"I really like your mother. I hope I will meet her one day."
He can't stop laughing at how Amie described her to him. And then sipped more wine.
"Oh my god no, she'll definitely abuse you with too many favors, even if you like it, I won't allow it."
Their conversation is like this for the duration of their meal.
"What if I volunteered to get abused?"
He gave her a naughty smile that made him look like he's provoking her.
Amie stops chewing and to process what he just said but she can't put it in place, so she scratches her head.
"Why do you want to get abused by my mother? Don't you have your own mother to abuse you?"
With what she had said, Calvin threw out his head away and laughed.
Amie thought this man's laugh was elegant, and can't help but made a little chuckle as well.
"You got me there, yes! I have my own abusive mother." Still laughing, but offered her a toast.
"To our abusive mothers."
It's Amie's time to burst out laughing from the toast he offered. But her laugh is the most unelegant of all.
He calls to order more plates of Japanese food for her which she didn't refuse.
"Why don't you eat what you order? Wait until you meet Bern she will shove the food in your mouth."
She said, while busy gnashing the tempura.
"Nah, I have little appetite these days."
And he doesn't really like Japanese food.
"Okay, don't order more, these are enough."
She keeps putting more food in her mouth.
Few minutes have passed, when she's done. She didn't forget to thank him.
"Arigato gozaimasu!" Amie bowed a little.
Calvin laughed some more and then drive her home.
"My mother wanted to tag along to my new apartment so she can pester me, but I brought her to a wrong house."
She was so comfortable with Calvin that she told him about her secret.
"That's not a wise thing to do."
He commented gently, but looking very serious. More like concern about the outcome of what she has done.
"Oh, don't worry, I can deal with her." But her facial expression is not sure.
"I would suggest to tell her the truth or it'll get more complicated."
He suggested and gave her a grin and tilt his head.
Amie sigh in resignation.
"I know. I just need a bit of sanctuary before going back to the same situation that I'm running from."
They arrived at her apartment.
"What the hell is this place?"
Calvin's eyebrows meet in the middle, and forehead creased at the site.
"What do you mean? this is where I live."
This is the most decent and affordable place she can get in the Palmera.
"Amie, I can't let you sleep in the garbage. Come with me I have a place near to the office that I haven't been using."
There are plenty of literal question marks floating in her head. Is he the CEO type she finds in the novel that will pamper a woman that he likes?
"Wait, wait, why would I want to be in your apartment when I have my own?"
She was asking, but her heart is already fluttering.
Maybe this is the start of a relationship.
She had once a so-called relationship that ends the same day they've met. She admits that was special, and she kept on rewinding the scene in her head.
But if this man will offer her a relationship, she will give it a try.
"You are a lawyer of Phillip and Cross. We have a reputation to follow."
With his statement, all romantic inclination suddenly twirled into a draining scenario in her head and even made a flushing sound.
"Let me drive you there until you find a decent apartment, you can have someone take your things away tomorrow."
He said and pulling her away and put her in his car.
"But what about the rent and the deposit?"
She heard another flushing sound in her head.
"Don't mind that, it's your comfortability that is important, you'll get more motivated, trust me."
He said while putting a seat belt on her, making their body closer. His perfume is assaulting her senses.
"Right." Is all that she can say involuntarily. But she is still drunk with his body's fragrance.
Nothing come's out of her mouth the entire time he was driving her to his apartment.
Amie, she told herself, calm your hormones, okay? he is technically your boss, and he's just helping an employee. That is a conversation that was running in her head when they stopped in a uniquely design house. It has a cubic shape with fiberglass walls. It has a manicure lawn.
Who has manicured lawn in a business district?
"Wow! you own this? you're really rich."
She can hardly contain her amazement, and she has problems tacking her tongue.
"Let's get you inside."
He held her wrist one more time and pulled her inside. Again, she can't contain her astonishment.
"Amazing!"
Her jaw drops from the kinds of furniture he got.
The style is neutral and the living room, although painted in grey, had a feminine touch to it. It disappoints her a little to know that there might have other girls lived in it.
The kitchen is all neat; they boxed the pantry and the cabinets IKEA like design, painted in red and yellow.
"Come, I'll bring you to you room."
She almost drooled with the luxury of the room. The queen sized bed's cover is satin, and the pillows looked soft.
"Here are the linens and towels, the curtains and other sheets."
Calvin gave her a tour because the entire second floor comprise a single room which is the bedroom.
The half of the room's paint is grey, and the other is creamy white that reminded her of the bridal suite covered in a magazine once.
And they went into the bathroom. She had the feeling that they're all made of porcelain.
"Aren't you afraid I'll steal and sell your shower and faucet?"
It is gold. She really thinks it's real.
"You can try." Calvin said laughing.
"Calvin, I don't think I can live here"
She said, looking worried.
"Why not?"
He asked, leaning on the kitchen counter.
"Look, come to think of it this way, this is paying forward of your mom's generosity towards your friend."
Putting his hands in his pocket. Amie knew he was thinking of something, that's just what his bodily reaction said.