Beautiful Disaster (Complete)

8. His Perfect Date

Chapter 8. His Perfect Date

    Ace was staring at her while swearing inside his heart—stunned by her looks after she turned her back to face him. 

She shouldn’t wear such clothes, especially in this kind of lighting. —Ace thought inside while looking at her standing there, in her simple dress and yet exposing her curves perfectly.

“Fine.” Leanne briefly said.

She needed to avoid every chance of being together with Ace in one room. Moreover when Ace himself, was looking too handsome in his casual black suit with his few unbuttoned white-shirt near his chest. The look that would make her easily swept off her feet—she gulped, spontaneously.

Leanne gave one last rub to One’s head and say, “Sorry.” She walked to leave the room and about to pass him by when he caught her arm. His palm made Leanne felt a light burning sensation on her skin.

“In case I forgot to say it later... Thank you for arranging everything.” He said.

Deep down Ace realized that he didn’t even mean to say thank you to her. He just wanted to keep her close for a little bit more, he didn’t know why. Maybe it’s because of her big beautiful eyes, or her full lips?

Leanne froze for a second before answering, “Sure... It’s my job.” She slightly fluttered.

“Are you still mad at me because of our last conversation?” Ace asked, still sensing her cold behavior. –And her perfume. His body stretched, spontaneously.

The right word is ‘accusation’, and it's not even a conversation to be exact.—she thought inside, but then again, Leanne couldn’t decide which was bothering her more, his accusation before, or his date. She just couldn’t involve with him, she had to push him away and never give herself any slight chance to be emotionally involved.

Leanne slightly raised her chin. “You know, I really can’t decide how to respond to any of your actions toward me—either you hate me, or—” Leanne hadn’t finished talking when Ace’s cut in.

“I don’t HATE you.” He emphasized. “I—just.. don’t trust.. easily.”

Leanne didn’t see it coming. She could handle bad attitudes from people, or when people treat her badly. But now he’s being nice by open up a little to her, moreover to hear the word ‘trust’— when she’s the one who’s shouldn’t be trusted.

She couldn’t help herself to look down at the floor. Ace noticed this before Leanne looked at him at once after buried her guilty feeling away.

“.. to answer your question, - - you don’t need to worry about my feelings, Mr. Ace. My emotion is not significant, and it will not affect any of my work here.”

Their eyes locked on each other for a while, before Ace break the silence.

“Just Ace, please. Still... If I have offended you in any way in our last conversation, I apologize.”

Leanne opened her mouth intended to speak, before inhaling in silence, didn’t know what to say. At the same time, Calvin came into the dining room along with a very beautiful, brunet lady.

“Look who I found on my way in, at the door?” said Calvin.

Ace moved his hand from Leanne’s arm in reflex and greeted his date from where he’s standing. “June... you made it.”

“Yeah,-- “ she smiled and hesitated for a second, “—You don’t expect that I would come..?”

June Palmer was a very beautiful woman, even Leanne admitting her beauty right away. Everyone who’s seen her would notice both her pretty face and elegance, from the first time.

But why her presence doesn’t take my breath away, the way Leanne makes me feel?—Ace noticed inside.

“-- .. No... it’s not that—” Okay, I might make the wrong impression here.

“ Nonsense! He’s been waiting for this night, June! I think he’s just nervous.” Said Calvin, cutting in, makes June shyly chuckled.

“Great.” Ace nervously smiled while running his hair with his fingers. He felt like he was forced into the blind date, even though that was not a blind date nor the first date either. He wouldn’t feel that way if he’s with someone he wants, would he? Ace unintentionally took a glance at Leanne, who’s still standing with an emotionless look on her face.

Leanne wanted to leave the room, but she had to stay in case Calvin needs something. Considering she was the housekeeper, it will be rude of her to leave the room.

“Please, take a seat! I’m going to clean up for a while.” Calvin said, followed by Ace pulling one chair for June to take a seat.

“You guys can start ahead—I won’t mind. Just asks my Leanne—“ Ace glared at Calvin in reflex, thought he might hear wrong. “—I meant, my assistant, Leanne, if you guys need anything at all.” Calvin corrected his words before leaving the room.

June's eyes were on Leanne when Calvin mentioned her name.

“At your service.” Leanne greeted briefly while nodded in her courtesy. June gave her a warm smile and kindly greeted her back with a simple hi.

Leanne then opened up some champagne, and pour it into the two wine glasses in front of June and Ace. The two of them started a small talk, but Ace’s mind never left Leanne, even though his attention was with June. He even wondered inside, what’s Leanne thinking about this date.—Would she be jealous? Why is she holding back the last time we spoke? Damn it, I must be getting crazy!

“I’m going to give you both some time, just call me if you need anything.” Said Leanne, woke him from his thought. Leanne then leaves the room, she crossed on the grass in the pool’s area to reach the kitchen.

She didn’t give her mind, a slight thought of Ace, his perfect date, or the whole date. She just couldn’t. And she got the perfect getaway for that kind of distraction, her job.

After Leanne informed Linda that the dinner was about to start, Leanne went to Cheryl’s room to call both Cheryl and Sam—who’s also her co-worker. Leanne asked Linda and Sam to waitress the events in shifts, while she prepared the whole menu in the kitchen.

“I apologize for my wife’s absence, tonight, June.” Said Calvin. The four of them are enjoying the appetizer course; creamy mushroom soup, with garlic bread, and salad.

“Oh, that’s fine.. don’t worry about it..” June replied.

“How do you guys meet?”. The question from Calvin made Jane’s cheek blush. As for Ace, he looked at his brother’s face with his look that says ’you-really-had-to-asks-that-right-now-did-you”. If Ace didn’t know better, he’d thought that his brother is more excited about this date than him.

“I was injured pretty bad one day, and she was the doctor on duty in the E.R.” Ace explained. –Of course, their story will be re-told to Leanne, since her co-workers heard the conversation.

“Aunty Jane is a doctor?!” Cheryl gasped, she’s instantly imagined needles and medicines.

Looking at her tensed look, June smiled and soothing her. “Yes, but I left all my gears at the hospital.” Hearing her words, Cheryl exhaled in relief, makes everyone in the room smile.

Linda was standing by at the corner of the room, and when Sam comes inside the room with the main course, Linda helped her to serve. The main course was steaks with chosen side dish, and the special menu for Cheryl was fish and chips.

The moment the plate was served, Cheryl moved slides all the veggies to the edge of her plate.

“Eat your greens, babe.” Said Calvin.

“I don’t want it!”

“If you want to be strong like your uncle Ace here, you have to eat your veggies.” Said June, trying to persuade her too. “Besides, by eating your green, you’ll be healthier, and the less you need to see a doctor.” She added with smiles.

“I agree with that, not to mention this broccoli are delicious!” said Ace while took a big chunk of broccoli to his mouth.

Cheryl was chuckling a little but she still refused to eat her veggies.

“Come on, honey.” Calvin still tried to persuade her, but she shook her head while her eyes turned glassy. Calvin looked at Linda and gave her a gesture with his head to get Leanne.