A Fashion Facade

Spark At First Connection

Chapter two

James POV

I woke up in my penthouse apartment to the soft chime of my alarm.

"Alexa turn off " I groaned.

"Turning of the alarm " a robot like voice replied,

Placing my feet firmly on the floor, reaching for the remote control on my bedside table, pressing the remote, .

Uncovering the view of the city skyline. It was beautiful, At thirty, I am the most successful business man in the country, the CEO of Kensington Enterprises, a conglomerate that spanned industries from technology to real estates.

My penthouse was sleek and modern, with minimalist décor that emphasized space and light. Every piece of furniture, every art piece was carefully selected to reflect my taste.

My morning routine is well planned, jogging in the morning before other exercises, but today my private gym will do. After my exercise routine, I entered my fit-for-a-hotel bathroom.

The water from the shower flowing down my body, erasing the stench of the morning, my tailored suits a perfect fit, my Louis Vuitton shoe a perfect match.

Opening my cabinet, my GMT-Master II Rolex is fairly placed on my wrist. Heading to the kitchen, a platter is carefully laid on the dining table. I sat down and ate my breakfast before heading to the garage to choose my car for the day, my 2023 BMW.

With my favorite song blasting from the radios, lights flashing as I zoom past heading for my company's private parking lot. My office is on the top floor of the Kensington Tower, a gleaming skyscraper in the heart of the city. The building itself is a testament to Kensington success. Stepping out of the elevator into the hallway,

"Good morning, Mr. Kensington. You have a meeting with the board at ten, and lunch with Mr. Brown at one," Karen greeted, handing me a tablet with my schedule written on it.

"Thank you, Karen. the report on the new tech startup?" I asked, walking briskly to my office glancing at my schedule.

"It is on your desk sir," she replied with a smile.

The scent of coffee embraced me as I sat on my chair, the coffee was neatly placed on the table. Leaning my back on the chair, swiveling to face the vast expanse of the city and bringing the cup to my lip, I sipped my favorite flavor sipping.

My sharp mind and relentless drive to succeed is the city gossip. Kensington Enterprises flourished, due to my hard work and discipline.

A knock on the door, interrupted my thoughts,

"Come in," I said. Karen opened the door and walked into the office.

"Sir these files need your signature" she said placing a bunch of files on the table,

Staring at the panoramic view of the city, the distinctive approaching footstep of Oliver Grant, my business partner, "Ready to conquer the world today?" He joked

I chuckled. "As always. What's on your mind?” I asked, sitting upright as I got into a business mood.

"I've been looking at the numbers for the new real estate project. If we push the marketing campaign, we can increase pre-sales by at least twenty percent," he said, handing over a folder.

I skimmed through the documents, nodding. The idea will cut down the workload and increase our profit. "This is a good idea. Let's move forward with it."

Our conversation was interrupted by a buzz from my phone. I glanced at the screen and sighed, ignoring the phone going back to work.

"Are you not picking that up?" he asked as the phone rang continuously.

"It's my mother. She wants to remind me about the blind date tonight." I groaned.

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Another one? She's relentless." He chuckled

"Tell me about it”, running a hand through my hair. "She thinks I need to settle down. Apparently, being a billionaire isn't enough; I also need a wife." I frowned.

Oliver laughed. "Well, you can't argue with a mother's intuition."

"You are thirty one and I am thirty, you are clearly older than me, I don't see your mother setting you up on numerous blind dates.

"The answer is very simple, my mother has grandkids from her other children, and you, my friend , is an only child," he smirks.

I rolled my eyes but I couldn't help but smile. He is right. My mother is a force of nature. She is an instrumental part of my success, but her constant meddling in my personal life is something I hate.

"Who is the lucky damsel this time?" He asked, leaning forward with interest.

"Some heiress from a prominent family. Mother says she's 'perfect' for me," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. Same thing she says about every lady that catches her fancy.

"Good luck with that," Oliver said with a grin. "Let me know how it goes. I will be in my office"

The day passed in a blur with meetings and a lot of documents to read through and sign. By the time I read through all the documents, a break was all I needed, though the prospect of the blind date did not give me any chance to take a break.

After Puffing a reasonable amount of my perfume, I drove straight to the restaurant. Glancing at my Rolex, I was just in time. The place was renowned for its exclusivity and elegance, a favorite among the city's elite. I couldn't help but admire the sophisticated décor, the crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the room.

One hour later my date, Victoria Harrington, arrived fashionably late. She was beautiful no doubt about that, with perfectly styled blonde hair and a designer dress that screamed wealth and status. But within minutes of sitting down, I was bored. We had nothing in common, her conversation revolving around shopping, gossip, and her social media followers.

I tried to engage her in conversation, asking about her interests and passions, but her answers were shallow and self-centered. Shoving me a flirty smile anytime she gets the chance,

"I will make a good wife, I can make you happy, my followers……….

I found myself nodding politely, without listening to a word she said, my mind wandering to more pressing matters at work. After an hour of painful small talk, a stiletto glided up my thigh, I stood up in shock not wanting to be around her any longer.

"Excuse me, I need to make a phone call"

I left the table and climbed up the stairs to a private area of the restaurant. I called my dad to complain about his wife. Scanning the restaurant, my eyes caught the sight of a woman sitting at a table with a man. She had auburn hair cascading in soft waves and wore a stunning simple black dress that highlighted her figure.

I found myself drawn to her, unable to look away. She laughed at something her date said, and the sound was like music to my ears. But as much as I wanted to go over and introduce myself, I knew it wasn't the right time. She was dining with another man. And my annoying date was two tables away, I watched from afar, feeling a strange connection to the woman.

______

The next day, I couldn't get her out of my mind. I went through the motions at work, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the mysterious woman in the black dress.

“Sir, what is your take on this?”

Her auburn hair and slender build, her cherry lip. Her smile……

A gentle tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality, my gaze fixed on Oliver who was seated beside me. All eyes were fixated on me,

“Mr. Kensington What is your take on this sir?”

“Make more research, meeting adjourned” I echoed.

That evening, I decided to dine at one of my favorite restaurants, a top-class restaurant owned by my friend, Michael to brighten up my mood. The restaurant was known for its impeccable service and exquisite cuisine, and it was the perfect place to unwind after a long day.

As I sat down in the VIP section sipping my wine, I scanned the room.

And then, the woman with the auburn hair walked in, accompanied by another woman. She was dressed in a blue dress that made her look like a goddess.

My eyes subconsciously followed her every move, she stood up and walked towards the art gallery section of the restaurant, where a beautiful painting caught her eye.

My steps quickening with each moment. She stood in front of the painting, lost in thought. The painting depicted a serene landscape, with rolling hills and a calm river, a stark contrast to the bustling city outside.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I said, breaking the silence.

The woman turned to face me, her green eyes wide with surprise. Up close, she was even more striking. "Yes, it is," she replied softly.

"I'm James, I couldn't help but notice you admiring the art work" I said, offering a friendly smile.

"Lily," she replied, relaxing a bit. Shaking my outstretched hand. “it’s nice to meet you"

"Likewise " I said, nodding.

Lily smiled, a genuine warmth that lit up her face.

"I hope you are enjoying your evening?" I asked. "I am thank you" she replied with a blush on her cheek that ignited a fire in my heart.

"Well I will let you enjoy the rest of your evening, Lily," I said with a smile.

As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just missed out on something important. Walking back to my table, my thoughts were consumed by the strange woman.

I knew I had to see her again.