- Ella -
had to redo my makeup twice when I was getting ready. I kept putting on one too many coats of mascara, and I didn’t want it to be obvious that I wanted to look pretty.
However, I figured there was no harm in wearing something a little less conservative so I went to Macy’s with my gift card and picked out something that was form fitting without being too revealing. After all, I didn’t want Will to think I was always as serious as I was at work. The dinner was supposed to be a prize, and prizes were supposed to be fun. Or so I kept reminding myself.
I was actually so nervous the cab driver asked me if I was okay. That’s when I realized I needed to relax. I was getting too worked up, and if I continued down that path, I was liable to choke on something again. Or worse. So I took a few deep breaths and practiced telling Will my concept for the Christmas party in my head. Then I pictured him being blown away by my creativity and saying that hiring me was the best decision he ever made. Which made me feel a smidge better.
When I got out of the cab, though, I was nervous all over again. The restaurant didn’t look like the kind of place that served sandwiches. I just hoped it wouldn’t be one of those places where everything on the menu was impossible to pronounce. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself.
As soon as I saw the hostess, I focused on making my way towards her while doing my best to ignore the surroundings so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed. It was just a restaurant I kept telling myself. He was just a man. There was no reason to freak out.
“Good evening Miss.”
“Hi,” I said, looking past her at the crème colored, candle lit room.
“May I have your name?”
“Ella,” I said, admiring the far wall which featured a fresco of the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet.
The woman scrunched up her face. “Are you here to meet someone, Ella?” The woman looked me up and down like it was up to her whether I was allowed in or not.
“Oh, yes!” I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. “Oops. Sorry. I’m here to meet William Abbott.”
The tip of her nose seemed to lower by several degrees. “Welcome to Capulets, Ella. Any friend of Mr. Abbotts is a friend of ours.”
I really didn’t think friendship was in the cards for us, but I appreciated her changing her tune.
“Allow me to show you to your table.”
“That would be lovely,” I said, dropping in line behind her.
“Is this your first time here?” she asked over her shoulder.
“It is, yes.”
“Well you’re in for a treat.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”
She turned around. “It’s Claudia.”
“Nice to meet you.”
She led me through a wooden archway into a smaller dining room. I saw him right away and felt my breath catch in my throat even before he stood up. It was like everything went blurry around him and he was the light at the end of the tunnel.
At some point, Claudia disappeared, too, and I arrived beside the table.
He leaned forward and touched his cheek to mine. “Hello Cinderella.”
I felt my heart swell in my chest. “Hello, Will.”
He pulled my chair out and I sat down.
When he took his seat across from me, I think I actually salivated a little.
“Did you find the place okay?”
“The cabbie did,” I said, pulling my shawl off my shoulders and draping it on the chair behind me.
He leaned forward and the light of the candle between us was reflected in his eyes. “You look absolutely stunning.”
I pursed my lips.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying that.”
“Not at all.” I wanted to tell him he looked pretty damn amazing, too, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it professionally. Plus, I figured he already knew how good he looked.
“I feel like I’m the one that won a prize here.”
I felt my lips curl up. “You’re very kind.”
He was staring at me like I was a unicorn or something, like he was as enchanted by me as he was happy to see me.
I worried I might melt right off my chair.
His smile went crooked. “Do you really think that’s an appropriate dress to wear out to dinner with your boss, though?”
I looked down and my face fell. “I’m sorry. I thought-”
“I’m kidding. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“You like it then?” I smoothed my hands over the bodice of the navy dress. “I got it at Macy’s.”
“Like it?” He laughed. “I think they should stop selling it. There’s not a woman in this city who would wear that dress if she saw the way it looks on you.”
Oh god he was flirting with me. Maybe Jackie was right.
“Mr. Abbott.” A bright eyed waiter appeared next to our table. “Can I get you and your guest something to drink?”
“I’ll have another gin and tonic, James.” He turned to me. “They make the best in the city. Would you like to try one?”
“Please,” I said, deciding that the situation was overwhelming enough without me being stubborn about what I wanted.
James nodded and placed two thin menus upright on the edge of our table before disappearing.
Will picked up the menus and handed one to me. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving.” I flipped it open. “I didn’t have lunch like you said.”
“You won’t be sorry.”
At first glance, I wasn’t sure if the descriptions on the menu were for food or an exhibition at Moma. “This is a pretty fancy menu.”
Will raised his thick eyebrows. “Is there nothing you like?”
“There’s nothing I don’t like.”
A smile spread across his face.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place that didn’t have prices on the menu.”
“No?”
I shook my head.
“Have you heard the rule that you shouldn’t eat anywhere where you have to check the prices?”
“Yeah, but I’ve still never heard of a priceless menu.”
“Maybe you’ve never had priceless food?”
“Intriguing.” I dragged my finger from item to item. “What do you get?”
“The filet.”
I laughed. “Of course you do.”
He cocked his head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I’m just not surprised.”
“Do you really find me that predictable?”
“Yes and no.”
“I suppose you wouldn’t even be thinking about getting the salmon then?”
I looked up at his twinkling eyes.
“What makes you think that?”
“Well at lunch you talked about how it was your favorite food for a good ten minutes.”
“Actually, I was thinking about getting the venison,” I lied.
“They’re both delicious.” He straightened in his chair and his shoulders seemed to stretch across the room. “But if you get the salmon, you might have more room for dessert.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I stole another glance at him and then looked back down at my menu.
He closed his and leaned back. “So, Cinderella. Is that who you’re named after?”
“Actually, I’m named after Ella Fitzgerald.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I know it seems that way since we don’t have much in common.”
“I bet you sing like a songbird.”
“I’m closer to being a singer than I am to being black, but they’re both a bit of a reach.”
He shook his head. “What a shame. Named after the first lady of song and you can’t sing.”
“It’s a cruel world.”
“Do you like jazz yourself?”
I shrugged. “I haven’t really given it a chance.”
He hung his head. “You don’t know what you’re missing. At least tell me you’ve heard Ella Fitzgerald’s Summertime.”
“I’m not sure.” I couldn’t believe how excited he was. I’d never seen him so animated.
“It’s so sexy it’s chilling. I have it on vinyl.”
I wasn’t surprised.
“I’ll play it for you sometime.”
I squinted at him. What was he doing? Telling me I looked beautiful? Saying he wanted to play sexy music for me? He certainly wasn’t making it easy for me to resist him.