“Charlotte you heard the hostess,” I said patiently “and besides who cares? We’re here, we can have a nice dinner together, as a couple, without having to hide. With luck, I can persuade Flair to sign those papers and maybe even file them before the engagement party. Can’t you just relax a little bit and try to have a good time?”
She sniffed and picked up the menu, eyeing it with disdain. “This is supposed to be a five-star restaurant and it’s only just opened,” she said with a scowl “I don’t understand how the VIP room was already taken.”
I felt myself becoming slightly frustrated with her. “Forget about the VIP room,” I said impatiently “how about we order and maybe some food will put you in a better mood?”
She glowered at me. “Urgh” she complained, looking at the back and creasing a brow “they have vegetarian and vegan dishes. Why?”
My lip twitched. Something Flair would have appreciated. The thought came to me quickly and I dismissed it. I wasn’t with Flair anymore, but sometimes the most random thoughts would come to me without even trying. Charlotte looked disgusted and then turned the menu back around, just as a waiter came walking up, a wide smile on his face.
“Hello beautiful lady” he greeted Charlotte, whose lips thankfully curled into a smile at the compliment “I am here to take your order. What would you like to eat, you ravishing creature?” he teased, making her giggle and flip her hair in a flirty manner.
“I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad minus the croutons and dressing,” she said demurely as the waiter scribbled it down.
The waiter turned to me expectantly “I’ll have the chicken parmigiana and Thai salad” I said eagerly.
I was starving. The waiter scribbled it down. “Anything particular to drink?” he asked, peering at Charlotte like a starving man while I glared at him.
Charlotte smirked at me. “I’ll have a diet soda. I need to watch my weight” she said as the waiter shook his head at her.
“A bourbon,” I said grumpily.
I might as well have a few drinks. The waiter was flirting with Charlotte and she was letting him. It was an insult. Then Charlotte winked at me and leaned forward, exposing her cleavage as the waiter practically drooled.
“So Franco,” she said, looking at his name tag and running a finger down the side of her breasts “you wouldn’t happen to know who is in the next room would you? I mean, is it some kind of celebrity or…” she trailed off, the waiter’s eyes widening.
“Oh, I’m not sure Miss,” he said regretfully “All I know is that it’s an important billionaire and his date. A very pretty woman” which made Charlotte look disgruntled.
“Thanks,” she said tightly.
He nodded and took his clipboard, heading downstairs to put our orders in.
“Let’s just have a good time Charlotte” I coaxed as she slumped in her chair, her arms folded across her chest “Don’t you enjoy spending time together?”
She sighed. “I guess” she mumbled “at least the engagement party can’t be ruined” she added with some satisfaction, sitting back up, her face beginning to glow, “providing you’re actually divorced by then.”
“Trust me, everything is going to be fine,” I said with more confidence than I actually felt.
She eyed me moodily. I poured her some wine and she sipped. “What about the ring Johnathon?” she said glancing at me “You haven’t bought that yet, have you?”
I coughed “I’m getting there. I have plans.”
Yes, plans. Karen had mentioned that Charlotte had been eyeing a ring that belonged to her grandfather’s wife. I had hoped to persuade him to part with it for Charlotte’s engagement ring. Apparently, it was a valuable black diamond and had been designed by her great-grandfather himself or was even older having been in the family for generations. According to Karen, nothing else would do for Charlotte.
Grayson POV
She was even more beautiful than I remembered. Elegant, classy, down to earth, and fantastic company. It was refreshing. I hadn’t laughed so much in such a long time. Flair was a breath of fresh air. I was enjoying the date immensely, even as I knew that I would have to put forward my proposal, the time drawing near, and I sensed the mood changing, Flair’s eyes shining bright as she looked at me. Out of instinct, I grabbed her hand, surprising her, although her gaze was warm and there was a wide smile on her face.
“I must admit that I had an ulterior motive for asking you out on a date tonight Miss Flair” I drawled, causing her to look at me uncertainly “and although it may come as a shock to you, I’m hoping that you might give it some serious consideration.”
She looked confused. “I’m sorry, maybe you could be more specific Mr Grayson?” she asked.
“Please, just Grayson, and allow me to explain. I’m well aware of your upcoming divorce to Johnathon Rourkes” I explained as she nodded tightly, her finger circling her goblet nervously “and I’m also aware of his affair with Charlotte Deluca.”
“It’s no secret thanks to the gossip magazines,” she said bitterly.
I inclined my head “That is correct” I said wryly, “but have you ever considered the possibility of marriage again Miss Flair?” I asked her as she turned pale, her body going stiff as she looked at me in shock.
“After being cheated on?” she said incredulously and I held a hand up, my eyes narrowing.
“Please, hear me out,” I said quietly, my tone authoritative. “I require a wife, Miss Flair,” I said as she nibbled on her lower lip “sooner rather than later. It is a stipulation that my grandfather has made, a condition, in order to get my hands on my family’s company. You see if my half-sister gets married before me and produces an heir, I lose all claim to it, but if I marry and produce an heir then…” I trailed off as realization dawned on her face.
“You get the company,” she said in a low whisper “but why would you think I would want to get married to you, just like that?” she asked, still sounding incredulous, a look of disbelief on her face.
“Let me start by saying this. First of all, I am attracted to you Miss Flair, something which I deem important to any marriage. Second of all, My real name is not Grayson Oakes, it is just a name I prefer to go by, in order to keep my identity secret.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.