CHAPTER FOUR

Ella opens the door to her sister's room, she peeks inside and is wowed by her sister's reflection in the mirror. "Oh my word! You look breathtakingly beautiful Karin. How did you come to know all these tit bits in fashion?" She walks in and quietly shuts the door. "And it's of course my opinion." She says and roll her eyes upward before her sister could chime in. She perches by the edge of the bed, her eyes not leaving her sister for a second.

She continues "When do you expect our mystery man?"

Karin turns around to face her sister and smirks. "You think I look good? Give me your rating then." Taking the interest off Johan.

Ella smiles to her eyes. "Not to be bias sis, I'll give you a 10. So tell me how you came to know all these tricks".

Karin laughs a little. "I watched you and researced about some tips on the internet." She walks towards the bed and sits on her overstuffed stool to put on her cat's heel Hermes sling back pair of pointed shoes. "Do you think I should go casual? I'm a little skeptical about my choice of outfit, I feel a little overdressed since it's just dinner at his house." She looks up at her sister.

Ella shrugs. "I don't think you're overdressed Karin. What if it's a candle light dinner? Besides, you need to dress to impress at all times and I have never seen you like this. I'll suggest you feel the way you look. Gorgeous that is! Every detail is on point." She appraises her sister's form with her eyes.

Karin still looks unsure, and doesn't want to send the wrong message to Johan. "It is just a brewing relationship Ella and I don't want him to feel I'm out with my fangs, I just don't want to send the wrong message."

Ella laughs a little. "Will you relax and please try to enjoy his reactions. It's only when you do, will you get to know the message you put out. By the way, I don't think you went over the top, like I said earlier, everything is on point and I never thought I'll get the opportunity to discuss your outfit and you going out on a date. Please try to enjoy yourself, you deserve it ok Sis." Giving her a thumbs up.

Karin sighs again breathing out through her mouth. "Ok, I'll do my best." She gets up, walks towards the mirror for one last appraisal, just then her mobile phone rings and she looks down at the caller ID. She gently picks the phone from the dressing table and answers on the second ring. "Hi, I'm good, and you? I'll be down in the next seven minutes, see you!" She looks at her sister through the mirror as she disconnects the call, a nervous look crosses her features.

Ella gives a thumb's up smiling. "Don't give me that! Besides we just discussed it please you have to enjoy yourself. The moment is now, gloat on his reactions the moment he lays his eyes on you and please you won't leave out any detail when you return." She gets up and walks out, giving sister time to herself.

Karin stares after her sister, her nervousness dissipating as she quietly shuts the door behind her. She goes to pick her purse, opens it to ensure everything essential is not missing, she puts her mobile phone inside and snaps it shut. She hangs it over her shoulder and gently walks out.

***

Karin's dad gets up the moment he caught a glimpse of her. Very impressed by her choice of outfit, he smiles to his eyes, and as always, proud of the woman she has become. "You look gorgeous my dear. This makes me eager to meet this young man." He goes to hold her hands and squeezes them lovingly. "Do you suppose I walk you out so I get to meet him, skipping all your formalities?"

Karin smiles up at her Dad. "Of course NO Dad! We've reached an agreement and we're sticking by it." She scrunches her nose for emphasis. "I have to go now, don't wait up and yes, I'll be fine." She raises his right hand to caress her cheek. "I love you Dad, never forget that ok?" She releases his grip and turns to leave.

Just then Ella walks into the living room, carrying a tray of two mugs of hot cocoa, "Have fun!" she says walking past her sister towards her father and hands him a mug and then turns to see her sister's retreating form.

***

Immediately the front door opens, Johan comes out of his Ferrari. He walks towards the mini gate and gapes at the transformed Karin walking towards him, wondering if he wasn't imagining her the way she looked. He pinches his left palm and his forearm hard and quickly closes his mouth before he gets caught at his folly; he replaces it with a bright smile. Who would imagine that she could look this stunning huh?

Karin on her part smiles down at Johan as she comes down the steps leading to the mini exit gate.

As she approaches the mini gate, she sees the ride he came in but needed to be sure so she asks. "Is that the ride you came with?"

Johan shrugs "Yes! Could there be any problem with it?"

Karin looks into his eyes and stops, almost by the gate. "I hope I didn't disappoint with my appearance though!"

Johan frowns a little, taken aback by her proclamation. "That's odd, that's really odd Karin! Why on earth did you say that?" Retuning her gaze.

Karin remains at her spot "I'm serious Johan, I wasn't expecting you'd change your ride for this occasion you know, it's just a date at your place, nothing special right?"

Johan resigns, he holds the bars of exit gate with both hands, and breathes out through his mouth. "Ok, I felt like it and I can assure you that you exceed my expectations tonight and I'm glad I drove her instead of the SUV, I feel honoured!"

Karin smiles in disbelief "Well I guess we're both honoured. Thanks for the compliment by the way." She covers the remaining distance, unlocking the gate and waits a little while he pulls it open.

He reaches out to her and she obliges him by placing her hand in his extended hand as he leads her to the passenger side of his ride. He gently opens the door and helps her in, quietly shuts it and then goes round to help himself in as well. The car roars to life and he speeds off.

***

Karin thought coming to pick her up in his Ferrari was a little over the top but his apartment in a secluded area a little out of town was over the top for her.

The sparsely decorated yet cozy living room with the larger than life ceiling to floor size TV set, and tucked away sound system. This man is living the life here.

The fireplace is Karin's favourite spot. The Turkey carpet, two overstuffed ottoman and their matching overstuffed chairs fits perfectly.

She goes to feel the chair and ottoman "Wow! Just as soft and cozy Johan, well done!" She smiles up at him.

Johan returns her smile "Thank you. Let's go see the rooms and my favourite spot." He extends his left hand to her, and she gladly accepts, the gesture slowly becoming a habit of theirs.

He smiles warmly at her. "That's my woman and wife to be!" And then winks at her.

Karin blushes averting her gaze.

He begins the tour from the guest room, most likely her room or his, depending on her choice because he intends to allow her choose any of the the three rooms available.

The guest room is a little spacious, and somewhat cozy. It has a standard size bed, bed stool, closets, standard dressing table and a comfy overstuffed chair with a small coffee table, close to the window overlooking the street below. She nods her head indicating her approval of the furnishings and pats his arm unconsciously. "This aspect of you is pretty interesting I must say Johan!"

Johan frowns briefly his eyes zeros in on her, waiting for her to elaborate. "What aspect Karin?"

Karin looks at him briefly, her gaze returning to the room to scrutinize further, not leaving out any detail. "I was referring to the furnishings, your choice of colours, from the entryway to the living room and now this room, I like what I've seen so far. It's simple but stylish, well done again."

Johan stares at her, dumbfounded by what she just said. He's liking this woman so far, her critical side isn't bad at all, she expresses herself in a way he didn't expect, not trying to make comparisons here but she's beginning to feel too good to be true. He dashes back to reality.

Karin looks up at Johan after taking in all her eyes could see. "What's up, did I say something off?"

Johan smiles down at her and shakes his head a little. "No..." He clears his throat "Absolutely no, I'm just surprise you like everything you've seen so far..."

Karin cuts in "It makes you wonder what kind of person am I right?" She chuckles "I am rather amazed that nothing has put me off, the colours are friendly, the ambiance is on point, you know what I mean right?"

Johan squints and shakes his head for emphasis. "No, I don't!"

Karin continues "Ok, navy blue and white to me is a very cool combination for the living room, the dining room, and the hallway." She pauses, thinking she's said enough but seeing he wants to her to go on, she continues. "I never thought sultry green and white could be this cool Johan, I'm in love with your apartment. I didn't have any expectations, just curious that's why I agreed to come and dine at your place but the decor and shades have blown me away, thank you for inviting me!" She gently squeeze his right arm for emphasis, smiling up at him.

Johan shrugs and returns her smile "Thank you for your kind words beautiful, they mean a lot." He guides her gently out of the room so they can continue their tour.

They walk towards a door, Karin expects him to stop so she could see the room but he pulls her on and she looks up at him wondering why they hadn't stopped so she could see it.

She sees his jaw tightens and an undefined look crosses his features so she stops herself from asking why they hadn't stopped.

Johan felt her questioning look but didn't bother to look down at her. "That use to be my ex's room while she was staying here." He pauses and sighs "Her things are still in there, she left without them and I haven't bothered to have them sent to her." He now looks at her "Perhaps you'd be willing to assist me with that when you move in because I've kept it locked since she moved out, I didn't want to wander into the room and go down memory lane, do you understand my point?" He raises his eyebrows.

Karin nods, but comes to a halt lost in thought. She'll have to move in with him after getting married, she has to chew and digest that aspect of their agreement. Can she really live with him, must anything transpire between them, is it really necessary? She breathes out through her mouth and shut her eyes trying to calm her racing heart. She's never done anything like this before, but she has to; after all it's just for two months right?

Johan watched her, wondering what was going through her mind. He gently nudges her "Karin! Are you ok?"

Karin snaps out of her thoughts and looks up at him, attempting a smile but falling short. "Hmm yeah I am. I'm just..."

Johan cuts in "If it's about you sending Zenith's things to her when you move in, don't think about it too much, I can handle that ok?"

Karin tries to explain herself "No, that's not it Johan I'm..."

Johan cuts her off again "Then is it about you moving in after we're married?"

Karin opens her mouth to explain her thoughts but shuts it, not having anything to say.

Johan laughs out loud, hoping he'd figured her train of thoughts and shakes his head. "You'll have to move in Karin! How do we prove we're married if we live apart?"

Karin frowns a little...

Johan raises his hands "Ok beautiful, don't get me wrong here and don't worry your pretty head about nothing. I won't hurt you, I don't plan to but let's allow circumstances decide if anything will transpire between us ok! Whatever your train of thoughts are."

He chuckles and holds her by her shoulders, guiding her towards the next room. "And this here beautiful is the Master's suite" He opens the door for her "Bon appetit!"

Karin gapes at the expanse "Woah this is large Johan!! This is a seven star treat, you know I may kick you out right after we're married." She smiles up at him and scrunches her nose. "Just kidding ok! May I?"

He gently pushes her in "You may. Find me in the kitchen when you are through." He turns to leave but Karin stops him.

She touches his arm lightly "Are you sure?" Her gaze unflinching.

He returns them "I don't mind in anyway Karin. I'll see you when you are through." He leaves her to feed her eyes.

Karin watch him go but waits a little, staring at the empty doorway to know if he was serious.

To her surprise, he was. Not even a little peek to indicate he was still there. And so she starts exploring.