Unexpected Surprises
1281 Words
VICTORIA'S POV
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The little mouse on my laptop's screen hovers over the send button, my heart beat roaring in my ears as I stare blankly at my resignation letter via email. My gaze lifts to the name at the top, Tomas Horton. So many years, so many hours and nights I've given up to please this man, which wasn't very hard since I was extremely good at my job, and I just know he's going to freak the f**k out. A strand of curled hair falls forward over my shoulder, and I tuck it behind my ear while staring blankly at the screen, rallying my courage. All I have to do is hit send. The only action required is for my finger to push down on the button to click it.
So easy, yet so very hard to escape a life I've grown to love.
The little chime of my front door bell rings out inside my apartment, and I stare at the big space of the living room that has one simple table, a small couch that I'm currently sitting on and a tall lamp, wondering how my life had become this of all things. I stare at the door, my heart beating a little faster, and without second guessing my life choices again, I hit send and close the laptop, slipping my feet into the black heels before going to open the door for Ryder. His immaculate black suit fills the doorway, hair combed perfectly, flowers in hand and the cliche of his most gentleman behavior makes me want to laugh.
"What's this?" I tease, raising a brow, "A date?" I add a little extra to the pot of honey, wiggling my eyebrows. A light blush creeps over his cheeks as he smiles.
"With the way you look, I might have to call it a date," Ryder says smoothly, and this time, I'm the one who blushes.
"Did I at least dress appropriately for where we're going, since you won't tell me where we're going?" I unhook my little bag from the hook behind the door, but Ryder steps forward, holding out the flowers, offering them up with force. I note his white knuckles, how hard he's gripping the stems.
"Do you have a vase for these?" He asks, sounding so polite, so vague. I stare at the pretty flower, heart beating a little faster. When was the last time I received flowers?
"If they are for me, perhaps." I tease, making him flush.
"For who else would they be?" He practically pushes them into my hands, looking a little nervous and flustered.
Grinning, I take it, bringing the red roses to my nose, taking a sniff of the flowers as I walk into the kitchen, Ryder hot on my trail as I strut in and lean down, grabbing a tall pot, carrying it to the sink to fill with water while removing the plastic from around the flowers, placing them inside the pot of water. I'm still smiling when I look up, and Ryder stares at me wide eyed, an amused surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Don't you have a vase?" he asks, looking like he wants to laugh, and that's when his gaze drags over the apartment, noticing the empty space, the little furniture, his expression becoming serious.
"You just moved in?" He asks warily.
"Haven't lived here since being married," I shrug. It's not a topic I like to discuss, but I also can't bring myself to not explain my situation, because it is weird.
"But you kept the place?" he asks confused.
"It's mine," It's the only explanation I have, the only one that makes sense. The only one that's important. This luxurious, empty apartment is solely on my name in a trust that I control. It was Dad's eighteenth birthday gift to me, a place to call my own, a place filled with great memories, some that now feel a bit sour, but that won't bother me. I won't let it.
How do I explain that I had a feeling to keep it? To not sell it? The feeling was right, after all.
"Fair," Ryder nods, looking encouraging as if he too could see the reason deep within me.
"I just have to decorate it, again," I shrug, sighing lightly as I turn back towards the door.
"Shall we?" I change the subject, and he comfortably turns, nodding as he glances back at me as he walks out of the door.
We drive, the traffic rather calm as we approach the Malu, a high end sky scraper restaurant at the very top of the building.
"Are you serious?" The words stumble out on broken syllables as we get out, walk towards the entrance, where a doorman opens it with a clipboard in hand, not bothering to check if we're on the list when he spots Ryder.
"Come here a lot?" I ask in a whispered hush, batting eyelashes at him.
"Now and then," He grins, winking at me. My chest becomes very warm and snug at the sight of him doing just that. He's so handsome that it hurts to look at anything else when he's around. His looks is a natural magnet.
"A real hook for a date," I taunt, and when he looks at me, he's a little serious.
"I bring my mom, not dates," There's a soft smile plaing on his lips, like a warm, good memory crossing his mind.
"Oh," I mutter, feeling a rush of blood heating my face with embarrassment.
"Don't worry though, I think the staff would know that you're not my mom," He offers a hand for me to take as we step into the elevator-- a glass elevator with floor and ceiling lights, the structure comfortably large enough to not stand close to the edges. As the elevator ascends to the very top with slow speed, I admire as the sun starts to set, how the lights twinkle on across the city skyline in warm yellow, bright white and soothing blue hues.
Staring with admiration out, I didn't notice how close I came to the glass until Ryder stepped up beside me, resting a hand on the railing, gripping it tightly.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" My gaze drags across the sky and when I glance at him for a single moment, I find him already staring at me, his entire body facing mine.
"The view? Of course," I nod, pushing the conversation into another direction.
"Yes, Tori..." He breathes, voice low, his eyes boring into mine, "The view," He confirms, though, I'm pretty sure that he doesn't mean the same view that I'm referring to.
I've never been the one for fancy restaurants and their over priced food, but as the elevator stops and we turn, entering into a fancy foyer, a person is standing there, already smiling, ready to welcome us.
"Table for two, Mr.Kane?" The woman adresses him by his last name and I try to avoid the urge to stretch my eyes.
"Of course," Ryder rests his hand on my lower back, making a point of not coming along before steering me forward as she leads us to a table next to the glass wall. It smells amazing in here. The table is lit with candles, fine gold-plated cutlery, silk napkins and fine comfortable chairs. Ryder means to pull my chair out for me, but I stop him.
"I'm just going to freshen up," and with that, I turn to the bathroom, halfway there, I stop dead in my tracks, eyes wide at the sight of Jax and Audrey, sitting right near the hallway entrance leading to the bathroom.
- Writer
