#Chapter 5: How could he be so perfect?

DORIS

The ladies continued their conversation with Arthur. It seemed innocent, but their questions were getting more pointed.

Brittney babbled. Is she flirting?

Arthur was polite but aloof; his subtly cutting words made him even more attractive.

Anna spoke up, asking him specific AmeriCapital questions.

My heart raced.

I tried to change the subject, but Anna wasn’t having it.

Anna definitely once said her boyfriend worked at AmeriCapital Investments.

The colleagues looked like they could see my guilty conscience.

These women should be my friends! Instead, they winked and continued to stare aggressively at Arthur.

Worse, they wouldn't stop asking questions, including if Arthur knew Peter, Anna's fiancé, an AmeriCapital executive.

I didn’t know what to do. I’m doomed.

AmeriCapital.

God, of all the companies I could choose, why did I pick that one? I berated myself.

I hoped to avoid disaster. Hopefully Anna's boyfriend wouldn't know.

Anna asked a pointed investment question.

Shit.

I could barely breathe.

I stiffened and turned my head to stare at the side of Arthur's face. Oh God, every line of his side was perfect. Especially his lips ...... were simply sexy.

Wait---

What was he talking about?

When I came back to my mind, he was already talking eloquently!

The financial jargon poured out of his soft, full lips. His tone was confident and elegant. His voice was magnetic.

He talked about the stock market with ease, and I was even impressed by his knowledge.

Amazing! How could he be so handsome? My heart was beating wildly. For him.

"Oh yes, your insights are very insightful, in fact I haven't heard such professional analysis in a long time ---I swear you're even more professional than my boyfriend ......"

Anna gazed at Arthur in fascination, even licking her lips.

I let out a breath. Apparently, we passed. It was like a miracle!

The women were suddenly polite to me. They hung on Arthur’s every word.

“Ladies, it’s been lovely meeting you,” Arthur said, putting his hand on my lower back. “It’s time I take my girlfriend out of the rain.”

He steered me away, and I was glad. We walked quickly.

I felt the ladies’ gaze on my back. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. How did a stripper know so much about investments?

That was a mystery.

“Thank you, Arthur. I know it wasn’t pleasant dealing with them.”

"I've dealt with worse."

“Really? At the club? And how do you know so much? How did you know about the specific investment case Anna mentioned?”

“Let’s not talk about me. Let’s talk about you. How come you said I was an executive? Want to look good? Vain, huh?" He winked to soften his words. "That means a lot to you?"

“No it’s…” I realized he was teasing me. I blushed.

I shot back at him. “Not all of us can be a great stripper boy and make a living on his looks and dance moves. I guess when you look like you do, you'll never have to look for a serious job."

Arthur was speechless. He sputtered.

I winked to let him know I was kidding, and he burst out laughing.

“You never did tell me how you know so much about investments and s financial things you talked about so fluently.”

Arthur didn't answer, but he shrugged with a 'Hey, there's always YouTube expression.'

He was even smarter than I thought if he learned all that finance from self-study.

He was more than meets the eye.

Arthur was sexy. It would be easy to get carried away.

I shouldn’t get distracted. I was coming off a bad break-up. I had Noah’s hospital bills to pay.

But it was hard not to get caught up in Arthur's male strength. His chiseled jaw, broad shoulders, deep voice, and intelligent comments.

The sexual tension between us rose with every step.

The rain began to let up slightly.

Arthur ran his thumb over my bottom lip and I felt it all the way down to my core.

I didn’t know what to feel. One minute I was thankful for him saving me from my stupid lie. Then I was okay with him calling me vain and teased him back.

Now I wasn’t sure I could stand not having clear answers and I couldn’t take his joking.

Annoyed with myself, I thrust the umbrella back into Arthur’s hand and ran around the corner.

“Great,” I mumbled. “I’m drenched and a mental wreck." I put my hands over my face, trying to stop the tears that threatened to overwhelm me. "It's all too much. "

I started crying loudly under the cover of the rain.

I slapped my cheeks lightly, trying to get a hold of myself. Of course, you feel depressed and wronged, because you were.

I wished I could give myself a pep talk. My stomach growled. Being this hungry didn't help.

"This is how it goes sometimes," I said quietly. "Life is pressure. You'll endure."

My shoulders slumped as tears continued to roll down my face.

I knew I had to pretend like the bad things hadn’t happened and pull myself together enough to get home.

When I thought back on Arthur’s words, the vain point really rankled. It wasn't true. I was not vain. Just the opposite!

But because I liked him so much, his words, even said in jest hurt. They also pierced through my facade like a needle.

You might not be vain exactly, but you did want to show off. You’re just lucky Arthur is so knowledgeable or you’d really be in trouble.

All my pretense popped like an inflated balloon.

"Maybe my bad luck is because I am vain. Maybe I’m a victim because I don’t have a strong sense of self like I should.”

That made me cry harder. For a second, everything felt insurmountable.

“I’m broke. It’s not fair. I just wanted to get away from it all for a night.”

I cried so hard my chest heaved.

ARTHUR

I let Doris run away around the corner and stomped to my limo. I was almost there when I turned around.

I couldn't let her leave like that. I dashed after her, and I was surprised she hadn't gone far. I looked at Doris' back and frowned. She was as thin and fragile as a leaf washed by rain.

I knew I should have left and stopped minding Doris’ business, but I couldn’t help striding to Doris and thrusting the umbrella forcefully into her hands.

Doris hurriedly reached out to wipe the tears off her face.

“You were crying?”

She shook her head. “No. I wasn’t.” Doris sniffed, and wiped her face vigorously. “It’s just that the rain is too heavy...too much.”

Then we both laughed because it was clearly not the rain that made her eyes so red and swollen.

I stared down at Doris’ reddish nose and wet lips. My throat got rough and dry, a stark contrast to the rain.

My heart beat loudly. The rain started up again, a dramatically loud tat-tat-tat, but my heart beat even louder.

What is up with me?

I had to get away from here.

Yet I still had to give Doris a soft, reassuring caress on her cheek. “Until next time, my lying little dove.”

“Wait. You never told me how a simple stripper knows so much about finance?”

For some reason, I didn't want to tell her the truth, not yet. “You make a lot of assumptions.” I made my expression hard and my body language commanding so she wouldn’t ask more questions.

But then I saw how dominating stance and voice turned her on. That was something to file away in my brain for later.

I leaned in and whispered in Doris’ ear. "I have many talents you don’t know about. Maybe next time, I’ll pay you."

I turned away again.

“Thank you,” Doris said. “For pretending to be my boyfriend. You did me a huge favor. Thanks so much.”

“I would do a lot for you.”

My phone buzzed. I ignored it.

“Sorry, Doris. I shouldn’t have joked. Maybe you’re not vain. I don’t really know you at all—please don’t care about what I said, or feel bad about it.”

“Uhhh…” Doris was stunned.

“Good luck. Until next time, little dove.”

I turned and strode away in the rain.

I was sure Doris was watching me so I walked a little bit more before hailing my driver. My black suit blended in with a group of darkly-dressed New Yorkers, melting me into anonymity.

My phone buzzed again.

The water soaked me. My driver picked me up a block later.

I checked my phone. There was a text from my mother.

‘We’ve been waiting 20 minutes. Get to the restaurant NOW!’

There was no avoiding it.

I sat across from my mom and Bob at the restaurant, but my mind was elsewhere. From the moment I laid eyes on Bob, I knew he was bad news. My mom was blind to his flaws, but I could see right through him.

He was obviously after my mother’s money and mine.

My mom told me to come to their wedding, which surprisingly was in a week. Then they told me Mom was pregnant, which explained the rush.

The whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth.

I made up some excuse, but the truth was I couldn't stomach the thought of Bob marring Andrea. 

My mother was mean to me, cruel to my daughter, and pushed me into a career that wasn’t my first choice.

Still, no one should have to be with Bob.

The night wore on. I got more agitated. Andrea was making a huge mistake. 

Finally, my mom got my disapproval. Her cheeks flooded with red anger. “You’ll come to my wedding.”

“I don’t think so.”

Andrea growled. “Why don’t you respect me?”

“Isn’t it what you made me? An emotionless working machine?”

My mother banged the table so hard it flipped over. Bob pretended to comfort her, but he was actually making it worse.

“Don’t upset our unborn baby,” Bob said.

Andrea gave us a death glare, and stormed out of the restaurant.

Classy, I thought sarcastically.

At least dinner was over.

DORIS

I couldn't believe Bob's audacity in sending wedding invitations to everyone in the office, including me. Then, he overheard Anna talking about my new boyfriend, and things got even worse. 

I could see the jealousy burning in his eyes. I knew he wouldn't let this go.

“You’ll bring you’re new…boyfriend,” Bob said, his voice laced with sarcasm and doubt.

I just walked away. I didn’t owe Bob a response.

All day Bob kept pressuring me to bring my new boyfriend to the wedding. He wouldn't take no for an answer.

Then Anna chimed in, saying she was bringing her boyfriend, who also worked at AmeriCapital.

I had to come up with a plan, fast. I didn't want to subject Arthur to Bob. Also, I didn't know how to find Arthur or even his last name!