Frankie's point of view:
"Pardon?"
Her tight lipped smile masked her confusion. "Liza - uh, Mr Hayes scheduled you for a hair and makeup appointment at two. You did know, didn't you?"
I blink, shocked but quickly regain my composure. "Oh, uh - okay. Come in. Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you. Mr Hayes' must have forgot to tell me." She wheels her case inside, her heeled boots making a faint clicking noise against my wooden floor. I tighten the belt of my pink and white polka dot robe as I follow her with furrowed brows. "So, Mr Hayes sent you?"
She hums and nods in response, flicking open her case of luxury makeup items that I almost drooled at. It was a far cry from my walmart purchases and a even further one away from my small makeup bag that held everything bit I owned. "I'm really surprised he didn't call you - but then again, that's so sweet. Who said romance was dead?"
I let out a small breathy laugh although my mind was racing a million miles a minute. "Do you want a coffee? Water?"
"A glass of water please." Liza smiles warmly and I make a sharp exit into the kitchen, fishing my phone from my pocket. I scroll to his number, my speedy fingers typing out a rapid message.
To: Jason                                                                                       Hair and make-up? This is far to much!
I pour two glasses of water, returning to hand one to Liza who thanks me and pats the fold-able stool for me to sit upon. She taps the thin handle of the comb against her cheek, tilting her head to the side as she scan my dried out hair and bare face.
"I'm thinking a low up-do. Maybe a few loose curls to frame the face, and definitely a nude lip. Maybe a smokey eye too?"
I smile lopsidedly at her and shrug my shoulders. "I'll let you choose." My phone buzzes in my hand and I excuse myself, lighting the screen up to Jason's received message.
From: Jason                                                                                        I'll pick you up at six. Enjoy.
Smiling, I return my phone to my pocket and lean my head back into Liza's combing fingers. She she twists and turns the strands of hair, curling and pinning pieces into a elegant up-do.
"So." She starts, pushing another bobby pin close to the nape of my neck. "You really didn't
"No clue."
She makes a sound. "That's so cute! I wish I had a boyfriend who surprised me with flowers never mind a hair and makeup appointment."
"Oh!" I exclaim, widened eyes. "He's not my boyfriend."
She stops, narrowing her eyes. "He's not your boyfriend but he's organised this for you? God, he must be completely smitten then! Imagine if he was your boyfriend what he would do."
She lets out a giggle as the blood rushes to my cheeks. "It's not like that."
"Whatever you say." She smirks, teasing my hair with another comb. "I'm just saying, men don't think about the importance of little things like hair and makeup, so the fact he's put thought into this and the effort of booking someone instead of letting you do it - it means something and I would almost bet my life on it that, that something involves more than just being friends."
After a few hours, Liza slipped me her business card and left me staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I touched my hair multiple times, amazed by the flawless work she had managed which only raised the butterflies in my tummy. As the time ticked by and drew closer to six, the nerves started to knot within my chest.
"It's a date." He told me yesterday and I was too stunned to question. It was another work event, one he's done many of times before and one he accompanied his family too, so it was no surprise that I felt like I would be intruding. I stare down at the box on my bed with hands on my hips and huff a breath. The gesture made me uneasy. Did he buy me this dress because he thought of me as a charity case? That I didn't have enough money to buy something as fancy as this to attend such a important and sophisticated event with him?
Sighing, I shimmy into the beautiful satin gown and whine aloud as fail to tug the zipper completely up. Bending and twisting in different positions, I huff in surrender as the doorbell rings.
Oh sweet jesus.
In a black tux, a crisp white shirt and a matching black bow-tie, I could feel the tingles glide across my body. My chest caves as his eyes slowly trail from the hem of the gorgeous gown to my freshly painted face.
"You look beautiful."
I sharply inhale a shaky breath as he takes another quick look. He shakes his head, but remains smiling widely.
"Are you ready to go?" He asks.
"Uh-" I stumble. "Could you zip me up? It got stuck."
He nods slowly as I turn. Like flicking a match into gasoline, my body roars with fire that spreads within a split second as the tips of his fingers brush against the tail of my back. His other hand rests upon my hip, clamping me in place as he tugs the zipper to mid-back and unconsciously lingers for a few seconds longer than necessary.
My body craved his touch once he removes his hands. "All done." His voice was slightly more rough and ragged. "Ready?"
I nod, nipping back inside to grab my small clutch bag. My body still ached for his touch and the force that tried it's hardest to pull me close to him was unbearable. Graham lowers his head as a greeting as he holds the car door open, I thank him and climb inside as Jason jumps in beside me.
It was a comfortable silence for the beginning of the journey. Neither of knowing what to say, or if we wanted to say anything at all. The passing Christmas lights made me fuzzy in excitement, not only to go home to Jersey but to give
"At any point during the evening, you want to leave - just tell me, okay?" He speaks, eyes searching for mine. "It can be a bit overwhelming these things, I'll completely understand if it gets to much. You just need to tell me and we'll leave, okay?"
"How many times have you done this?"
He shrugs. "More than enough so I know how intense it can get, especially if you're not used to it. There's going to be press, there's going to be a lot of publicity surrounding tonight but it won't be like before."
My heart was swelling twice it's size with every word that left his lips and it didn't take a second thought to believe him. I smile shyly, the curled pieces of hair falling in front of my face like a curtain to shield my blushing cheeks. My entire body froze in shock as his thumb cradles my chin and ever-so-carefully tilts my danging head. I could smell the mint from his breath and the musky cologne I had became so familiar with. If either of us moved a inch, we would be touching noses.
"I'll protect you, Frankie."
I had read about those moments that become blurred, those moments where the world seemed to stop or at least slow down. Never had it happened before and never did I think it would ever happen but within millimetres from Jason's face - everything stopped.
"Mr Hayes, we're here."
My body jolted away, pinning itself against the opposite side of the car in embarrassment as Jason's head falls and he clears his throat. He thanks Graham and tugs on the corners of his bow tie.
"Uh - are you ready for this?"
"As I'll ever be."
The lavish hotel was decorated with Christmas and lined with elegant ladies in ballgowns and sophisticated men in suits, all dressed suitable for tonight's Gala. I was tingling again from head-to-toe as he places his hand on my lower back and leads me up the red carpet steps.
"Remember, any time you want to leave - tell me." He whispers in my ear. I force a tight smile and nod robotically, keeping a iron-like grip curled around my clutch. The ballroom was beautifully decorated, drapes hanging from the ceilings and candelabras in the centre of each rounded table. I felt tiny in a room so big and filled with so many people.
"Frankie!" Rachel greets with her light pink lips pulling into a wide smile. Her dress was a beautiful sparkling black gown but paired with a stunning aqua blue necklace and matching earrings. "Oh I'm so glad you came, honey! You looks gorgeous."
"As do you." I smile back as she releases me from her warm embrace.
"You know everyone, don't you?" She asks, motioning to the surrounding table of slightly familiar faces.
"We haven't met yet." A soft voice speaks. The brunette that sat beside Pamela's husband, Henry, thrusts out her hand. "I'm Lucy. David's sister and this idiot's favourite cousin."
"I love you too, Luce." Jason chuckles, embracing his mother.
"It's nice too meet you, Lucy." I smile at her. Jason holds out my chair between himself and Lucy, and I thank him. Jason begins to speak to his father and overhearing their conversation, I could feel my lips falter into a frown at the mention of more business.
"It's like this all the time." Lucy whispers as she leans close. "It's like they don't know when to switch off. Don't worry, you're not the only one who hates it either."
While the group around me mingled between themselves, Lucy and Georgia including me in every conversation and discussion they had, I had took a second to myself. Staying quiet, I got lost in my thoughts - Was this appropriate? Being here, on a 'date' with my boss to such a social event which will be published in the papers by tomorrow morning. I wasn't even starting on the success ladder the people around me had already climbed, yet here I was in a room that was worth a number a couldn't even fathom.
"Are you okay?" He murmurs in my ear. I blink away my pestering thoughts and give him a tight lipped smile. "Do you want to leave?"
I shake my head. "I'm fine. It's just - overwhelming."
"I knew it would be." He sighs. "Give me a second, I'll get David to cover my donation and we'll go -"
"Don't be silly." I interrupt him. Without processing, a instinctive pull made me reach for his hand that rested upon the table. "I'm fine."
Realising my move when his eyes flicker to our hands, I snatch it back and return it to my lap, watching as he gulps and cranes his neck slightly. Lucy and Georgia whisper between themselves, smirking in our direction and turning away like little gossiping girls when I catch them.
Before long, the rich and famous were called out along with their donation to their chosen charities.
"Thank you to Cooper Co-operations for the generous donation of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the Wildlife Sanctuary in Southern Africa." The applause surrounds the room and directs towards the table at the far corner. "Next up - a thank you to JD Headquarters for the incredible donation of five hundred thousand dollars for the brilliant Pancreatic Cancer Research."
My body became like a paralysed state. My jaw fallen and the tears swarming my eyes without a second warning as the applause raids my eardrums. My heavy chest heaved for a stable breath as Jason's moves his eyes to me with great concern - like he had done something wrong.
The chair I sat on almost went tumbling backwards as I leap upwards, engulfing him in the tightest hug I could possibly muster and he doesn't take a second to hold me back. I couldn't speak, my throat was clogged with tears but the relief that sub-combs his body is enough to tell me that he understood.
"Thank you." I whisper into his ear. I release him, slightly embarrassed by my suffocation but he simply smiles. I dab the corner of my eyes with my pointer finger and sniffle. "You didn't need to do that - pick that charity."
He shrugs his shoulder, his thumb rubbing across his chiselled jawline. "It's a good cause."
"Well, thank you." I breath. "Thank you so much."
"Oh how adorable."
With widened eyes at the familiar squawking voice, Jason and I both lift our eyes to the towering female dressed in red. My stomach plummeted.
"Natasha."
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incase anyone got lost - Frankie's mother passed away of Pancreatic Cancer and Jason chose that charity to donate too.
I cannot wait to write these next few chapters, especially the Christmas ones!!
Please vote and comment xoxo