Chains Of Velvet

CHAPTER THREE

“Yes, sure.”

“Okay, now that you finally feel better, can I at least get to kiss you?” He said.

“Hell no! You're being naughty right now, she said.”

“I was just kidding,” he reassured her.

Valeria heaved a sigh of relief.

“Thank you," Valeria said, holding his hands.

“For what exactly?” He asked.

“Well, nothing, I just thought I needed to say it.”

“It's fine, pretty, Valeria I meant” he replied smiling.

“Can I ask for a favour, " he asked, looking at her in a more romantic way.

“Yeah, sure, you can.”

“Can I peck you, " he asked in a sweet tone of one who's in love.

“Don't see me as a bad guy please, I just haven't felt this peace and emotion with any girl for a long while. Something feels so different about you Valeria, I can't deny the fact, I like you already.”

Not giving a response, Valeria had closed her eyes, indicating she had given him the permission to peck her.

Maverick, understanding her reaction, seized the moment and gave her a peck on the cheek.

Finally opening her eyes, she said; you smell really nice.

“Really? Is that what you're meant to say to me after giving you a peck?” He asked in a bid to tease her.

“What? She replied smiling. What am I meant to say?”

“Never mind Valeria, it's not a big deal, you'd learn as time goes on.

“Whatever.”

“Anyway Valeria, you'd have looked much better if you tied your hair up. I've got some hair clips here, I could help you with that.

“Okay,” she said.

Maverick brought out the hair clip and fixed them firmly on Valeria's hair.

“You look prettier now. I think I've fallen for you already” he added, as he drove off to the restaurant.

On hearing that, Valeria didn't give any response. Maybe, she didn't have anything to say or it was too early to admit she liked him as well.

The tire screeched as the car came to a halt. Maverick and Valeria have arrived at the restaurant. It wasn't a long journey, but it was a quiet one.

As soon as they had arrived, Maverick stepped out of the car in his elegant dark suit.

Trying to be the gentleman he wasn't at first, he opened the door for Valeria to come down.

Maybe, he had found a good reason to be a gentleman; he had pecked her, the next time, it could be a kiss or something more deep, who could tell?

“Thank you,” Valeria said as she stepped out of the car and they both walked into the restaurant majestically; Valeria's heels making a clicking sound.

People turned to look at the gorgeous princess and her charming prince.

The restaurant was really an expensive one; the golden walls glimmering, the floors well polished. The lighting was dim and the soft music playing in the background created a relaxed and intimate setting.

Maverick found a very nice and comfortable place to sit.

He took off his suit jacket, dropping it over the chair.

Valeria took a while giving a long stare at his clavicle.

Maverick had left a few buttons of his shirt undone, exposing his amazing physique.

She would have probably told a lie, if Maverick had caught her staring.

Reading through the menu, Maverick wanted to know what Valeria would love to eat. He wanted to make sure they had a good time together.

“What would you love to eat Valeria?” He asked her.

“Mmmm, I don't really know, I think I would love to eat whatever you're eating.” She responded.

“What if you don't like what I eventually order, huh?” Maverick added.

“I really do not mind, I would manage it, if that's the case.”

“There's no point of you managing anything.” He laughed at her. “This date is just for you, okay? So, make your choice my darling.” He passed the menu to her.

Valeria had never been to an expensive restaurant in her life, so she wasn't familiar with everything on the menu.

Clearing her throat, Valeria stuttered. “I've never been here before, so, I wouldn't actually know what to eat. So, if you don't mind, just choose any nice food for me.”

She bowed down her head, she was feeling embarrassed.

“There's always a first time for everything, alright? You don't need to feel bad or sad at all. Just be confident, as you've always been.” He reassured her as he held her hand.

At this point, she was more relaxed than she was.

Grinning, he signaled the waiter.

“Good evening Sir” the waiter greeted him politely.

“Please, I'd love to have two plates of pasta and some grilled turkey wings. I'd love them to be really spicy. And yes, a bottle of red wine too,” he added.

“Alright Sir, just a few minutes and it'll be ready," the waiter replied as he went to get their order.

“Don't you think it's going to be expensive,” she whispered as she glanced at the menu and saw how much it was going to cost him.

“I'm the one paying right?” He asked, his lips curling into a wide grin.

“Yes, sure.” She replied.

The waiter had brought in their order.

“Oh my goodness. I'm really so sorry Sir and Ma.” The waiter apologized as he had mistakenly thrown the cutlery on the floor.

“Were you blind or something? Don't you know how to be organized?”

“I'm sorry……….”

“Would you pick this thing up immediately and get out of my sight before I lose it. Stupid!” Maverick howled.

“You shouldn't have said that? It wasn't nice at all. I think you owe him an apology.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that? Why should I apologize to him? He's such an i***t and I don't owe him any apology.”

“Don't think you have the right to talk to people anyhow, just because they don't have the opportunity you have.” Valeria said.

“Let's not have this conversation, please. It's enough!”

“Aren't you going to eat?” Maverick asked her.

Valeria didn't utter a word.

“Okay, I admit it, I was wrong. I'd do better next time, okay? We're here to have fun, remember?”

Valeria turned her face away.

“Come on, I'm sorry and I mean it.”

“Whatever. It's fine anyway.”

“If it's fine like you said, smile for me.”

The corner of Valeria's lips moved up a bit, forming a smile. But her eyes still remained cold.

“No, that's not the smile I want from you. Make it more cute, you know you're pretty, right?”

Valeria shut her eyes for some seconds in order to feel better. She finally grinned; this time around, it was real.

“That's my girl, let's eat now.” Maverick smiled.

Observing how Maverick had held his cutlery, Valeria tried to do the same.

Maverick noticing how she was watching him said “just be you, okay? You don't have to do all those.”

“I can't embarrass myself, Maverick, by eating with my hands, especially this turkey. People would stare at me,” she said, fidgeting with her hands.

“Well, I don't care about them, so you shouldn't either,” he told her.

She tried using the fork to eat the pasta.

Maverick had poured the chilled red wine into his glass cup as well as Valeria's.

“Pour a little more for me” Valeria requested as she took a sip of the red wine.

“It's alcoholic," he said, reminding her.

“Of course, I'm aware of that, Maverick, I'm not going to get drunk after all. I'm an adult.”

“Mmmmm….. I don't think you should drink much.” He shifted the bottle away from her.

But, at a second thought, he decided to pour a little more for her, since he was going to stay with her throughout.

“If you say so,” he said, pouring the red wine into her class cup.

Maverick didn't drink much, because he was going to be the one driving, so he needed to take some safety precautions.

Valeria's phone was buzzing, it was Xarvier Brooks - her overprotective older brother and Maverick's personal attorney.

What would be Xavier’s reaction when he eventually finds out about Maverick and his sister?

“Aren't you going to take your call?” Maverick asked her.

“I was about to,” she said as she picked the call.

“Where are you? Why did it take you so long to take your call and why is it noisy out there?” The voice yelled on the call.

“I'm sorry Xavier, I, I…..I was just, I went out to get something in the neighbourhood, she stammered.

“Well, you know I could have asked for a picture to confirm, right? Anyway, I don't have the time for that right now.”

“I won't be coming home tonight, I'll be sleeping over at my friend's, " he continued.

“Which of your friends?” Valeria asked, raising her brows.

“Take care of yourself and make sure to prepare some breakfast for me before I come back.” He finally said as he ended the call.

“Who was that? And why did you decide to lie? " Was that your boyfriend?” Maverick asked with a noticeable tone of jealousy in his voice.

“You're jealous, right?’ She asked, teasing him. “That was my brother,” she continued.

“Why do you think so? Well, I'm not jealous, I just want to be sure I'm the only person having you.”

“Having me? " What do you mean by that?” She asked.

“Never mind, Valeria. You're an adult, right? So figure it out yourself.”

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

They had finished their meal, the waiter came and cleared the table, leaving only the bottle of the red wine.

Valeria had cracked the bones of the grilled turkey. They were really sumptuous, and she hadn't tasted a good meal like that in a long while.

“Okay, Valeria, now that we're done with the meal, let's get into some conversation.”

“Do you think here's the perfect place for that?” She belched loudly. She was obviously under the influence of alcohol.

“So tell me, how old are you?” he asked.

She laughed, “Why are you concerned about my age?”

“Not like I'm so concerned, Valeria, I only want to know more about you.”

“Well, I'm twenty-one years old,” she replied.

“Please, put a little more of the wine into my glass.”

“No, I'm not going to do that, Valeria, you're getting drunk", Maverick bluntly refused.

“Just this one, I promise, I won't drink again.”

“That was what you said the last time, remember? You're done drinking this Valeria.”

“You're only trying to be wicked to me, that's not fair Maverick.” She slowly hit him on the shoulder.

“So, tell me, Valeria, what's your opinion about love. Do you think it exists?”

“Of course love exists. She paused as she belched again. “I may just have been unlucky not to experience it.” She'd felt a tickle in her eyes and tried so hard not to cry.