"Did you bring an evening gown for the wine party scheduled tonight?" Charles asked Gemma after they arrived back in their room.
"Yes, I wasn't sure what you'd want me doing this week so I came prepared.
Charles came out of the bathroom to see Gemma in her evening gown and his jaw dropped. The top was off the shoulder with a plunging neckline in a blush pink velvet. The skirt of the dress was covered in sequins of the same color that turned into an ombré of blush pink to a deep maroon. The skirt clung to her curvy hips and fell to the floor in a mermaid style.
Her hair was blown out and held soft curls, and her makeup was flawless. She looked like a professional model.
His heart was racing and his body was responding.
"Gemma!" He whispered. She was ethereal like a goddess or a fairy queen. He had never experienced this type of feeling before. He was acutely aware in that moment that she held a power over him that he never imagined possible. His breath became labored. He felt lust surging through him but also an almost worshipful feeling of awe as well. He felt intoxicated, enthralled.
She walked toward him smiling. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he could smell lavender faintly.
"Hi, Handsome!" She said softly.
"Gemma! How am I supposed to do business tonight with you looking like this?" He whispered against her ear.
She giggled. "Do you like it?" She asked.
"I like everything. You're the whole package tonight." And she was. Not just visually, but her as a person as well. He wouldn't be able to concentrate on business because he was going to be keeping men away from her. And wanting to drag her into a room by themselves.
He'd always felt his self control was exceptional but then, he'd never known anyone like Gemma before.
"I'm wondering if I can get out of this and just keep you up here with me. I promise we'd have far more fun!" Gemma teased him.
"Woman, don't say things like that right now!" He growled.
She giggled. He led her out of the room to the elevator. He couldn't take it anymore. He pushed her against the wall of the elevator and kissed her. He couldn't have stopped his hands from exploring her body if he wanted to. And he didn't want to!
The elevator opened on the floor where the wine party was located. People stared at them as the elevator door opened, for they were still locked in an amorous embrace.
"Charles Wen with a woman? It's a miracle!" Someone said. Charles ignored that and similar comments, and led Gemma toward Eason Mo of Mo Conglomerate.
"Mr. Mo, this is Gemma Liu, my girlfriend." Charles announced proudly.
Eason Mo seemed to be momentarily speechless upon seeing Gemma but quickly recovered.
"Miss Liu, you do me honor by being here tonight with your beauty. I am pleased to meet you." He told her.
"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Mo." She said.
As Charles led her to sit down she looked at him.
"Girlfriend?" She asked. Charles looked surprised.
"Didn't you announce this morning that you were my girlfriend?" He asked.
"You didn't seem very agreeable to it." Gemma said.
"It wasn't your title I objected to. I am happy to have you as my girlfriend." He told her.
"Days ago the thought horrified you." She pointed out.
"I'm allowed to change my mind am I not?" He asked in a stiff voice.
"I'm only teasing, Charles. I want to be your girlfriend." She said gently. She didn't realize his ego could easily bruise. She had thought him immune.