Marcus was himself again, but he was still shaking after what happened although he tried to keep it steady. Katherine could be seen clearly from the security cameras by Marcus as she surveyed the living room, she couldn't get enough of the breathtaking interior design. Somehow everything was amazing in there, from the space, lines, form or shape, light, color and more importantly the texture of the whole place was just phenomenal. Katherine herself was an interior designer based in Russia before she switched into modelling, she had deep passion for designs and that's why she was so sucked into the place she nearly forgot what really made her come there.
That was before Marcus came downstairs dressed up in a black suit, with Tom Ford lace-up Oxford shoes on his feet. One of the obsession with Marcus was his love for shoes. There was a whole pantry filled with just shoes and they weren't just typical sneakers but expensive shoes, each of them costed two thousand dollars or more. He liked to wear the shoes with his suits because Marcus always wore suits. Of course with an exception of when he works out at the gym, that's where he only wears black shorts and goes shirtless, or when he runs a marathon with his tight jeans and a loose sport shirt alongside Martin.
When he finally came down, Katherine was far away in thoughts. She was examining the leather that covered the sofas, she was also intrigued by the painting hanging on the wall.
"Mr Orlando!" said Katherine shocked by Marcus's surprise entrance since she hadn't been paying attention to the stairs and clearly she didn't hear Marcus approaching.
Marcus took a great pleasure seeing Katherine in that tight dress looking all cute and seemed too way focused on the furniture and the interior designs of his living room.
"Ms Katherine." He said with a wide smile on his face. "Welcome to my house."
"Oh Marcus, don't be so formal with me. Come on, bring it in."
"You want a hug?"
"I'm a hugger."
"That won't be a problem I assure you." said Marcus and embraced Katherine in a tight hug while both of them laughed between it.
They both seemed happy to see one another, especially Marcus who seemed rather calm and collected like never before. Even Martin noticed that his boss was somehow different in front of Katherine. He was way himself making jokes and laughing alongside them.
"Are we going somewhere?" asked Katherine touching Marcus's suit. "You seem way too formal."
"I'm always formal Katherine? By the way this is Dolce."
Katherine's eyes widened with amazement and she gasped. "Dolce? Omg, I've always wanted to shop at Dolce. You know what they say about Dolce?"
Marcus straightened his suit. "I have no idea" he said calmly.
"There's a saying that if you ever decide to buy a Dolce, then you better buy it in Paris or Italy but just buy it anywhere expect in New York."
"What's wrong with New York?"
"It's not Paris. That's what's wrong with New York." Katherine said and she winked at Marcus who was however shy unlike his usual self. He managed a simple smile just to hide how uncomfortable that woman made him.
Marcus couldn't look at Katherine's eyes because they were fierce and burning, sometimes he feared she might see everything through his eyes hence he had to lower them. But it was all on his head because Katherine didn't know anything about Marcus apart from the fact that he was a young billionaire who owned everything. Everything from stretches of lands to streaming giant company called Nile which competed closely with Netflix in securing subcribers.
Most of the time Marcus is at his office in New York and when he wasn't at his office, then he would be on set where his team would be producing their original contents for streaming. The contents included TV series or feature films which had gathered such a huge fan base which led to the growth of the company. With shows like Twisted Family, Bodyguard Gone Wrong, Lost Girl, King William and the most streamed show Vanguard which surpassed over billion views for only three seasons, and the show made sure Marcus and his company stay on top of the most talked about streaming giants in the whole world.
But at that time surrounded by Katherine, all that he had accomplished for all those years didn't matter but only her. Marcus felt a little bit different from how he was feeling with other girls, and even though they did meet at first in Moscow but somehow Katherine looked different from the first day he saw her. She was different and he couldn't explain it.
He kept looking at her, like she was the most valuable thing he's ever came across with. Her green eyes were sharp, her lips adorned with a red lipstick made him wish he could just kiss her right then and there. He even had thoughts of how sweet her lips would taste if he just decides to dive in and indulge into his cravings. But he learned to be patient and first see how things will turn out between them.
"So Mr Orlando, where are you taking me?" asked Katherine after a series of jokes and laughter between her and Marcus.
"Where would you like to go?"
"Anywhere?"
"Yes, anywhere. Just mention it and I'll take you."
Katherine had a moment to think and then she placed her arm on Marcus's right hand, then she whispered "How about lunch at the most exquisite hotel in New York. Just the two of us...?" she said flirting with him and his eyes couldn't even look at her. He just nodded shyly and Katherine smiled.
The same BMW x7 which brought Katherine to the house, was the same one which picked Marcus and Katherine while Martin and his team followed behind with three black Escalades which were bullet proof. At first the BMW was leading but somehow Martin managed to pass it and stayed ahead of the road, while the other two cars remained behind hence Marcus was kept in between, as always, per the protocol.
That was the protocol designed to protect him just in case of any emergency of any sort.
"Is it always like this?" asked Katherine, she was intrigued by all the fuss and attention they were given.
"With the security?"
"Yes"
"It's some protection protocol bullshit, don't mind them. I act like they are invisible and they do disappear sometimes."
"Do they?" asked Katherine.
"In my head of course." he said and smiled. Katherine smiled too and they continued with their ride not saying a single word but just looking at each other.
It was a two hour ride from Marcus's estranged house to New York Times Square and they passed it while it was full crowded with people as usual, it was estimated that almost one million tourists visited the Times Square per month. People from all over the world traveled unspeakable distance just to make it to the free country, America, the land of dreams and opportunities. Even to Katherine who was born and raised in Russia, she had that American dream too and at only twenty-three years old, she felt like she was on top of the world.
Katherine who was new in New York couldn't control herself to check it out. "Can I open the window?" she asked.
"No. It's forbidden!"
"Come on..."
Marcus smiled and opened the window for her, just a bit and her eyes were glued outside at the billboard banners and the crowd of young men dancing. "I've never been here. It's my first time. Everything looks so alive and noisy."
"Noisy?"
"Yes noisy Marcus, listen…"
Her excitement to just small things like people gathering at the Times Square completely created such effect on Marcus. He even took his phone and started searching best wedding organizers, best venues to get married and best wedding dresses. He could see himself and Katherine getting married, maybe she was the one after all.
Martin's car came to a halt at a five-star hotel named St Regis New York and the BMW carrying Marcus and Katherine followed behind. It was a huge and a luxury hotel fit for billionaires and rich people since it was expensive and a middle income Americans could never afford it. Unless if it was a celebrity because St Regis was crowded with rappers, actresses and supermodels all year long.
Martin walked inside the hotel accompanied by his four bodyguards. They took an elevator to the manager's office, it was on the second floor. When they reached the floor, they walked straight to the manager's office and barged in without knocking. The manager was a middle aged white man and he was sitting on a desk while doing some paper work, but as soon as he saw Martin, he quickly stood up.
"Martin!" The manager was stunned, and then he looked at the four bodyguards who accompanied Martin, they were all in black suits and black shades.
"Mr. Tally."
"What can I do for you?"
"I need the whole fifth floor cleared. Mr. Orlando wants to have lunch with his lady." Martin said to the manager of the hotel.
"Consider it done."
"Thank you."
Mr. Tally made a few calls and he personally took the task of clearing everything and everyone on the fifth floor. Then they decorated it and made it so cozy, and warm to fit Marcus's needs.
After half an hour Martin came down and he walked straight to the BMW and opened it. "It's all done, sir." he said respectfully.
"Thank you, Martin. Shall we?" Marcus straightened his hand to Katherine, she took it. They walked out of the car together, like newly married couple going on a honeymoon.
"Wow! This is magical indeed, I love it already Marcus."
"Wait till you see what they have on the inside."
"Have you been here before?"
"Yes I have. It's my usual spot for lunch and late brunch."
They reached the elevator and Martin clicked the unlock button for them. When it opened Martin was the first one to get inside followed by his men, and then Marcus and Katherine got inside too.
Just when the elevator closed, Marcus jumped on Katherine and started to kiss her. "Easy there tiger..." Katherine moaned while smiling between the kiss as Marcus pressed her hard on the wall while his hands were all over her dress, he was pulling the dress upwards and roughly before the elevator beeped and he suddenly stopped.
Two waitresses were waiting for them, to welcome Marcus and Katherine to the hotel. Marcus was embarrassed and he straightened his suit while Katherine tried to regroup after that awkward moment. But they couldn't hide the fact that Katherine's lipstick was all over Marcus's lips, Martin reached out for a tissue and he handed it to Marcus.
Marcus didn't understand the assignment. "What's for Martin?" he asked.
"For your..." Martin cleared his throat. "For your lipe, sir. You have the lady's lipstick all over you."
"Oh, shit! I guess I have you little rabbit to blame for..." said Marcus and he kissed Katherine again, he tossed the tissue aside and grabbed his attention to the waitresses.
"Mr. Orlando, welcome back to our hotel."
"Thank you Sandra and —"
The other waitress intervened. "I'm Jennifer, sir."
"Nice to meet you Jennifer."
"Thank you, sir."
"Shall we proceed?" asked Sandra ready to led the way to the private dining room.
Marcus looked at Katherine and he leaned on to whisper. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." replied Katherine seemingly charmed and happy.
"We are ready."
"Alright sir, follow me."
Sandra led Marcus and Katherine to a privately set up dining room which had only one table and two chairs. A whole set of flowers to adorn the place and sparkling champagne. Katherine was in awe, she felt like a Queen and the only thing that she was missing was just a tiara to complete her coronation ceremony.