Chapter 21 - Date

Chloe flashed a nervous smile at her reflection just as she heard the doorbell ring. 

Her mood had been foul the entire day, but receiving a call from Jeremy brightened her day. It was 7 P.m. and she knew he was the one at the door to pick her up for their date. 

As soon as she opened the door, she smiled when she saw his stunned reaction. 

She looked stunning in a black, bodycon leather dress that accentuated her curves. The dress covered only half of her lap, revealing more thighs and her long, straight legs. There was a zip at the front of the dress that started from the neckline to the end of the dress. She wore a thigh-high black heel with a smokey eye shadow and peach lip gloss. Her curly hair was left to flow down her shoulders. 

"You are drooling." She chuckled nervously. 

Jeremy blinked in surprise. He had never seen Chloe look like this before. She was always in a 'business woman' outfit or casual wear. But this... 

He looked her up and down.

"Jeremy?" She called his name self-consciously. 

She was getting uncomfortable with the way he was just staring at her without saying anything. 

"Uhm.. sorry. I'm just... surprised. You look... oh God! Everyone is going to want you. I don't want that!" He suddenly hugged her tightly, taking her by surprise. 

She laughed lightly. "Hey! What are you saying? You are the one I am going out with, aren't you?"

He bobbed his head up and down. "I don't like it when other men look at you with the intention of wanting you. They are all going to be looking at you like that tonight. Should we just stay in tonight?"

He pulled her away from the hug and looked at her with pleading eyes. 

"You are one to talk." She looked him up and down. 

He wore a white turtleneck with a blue blazer and matching pants. His hair was tied in a bun, making him look very manly and adorable at the same time. She looked at his face curiously. He looked different. His face was unusually pretty tonight, making him look like some kind of fashion model.

Her eyes lit up when she figured it out and exclaimed, "You are wearing makeup!" She laughed. "Who wore you?" 

He blushed and chuckled nervously before touching his neck. 

"Maria. I left Ellie with her and she insisted on doing this. God! I shouldn't have agreed to it." He used his hands to cover his face shyly. 

She laughed and pulled his hand away from his face. "You look good. At least she didn't try to make you look like a girl. The powder, liner and whatever she used on your lips is all top-notch. I think you're going to steal all the attention tonight." 

"Don't flatter me." He said, while blushing.

"Can we leave now?" She asked. The anxiety she was feeling earlier returned as she wondered what he had planned for the two of them. 

"Sure. You need to get anything inside?" He asked. 

"My purse. Just wait here and I'll be back in a minute." 

~~~~

They stopped at a restaurant first. Chloe had been to the restaurant a few times before, but the only time she had been there for a reason other than work was when her parents had set up a blind date for her and Kevin Hank, Jeremy's stepbrother.

They had expected to get quite some attention, so they weren't surprised when many eyes stared at them openly. Some didn't bother to hide the fact that they were staring while some tried to do it discreetly. As much as it was uncomfortable to have many eyes looking at them, the two felt secretly pleased and proud of their partners. 

When the waiter led them to the table Jeremy had reserved, Jeremy pulled out a chair for Chloe and sat across from her after she did. 

He let Chloe order for them because he was too nervous to think about anything. As soon as the waiter left after taking their orders, he smiled at her. 

"I have always wanted to bring you here, but on second thought, I wasn't sure it was the right thing. That was why I was taking you to other restaurants during our outings." He explained sheepishly. 

"Why did you think it wasn't the right thing to do?" She asked curiously and sipped from the glass of water the waiter brought and served them. 

"Because I knew it would have been out of jealousy and not because I wanted you to have a good time."

She looked at him in confusion and asked.

"Because I was here with Kevin?"

Jeremy was surprised she had guessed that easily. Why was his girlfriend too smart?

He nodded. "That had hurt me greatly, you know. I didn't think I'd ever be able to afford taking you out on a date here. I mean, you were even my boss. I was almost tempted to ask you to pay me an advance salary of 6 months so I could bring you here." He laughed. "Shameless, right?" 

She laughed and shook her head, "Maybe I would have agreed and paid you?" 

He grinned. "I am glad I can bring you here now. And buy you anything you like." He smiled at her lovingly and reached for her hand on the table. "I love you." He said and took her hand in his. 

Chloe blushed. "Some being mushy. You are embarrassing me." She looked down at the table in embarrassment but a smile crept up her face.