I simply say, walking towards the gardens. I take a stroll, processing the harsh words of Mrs Bright. She made me feel so small, and out of place. I instantly feel uncomfortable in this pretty dress, and I begin to wish I had brought a hair band to tie my hair up. I want to wipe the make up off, and go back to the one bedroom apartment in the village. Who was I kidding? I will never fit in at work, or in this big city, and I will never be able to forget about my past.
I find a bench, under an arch covered in red roses in a far corner of the gardens. Taking a seat, I breath in and out, trying to silence my anxiety. Five minutes in, and the tears start to flow, leaving a trail behind, messing up my makeup. A familiar scent of Xavier's cologne makes me look up to see him standing in front of me. He crouches down to my level, a gentle look in his eyes.
"You are too beautiful to cry." He whispers, wiping away the fallen tears. I try to crack a smile, but it does not turn out too well.
"I just want you to know that I don't think for a minute that you are trying to take my money. And I don't think of you as the poor girl, who had a rough start to life. I see you as a creative, talented young lady, who still manages to smile after the pain she went through." Xavier says, taking both of my hands into his. His words make my heart flutter.
"That means a lot to me Xavier. Thank you." I quietly say, wiping away more tears thanks to his kindhearted speech. He inches in closer and I do the same. Just like in the Sainsbury's car park, I want to smash my lips into his, and tell him that I want to be with him. Give him permission to do whatever he wants with me, but I can't. As long as he is my boss, I can't do any of those things. I sigh sadly, sitting back on the bench.
"I cannot kiss you Xavier. And as much as it would make me feel ten times better, it would be wrong." I confess, taking my hands out of his. He nods his head, a sad look on his face as well.
"I like you Ziayn, and I care about you. Don't think that I am using you." He tells me. Wait - he likes me? Xavier Bright like me?
"I know you are not using me. You have a good heart." I smile, as well as him. He takes a seat next to me, pulling me into a much needed hug. I don't want to let go of him. His presence makes me believe he won't hurt me, or leave me. That he won't just abandon me when he gets bored of me and my never ending problems.
"Do you want to get out of here? Because I would love to get out of this suit and into a tracksuit!" Xavier asks me and I nod my head. He takes my hand, navigating me back to his car, trying to hide from the flashing cameras and upper class. He starts the engine, as I put my seatbelt on. He is about to drive, until he catches the stern look on my face, telling him to put his seatbelt on. He gives in, clicking it into place before finally driving to his home.
YOU ARE READING
Don't Hurt Me
Romance"If this is just a game to you then leave!" "This is no game baby girl. This is the real deal." Ziayn Xu is a twenty two year old woman who has been looking after herself and her little sister ever since they were left outside an orphanage by their...
