Chapter 4

Matilda smiles at me after applying some eyeshadow on my eyelids. After I had accidentally blurted to her that tonight I was going out on a ‘date’ she insisted on stepping in and help me. But soon I realised it was not out of the kindness of her heart, but she wanted to milk out some information from me. As she asked a several times while applying foundation, concealer, a blush, and all the other products; who is this man? How did you meet? Why are you being secretive? Just tell me! But each time I did not let anything slip.

    “If he is sending a driver, it means he is loaded. Where the hell did you meet a business tycoon?” She inquires as she grabs the short velvet dress I pointed out earlier in my closet.

    “Who said he is a business tycoon?” I inquire with a light chuckle.

     “So he is not a business tycoon? Is he a celebrity?” She asks, silver eyes sparkling brighter in the well light bedroom.

I toss my head back laughing heartily. It is not everyday where I get to spend time with people my age.

    “Stop being ridiculous and help me get into that thing,” I say pointing to the dress in her hand.

She rolls her eyes but goes on to help me do just that. After zipping the dress up for me she says, “are you sure about the ponytail? We can pull it up into a bun.”

She looks cute with her face scrunched up like that.

     “I did not spend hours curling this hair to twist it up into a bun. Besides, I think I look maturer like this,” I argue, admiring my image from the mirror.

 “Maybe we should go for a lighter eyeshadow. The smokey eyes with the ponytail just makes you look tough. We should soften your features up,” she then says.

    “Are you kidding me?” I scoff.

    “You will scare this man away. Powerful man don't like independent, badasses like us,” she argues.

I laugh at her. Honestly, she is just too cute.

     “Give me those heels and stop talking nonsense,” I say still laughing.

She pouts but still does as I says. As soon as those shoes are on my feet, I hear a honk in the parking lot.

   “That must be my ride,” I puff out, rushing to grab my black trench coat and slipping it on, and Matilda hands me my purse.

We walk out of my apartment together, and only depart in the parking lot as she goes towards her white mini cooper. But we exchange smiles and she gives me a thumbs up as moral support I assume. I honestly wouldn't know because friends is not something I managed to make.

    “Good evening,” I say as soon as I enter the black Royce Rolls.

George, as I have grown to learn his name from his conversations with Robert. He seems to be a close entrusted employee of Robert although he is just his chauffeur.

  “Evening ma'am,” he says, pulling out of the curb.

   “Where exactly are we headed to?” I inquire looking out the window as we drive past my street.

George chuckles and says, “my boss would murder me if I tell you.”

    “Oh!” Is all I have to say.

The entire drive is done in silence. My mind trying to piece out where exactly we are going. My heart is racing as nerves coils in my guts. I can manage to get myself out of any situation but that does not mean I enjoy the action.

After what feels like hours which is probably just an hour, we finally drive through a rocky small trail that leads up to a black steel gates. A Vineyard coming into sight, and a cabin house peeking far ahead.

   “It's a private estate,” is the only thing George says to me.

I am honestly too perplexed by the beauty. I can see a barn now coming to view on our far right. The car comes to a stop just in front of the cabin, through the windows I can see a few rooms lit up. The porch has two cute swinging chairs swamped with cushions, a round table pushed aside on top of it it had stacks of books.

     “You can head inside ma'am,” he says flatly, looking at me through the rearview mirror. “The longer you stay in here, the more you put my life in jeopardy,” he chuckles but I can hear the small quiver behind it.

I flash him a soft smile and a curt nod. I slip out of the car and gently close the door behind me. The tiny rocks crack at every step I take to the cabin. I climb the only step and onto the porch I am. My eyes briefly glancing at the stack of books now I make out to be magazines. I draw a deep breath raising a fist up to knock the door.

I can hear crickets croaking from afar. The air is cold and moist. My eyes dart around the area being lit up by the lamp poles scattered around. The door is yank open pulling me out of my thoughts.

    “Oh great you've arrived. I almost burnt the gravy but was saved by some saving grace,” he chuckles leaning in to suck in a waft of my scent before pecking my cheek. “Come on in. You must be cold,” he says grabbing my by the arm and pulls me inside.

I stumbled in seeing the dim lit place. The living room attached to the kitchen where the mouthwatering scent was wafting from. I work on removing my coat as my eyes keep taking in the cosy place. Then two additional hands are assisting me to remove the coat.

    “You look as beautiful as always,” he says just as the coat is caught in his hands.

I rub my sweaty hands on my dress, feeling my throat constricting.

    “A home cooked meal? Don't you think you are going overboard?” I inquire a bit nervous because this was not what I had in mind or even prepared for.

   “It’s a great way for us to get to know each other more. With no distractions. Besides, I love showing off my cutlery skills,” he muses, flashing me a smile as he returns to the kitchen, coat ditched in the closet by the door. “Just take a seat. Starters will be served soon,” he says, gesturing to the small round table already set up in the kitchen.

I chuckled softly shaking my head. I did not expect a man like Robert Hoffman to be a romantic.

   “Don't you think you are moving too fast?” I inquire as I watch him plate what looks like garlic bread and a bowl of gravy.

   “Fast?” He inquires as he carefully approaches the table with the starters. “Pardon me if this is ‘too fast’ for you. But I've never known how to move in a snail pace,” he says flashing me a smile.

   “You don't say,” I tease, watching him pour us both a glass of chaddiney to go with his starters. 

He watches me with a soft smile as I break the bread and dip it into the gravy. I look at him confused and he beckons me with his head to eat. I cautiously pop the pieces of bread in my mouth and chew slowly.

    “And? How is it?” He inquires.

I force a smile on my lips and nod my head as a proval but honestly said, “a bit salty.”

   “Salty?” He complains with a slight frown. He takes a bit of his own and glares at me, “either it your taste buds or mine but I think it's fine!” He argues.

I chuckle but nod my head. Soon the starters is replaced by the main meal. Which is also good and less salty but a bit spicy. The right amount of spice. He mentions that he likes spicy food but went easy on the pepper for my sake.

    “If this is how good you can cook, I cannot wait for dessert,” I joke with a bit of flirtation.

Robert laughs gathering the almost empty plates back into the kitchen. He goes to the fridge and retrieves two white dessert mugs. Instead of coming back to the table her gestures towards the living room with his head.

    “How about we enjoy these close to the fire going,” he says.

And indeed the fire was crackling in the fireplace. I stand up and follow him into the living room. I pull my dress down before plopping down on the couch then receiving the offered dessert. I peek inside as he settles next to me, it is apparently cheesecake.

 “It looks delicious,” I breathe out the compliment.

   “You look delicious,” he fires back almost making me choke on my own saliva.

It is silent for a moment as we both seem to be enjoying the cheesecake a little too much.

   “Robert,” I call out just as I set the empty mug on the coffee table.

   “Yes,” he says, also leaning over to place his empty mug next to mine.

  “I do not mean to pry, but…you are a well-known business mogul. A lot of information about you is scattered on the net. About April…I mean you two have been on and off for almost six years…”

   “You are worried she will come back and steal me from you?” He teases, shuffling closer as he places a hand on my exposed thigh.

My eyes briefly goes to that hand but quickly refocuses.

   “This is not a joke Robert. I don't want to mistake this as something serious when you are just passing time. I want to know exactly what you expect from this so we are both on the same page,” I say, gaging him on where he stands with us, playing along the sweet/good girl part.

His thumb rubs circles around my thigh, however his eyes are locked in with mine.

   “What me and April had is in the past. I loved…” he pauses and sighs looking away momentarily and then his eyes are back on mine again. “There is something about you Jen, that just call out to me. I don't know what it is yet but…I would love to stick around and find out,” he says, abandoning his previous statement.

I chuckle, but panic shoots through me when he suddenly gets even closer.

  “Is that what you tell all your girls?” I push out even as I watch his hand on my thigh suddenly gripping it tightly.

   “I do not just cook for anyone Jennie. I do not waste my valuable time on every whore that looks my way,” he says in a quiet voice.

I gulp, hearing my heart beating excruciatingly hard. My thoughts being mixed up in my head. He is leaning closer to me and I need to come up with a way to get out of this situation. But before I could, his lips connect with mine. I squeak in surprise but that does not derail him from ravaging my mouth.

His mouth is so skilled against mine that I find myself moaning. That sound alone encourages him to deepen the kiss as he pushes his tongue in my mouth. He sucks my lips harder as he pushes me onto the couch and hovers above me. His tongue coercing mine. A moan escapes me again as my arms snakes around his neck, fingers playing with the hair on the nape of his head. 

Puffs of breaths leaves my lips when he starts sucking on my neck, a roaming hand sneaking in between my thighs. I push against his torso, making him stop his tormenting touches and kisses. Dark, lustful eyes peering down at me a bit confused.

    “I think it is too early for us to be doing this,” I whisper.

A smile slowly stretches his lips.

   “No need to try to preserve yourself for me. I am already aware that you are a remarkable woman,” he says and leans in but I stop him again.

   “I think we should wait,” I suggest even as I squeeze my thighs together.

   “You are overthinking this sweetheart. We both want this,” he says his eyes dropping to my lips.

I gulp closing my eyes to clear my head. When I open them again I say, “don't break my heart Robert.”

Those words alone did exactly what I intended them to do. They caress his ego and shoot to his heart.

   “Never,” he promises and then dives back in to kiss me, and this time I allowed him, as I kissed him back as viscously and as intense as he does me.