Chapter 4

MAYA'S POV

I arrived at the coffee shop earlier than usual, eager to tell Danielle about the incredible events of yesterday. I found her behind the counter, polishing the shiny coffee machine, and as soon as she saw me, she looked up and greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good morning girl! You look like you're in a great mood today. What's going on?" She said with a smirk. I could tell she wanted to hear everything. Luckily, I came an hour earlier because she was opening today. That way Phoebe wouldn’t nag us when I started giving Danielle the details.

“It was so big!” I said about the apartment as I took off my coat.

“Haha, that’s what she said.” Danielle retorted cheekily. I playfully slapped her shoulder and rolled my eyes.

I couldn't contain my excitement and I started spilling everything out in one go, telling her all about how Alexander had saved me from the bar and brought me back to his apartment.

“He completely saved me, even got me a change of clothes, and made breakfast. He was really so charming; I didn’t expect it at all.”

I described the apartment in full detail. The bed that seemed to never end, the lush carpets and the glass walls and the view of the city. I even told her about the delicious breakfast of pancakes and eggs that he prepared for me.

As I talked, I noticed a subtle change in Danielle's expression. Her smile grew a little tighter, and her eyes seemed to narrow just a little bit.

I could sense the jealousy on her face, and it made me feel a little uncomfortable. I didn't want to make her feel bad, but I also couldn't help feeling a little smug about my amazing stroke of luck.

I didn't mention that Alexander had asked me to be his personal assistant, not wanting to give Danielle any further reason to be jealous. Instead, I focused on talking about the incredible day I had with Alexander in his apartment and how nice he was.

"That's so incredible, Maya," she said, trying to sound enthusiastic but her voice was tight. "I can't believe you got to see his apartment. I've always wanted to see what it looks like and how the rich lived." She said. At that moment I remembered the obsession she had with him, she had even given me a lot of details about him and his company just a few days after I started working here. I started to feel bad for even mentioning that I had the opportunity to be so close to him like that.

"Yeah, it was pretty amazing," I said, trying to play it down. "But the best part was that he saved me from that creepy guy at the bar. I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't been there."

Danielle nodded, but I could tell that her mind was still on Alexander's apartment. I decided to change the subject instead. I had hoped we’d spend the whole day gossiping about it, but she seemed so upset.

"So, what have you got planned for today?" I asked, trying to sound casual, I didn’t want it to look like I was bragging about getting to know Alexander. If I knew she would get this upset, I would have never mentioned it on the call yesterday. Maybe then she wouldn’t be acting weird.

"We've got a big rush coming up in a few minutes when all the businesspeople start passing by, so I'm getting everything prepped and ready," she replied, gesturing to the coffee machine. "It's going to be crazy busy."

I nodded, glad to be moving on from the topic of Alexander. As much as I was enjoying spending time with him, I didn't want to make Danielle feel bad about not having the same opportunities.

"Well, let’s get it on then," I said, giving her a smile. "I'm sure we'll handle it like pros."

With that, I headed to the back room to get changed into my work uniform and prepare for the busy day ahead.

Later that evening, as we were cleaning up the coffee shop, Alexander walked in. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him, and I tried to hide my excitement. I didn’t want him to know that I thought about him throughout the day when he didn’t show up at his normal time. I had wanted to call him, but it would seem obsessive, so I didn’t.

"Good evening, Maya," he said, his voice smooth as ever. "I hope you had a good day." He acknowledged Danielle by responding to her gasp with a nod. She kept on tackling the coffee table with a soapy napkin.

I blushed at his greeting. "Yes, it was good," I said, trying to sound casual. Not only did I want to act nonchalant, I also didn’t want Danielle to feel bad. She was the closest thing I had to a friend in the city, especially because I still haven’t been replying to Heather’s calls or texts or even listening to her voicemails now. If I did, I’d be reminded of what she thinks about what I’m doing. I didn’t want to talk to her till I was ready.

"Excellent," he said, interrupting my thoughts. "Because I have another surprise for you. How about dinner and a tour of the city?"

I couldn't believe it. Was he really asking me? "Sure, that sounds great," I said, trying to hide my excitement. It was platonic after all, besides I told him that apart from the party, I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to go on a full tour of the city like I wanted to. I only knew the way to and from the coffee shop.

"Perfect," he said. "And I have something for you." He handed me a small box, which I opened to reveal a stunning dress. "I thought you might like to wear this tonight," he said, his eyes twinkling.

At this point, I couldn’t even call it platonic anymore. The dress was stunning and looked like it cost a lot of money. I felt so small.

I was speechless. "Thank you," I said, still in shock.

"Meet me outside in an hour," he said, winking at me before leaving the coffee shop.

I couldn't believe how lucky I was. Alexander was everything I had ever wanted in a man, and he seemed to be interested in me too. Maybe Danielle was right about him. Maybe this was more than him wanting me to be his personal assistant.

“Oh my gosh, Maya this is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.” Danielle gushed. She seemed to not be annoyed, but genuinely happy for me. I watched her play with the fabric of the dress in awe.

“I know right,” I whispered. We both stared at the dress in silence for a few moments.

“Well, what are you waiting for Maya? Go get dressed! I’ll help you with your makeup.” She said. She always carried a makeup bag to work and spent ten minutes out of her break to touch up on makeup.

After forty minutes of me changing, I felt like a brand new woman. Looking at the mirror in the restroom, I immediately felt myself shoot up in confidence.

I looked beautiful.

“Girl, Alexander would go crazy when he sees you. He would be so awed.” Danielle said. I wondered if I had imagined the jealousy in her voice earlier. This Danielle seemed so happy to me.

I stepped out in the cool night breeze waiting for Alexander and feeling shy. I looked down at my sneakers and chuckled. Alexander had gotten me a beautiful dress, but he didn’t even get me a pair of shoes. I thought about it then I realized it was because you couldn’t really decipher a person’s shoe size by looking at them, or even looking at their feet.

Why was I thinking about feet when I had a date with a billionaire? Must be nervous jitters.

Soon, I saw Alexander’s personal car driving up to me from down the street. I started to blush; I didn’t know I could feel so shy. A man stepped from the driver’s side to open the car back doors and I saw Alexander sitting down. As I stepped in, he kept his piercing blue gaze at me.

“Wow, Maya, you look stunning.”

Wow, Maya. He said I looked stunning. What was this jittery feeling I’m feeling in my stomach? Could it be that Alexander Armstrong actually has an effect on me?

“Thank you,” I said shyly. I sat on the comfortable leather seats, and I sighed, even his car chairs were more comfortable than my bed in my apartment.

As we drove through the busy streets of New York City, Alexander pointed out various landmarks and shared interesting anecdotes about each one. It was exhilarating to see the city from this perspective, and I couldn't help but feel grateful to be experiencing it with him.

As we reached our first destination, Alexander parked the car and got out, walking over to my side to open the door for me. "Ready for our next adventure?" he asked with a smile.

I nodded eagerly, excited to see what he had planned for us. As we walked through the bustling streets, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the energy of the city. I had only experienced the fast and angry parts. We walked through Central Park, taking in the beautiful scenery and admiring the various sculptures and art installations.

After the park, Alexander took me to a trendy rooftop bar that offered stunning views of the skyline. It looked even more beautiful from the bar than it did from the glass wall in his apartment. I started to feel like I was in love with New York City. We sat at a small table and ordered drinks as we chatted and laughed, the lights of the city sparkling around us.

As we left the bar, Alexander surprised me by hailing a helicopter to take us on a nighttime tour of the city. I had never been in a helicopter before, and the feeling of soaring above the city was breathtaking. We flew over the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building, the city lights shimmering below us.

“I can’t believe you could just easily get a helicopter just like that. That’s so crazy!” I said with laughter, as the cool wind blew against my face. New York was so wonderful when it wasn’t all in your face like that.

After the helicopter ride, Alexander took me to a cozy little restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. We sat at a candlelit table to enjoy a delicious meal and each other's company. I was so happy.

As we sat down to dinner, I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Was this just another date? Or was there something more?

"Maya," Alexander said, breaking the silence. "I want to be honest with you."

My heart started racing. Was he going to tell me he was seeing someone else? Or worse, that he wasn't interested in me? I looked around to see if there were cameras somewhere.

"I've been drawn to you for a while now," he said, looking straight into my eyes. "But I didn't know how to approach you the first time I saw you at the coffee shop. When I saw you at the bar that night, I knew I had to do something, if not I’d be stuck looking for more excuses to come and see you."

I felt my cheeks flush as I realized that truly he had been interested in me all along. "I don't know what to say," I said, feeling a little overwhelmed.

"I know it might seem sudden," he said, taking my hand. "But I see a future with you, Maya. I do want you to be my personal assistant, but I also want to be more than just your boss."

I was taken aback by his proposition. Working for him as his personal assistant was one thing, but being his girlfriend was another. I knew the kind of gossip that went on in the corporate world. I had seen it firsthand. I didn't want to be the subject of that kind of scrutiny.

Alexander must have sensed my hesitation because he quickly reassured me. "Maya, I don't care what anyone else thinks. You are not just another personal assistant to me. I see a future with you. I want to explore that future together."

I looked at him, wondering if he was serious. "Alexander, I just met you. How can you be sure?" I was so skeptical about everything, and I felt so overwhelmed. I focused on the chatter from the other diners.

He took my hand in his and looked me straight in the eyes. "Maya, I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like I've known you for a long time. From the moment I saw you at the bar, I knew there was something special about you. And after spending time with you today, I'm even more convinced. You’re funny, smart, and so beautiful. Please, just think about it. You don't need to give me an answer now."

I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to believe him, to take a chance on something that felt so right. But the other part of me was scared of getting hurt, of putting myself out there only to be rejected or humiliated.

“Okay Alexander, I’ll think about it.”

We finished our meal in silence, lost in our own thoughts. It was a beautiful night, and I couldn't help but feel grateful to be in such an amazing place with such an amazing man.

As we arrived back at my apartment, Alexander took my hand and leaned in to kiss me. All I could think about was his beautiful and piercing blue eyes as his soft lips smashed onto mine. It was our first kiss, and it was electric though chaste. I felt a surge of emotion that I had never felt before, and I knew that I was in trouble.

I think I’m starting to catch feelings for Alexander Armstrong.

"Maya, please think about what I said," Alexander whispered, his breath warm on my cheek. "I'll call you tomorrow."

His driver let me out of the car then and I could feel his eyes on me even as the car pulled away.

And with that, he was gone. I stood there for a few minutes, dazed, and confused. What had just happened? And what was I going to do next?