THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL

Chapter19.Dinner date

EVERETT

Leaning in close enough, I watched as her eyes shut tightly, her grip on my arm loosening, waiting for my lips to touch hers, but instead of kissing her, I leaned toward her ear.

"Stop pushing your luck, Diella," I said, before pulling away completely.

Her eyes snapped open. She looked flustered, but I didn’t wait around.

Our business was concluded for the night, so I left the diner.

While driving home, I couldn’t quite put my mind at ease. I was confident in Diella’s resourcefulness, but could she actually pull this off?

And what would Liora think of me if she found out I went in secret, without her knowing, to make a deal with a woman that despised her so much?

I wasn’t sure she would understand, so I decided not to tell her at all.

When I got back home, Liora was still on the bed, fast asleep.

Moving as quietly as I could so as not to wake her up, I took off my clothes and stepped into the shower for a quick bath.

*****

[The Next Day]

LIORA

It was a Saturday, so we didn’t need to work or go to the office.

Things felt sort of tense waking up with Everett on the same bed, not because this was my first time sleeping on the same bed with him, but because I knew he went out to see Diella last night, and stayed out for more than an hour before returning.

I had been awake when he got back but just pretended like I was asleep.

I made breakfast that morning since we woke up early and the cook hadn’t resumed yet for the day.

I needed something to distract me, so I brought up the talk about the press.

"Since we didn’t address the press yesterday, we should hold a press conference today, maybe by 10 or 11 this morning," I said, slicing a piece of pancake on my plate.

He looked up from his plate at me.

"No need," he said, almost too casually, like we didn’t have a big problem hanging over our heads.

I frowned slightly. "What do you mean by that?"

"Margaret, along with the PR team, handled things yesterday. There’ll be a press conference by Monday so we have enough time to prepare."

Hearing what he said, I nodded, but I still wasn’t convinced waiting was the best idea, but who was I to even argue?

The PR team and Margaret knew best.

Silence fell between us, leaving only the sound of our utensils lightly tapping against the plates.

"We should go out on a date this evening," Everett suddenly said, breaking the strained silence between us.

I glanced at him, a bit taken aback by the mention of a date.

"A date?" I repeated.

"Yes, a date. Just you and me, no cameras or anything."

"We can’t, paparazzi will be all over us once we’re seen anywhere outside together," I said.

He fell quiet, contemplating my words.

"Then why don’t we just have the date right here," he said after a brief moment. "What do you say, Miss Javon?" His voice dropped into a smooth, teasing tone.

Something about the way he said my last name made my heart skip a beat.

The sides of my lips curled up.

"Sure." I shrugged. "I do hope you can impress me with this date."

He smirked as he stood up, walking around the kitchen island to where I sat. He brushed my hair to the side, his finger grazing my skin as my breath hitched in my throat, then he leaned in closer.

As if what he was doing wasn’t enough, his lips pressed against my neck, causing me to suck in a sharp breath.

"I’ll do more than just impress, love," he whispered, his hot breath fanning against my skin, heat pooling between my legs before he pulled away slowly.

His words were enough to leave me itching with anticipation, my thoughts spiraling.

*****

DIELLA

I stepped out of the car with elegance, my Saint Laurent heels clicking against the floor of the dim parking garage.

There was a man who I assumed to be Mr Bellamy’s PA. He approached me as I took off my black shades.

"Good day, Miss Ashford," the man greeted me respectfully while I stared down at him.

I was significantly taller than him.

"Mr Bellamy is waiting inside, right this way, miss."

Saying nothing in response, I followed behind him. We took the elevator straight into Mr Ballamy’s penthouse.

The PA led me to the pool, where the man in question was, gallivanting with two women in skimpy bikinis in the water.

"Stop, baby, you’re going to get water in my eyes," one of the women giggled as he grabbed her waist from behind, grinding into her.

What a repulsive sight for anyone to even witness. I felt utterly disgusted just standing there.

"Ehm, sir," his PA cleared his throat, finally drawing his attention to us. "Miss Ashford has arrived," he announced.

"The elegant Diella herself, welcome, welcome," Ramsay said, his eyes sweeping over my body. "Would you like to join us?"

I felt like spitting on his face when he said that, but I forced myself to smile politely.

"We have things to discuss. Maybe next time."

"Right, sure." He turned to his women. "Don’t do anything naughty while I’m gone, ladies."

The women giggled in response as he climbed out of the pool. I must admit he had a very good body for a man his age, but it still didn’t make me see him as any less of a pig.

"So what can I do for you?" he asked after taking me to the bar near the kitchen where we could have some privacy to talk.

Before I could even speak, he continued.

"It’s funny, don’t you think, how people only pay visits, call, or even text when they want something from a person?" he said, picking up a bottle of scotch and pouring the content into two glasses.

He handed one over to me, and I took it, but didn’t raise it to my lips, while he took a slow sip from his.

"Today is your lucky day, Mr Bellamy," I said, circling the glass in my hands. "I’m here to give you an exciting deal, one you can’t refuse.”