Chains Of Velvet

CHAPTER TWO

“Till we see pretty girl” Maverick waved at her as she gave Valeria his business card. He gave her a warm peck on her hand before she got out of the car.

Valeria had stood outside for some minutes, as she watched Maverick drive out of her house.

“Damn! He pecked my hands, Valeria shouted with so much excitement.

She would have been mistaken for having been hit by something with the way she'd shouted.

I can't wait to start working with Mr Maverick. Oh, Maverick, she said, in a bid to correct herself.

Finally, I think I've met my prince charming!

Valeria's phone beeped loudly; it was a message from a strange number as the contact wasn't saved in her phone; yet!

“Who could it be?” She thought to herself.

Picking up her phone, the message read - “Let's meet up by 7pm tonight, I'll send you the address soon.”

Seeming a bit confused, Valeria had wondered who it could have been. In less than seven seconds, the unknown number had sent the address.

“Hmmm, a random date with a stranger?” She wondered.

Being more inquisitive, she was about dialing the number to know who it was, not until another message had popped on her phone: Don't bother with the dress to wear, I'll be sending someone to deliver it to you. With love - Maverick.”

Feeling more calm now, Valeria let out a warm smile. She had gotten to know who the sender of the message was.

But, she seemed a little more concerned; how could he have possibly gotten her a dress? Did he know her body size?

These thoughts ran through Valeria's mind, but were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Who's that? " Please hold on, I'm coming,” Valeria said, as she put on her slippers. Her voice wasn't audible enough as she was upstairs in her room, while the knock was coming from downstairs.

Valeria rushed downstairs to check who was at the door. She had almost fallen, but was lucky enough to have held the old wooden rail, which already had cracks on it.

“I'm sorry for keeping you waiting.” She said, panting so fast.

“I was trying to…..”

“Good evening ma'am, I was asked to deliver this to you,” the voice sharply interrupted her of what she was trying to say.

“I'd be leaving now” he said as he handed her over the package, which was neatly wrapped.

“Thank you,” she said grinning.

The young man had left immediately after handing her the package; that was the only thing he was instructed to do.

“I wonder what's inside this box,” she fixed her eyes on it as she climbed the stairs.

As soon as she got into her room, she enthusiastically unwrapped it.

“Oh, it's such a beautiful red gown. I've only seen this gown in movies, I never could have imagined putting this on in my entire life. I love it so much, it's really nice.”

Trying to get a full glimpse of the red gown, Valeria's phone rang. She picked almost immediately.

“Do you like it?” The deep voice said on the other line of the phone.

She was really so full of excitement. Trying to hide her excitement, Valeria replied in a calm but appreciative tone - “Yes, I do. I not only like it, I lovveeeee it.”

She screamed excitedly over the phone as she hung her leg on the wall. At this point, she couldn't hide her excitement.

For Maverick, that was the kind of woman he loves, not those who feel so entitled and are never appreciative of anything at all.

If Maverick was secretly scoring Valeria, to fall in love with her, then she would score a nine over ten.

Maverick isn't really someone who wants perfection in a woman. For him, it's the little things that matter.

“I'm glad you do love it, Maverick replied.

“Don't worry about coming to meet me at the restaurant. I'd come pick you myself. " I wouldn't allow a pretty girl like you to stress yourself. " I want it all easy for you tonight,” he continued.

“And yes, the gown has some slits on it, so make sure it shows your cleavage. " I know they'll be just as fair and beautiful as your face is” he said, sounding so flirtatious.

Not responding to the last statement Maverick had just made, Valeria finally forced a word out of her mouth; “Okay, I'd see you then.”

She immediately hung the call.

“He's not even ashamed of himself," she said as she flung her phone on the bed.

She was lucky the phone hadn't fallen on the floor, because she wasn't going to get a new phone soon. She doesn't even earn much and her brother had just recently started working as a personal attorney to a billionaire, so, it'd really take some time before she gets a new phone.

“Well, not to bother myself so much, I can't wait to go out, at least eat some good food, she said, holding her tummy, and I'd also get to see his handsome face again," she said, putting her two hands on her jaw and smiling like someone who was about to be betrothed to the love of her life.

Even if it wasn't a betrothing, it was something close to it - going on a date with a billionaire.

And not just any kind of billionaire, the one who any girl would die to have, even if it meant sleeping with him!

****************************************

Valeria looked at herself in the mirror. Her mirror always reminds her of how beautiful she is. In addition to that, she is always getting compliments from people, most especially men.

Her hourglass figure was showing in the tight red gown.

The tightness of the gown didn't restrict her movement, it just exposed her curves and cleavages as Maverick had intended them to be.

In a bid to cover them, she let her hair down without styling it.

Maverick had given her everything she needed, to make her look gorgeous.

Maverick wanted her to look beautiful for him.

In addition to the red gown Maverick had gotten her, he bought her some jewelry, a shoe and every other accessory you could think of.

And, it just wasn't any kind of accessory - they were quite expensive. Of course, you wouldn't expect less from a billionaire.

“I think I'm done dressing up now” she said as she finally fixed her necklace.

The necklace had hooked to her gown. She gently removed it, so she didn't spoil the gown.

If she actually did, Maverick would have really been angry. Well, she'd thought so, probably because of how expensive the gown was. Maybe she wasn't right after all.

Putting her index finger in between her teeth, she said, “I think something seems so odd.”

She paused for a while and finally snapped her finger, “Oh, some makeup.”

Valeria is really such a simple girl, barely even putting on some lip gloss, but this seemed to have been an exception.

Was she trying to please Maverick or make him fall for her?

Valeria just applied some really mild makeup. She had only made her lips the most obvious thing on her face by applying a thick red seductive lipstick.

Tucking a strand of her blonde hair into her left ear, she whispered to herself, “Let's explore the world.”

What could Valeria have actually meant by that statement?

Valeria's phone had been ringing for a long while, but she didn't know because she'd put her phone on ‘Do not disturb’ mode.

Oh my goodness, seven missed calls, she shouted.

She quickly grabbed her purse to meet Maverick outside.

As soon as Valeria had gotten to the door, she put the rush on hold. Yes, she was quite sorry for not seeing Maverick's calls, but, maybe seeing her pretty face would help make him less annoyed.

“I'm really sorry for not picking up your calls. " My phone was in ‘Do not disturb' mode,” she tried explaining.

“It's fine, pretty, I understand you. No need for explanations.”

“You look absolutely gorgeous pretty" he said, holding her hand so tightly and kissing the back of it.”

Thank you, Valeria replied, smiling.

“No, there's no need for appreciation, that's just a fact I only stated.”

“Well, courtesy demands I say thank you” Valeria said, laughing.

They'd both chuckled at the ‘joke.’

Was that really a joke, or was it only their emotions?

Maverick had given Valeria a long stare filled with so much romance, he had focused his eyes mainly on her lips - the red lipstick was really some sort of good attraction to him.

“I wish I could take a bite of those.”

A bite of what? Valeria asked inquisitively, raising her brows. She knew what Maverick was talking about, but pretended not to.

“I mean those,” he said, pointing his fingers to her lips and leaning forward to indeed get a ‘bite.’

“Come on Mr Maverick!” Valeria responded in a not-so-welcoming tone. You shouldn't be doing that. Was that why you wanted us to go on this date?”

“It's not too late to turn back,” she'd reminded him, “and don't think I'm such a cheap girl you can buy with your money - I'm really a responsible young girl and I wouldn't allow any person to take advantage of me.”

“Come on pretty, I'm not trying to hurt you, I was only trying to…

“Trying to what? She interrupted him. And why do you even keep calling me ‘Pretty?’ ”

My name's Valeria. I'd prefer you call me that!

Letting out a loud laugh, Maverick said: "You never told me your name, so, how could I have known?”

“Hold on, you mean I never told you my name?” She asked surprisingly.

“But, I thought…damn! I'm sorry” she said chuckling.

Seeming to have forgotten her supposed rage, Valeria was now smiling.

“Anyway, you've got a really beautiful name”, Maverick said. “Your parents must have really loved you to have given you that name.”

Valeria's mood had suddenly changed as soon as Maverick had mentioned her parents.

Her parents died in an accident when she was really little - and ever since then, it's just been her brother taking care of her.

Well, we could also say she's been taking care of herself too, because she took some odd jobs in addition to her mural art, to ensure her brother wasn't burdened with so many responsibilities.

“My parents died a long time ago” she replied. Feeling a tickle in her eyes, Valeria tried so hard not to shed any tears.

Maverick, being quite observant, ended the conversation. He apologized for bringing up the conversation in the first place as he wasn't aware.

“You don't need to feel sad right now, okay?” he said, bringing her close to him. This time around, it wasn't to take a ‘bite’ as he had initially wanted, it was from a place of genuine love and compassion.

Valeria had felt so much warmth in the hug, at that point, she really needed it.

“You'd be fine Pretty," he said , trying to steal her attention again, patting her shoulder gently.

“It's not pretty, come on, it's Valeria” she said, fully aware of him wanting to tease her.

“I know, don't mind me. You feel better now, right?”