Chapter 41
Chapter 41
I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize that someone else is in the room with me until they clear their throat. I turn around and am shocked at the man who stands before me. I never expected to see him again… and never in my dreams did I think he would be the man I was meeting tonight. Of course I had hoped to see him again, but never thought it would actually happen. I knew the chances of our paths crossing would be very slim. When he stepped out of the car to personally apologize for soaking me, I knew the moment I saw him that I would never see him. I could even then that we were from two different worlds. I always hoped that sometime we would run into each other again, but I wouldn’t have thought of him needing a service like this.
“Umm…. hi,” I nervously walk towards him, praying I don’t trip over my own feet as my legs suddenly seem weak.
“It’s nice to see you again Miss…?”
“Mackenzie… well Kenzie. It’s nice to see you again…?”
“Nicholas,” he shakes my offered hand. The moment our fingers touch, a jolt of electricity goes through me, almost like static electricity but stronger. The look in his eyes tells me he felt it too.
“Would you like to have a seat?” he gestures me to the table behind me.
“I… I want to thank you again for paying for a new outfit—“ I nervously begin.
“Don’t… it was the least I could do,” he interrupts.
“I’m not sure… how this works exactly. I’ve never done this before,” I admit after an awkward moment of silence.
“Neither do I,” he chuckles. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
“Okay,” I take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves. “I currently work at a bakery in the mornings and for now as a personal shopper in the evening.”
“Did you grow up in New York?”
“No, I’ve lived here for the past two years.”
“Where did you grow up?”
“On the west coast; how about you? Did you grow up in New
York?”
“I was born in New Jersey, but I’ve lived in New York most of my life.”
“What is it you do?”
“You don’t know?”
“Should I?”
“I guess not,” he chuckles. “I’m often recognized from the tabloids stories, so I just assumed… Reporters love to try to destroy me whenever they can.”
“Sorry, I can’t say I read many tabloids.”
“I’m the CEO of Parker Financial Services, PFS for short. We are one of the largest companies in the investment and financial management world. We offer not only investment services but financial advice to large businesses seeking to grow or are struggling where they currently are.”
“Why would the tabloids have an issue with that?”
“The business articles written about me are typically very on point with what my company does. The tabloids though like to destroy my personal life. I’m sure you will see the articles if you google me and then you’ll know what I’m talking about. That’s one of the reasons I’m actually meeting you tonight.”
“What exactly are you looking for? I mean, I know what your profile told me but… ”
“I need someone by my side at events, dinners and probably even just an occasional date to keep the reporters off my ass. Apparently being seen without a date, or with various women at different events, is a sign of my inability to manage the hundreds of people that I currently employ. I’ve tried everything and my PR department can’t think of anything that we haven’t tried to throw them off. I don’t know if Bridget explained, but I’m going to need someone to sign an exclusivity contract meaning—“
“She explained. I can’t accept dates with other men.”
“Exactly. I need the media to think we are a couple so they get off my ass and let me focus on my business.”
“I understand.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you doing this? I mean, clearly in my situation I have a problem and this is a perfect solution. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s in it for you?”
“If I can be honest, it was a hard offer to not consider. As I said, I currently work two jobs most days of the week but despite that, I barely make enough money to pay my bills. I would love to go back to school one day but I don’t want to take out more student loans and live in debt the rest of my life. There are other things I want to do and Bridget’s offer seemed like a good way to earn enough money to do those things.”
“I see.”
“Sir, ma’am, your dinner,” the waiter places large plates in front of both of us. My mouth waters just at the smell alone.
“Bridget must have ordered for us, if you’d prefer something else we can send it back,” Nicholas offers.
“No, it’s fine. It smells delicious.”
We spend the next hour slowly getting to know each other over dinner; the initial awkwardness is now gone. I learn that Nicholas lives and works in Manhattan but that work takes up most of his time. From the sound of it he often works as many hours as I do when I work both my jobs. He is honest in saying that he doesn’t have time to date woman and is not interested in dating at this point of his life because he knows he doesn’t have the time. He describes recent events that he has been to, I think to let me know what I can expect if we decide to move forward with this arrangement. Nothing he says about the events raise a concern for me; it sounds a very similar to things I used to attend with him.
“Kenzie, I want you to know that sometimes these events can be rather boring. It’s a lot of business discussions, contracts being negotiated and spreadsheets are being reviewed. It’s not going to be fun—“
“Nicholas, I… I have an idea of what to expect. I… I’ve been to these types of things before.”
“Oh?”
“I can mingle with guests and will not require your undivided attention. I understand that your focus is on these events and not on the company you’re with. It’s fine.”
“They won’t all be like that,” he quickly explains. “Sometimes these events are just social events that I need to make an appearance at. A charity fundraiser, a hospital dedication or a park unveiling—those types of events would probably be more enjoyable. Of course I still find them to be a waste of my time, but I’m obligated to attend. The food is usually half way decent, sometimes there’s dancing and there’s always good drinks.”
“It’s fine, really.”
“I’m going to speak with Bridget tonight, Kenzie, but I want you to know that I’m going to tell her that I would like an exclusivity agreement with you. I wanted to let you know now so you an opportunity to think about it. If you agree, I have a charity event this weekend I would like you to accompany me.”
“I…”
“Take the time you need tonight to think about it, I’m sure Bridget will call you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I walk you to your car?” he asks as we ride the elevator to the main floor. Carter joined us as soon as we left the private dining room. I’ve confirmed that Carter is not only his driver but his bodyguard as well.
“Oh… I didn’t… I took the subway here. There’s a stop a couple of blocks away.”
“Carter will take you home—“
“No! I mean, that won’t be necessary. The subway is fine, I take it often and know the stops and transfers to get home.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, I forgot that part,” he nods at Carter who immediately flags down a cab. “The cab will take you wherever you need to go.”
“Nicholas, that’s not—“
“Please, I can’t let you get on the subway at this hour of the night. Please, let the cab take you home. I won’t know where you live, but will at least know that you arrived there safely.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that.”
“Good night, Kenzie,” he whispers as he pecks me ever so lightly on the cheek.
“Night, Nicholas.”