~~Ashley's POV~~
** "Here's the most important part, Ashley. You need to hear it correctly," he mumbled in a spine-chilling tone. I could tell his expression was serious now. "Date night." I heard faintly and pushed my head up.
"'Date night?'" I resounded, not thinking straight. The way he uttered suddenly didn't give me the time to process what his request may be.
"Be my date."
For a moment there, it was as if I could no longer understand the English language. I fell silent and just moped at him.
"Huh?????!!!" I exclaimed bug-eyed when his request finally struck me.**
Like a broken record, I replayed our conversation over and over, trying to pinpoint how and when I was pushed to a corner. Despite lazing around the entire day, I felt exhausted just staring at the box – I hadn't even opened yet – in front of me. In it was my outfit for tonight. He had already told me he'd be sending one, and that he would also come pick me up for date night.
A shallow sigh then escaped my lips.
"Is everything okay?" A soothing voice barged in on my thoughts. I raised my eyes to see my mom staring down at me with concern through the dressing mirror. She was standing behind me with hands on my shoulders.
I had told my mom about Date Night. I also told her a guy in my major would be coming to get me. She was glad I finally decided to leave my shell that she opted to help me get ready. Still, at the same time, she was concerned. She remained skeptical about leaving me by myself and without Carson. She obviously had more trust in him than she thought.
"Do you feel nervous for tonight?" I wasn't feeling nervous; I simply did not feel like going anywhere. But if I were to babble that out loud, how else would I explain a total stranger sending me an outfit for a date? I needed to act okay at least if I wanted to keep the whole truth from her.
"I'm fine," I whispered with a feigned smile.
"Let's get you ready," she spoke warmly, patting my shoulders.
With her help, I got dressed. Before long I was already positioned again before the dressing mirror with my mom standing behind me to put the finishing touches – my hair and makeup.
Ever so gently, she pulled out the band keeping my hair in place, letting it flow and sweep my shoulders. "What's his name?" she asked in between, brushing her fingers through my hair.
"Huh?"
"Your date. What's his name?"
'Wait, what?!!'
'What's his name again?... Son of a gun!!' I didn't even realize I was here getting dolled up for a guy whose name remained unknown to me.
What to do? What to do? 'All hell would let lose if my mom senses this.' "Lu…Luke!" I stammered. "Luke Anthony!"
She chuckled breezily, refraining from prying further. Did she buy it? I couldn't tell.
A few moments later…
Now I was all set. My hair and makeup were completed, and my jewelry was on already. It was now time for the final piece.
"And for the final piece." My mom bent over and stretched her hand from beside my head to pick up the contacts on the table. I didn't tell her about the Hana and Sakura nonsense but I did tell her my therapist gave it to me in case something happened.
While putting them on, she asked: "By the way, did you discuss this with your therapist?"
"Mmm," I hummed my positive response.
"And she says you could leave?"
"Mmm…"
"All done."
I looked at my reflection. I must confess, I could not remember when last I showed this much skin around my boobs. My bare cleavage oddly made me remember Miss Antonia's and it struck me that I didn't look that bad either. The contacts didn't necessarily change my eye color. They just made it sharper a tiny little bit. A closer look wouldn't detect that though; you'd have to take two.
"Thanks, Mom," I whispered, rubbing her hand hanging on my shoulder, and staring meekly at her.
She gave me an approving closed-lip smile as she nodded slightly.
~~Daniil's POV~~
I was wearing a black suit from the luxurious Tom Ford brand. Beneath its jacket was a red vest – donned over a white dress shirt – to go with the red bowtie around my collar. I had a sidecut where I shaved both sides of my hair, (not completely) accentuating and sharpening my high hairline, and the angles on both sides of my forehead, above my temples, respectively. The rest of my hair was wrapped up behind with a band, leaving nothing to fall on my shoulders.
Admiring this pristinely sculpted face in my phone's selfie camera, I was so damn ready for a showoff tonight. When deemed necessary, I did not shove any chance to flaunt my wealth under the bus.
I drove to Ashley's in a convoy of two flashy cars, and a jeep – a white Tesla Model X, a Bentley Continental GT, and a Bentayga. I could not wait to see the wrung-up expression on the faces of those whose attention I intended to pull.
Ashley had given me her address so it was no rocket science locating her house. To cut the long story short, I was ringing her doorbell now
Not long after, the knob turned, and the door went open.
A slight sulk squirmed to my forehead at the sight of a rather underdressed Ashley. Was she kidding me right now? She was simply wearing a baggy shirt over black jogger pants, and flip-flops, and her hair was simply tied to the back. To top it all up, her jade eyes glistened with no hint of remorse after promising to be ready on time.
'The fuck is going on here?! Did I make a mistake in leaving this all up to Jason? Did he try to sabotage my efforts? Because come to think of it, I never saw the outfit he sent to Ashley.' I sucked in air through my teeth thinking he just played a fast one on me.
"Mom?"
'MOM?' the voice in my head reechoed in response to the additional mellow voice that came from inside.
"Ash, is your date mute?" she asked with sarcasm swelling her voice.
'Holy shit!' Her mum? She looked just as young and beautiful! I could've sworn that I was staring at Ashley a few moments ago.
"Good evening Mrs. Sinclair," I greeted speedily on retrieving my senses.
Just staring at me with eyes below her arched brows in scrutiny, she shifted a little to the side, paving way to the lady dressed in red behind her.
'What. The. Fucking. Hell!' My inner voice exclaimed at the sight of the goddess standing a few paces away. I knew Ashley was pretty and all but this…This?? This was on a whole new level!
Her hair was packed in a ponytail with two braids – parted at the center – running around both sides. That left her neck bare, presenting its slenderness most enticingly. Her makeup was mild yet did justice to her features, her originally thin lips benefitting the most from the glossy ombre pattern of light red and brown on it. Tracing her neck was a single silver necklace that didn't hide her prominent collarbones. Its captivating depth made me want to stick my nose in and sniff her glory. The red matching pendant hanging on the necklace led my eyes down to her alluring cleavage held in place and unveiled by the dress' V-neck. I'm not even kidding; I never knew she was this endowed.
Then her dress. 'Oh God! What is this feeling ???'
She was wearing a long red strapless flare gown held up around her torso with a built-in corset that embraced her hourglass figure with elegance and flair. The floor-sweeping flare starting a little below her bulging hips fell in waves that adjourned in a front A-cut slit that tastefully showcased her inner thigh up to a few inches above her knees. Complimenting her overall grace was a black glitter purse, narrow pencil heels to go with it, and a rather subduing aura facing the same guy she dreaded, with so much skin out in the open.
Jason didn't disappoint; she was looking ravishing … mesmerizing … appealing … name it!
I felt a pang of jealousy though. That which came from letting another guy make my lady look this hot.
Wait, what? ''My' lady?' Was I truly smitten or was it just the 'man' in me falling into her temptation? 'Or should I say…Jason's?' After all he singlehandedly picked this dress. Was he trying to prove a point or what?
'Screw it,' I dismissed.
"Is he a guy of few words?" I heard indistinct whispers coming from her mom. "Luke?" she called me.
"Ye…yeah?" I stuttered, swerving my eyes to her
Hol'up. 'Luke?!!' Unwittingly, my questioning eyes found Ashley's again. "Luke?" I mouthed, saucer-eyed.
"C'mon Luke. Let's go," she rushed to dismiss, walking out the door, past me.
"Is everything okay?" her mom asked, probably feeling the awkward air.
Honestly, I didn't know what was up but my simple reply was, "Yeah, sure," with a forced smile.
"Have a nice night and be sure to bring her back on time," she told nicely and got me nodding like an obedient son. 'Such irony!'
Now turning around to Ashley. She looked just as succulent even from behind.
Knox who I made drive me alighted and came around to open the door to the backseat of the jeep parked behind the other cars. She turned around and shot me a questioning look I somehow understood. She never expected to be going to Date Night in a convoy.
I scanned her enthralling body once more before taking slow steps to her. "Shall we?" I asked, with one hand on my stomach, and holding out the other hand that gestured towards the vehicle; reminiscent of a perfect gentleman. 'As if.'
She would not budge. She stood still as if she suddenly went hard in hearing. Eventually, she did. But that was only after an intense glare lasering for a brief moment. She was still resentful towards me for making her do this against her wish. She moved further away and hopped in the car.
I breathed out to contend with my fluttering heart. 'What the fuck is happening to me?'