Our flight lasted for 6 hours and 21 minutes before we landed in New York.
On arrival, someone was already at the airport to receive and take us to the hotel we would lodge in.
When we got to the hotel, I was mesmerized by the beauty and extravagance.
"Do you like it?" Damion whispered into my ear when he caught me openly looking around.
"Yes, it's worth liking." I responded and accompanied it with a smile which he returned.
"Would you like to see more of this?"
At his question, I frowned while giving him a suspicious look.
"See more?" I inquired and his smile stretched as his eyes held mine in place.
"Yes. I don't mind taking you to different expensive hotels."
His words made my cheeks go red as I began to think things I shouldn't for now.
As if satisfied with how I looked, he chuckled and looked away.
Thankfully, we were given separate rooms.
Despite that, as I was about to enter mine, Damion held me back.
"Once you freshen up, kindly meet me in my room."
The thing I couldn't keep up with was the way he stared at me without hiding it.
"Alright," I said in a low voice but he didn't let go of my wrist immediately.
"I hope I'm not rushing it?"
His question came out of the blue but thankfully I answered naturally without stuttering.
"Of course not, it's natural."
What's natural, Arleen? My brain asked me.
"Alright then, I'll see you."
With that, he let go of my wrist and headed in the direction of his room which was just right across mine.
I absentmindedly stood there as I watched his broad back and took in his well built structure.
When I realized what I was doing, I quickly went in and shut the door behind me before covering my face in shame.
Gosh! Damion really got me hooked unto me.
*
I knocked lightly and listened for his answer.
"Come in."
On hearing that, I fixed myself in case anything was out of place before stepping in.
It didn't take long for me to sight him because he was seated on a plush armchair with his leg crossed while going through his iPad.
"Mr Damion…"
"Damion," he calmly reminded me and I loved how he said it, it made my heart flutter.
"Damion," I repeated while noting it in my head.
"Are you uncomfortable? Please come sit with me." He invited and I went to the vacant chair close to his.
Once I sat down, I found him still staring at me. Actually, he was observing me.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?"
"Not at all, I'm just getting used to us being…together." I hesitated because it sounded foreign but nice to say it.
He smiled and dropped the iPad on the center glass table.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything until you're comfortable with me as your man." He assured me and I nodded.
"They brought our meal not long ago, let's eat."
At the mention of food, it was then I noticed a fancy table with two chairs and well covered dishes already set. There was a vase of red roses and a clean steel bucket containing ice blocks and a bottle of champagne.
Now, do I call this a date? Does it count as one?
Getting up after him, we went over and like a gentleman, he pulled out the chair for me.
"Arleen."
"Hmm?" I looked up at him as he hadn't left my side. Our eyes locked and it felt like eternity until he spoke.
"Are you nervous?"
"Slightly," I breathed the answer.
"That's better," he rubbed my upper arm briefly and left my side.
Once he was seated opposite me with just the table between us, he took off the lid of each dish.
It was a sight to behold especially with the fact that I was a lover of food.
I didn't even know where to begin.
"Dig in," he said as if noticing how conflicted I was in selecting one.
However, before I could serve myself, he helped me.
"You didn't have to," I said.
"It's alright."
At that moment, my phone rang and since it was on the table, I saw the dialer. It was Clifford!
When I looked at Damion, I found him staring at my phone screen as well. But he didn't stop there, he shifted his gaze to me as if waiting to see what I would do.
Something in me wanted to answer it but another thing also told me to decline the call.
Without thinking twice, I declined the call and put it on silent.
That way, Clifford would know that I was with Damion.
"Eat up, we have a lot to do."
Damion reminded and I nodded in understanding.
As I began to eat, Damion's phone rang but since it was in his pocket, I couldn't see who it was.
Nevertheless, when he answered it, I immediately knew who it was and it made me feel a certain kind of way.
"Miss Beverley?"
Why was she calling him? I was already irritated at her.
"Yes, I was."
He responded to a question she asked which I didn't know.
Why was I even being suspicious when he told me there was nothing to worry about?
I quickly shook every evil thought out and focused on eating.
"You're here?"
My ears perked up as I instantly looked at Damion with wide eyes.
Why was she in New York?
Did they invite her as well?
Oh good lord! I groaned internally.
"Alright then."
From the way he responded, I was certain they were definitely going to meet up.
Once he ended the call, he smiled at me and it made me more curious.
"Beverley is here but she didn't come alone. She's here with someone who will be a huge addition to our business."
I blinked at his words because I wasn't expecting that.
"Can you guess who?" He couldn't stop smiling and it made me more curious and happy for him.
Hopefully, it wasn't a woman.
"I don't think I can guess of anyone," I truthfully said.
"It's the CEO of Shares Enterprise and Holdings."
My heart dropped and so did my mouth as I went completely speechless.
"I was expecting that reaction too. I'm as excited as you are, Arleen. This is huge!"
This was NOT huge! I screamed internally as my eyes went wide.
From the looks of it, it was obvious Damion didn't know who Clifford was as well as the CEO of Shares Enterprise & Holdings.
But will it ring a bell in Damion's mind when the CEO introduces himself as Clifford?
Now this was a complete mess!