While he drove his car along the freeway, I was left alone with my thoughts.
Is it really okay for a lady to go on a date with a man she slapped just a few weeks ago, a man who changed her clothing without permission, a man whom she doesn't know anything about except his first name?
"Pennies for them."
"Huh?"
"You're so quiet."
Alex glanced at me and there was a worry frown on his smooth forehead.
"Ahm... Mr. Alex Jude—"
"Just Alex."
"Okay, Just Alex, don't you think this is going too fast?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean this. Us. I-I mean I slapped you then I didn't say sorry for that then you went to my school then now we're going out then—" I spoke faster than a bullet train. I knew I wasn't making any sense.
He smiled and shook his head.
"Clarissa, you worry too much", then he glanced at me.
"It's going to be fine. I like you, you like me. We're both adults who are attracted to each other and so we're cool."
"But I don't know you and you don't know me, Alex."
"That's why we are going out on a date so we will get to know each other better. I really like you Claire and I don't want to let this chance go away", he explained, I felt like a was a child when he did that so I pouted.
"All right. Where are we going then?"
"My place."
"What?!"
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It was massive. His largely gated, bachelor mansion was enormous, magnificent and expensive. It spoke volumes of millions of dollars.
"Do you live with your parents?", I was so astounded I asked him that but gladly he wasn't offended. He looked amused, actually.
"No."
"Girlfriends?"
"Never."
I looked at him suspiciously.
"Wife? Kids? Boyfriend?"
"No, no and no", he laughed then he stopped the car at the garage, next to four other luxury cars which of course I didn't have any idea what models they were made of but I saw two motorcycles, big bikes! which looked like Harleys.
He went out of the car and went to my side door. Alex opened the car door for me and lend me his hand. I hesitantly took his offered hand, hoping he wouldn't feel the coldness of it. I started to get nervous.
This was my first date with him and immediately he brought me to his home.
Why?
He squeezed my hand and brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it.
"It's going to be okay Clarissa. I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to do", he gave me that sweet smile of his again and my heart flipped-flopped.
Oh my! This guy is so yummy, yum, yum! How can I resist him? Well, would I want to?
He ushered me towards a flight of stairs which I of course didn't noticed because I was busy checking out his place. It was located at the right side of the garage leading inside the house.
We took the stairs and there were several superhero paintings on the wall. It made me smile. They all looked like they were drawn by a 5-year old.
We went inside the house and I almost swooned.
Wow! It was double wow inside. The garden and the lawn outside was great but inside it was super duper greatness. I couldn't imagine how rich this stranger beside me was but really I started to get scared.
"Please sit down, I'll check our dinner", he kissed me gently on the cheek and left. I went to the sofa but I was a little shy to sit on it. It was made of a velvety dark blue cloth with light blue throw pillows on it. There were books and magazines at the bottom of the table in front of me. I looked around and I started to feel a little awkward.
He's so wealthy and he said he liked me.
Why me?
I sighed, slouched and placed my chin on my right hand and pouted. And that's the view he saw when he came back.
I didn't notice him yet but I heard a click. I glanced up and saw him holding a camera. He took a stolen shot of me.
"You're so cute when you do that."
"Do what?"
"Pout. It reminds me of when I first saw you."
I blushed.
"And that, too."
"Huh?"
"You, blushing."
He walked over to me and started clicking his camera, taking various pictures of me.
"Hey, stop it! Don't you know it's rude to take people's photos without their permission?"
"I have your permission."
"You don't. You never asked me and I didn't grant you anything else."
"So, you mean I have a permission to kiss you but I have no permission to take your stolen photos?"
He arched his left brow and my face reddened.
"You don't have permissions for both", I said in a small voice.
He pouted and I started grinning. He was so cute as he copied my expression and this guy really made my heart soar with his antics.
"Poor me, and here I thought I will end up bedding you tonight", he acted as if he was talking to himself.
"You have no permission for that, too!", I said in a loud voice. I almost screamed it and he chuckled.
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The dinner was so delicious, he said he prepared it himself and I thought he was jesting. However, he was serious. He was such a great cook. Actually he could cook better than me. My only specialty was boiling water and cook a simple pasta dish. The only cooking I could prepare perfectly.
During dinner time, we spoke a lot about my students so when we were done, I started asking him personal questions.
"How young are you, Alex?", I looked at him biting my lower lip.
"30."
"Oh! You're just the same age as Lloyd", I smiled widely. I ignored his frown.
"How long have you known him?", he asked, he sounded gruff. I was taken aback by that.
"Since I was 5, we were neighbors", I frowned.
"I see. He's on his honeymoon up until next month. I gave him 2 months off work."
Then I remembered, Lloyd worked for him.
"You're his boss. That's what he said."
I looked away from him. I suddenly remembered that terrible day I slapped him. I could die of embarassment now. I still didn't apologize about it.
I forgot my place again, here I was having dinner with him and I didn't even say sorry.
A rich guy/boss who showed me gentlemanly manners since he fetch me from home and I was a school teacher with no manners.
I didn't notice it but his frown turned into anger and I didn't know why but I sensed it when he spoke again.
"Do you still love him?"
"What?!", I looked up automatically. I was shocked by his question.
"O-of course, he's my friend Alex", I gave him a sad smile.
"I think you still do. That's why you were getting yourself drunk and partying like a wild girl on his wedding day. Did he ditched you? Did he marry Jenna for her money?!"
Alex was enraged now. I could feel him displacing his anger towards me. I started to see red and my face flushed, not because of embarassment but because of anger, too.
"Is that why you brought me here? So that you can asked me questions about your employee?", I looked at him incredulously but he kept quiet. I took that as a yes and that was my cue to leave.
"Why don't you ask him your questions instead of me, Mr. Alex Jude?!"
I got up and threw the napkin on the table and walked away. I gathered my purse which was on the bar near the dining table and left. He didn't go after me.
That horrible man!
He was letting me leave.
I could feel my eyes started to burn up. All I could think of was that the reason he brought me here was because he wanted to know about Lloyd and Jenna.
Was he Jenna's ex-boyfriend? Why was he so angry then?
I started sniffing. I could feel my eyes welling up. He said he liked me. I thought that was the reason he took me to his house. I went to the living room and then I looked around. There were three massive doors and a stairwell going up the second floor but I forgot which door was the way heading out.
I pouted and I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I felt like a little girl lost in space. Then I started crying huge tears.
He didn't want me. He lied to me and that hurts.
"Clarissa, I'm sorry..."
I gasped. I didn't hear him following me. I didn't want to turn around for he will see my tears. I wiped them again.
God! I'm shameless.
A grown woman acting like a child.
Why does he always see me in this state?
"Please say you'll stay, Clarissa", his voice pleaded.
I didn't answer him. I was afraid he might hear my cracking voice. I didn't want him to see me like this, too. I knew my make up was ruined now especially my mascara.
"Turn around, please. Please baby?"
I slowly turned but I bowed my head. He came closed to me, lifted my chin with his hand and wiped my tears with the back of his other hand.
"I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry. I was jealous, Clarissa. I don't want to see you sad, thinking of him. I want to erase the pain he caused you. I want you and I want to make you happy", I frowned, puzzled. Alex thought I was sad because of Lloyd.
Oh no!
"A-Alex, I—"
'"Shh...", he stopped me by placing his finger on my lips.
"I want you for myself , Clarissa. I want you to be mine. I want you from the first day I saw you. Will you be mine, baby? Now and forever?"
I couldn't looked away. I just stood there, breathing raggedly with my mouth half-parted, my heart racing. I felt I was hypnotized by this gorgeous hunk.
And the next thing I knew, I absentmindedly nodded my head at him.
Then he claimed my lips with his.