Ava rushed home for two reasons: a date and something she couldn't quite figure out. The question was nagging at her. Why was she so anxious about this date? Feeling a mix of enthusiasm, joy, excitement, and confusion, all for one guy—Alex.
Does that mean I like him?
We've only talked once, so how is that even possible?
Maybe it's those captivating red eyes of his, the charm that draws women close to him. "Mother," I mumbled as I dropped my bag in the living room and headed to the kitchen, kissing her cheek. "I'm home."
"How was work today?" she asked, still chopping onions.
"It was awesome, just like always," I replied, unable to share the fact that I was spanked. "You didn't go to work today?" I asked, noticing her shake her head.
"You see, my child," she smiled, pulling a chair out and sitting down. "I got fired. The boss wanted to spend the night with me, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." I watched as my mother explained the situation. "And now I'm feeling like I made the wrong decision because this is the last bit of food we have in the house. You haven't received your pay, and I'm fired from the job where I usually get my salary in advance."
"Mother," I muttered, moving closer to her. "You did the right thing. You don't have to sacrifice your dignity for this. I will ask for my salary tomorrow. The man I work for is good; he will help. Stop worrying." My mother has always been young; she practically got married at fifteen and gave birth at sixteen, so now she's just thirty-four, still young and beautiful.
"I don't want you doing things that will get you into trouble, my child. You're still young," she said, shaking her head. "I will find a job tomorrow and..." I interrupted her, shaking my head and looking into her eyes.
"No, mother. From now on, I want you to rest, gain some weight, and start looking young again," I said, wiping away her tears and kneeling. "You're my mother and my best friend. I will do anything to make you happy, okay? You've lost a lot of weight, and I hate seeing you like this... If Father were to see us now, he would be angry."
Mother chuckled. "It's true. He always liked his women with some flesh on their bodies." She never talked about Dad before. It always made her cry. "I better get to cooking then."
"Oh, Mother, I have a date, so I need to get ready," I said, nodding, and stood up, moving out of the kitchen. But she said something that stopped me in my tracks.
"Thank you, Ava. I couldn't ask for a better child," she said, smiling. I moved to the living room, kissed Luke's head, and then ran upstairs to my room. Walking into the shower, I took my time bathing, but when I saw the time, almost eight, I had to hurry up.
Coming out of the bathroom, I rubbed lotion on my body, put on my underwear, and then picked up a red strapless dress with a V-shaped neckline, showcasing my cleavage.
Brushing my hair, I applied some hairspray, did a natural makeup look, and put on some lip gloss. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I bit my lower lip. It looked like I was seducing someone. This dress felt a little too tempting. I thought about changing, but then I heard my mother's voice.
"Ava, I think your date is here!" she called out. I shook my head; there was no time to change anymore.
"Coming!" I yelled.
Grabbing my purse, I walked downstairs to the living room. When Alex's gaze landed on me, I watched as he stood up, wearing a red suit that complemented his eyes. The suit jacket was draped over his shoulder, his hair neatly combed.
Approaching him, I smiled. "How do I look?" He shook his head and then smiled.
"Amazing, I mean, you look beautiful," I laughed and watched as he extended his hand. "Shall we go?" I nodded, kissed my mother and Luke, and then left with him. I stared in awe at the limousine he had brought.
"You have a limo?"
"Yes, since today is special, I decided to bring it," he winked before opening the door for me. "My lady?" I laughed and stepped in, and he followed suit. "Which restaurant would you prefer?" he asked, gazing at me closely. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear to hide my nervousness. He was close.
"I'm not good at selecting restaurants," I mumbled, and he nodded.
"I figured. So we'll be going to the Foodie restaurant."
"Isn't it too expensive?" I mumbled. "I mean, it's the biggest restaurant in New York. We shouldn't..."
"My love," he smiled. "It's okay. I own the restaurant, so it isn't a big deal."
"You own it?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes, I do."
Alex walked behind me as we stepped into the VIP section of the restaurant. The food was already placed on the table, there was soft music playing, the windows were open, and the door was shut, leaving the two of us alone. "It's beautiful," I mumbled, staring out the window. "You can see the whole city from up here."
"It is beautiful," I replied, my gaze not moving from her face. When she noticed that I was referring to her, she blushed, which made her even more beautiful. "Hungry?"
"Starving."
I helped her sit down, pulling out a chair and sitting opposite her, giving me a good view of her lovely face. "Aren't you hungry? You're not eating," she asked while eating her fried rice and chicken.
"I'm not hungry," I replied, placing my elbow on the table and resting my head on my palm. "I would like to know what work you do, your job."
"My job," she lifted her head and looked at me. "I'm a maid. I work in... a huge mansion, the Bertillon residence."
"I see," I replied, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sudden change in conversation. "He's a very professional and respectful boss. There's no need to worry about anything like that." Trying to divert the topic, I took a sip of water, hoping to bring the focus back to our meal.
But then, he surprised me with a question that caught me off guard. "Can I kiss you?" I felt my eyes widen, and my cheeks flushed as I tried to comprehend his request. "What??" I stammered, feeling a mix of confusion and surprise. He repeated his question, leaning in closer to me.
I watched as he moved, observing the desire in his eyes and the way he licked his lips. It was tempting, but something inside me felt cautious. Before I could respond, he closed the distance between us, only for me to quickly turn my head, causing his lips to land on my cheek instead.
I could sense his disappointment, and my heart raced with a mix of both relief and confusion. "I...I'm sorry," I managed to stammer, feeling a bit flustered. "I think we should take things slow. I believe in building a strong foundation in any relationship before taking such intimate steps. Let's focus on getting to know each other better and see where our connection leads us."
His expression softened, and he nodded, clearly respecting my boundaries. "You're right. I apologize for being too forward. Let's enjoy our meal and continue our conversation." Resettling into our seats, we returned to our meal, the conversation flowing more comfortably as we discussed our interests, dreams, and aspirations.
At that moment, I felt grateful for his understanding and our mutual respect. It was a reminder that taking things slow and building a solid connection was important, and I knew in my heart that it was the right decision for both of us.