Liam
Where the fuck is she?
I'm not used to waiting.
Normally, women are so excited to be with me that they arrive early, if not at least on time.
But not Claire. She apparently has to be defiant in every way. Whether she's late on purpose or not, she probably has left me waiting in some unconscious way. I know she's fighting the fact that we could be together. I know she's fighting her feelings.
Why couldn’t she would just embrace me and the moment, and quit worrying about the future? I certainly don't think about it. I just want her, tonight. One step at a time.
I've picked a private restaurant called The Rare Well to dine in. It requires VIP access which, of course, I have. I like places that are private, and that normal people don't get into.
Besides, this place is romantic. This table is set with tall candles and crystal and roses. It's dimly lit, and our table is away from prying eyes, by the window.
I'm aiming to impress her. Normally, I don't go all out for a girl but Claire's somehow different. I want her to think highly of me. And I know she deserves the best.
She walks in unbelievably half an hour late. For a moment I'm taken aback by how hot she looks. She's got some kind of small black dress on and killer heels. Her legs are defined, and I imagine spreading them wide and entering her.
I note the fact that she looks anxious and that pleases me. She should feel anxious around me. I'm gonna make her come from here into eternity.
I rise to greet her and kiss her on both cheeks. The hostess takes her fluffy fur coat and I'm glad that Claire will have nothing to cover up with for the remainder of the dinner.
We sit down, and I reprimand her for being late. I don't wait for anyone.
"You're late," I say with an unyielding tone.
She senses my displeasure and that makes me happy. She should know I'm not like other men. I won't be at her beck and call, rather she'll be at mine.
"I'm sorry Liam, I was working late and then in the...bath a little too long."
My eyes narrow upon her as I digest the meaning of what she said. She was in the bath, huh?
Suddenly, I feel like being less stern. I wonder what she was doing in there and who she was thinking about?
I decide to drop it.
"Well, you look beautiful," I say to her honestly.
She looks like a million bucks. This girl could be a supermodel. What is she doing in the design world when she could so easily make money off her looks?
It's refreshing to date someone that looks like a supermodel but who can also relate to me during conversations. I love that Claire and I have the same interests because were in the same field of business. It makes me feel like I could talk to her for hours about anything.
"Thank you, Liam, really that means a lot," she says.
God, this girl cannot be sweeter. She's like a princess, strong but determined, bold yet sensitive. She's a walking contradiction. She's complicated.
And that turns me on probably more than anything else.
I love a good challenge, an interesting puzzle, and I love that there are many layers to her. I'm dying to unwrap her and to see what's inside. You can't take her at face value. She's beautiful yes, but she also has a lot going on inside and that interests me more than anything.
"So, do you like the place of picked out?" I ask.
She looks around the room and before giving her reply.
"Actually, all of this glamour is a little hard for me to take in. It's beautiful here, yes, but I'm not used to this kind of lifestyle."
"Is that so?" I ask. "Well, you needn't feel that way. It's only money."
"No, Liam, you don't understand. I don't dine in places like this. I eat frozen dinners like every night."
I laugh. Her humility is humorous and becoming.
"So you don't like my choice?" I tease.
"The decor in here inspires me. As a designer, aesthetics are everything."
“Then you will love my penthouse. It was designed by one of the foremost architects in the city."
"I'm sure I will," she says.
"How about we order some wine? I know they have a great vintage here," I offer.
"Yes, that'd be great."
She looks a little nervous and the apprehension turns me on. My cock is getting hard beneath my pants and it's starting to get uncomfortable sitting here like this. I wish I could take her to the powder room and fuck her brains out. But no, Claire's a lady and I will treat her as such, for the time being.
The waiter comes over and I order a bottle of their finest red.
Soon we are dining and drinking, and it feels like the perfect evening.
"So, how's your campaign going for Velvet Luxe?" Claire asks.
I think about her question for a minute and decide how much I should divulge.
"It's going really well, actually. My team is working hard on it," I say.
"Mine too," she says over a sip of wine. "Actually, it's just me. I don't want anybody touching this project except for me. It's that important and it's that exciting."
"I guess that makes us different, doesn't it?" I say to her, probing her for reaction. "You see, I tend to delegate and to trust my people.
She looks slightly pissed.
"I trust my team, Liam. But I also like to get my hands dirty in the creative process."
"Like I said, we're different," I say.
"I guess we are," is all she says.
I have a feeling she doesn't respect the way I work. This could be our biggest point of contention. But I know that by doing everything herself, Claire is setting herself up for failure. It's important to commission work to other people. This, I think, is why her company is failing.
I'm anxious to turn the conversation away from work. I know Evan wants me to spy on her and to try to gain access to her ideas, but I know I won't be able to do that over dinner. There's no way she's gonna tell me what she's working on.
Instead, I turn the conversation away from work to something more substantial. I want to take the opportunity to get to know her.
"So where did you go to school?" I ask.
"Oh, a design school on the West Coast. From there I made it my mission to build up my own company. I never wanted to work for a suit, in the corporate world, and I still don't," she says.
She says the words and I know she's referring to me. I'm the ultimate suit.
"Well, the corporate world isn't so bad. There are perks, vacations, a gym, and a very ample bonus structure."
Her blue eyes stare directly into my own and I feel the heat, the connection between us.
"I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in working in a flexible, innovative environment. I'm inspired by beauty, not the money," she says without flinching.
Again, she's so direct. I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. I have a mind to bend her over my knee and to spank that tight little ass.
Every time she defies me and opposes what I say, it makes me want her more. It makes me want to dominate her into submission. Let her try to resist me then.
This has been an interesting evening, but it's not over yet. Internally, I make it my personal mission to make sure that Claire will be begging for it tonight.
We finish our wine and I offer to take her on a little stroll around the city before going back to my penthouse.