DANCING WITH A BILLIONAIRE

ChapterTwo

CHAPTER 2

Eloise bowed her head in shame as she made her way to the kitchen. Her face was so red with embarrassment she couldn't even look her mom in the face. She was still finding it difficult to process whatever the hell happened earlier.

"Mi niña are you done already? That was quick?" her mom looked astonished to see her back so soon.

"No mamá, actually… "

"Mama Garcia!" Steve interrupted before Eloise could complete her sentence, frightening both her and her mom.

"Steve?! But how? They said you're not supposed to be back until a few hours later" The older woman made the sign of the cross to restore her spirit to her body.

"I knew you'd be planning a surprise for me so I decided to return the favor" he breezed past Eloise then bent to hug her mother. It was then that the woman noticed the sleeve tattoos on both his arms; he did not have those when he left home.

"Oh God Steve what are these? You know your papá would be mad when he sees this?"

"That's the idea" he smirked. Steve was always like that - his father's nemesis. Whatever his father didn't like that's exactly what he did.

Steve was his father's son but he just didn't know it. Not only did they look alike, they acted alike as well. They were both stubborn - unyielding; neither willing to bend the knee for the other. They both never liked to be told what to do and that was exactly how Mrs. Bennet always got them to do exactly what she wanted. Whatever she wanted, she would tell them to do the opposite, and like puppets, they would come around to what she wanted. If only his father knew this technique, they would've gotten along well; but no, Mr. Bennet would rather swallow a packet of nails than tell Steve nicely to do something.

Another person who knew how to play Steve's chord was, of course, Mrs. Garcia. Even though he was a handful sometimes, he respected her a lot. She was basically his second mom. It was only her, and his mother that could bring out the boyish innocence in him.

"Chico please don't be end of your papá." She reached for his face and pinched his cheek. "With that said, please give me a hand here let me finish this. I need all the help I can get" She handed him a rolling pin to flatten the flour she was working on then went to check on the pots that were on the stove.

Eloise felt extremely uncomfortable being in the same space as Steve so soon - she couldn't even lift her face to look at him. If she could run away, she would've done it that instant but that would just make things weirder than it already was. And it also didn't help matters that he was wearing only shorts. Just what the hell was his problem? He just got back and he was already tormenting her.

"Hey, I didn't see you when I got out" he whispered as if he could hear her thoughts. He still had that annoying smirk that she wished she could just reach and rub off his face.

"What's that supposed to mean" she glared at him instead.

"Well, I don't know, you entered my room without knocking, and then you still came to my bathroom and wouldn't stop staring at me? Seemed like you needed my attention"

"Oh please shut up Steve. First of all eww. Second, that's not even what happened. You were not supposed to be in there"

"What do you mean I wasn't supposed to be there? Isn't it my room?" he chuckled

"No that's not what I mean, urgh! You're so annoying" Eloise huffed still glaring at him. The redness on her face now was a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She wanted to say something more to defend herself before her mom interrupted

"Steve dear? Now that you're back, would you be going back to work?"

"Yes, mama. Not like I get to decide" The last part wasn't directed at her

"Alright, do you think there's a way we could fit Eloise into your company?"

"Mamá?!" Eloise shrieked

"What? If you don't want to do it then let me do it for you"

"Well, you're in luck. I will be needing a PA so if you're interested you can send me an email" he smiled

"Thank you so much, Steve. Thanks for looking out for your friend"

"We're not friends" Eloise was quick to clarify. If she had lasers for eyes, Steve would've had another burn by now. The rest of the cooking process continued like this. Steve makes insensitive remarks and picks on her, and she fumes in silence.

It was around evening before the Bennetts came back home. Eloise and her mom rounded up with their work and served them dinner before they left. They had barely gone but Steve was already missing their company. He was free around them but with his dad present now, even the air in the dining room felt stiff. Their interactions so far had been civil; his father had even refused to take the bait and say something about his new ink - good for him he smiled; but how long until this thin wall of respect between them collapses and all hell breaks loose as usual. Maybe not so long he could feel it soon as his father cleared his throat.

"It's a good thing you're back Steve, because your mother and I have been talking about something." he began but his wife cut him short

"Honey. Not now" She censured through clenched teeth "We're eating. Let the boy eat"

"Well what's the difference if I tell him now or later"

"I said, not now. Honey"

"Mom it's fine let him speak" Steve was curious to know what was so important that it couldn't wait till after dinner.

"As I was saying boy, it's a good thing you're back. And now, it's time for you to take on some responsibilities in the company. There's a new deal coming for the Group and it's going to be a game changer. We want to acquire Mr. Baker's company but for the deal to push through you'd have to marry Sophie, his daughter. I believe that shouldn't be a problem for you since you are friends with Sophie" his dad laid the matter before him - finally there it was.

"Is that all Dad?" he asked and his father nodded in confirmation. "Okay, I've heard you. I'm not doing it" he said and continued to eat his food as if nothing happened. This was typical Steve, and as usual, his father couldn’t believe that he was disobeying him

"What did you just say?" his voice was rough

"Dad, I said I'm not doing it. Enjoy your meal" he dumped his napkin on the table and stormed out of the dining room. He could still hear his dad ranting to his mother but he didn't care.

Eloise was in her room getting ready for bed but she couldn't sleep. She had a lot on her mind and needed a way to solve them. There was the issue with her dad's bar, her still not on talking terms with her boyfriend Ron, and then the issue of whether to send Steve the mail or not. Recently her relationship with Ron had had major setbacks and they were mostly her fault, but she needed him to apologize to her. One of her flaws was not knowing how to say sorry when she was wrong and Ron knew this; he always did it for her instead, but he was taking too long to do it this time and it was killing her. If not that other things were taking her attention, by now she would've swallowed her pride and apologized like any normal person should. Whatever, sooner or later he would come around she knew this so she shoved it out of her mind, and went over her next problem - her dad's bar. Her mom had a point on that one; maybe if she found a way to fix herself into the Bennetts Group she would be earning just enough to pay the deposit for the mortgage debt. Coming to that conclusion, she hit send on the mail she had written earlier and went to bed. Tomorrow if it all went well, she would be entering a new stage in her life