“Wakie, wakie, Sleepyhead. It's almost noon.” A deep baritone whispered into my ears and I recognized it to be Damien's. I scrunched up my face, what did he want now?
He gently tugged at my arm again but I shrugged him off and turned onto my side. What the hell did he want from me? I fumed inwardly, An apology won't be needed anyways, last night was the most awkward date in the history of dating and now, he thought a new day would change all of that?
I heard him sigh deeply then the bed deepened beside me, I wanted to grunt loudly and scratch him like an aggrieved cat but I took a deep breath instead and kept my eyes shut. He made movements and before I could comprehend anything, the back of my head was placed on a silk material over something softer. The action forced my eyes open and I scanned my environment, my head was on his thigh and he had this stupid grin on his face.
I lifted my head off his thigh and eyed him, “What's the meaning of this?” Making a hand gesture that portrayed what I felt - disgust. He chuckled then gently got my head back on his thighs, taking up a chunk of my hair in his hands and playing with them.
“I know you're mad at me. You expected a fun dinner and I ruined it with the talk of my ex-wife.” He breathed out and I felt a little soothed by the guilt he'd been feeling since the previous night in contrast to the anger I felt.
Silence.
He cleared his throat as his fingers still worked through my hair as gently as they would for a five-year-old. “You won't respond?” I guess he'd cocked a naughty brow. Sheesh! How arrogant Mr Billionaire but I won't just jump into forgiveness until you do more.
“I'll do the talking then but I won't leave for the official meeting scheduled for this morning that might make me lose a few million until you turn and face me with a hearty smile.” I groaned inwardly, even though that had come out from the mouth of a selfish human, I knew I didn't want him to lose any money.
Without looking up at him, I asked. “When's the meeting? Can it be postponed?”
His fingers paused their work and he clapped in glee, “Whoohooo! That's progress. My secretary said it's in an hour and 30 minutes time and my office is a 45-minute drive. It can be postponed but that might cancel the deal. I've been postponing since the morning after you'd been in the rain.” He explained like a little boy giving his mother details in order to avoid punishment. Gosh! He even tweaked his voice to sound louder and more childish.
He knew he was pulling the right strings. How he knew me so well, I couldn't understand but I swallowed my long string of words and propped my head up in a quick motion which evaded any resistance his reflex would've caused. Facing him, I did a perfectly wide smile and stated firmly, “We can continue this convo in your car and after your meeting because you sure won't get a real smile easily after yesterday's episode.”
I jumped off the bed and onto my floor mat. Turning my head to him again, I registered his look if appreciation and confusion before saying, “Give me ten minutes to get into better-looking clothes or would you want me following you around in this garbled look?” I cocked my head to the side and he chuckled calmly before responding.
“Actually, it'd be a sin to assume you as not presentable but your call. Wear fresh clothes if need be.” Don't throw those lines now, Mr Billionaire! I screamed in my head before the girly part of me started to melt. I shot him a glare, maintaining my stance that we weren't in good terms then waltzed off into the bathroom.
Immediately I strutted out of the closet, he looked at his clock with a stark expression on his face. “It's twelve minutes, Mrs Sophia. Not so perfect, are you?” I grunted, wishing I could wipe that mischievous but triumphant grin on his face and set his cocked eyebrow in its place.
“And that's say, an hour and 18 minutes to your meeting, am I right?” My wish was granted and it was my time to show triumph with my lips and eyebrows but instead, I grabbed my milk-colored coat and headed for the door.
Damien followed me quickly but I paused with my finger wrapped around the door knob, “Who's the mature one now, Mr Billionaire?” His mouth formed words but I didn't let them, I bobbed my head toward the place where my handbag was set on the stool. “Grab my bag, I'll be in the…” I slammed the door shut. “Car.”
“That was fast.” He commented as soon as his butt sank into the comfy seat in the car. He motioned to the driver to start the ride as one of his bodyguards shut the door after him. I didn't spare him a glance but shivered when the cold steel in the handle of my handbag came in contact with my skin.
“Sorry!” He rang out and I shot him a devilish glare. “Whoa! Slow down. If you had looked my way, you'd not have let the steel touch you.” He said, starkly and I scoffed.
“Who told you that?” I adjusted my coat properly to cover myself in order to avoid shivering from the cold air blown by the air conditioner. The weather wasn't any brighter today than it had been for months how then did he let himself stay in a temperature akin to that of a refrigerator? This man was immortal, I'm sure.
“Do you want the air conditioner to be reduced?” He asked when he noticed how I clung to my coat. This wasn't the car he'd had brought me on the day of the rain incident neither was it the one we'd used yesterday and all had cooling temperatures but not freezing.
“You'd rather freeze to death than respond to me? Okay then.” He intoned and focused his eyes on the iPad screen in front of him.
“My ideal scenario of a date is more high school nerdy girl slash bad boy standard than the high-class restaurant kinda thing.” I started in a snappy tone and that drew his eyes back to my shivering self.
He pressed a button in a small remote and the temperature went back to neutral. I took deep breaths to warm up my insides then readjusted my coat to how it's supposed to be worn and nodded my head appreciatively.
He turned to me with eyes sparkling with interest and curiosity “Paint that scenario for me then.” He asked with a lazy smile.