Five years ago…
You're in a hotel lobby, your strawberry blonde hair looks disheveled in those curls, and you're panting and pacing, looking for an escape route.
You heard a tear earlier while running, looking down, your glittering dinner gown ripped from your knee length down. "Fuckin piece of shit". You swore under your breath, ripping off a little torn part that kept getting in the way of you walking properly.
It seems stuck. You look around trying to find a sharp object to cut it off with. "Hey, you! Stop right there". You turned to find two men from earlier still on your trail. "Jesus Christ, don't you guys give up?!"
You screamed ignoring the dress problem you were about solving and took to your heels. You pushed the door right in front and you're in a kitchen, definitely the end of the road.
They dashed in right after you, you find yourself running up to this handsome man probably testing or showing off his cooking skills but to whom because apparently, the kitchen is empty. "Help me! Please help me! Please!."
"It's being a pleasure. We're looking forward to doing business with you." Standing on his feet, he exchanged handshakes with the gentlemen before him.
James Knight loosens his necktie and waves to his secretary standing close to coming even closer, "I'm starving and I need to cook up something myself.
Clear the kitchen. I'll be down in 30 minutes." He nods and walks away. The elevator ride to the penthouse was rather long than usual or maybe it's just him feeling extremely worn out and exhausted.
He freshened up real quick and headed for the door.
"What's going on here?". You heard his voice for the first time. Smooth and calm. "Oh I'm sorry Mr knight. I didn't think you'd be here right now. Look Uhm, let us just grab the girl real quick and we'll get out your hair."
One of the men with longer hair answered. "No! Please don't let them take me." You held on tightly to his arms not budging. The man who spoke rushed to grab you by the arm, "whoa whoa whoa.
Easy there. What the hell is going on here?" You hear James ask again. "Mr knight, this girl here owes our boss half a million dollars." You sigh, taking your face in your hands. "And needless to say,".
He continued "he'll be very upset with us if we went. back without her." "Mmh.. sounds like a personal problem. Get the fuck out of my kitchen." James thundered.
Widening your eyes, you grinned from behind James, as the guy who spoke earlier made an attempt to step closer, his partner held him back and apologized "You know, you know what? You're right.
We're sorry. We'll handle this. We'll take care of this. We're sorry Mr knight." Turning to you, he said "this isn't over yet." And they walked out.
"Bye." You blew a kiss as you answered smiling.
"That was close." Breathing out heavily, you smiled, reaching for the wine glass on the counter, downing everything you continued, "mmh, this is good. Good."
James scoffed, now turning to face you with his hands akimbo "Make yourself at home" he said sarcastically while you reached for the bottle and poured in a reasonable quantity into the glass cup.
Taking one sip again, laying the glass down, you look him up and down, taking in his appearance. His hair was neatly laid back with a little parting on the side.
You look at his neatly ironed white shirt with both arms folded neatly. The shirt was buttoned down two revealing a slight show of his chest, but you could tell how sexy and manly it appeared.
His pants were neatly ironed and held in place with a designer belt.
"Wait, what? Who wears a twenty-five thousand dollar suit to do kitchen or cooking duties?!" You thought to yourself immediately you realized what he was wearing.
Since you have a thing for clothes and fashion, you can recognize the original from the knockoffs at any time. "So Mr knight huh?" You asked casually. "Uh huh" "You sound like you have money" you continued, smiling seductively and adding a little accent to your tone.
Picking up the grape from the chopping board, you slowly drop it in your mouth, curling it slightly tighter around your finger and pulling it out while locking eyes with him, "what if we make a little deal?"
"And why would I do that?" He asked looking confused. You pick up another grape and walk slowly towards him.
"You see, I have a set of certain skills.." dropping the grape in your mouth once again and slowly licking off your fingers, "Maybe you'll find it useful."
You're now face close to him and give him a little smile. "I'll work on the back end, I promise. I'll work it off. I'll do anything."
Now closer than you were, still locking eyes with him. He locks his eyes on yours, holding it steady. The air is tense, and you feel hot but you can't help but notice his neatly shaved beard.
You can perceive his aftershave, but it's his cologne that has you having wild thoughts and suddenly you feel butterflies in your stomach as his lips curve into a smile, his eyes close in and his lashes long and thick.
He throws his head back up for a minute and you see his Adam's apple visibly. He has been silent for a while and as you're about to break the ice, it's like he suddenly found his voice because he asks in his deepest soothing voice, "Anything?".