Grace had changed several times. ‘Oh poo! What do I care?’ But she did, to some extent.
There was no denying that the man was gorgeous. It would be hard to pretend he wasn’t.
‘He’s just a man,’ she told herself. ‘Just a man.’ She laughed. ‘A man I don’t trust.’
Grace settled on her black dress. All the other colours had made her feel uncomfortable. She felt like it drew attention to herself.
‘Okay.’ She took in a deep breath, then headed downstairs. ‘Hey mum.’ She headed for the bed.
‘Look at you! You look beautiful.’ Her eyes lightened up.
‘Thanks mama.’ She leaned forward and gave her mother a kiss. ‘I’m a bit nervous about all this.’
‘Don’t be sweetheart. Have fun.’ She smiled. Gloria knew that if her daughter was happy, she could die in peace.
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘That’s all I want to hear.’
They had a brief chat before the carer arrived. As soon as she arrived. There was a brief chat. Grace let the woman know how Gloria had been for the day. A nurse would be there for an evening visit to administrate medication.
‘All in all she’s had a good day today,’ said Grace.
‘That’s all you can hope for.’ She smiled.
‘Yes it is. I’ll be back by nine.’
The woman nodded. ‘Have a good night.’
‘I’ll try to.’ She didn’t know what to think. This was going to be an interesting night. Soon after she left home.
For the first time he was nervous. A woman had never been this closed off to him. He wasn’t nervous because he fancied her. He was nervous because for the first time he didn’t know the way forward. He wouldn’t know what to say to her. He was in the bar ten minutes before she arrived.
Grace had found parking at the Leeds theatre, and walked to call lane. She felt so nervous stepping into the bar alone. Ashford spotted her immediately and waved her over.
‘Hey.’ He stood up as she approached.
‘Hi.’
‘I’m glad you came. I was getting a little worried you changed your mind.’
‘I would’ve called.’
‘Of course.’ He smiled. ‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘I’ll have a lemonade.’
‘Not much of a drinker?’
‘I’m driving, and I’m working tomorrow.’
‘Okay. What do you do?’ He was hoping he could take it from there. She was still so guarded, it was making him uncomfortable.
‘I’m a mental health nurse.’
‘Nice.’
‘It’s okay. I get to help people, so I like that.’
He nodded. ‘I’ll just go get that drink.’
He left a moment. She watched him as he walked towards the bar. What was it he wanted from her? It still didn’t make any sense. She would keep her guard up for as long as it took.
He returned with the lemonade and another wine for himself. It wasn’t what he was used to, but it would do.
‘So?’ He sat down.
‘So?’ she mirrored back.
‘You’re not making this easy for me.’
‘I just don’t understand it. Why me?’
‘Why not you?’
‘There are so many other strikingly gorgeous women that would be well suited for you.’
‘I beg to differ. Most women I’ve dated have talked about clothes, shoes, and makeup. Oh and not to forget, reality shows. They want to be the next Kardashian.’
‘I see. Well I have no interest in the above. Tonight is the first night in a long time that I’ve actually dressed up. As a nurse you don’t get the time to do that. And...’
‘And what?’
‘Nothing.’ She was about to talk about her mother, but it didn’t feel right. ‘What do you do?’
‘I built a software company with a friend of mine.’
‘Sounds good.’
‘Yeah it is. It’s the first thing I did without my father. We built a thirty billion pound company. It’s pretty awesome.’
‘Sounds it.’ She didn’t sound that impressed. ‘You don’t have a good relationship with your father?’
‘No not really.’ It was also the first time a woman wasn’t impressed by the kind of money he made or how much he was worth.
‘Why is that?’
‘He’s a control freak. I’m the heir to the family business. So I’m under a lot of pressure.’
‘I bet.’
‘Yes. He’s a billionaire too.’
‘Good for him.’ She took a sip of the drink.
‘You don’t seem too impressed.’
‘I honestly don’t care,’ she said as a matter of fact.
‘Wow. You don’t hold back.’
‘Life’s too short. And besides, your money has nothing to do with me.’ She could’ve felt life was unfair because of the bills drowning her, and the man opposite her was drowning in money. But he didn’t seem too excited about his life. Perhaps she was his entertainment.
‘True. I’ve never thought of it that way.’
‘Why would you? You’ve spent your life around people who think you’re more important than them just because you’re a billionaire. As far as I’m concerned, your shit smells like the rest of us. And we all die regardless of the money we make. It doesn’t make you unique. Just rich.’
‘Wow.’ He felt as though he’d been slapped. ‘Do you hate rich people?’
‘Maybe, I don’t know. I don’t like people who think they’re better than other people, that’s all.’
‘I see.’
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I just don’t care for the flashy stuff. I have too much going on.’
‘Like what?’ he was interested.
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Okay.’
There was an awkward silence between them. This wasn’t how he envisioned the first date. He really didn’t have to do this, but now he wanted to. He still didn’t like the fact she was rounder than the women he dated, but she was certainly a challenge, and that intrigued him.
‘So besides working, do you have any hobbies?’ he asked.
‘I don’t have time for them.’
‘I see.’
‘You?’
‘I go shooting sometimes. I also like a bit of archery.’
‘Cool.’
He laughed.
‘What?’
‘You’re a tough one.’
‘Not really. I just don’t know why I’m here.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘So you’re not interested in me?’
‘It’s not that. It just feels wrong.’
‘Wrong? How?’
‘Look at us. Have you noticed how many stares we’ve had from the women in here?’
‘Does it matter?’
‘God yes.’
‘I thought you didn’t care what people thought.’
‘I never said that. When did I say that?’
‘I guess you didn’t.’
‘No I didn’t.’ She took another sip.
‘Well I’m going to keep trying until you see the real me. Look past the face.’
‘Ha!’
A woman approached the table. ‘Hi handsome. Looking for some company later?’
He looked the woman in the eye. ‘Can’t you see I’m on a date?’
‘Oh.’ She looked at Grace. ‘I thought she was your secretary or something like that.’
Grace snorted.
‘Do you mind?’ He wanted her to move along.
‘Suit yourself.’ She moved on.
‘See what I mean. This was bound to happen.’
‘That doesn’t mean I want them.’
‘Whatever.’ She was fed up already. The whole night felt like a flop.
‘What do I have to do to prove it to you?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing at all?’
‘Stop trying so hard. It’s annoying. Stop trying to get to know me. Just know me.’
‘How am I supposed to do that if you won’t even let me in?’
‘You’ve got to earn your way in.’
He laughed. And to think a woman like this was this difficult to seduce. This had him so confused.
‘Listen. It’s been nice, but I’ve got to get going.’
‘Already?’
‘Yes.’ She stood up. ‘I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding company.’
‘I don’t want any company, I want yours.’ He was almost begging.
‘God only knows why.’
‘Can I at least walk you to your car?’
She nodded. The night was calm. There was the normal office crowd going out for drinks around the city. They were silent for a while. He made a call to his driver to pick him up at the theatre parking.
‘Can I take you out for dinner?’ he asked.
She laughed. He was stubborn.
‘Please. Do I have to beg?’
‘Maybe.’
‘So what do I have to do to get a yes?’
‘Call me.’
‘Is there a specific time I need to call you?’
‘Surprise me.’
‘Okay. I can work with that.’
‘Good. I’ll look forward to your call.’
‘You will?’
‘Course.’ She smiled. ‘I’m not really made of ice.’ She laughed.
‘Ah, she laughs.’
‘Haha! This is my stop.’ She stopped at her Hyundai.
‘Nice ride.’
‘Please.’
‘What?’
‘What do you drive?’
‘I hardly do.’ A black Jag approached. ‘But when I do, I drive an Aston Martin.’
‘I gathered.’
‘Does that annoy you?’
‘Why should it? It’s yours. Enjoy it.’
He laughed.
‘Anyway. I shall be seeing you.’ The door beeped as it unlocked.
‘Yes you shall. I’ll call you.’
She nodded, then got into the car. He waited until she drove away. It had been an interesting night. Instead of going home, he went to their usual club.
Brett was high when he got there. This was no surprise.
‘Date over already?’ he was surprised.
‘I’m afraid so.’ He called for the waiter and ordered the usual champagne.
‘You giving up?’
‘Nope. Don’t count on it.’
‘This is more interesting than I thought it would be. This is going to be fun.’
‘I agree.’ He thought about her. She was different in every sense of the word, and she’d definitely got his attention.
‘Good luck.’ He laughed.
Just then the man from the night before approached Brett.
‘What’s this?’
‘I’ve hired him to suck my dick again! Got a problem with that?’
‘Fuck!’ he laughed. ‘You’re so fucking gay!’
‘No I’m not! But he gives the best blowjobs. Let’s go.’ He stood up and took him to the private room.
‘Fucking gay!’ he shouted after him. And even though he was laughing, this was no longer fun. Something had happened. Something had shifted, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
****
She lay besides her mother after she got back. Just being next to her felt comforting.
‘How did it go?’ she asked sleepily.
‘Did I wake you?’
‘No. Don’t worry about me. I want to know you had a good time.’
‘It was interesting. That’s the way I would describe it.’
‘Interesting is good.’
‘We shall see.’
‘Will you see him again?’
She thought about his beautiful face. ‘I might. The ball is in his court.’
‘Make sure you don’t shut him out just for the sake of it.’
‘I won’t. I’m just being cautious.’
Gloria nodded. Her eyes shut slowly. And as they chatted a bit more she drifted off. Her words stopping midsentence.
‘Goodnight mum.’ She kissed her forehead. And headed for bed.
It was the beginning of something interesting for them both. Neither of them knew where this was heading.