“Your place or mine?” He asked, stopping before they went too far.
“Yours.” She suggested, not wanting to bring Marcus to Dani’s apartment.
She was sure that after this fake date, Dani would be home, sleeping early. She did not want to disturb her by bringing Marcus or any other guy into her apartment.
As Marcus started the car and moved it in the direction of his apartment, she could not help but think of her friend. “What could they be doing right now?” She mused loudly. Thinking of the two who were not exactly out on a date.
Sitting across from him, alone in his apartment, was a little unnerving. Although she had many suitors before, she only had one real relationship and that was with Nick. She still believed that her experience with a man was still lacking.
The only other time that she was with another man was with him. Although she would not count it as an experience, rather if anything, she believed it was a mistake that she should not have done. But she was drunk then and heartbroken, that was always her excuse.
She still believed that she was inexperienced with the way of the world, especially when it involved the opposite sex and intimacy. In truth, she was afraid of the way her body was reacting to his mere nearness. She just did not know what she should do in a time like this.
“What made you decide to become a lawyer?” He asked her as they enjoyed their meal. A casual conversation should ease up the tension that was still present in the air. He sensed that she was a bit uncomfortable, although she was trying hard to hide it from him.
He was also genuinely interested to know all about her. Most of the young people he knew and grew up with, who were born with a silver spoon would not care to have a career. They were contented to wait for their inheritance.
Having a family that they could depend on, they felt that there was no need to work hard for more. The only thing that they prepared for was to run the family businesses that they were bound to inherit from their parents.
“My uncle is a great lawyer. I grew up under his supervision. Studying Corporate Law was supposed to prepare me when it was time for me to take over my father’s business.” She stopped remembering how she prepared for her future.
There was a time that all she could think about was making her father proud. Getting good grades, academic excellence awards, and graduating on top of her class. She could not wait to work for her father and proved to him that she deserved a seat on his table.
“What changed? Why did you end up in another law firm, instead of working for your father?” This was one of the questions he was wondering about when he read her profile.
Knowing about how successful his father was and the amount of wealth he had acquired, she did not need to work a day in her life if she would wish to. But instead, she was slaving away in a crappy firm, with a puny salary and devoting her life in her pro bono cases.
Then, he also learned that she was not taking any allowance from his father. Living with the small amount she earned. She only upgraded her lifestyle recently when she transferred to his friends’ law firm. That was the most luxury she ever allowed herself to have.
“I discovered that there was more to life than running a business. With my degree, I know I can help more people who were deprived of justice.” That was one of her reasons. But she was not about to tell him of her other reasons why she changed her career path.
“I admire people who worked for the interest of others. You are a rare find.” He looked up from his plate and stared at her face.
“You make me sound like a saint. I am not. I just could not turn a blind eye to the injustice if there was something that I can do about it.” She pointed out to him. A bit intimidated by his stare. It felt like he was boring into her soul. Trying to read what she was thinking and feeling.
“Still, what you are doing is still admirable.” He extended his hand on the table and touched hers. Giving it a slight squeeze.
“What about you? I had answered your question, why don’t you tell me something that was not in your public profile.” She challenged him, subtlety pulling her hand away from him. Diverting the topic away from her.
She did not like the way his small touch affected her. She could still feel the electric current that went through her body. Making her excited all over.
It was only fair that she also knew some things about him. Some personal things that only a few people might know about him. This was not for her personal interest, she reminded herself. This was for the charade they were performing on his birthday for his family.
“Fair enough. Just like you, I was sent here to study and train, so that I can also take over our family business. But, as I said before, I fell in love with the life in this country, in this city in particular.” He started telling her.
“When I graduated and returned home, I felt something was missing in my life. I was never the same again. I knew then that my life is here.” He could still remember the anger of his father when he told him that he wanted another life. A life away from their home.
His father was ready to disown him if he ever left, but his father could not do it. He was his father’s only son and only heir. His father said that he was willing to wait until he realized that his place was back on his family, and took his responsibility to the Empire.
“Are you saying that you turned your back on your family just to start a new life here?” She asked incredulously. She was not expecting that from him. But it did explain some of the missing pieces in his background.
“Yes, that is what I am saying. I took what my grandmother left me and started to buy a small company. With the help of Marcus and some friends, I was able to make it successful and the rest is what you would call history.” He explained as he finished his story.
“Well, that sounded like a story in a fairy tale book.” She jokingly said as they continued to finish their meal.
“What about dessert? Are you up for it? We can continue telling our fairy tale story on the balcony.” He was now the one daring her to take up his offer.
“Sure, why not? If you must know, I have a very sweet tooth.” She loved anything that involves food, and that would include a little indulgence on the sweet delights.
“Ok. What have you prepared for dessert?” She asked as she stood from the table as they finished their meal. She tried to help him in the kitchen, placing the dirty dishes on the kitchen sink. But when she tried to wash the dishes, he stopped her.
“It’s a surprise. But let me handle the cleaning. As my guest, I want you to wait for me on the balcony. I will serve our dessert shortly.” He shooed her away from the kitchen.
“Fine. But I’m not your guest. I’m your fiance.” She teased him, giving him a seductive smile as she sashayed out of the kitchen. She did not like that he dismissed her as if she could not handle herself in the kitchen. So, she thought of teaching him a lesson.
Then, she suddenly realized the error of her ways. “What are you doing?” She mumbled silently to herself.
She could not think of why she even thought that flirting with him would teach him a lesson. On the contrary, she might be putting herself in a compromising position. She immediately chastised herself. She should not be giving him wrong signals.
She took her wine with her and continued to walk in the direction of the balcony. This was the first time she was inside this building and this apartment. She could see why the place cost a lot. The space of the apartment alone almost consumed the fourth of the entire floor. And this building is not small by any standard.
When she stepped out to the balcony, she was in awe of its beauty. She would not have thought of him as a plant lover. The flowers that were displayed around the place looked very well taken care of. She had never seen any of her male cousins or friends having a garden on their flats.
No wonder he wanted to show her this place. She was starting to feel relax already as she sat on the comfortable sofa on the side of the balcony with the view of the huge skyscrapers and the city lights.
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.
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