Painting

Chapter 17

We arrive in front of seems to be their building.

It is. Victor stops in front of the gate and enters a code. The doors of the underground parking open. We go in and he parks his car. We get out. We walk to the elevator. We go in. He pushes the button of one of the highest floors.

He looks so confident and shy at the same time. He stands up straight but he looks at the ground a lot. This is a bit confusing.

He's wearing a plain black tee-shirt, just like me and a blue jean. On his wrist there's a beautiful watch. A watch that looks expensive for someone who works at publishing house. It must be a popular one. He smells good too, he is wearing perfume. A really nice one.

Why am I so warm? Is he getting closer? I can almost hear my heart pounding in my chest. Is my breathing too noisy?

He gives me furtive glances again. He must think I'm weird.

Wait...

His hand, it's like he's trying discreetly to take mine. Should I allow myself to fall for that? Now he is looking directly at me.

-Your hand is cold.

I realize that he is holding it firmly. My cheeks are blushing. He is trying to warm me up even more. He takes my other hand.

-I should have put the heater on in the car.

-The car ride was okay, it's the time we passed outside of the elevator.

-Okay, but we have to get your hands warmer or Tyler is going to think I didn't pay enough attention to you.

He takes my two hands and puts them together. He pulls me a bit closer and puts my hands closer to his chest.

-Is this okay?

I nod my head and I can feel my cheeks getting warmer than ever before. This is new for me, no one ever warmed my hands like that before. What am I suppose to do? Thank him? Do something to warm him up too? I mean, I could get closer, not too much.

I make one step and he makes one too.

Gosh... He's warm. Why is this so weird? I mean, we slept in the same bed, close to each other and now when I'm awake, I'm shy. Maybe it was easier, because we were sleeping and it was dark so we couldn't see each other's face. Yes, I think that's it.

He takes my hand and kisses it. It took me by surprise. I open my mouth, about to say something, but I can't.

-I'm sorry, I've always wanted to do that.

I decide to just go along. How bad could it be?

-It's okay, it's pretty charming... mister.

The doors of the elevator open up.

-Well, mademoiselle, shall we?

-Je vous suit, monsieur.

My french accent isn't as good as his. I hope he understood. He smiles. He keeps my hand in his. We walk out of the elevator. I smile uncontrollably. I bite my lip to make it stop, but it only makes it worse. He turns his head to me. He is smiling too. We stop in front of the door. A white door with a golden ornament on it.

This door only, reminds me of all the romance books I read. The charming man takes the beautiful girl in his home and they talk all night, they get to know each other better. Then follows a beautiful love story.

Obviously, there are a few differences between that situation and what is happening now. First, I'm not beautiful or that's what I think. Second, I don't think any of them will fall in love with me. I'm too broken. I don't think anyone would want me like that.

Victor lets go of my hand and opens the little keyboard. He enters a code and the door unlocks. He opens it up.