I put on the black cocktail dress Alexander had gotten for me. It fit like a glove, hugging in the right places. It was form fitting, but in a classy way. It hit right above my knee, fitting like a pencil skirt to show off the curves of my body. It was off the shoulder so it wrapped around my shoulders, showing all of my neck and collarbone.
I stepped into a pair of black heels that I already owned. I only wore them once and that was to an office Christmas party I had at my job back home. They lifted me up another four inches, making me considerably tall. I was already 5'6 to begin with. My hair I'd curled and I applied my makeup.
I wasn't going to get as dressed up as I was, but I wanted to do it for myself. If I was going to live here then I'd better look the part.
But I underestimated these heels and the amount of stairs Alexander had.
I groaned nearly with each step, praying to god I didn't fall.
When I got to the bottom I cheered silently in victory.
"Yes... yes, no that will not be happening." Alexander walked into the room, talking on the phone with someone. He began pacing the living room, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Dammit- can anyone do anything when I'm not there?!" He growled out.
The sound of my shoes on the hardwood floor had his eyes snap up to me. Alexander looked at me from head to toe, eyes darkening by the second. "I have to go, fix this." He said to the person on the other line, not taking his eyes off me. "You look beautiful,"
I blushed. I actually blushed. "Thanks," I mumbled awkwardly.
He walked over to me with his signature smirk. "Ready?"
I shrugged. "As I'll ever be,"
He went to reach around my to put his arm around my waist, but I quickly stepped out of his grip and glared. "Sorry, no touching," he knew exactly what he was doing by the smug look on his face.
We got off the elevator and stepped into the lobby. I could see photographers from here standing outside just waiting for Alexander to come out.
"It's going to fine, Ana." He comforted me as if he sensed I was nervous. I didn't mind him using my nickname, by the cost of this dress I guess I really shouldn't complain what he calls me.
I looked up and offered a small smile as a 'thank you'.
I stood between him and George, his hulk of a bodyguard. The doors opened and the flashes went off a longer with the dozen questions they were shouting out did they really expect anyone to answer like this?
"Who's this flavor of the night?" One photographer called out, referring to me.
I resisted the urge to punch this man straight in his face. How could someone be so disrespectful?
As the door opened i got into the vehicle as quickly as I could in heels. George got into the drivers side and sped off the curb.
"Are you okay?" Alexander asked.
"I'm not very fond of being referred to as a 'flavor' or a 'slut'." I snapped, not meaning to direct my anger at him. I looked over at him and noticed his jaw hard. "I'm fine," I said, hoping that would make him less tense.
"Paparazzi are pigs. Don't ever let them get to your head, that's what they want." He said.
Sooner than later we pulled up to the restaurant and walked in, Alexander was nearly pressed into my side as we walked together. As we approached the table he pulled my chair out for me before taking his own seat.
The waitress came and handed us our menus and a glasses of red wine, her eyes lingering on Alexander, but he hadn't noticed.
"Can I get you anything else, Mr. Knight?" She asked, trying to sound seductive.
Alexander didn't even bother looking up from the menu as he shook his head. Her face fell slightly from the lack of attention he didn't give her and she walked away.
"At least look at the poor girl, Alexander." I said, slightly amused at the exchange.
He looked up at me with a smirk. "First you don't want me to take you on dates and now you want me to flirt with other girls? What kind of wife are you?"
I couldn't help but laugh at that. He loved getting a reaction out of me so I thought I'd surprise him with a different one. "I'm like your wingman,"
He snorted. "I don't need a wingman." I loved getting a reaction out of him, I guess we had that in common.
I shrugged, taking a sip of whatever the type of wine the waitress had poured. "Oh, clearly. You just force them into marriage as blackmail." I didn't mean to snap at him, but i guess it was just the pent up anger I had in the back of my mind.
He slightly winced at that one, but his facial expression turned soft. "Anastasia-"
"Lets just forget I said that." I insisted, now looking down at the menu.
But it was in French.
I glanced back up at him to see he hadn't taken his eyes away from me. I raised an eyebrow, silently questioning his stare.
"Do you read French?" I asked him.
He nodded. "I do, I am French actually. My parents were both born and raised in France." He said. Another fact about him.
"Well you know this type of food better than me. I'll get what you're having."
He nodded. "Escargot as an appetizer?"
I shrugged. "What is that?"
He smirked. "You'll see,"
Alexander had ordered and a little while later a dish was brought back and was placed on the table. The waitress lifted the metal lid revealing the appetizer.
My eyes went wide.
"Are those..."
He nodded and laughed. "Yup,"
Snails.
I'm going to be sick.
"I'm not eating that." I said, one of the phrases that I rarely said. I wasn't a picky eater, but snails?!
He pouted his lip out, looking ridiculously cute. "Please, just one."
I curled my lip in disgust. "Ew, no."
He smiled. "You're being childish."
"Because I won't eat a snail?"
He nodded. "They're delicious," And with that he lifted the snail shell to his lips and ate the poor little snail.
"You're gross,"
He used his hand to stifle a laugh. "Now I'm gross?" He asked, amused.
I nodded. "Yes,"
His smirk returned. "I'm far from gross, sweetheart."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't call me that," I said, but my tone wasn't serious.
He took a sip of his wine, not breaking eye contact with me. "You're a very interesting woman, Anastasia."
I raised an eyebrow, challenging him. "How so?" I was genuinely curious.
But before he could answer the waitress brought our dinner and placed it in front of us. When she revealed what was under the lid I nearly sighed in relief at the normal looking pasta dish.
I took a bite and felt as if my taste buds were having an orgasm. I moaned from how good it was. "This is delicious," I said, taking another bite.
"Please reframe from making those noises, Anastasia." He said, his voice low.
I looked up at him with a raised eyebrow and mouth full of pasta. "Hmm?" I hummed, attempting to swallow to bite I took. My eyes are bigger than my stomach and I always take too much.
His heated gaze turned into amusement as he chuckled. "This next year will be very interesting." He said almost as if he was talking to himself.
I swallowed and shot him a toothy grin. "You brought it upon yourself."
He nodded. "That, I did,"
After dinner we entered the car again and I was thankful the air conditioning was on. It was nearly ten o clock and still very humid.
"Do you want to go for a drink?" Alexander asked me.
"A drink? Like a bar?" I asked him, surprised. That didn't seem like his scene.
He shrugged. "Club or bar,"
Did I really want to spend any more time with this guy?
I shook my head. "Maybe another night." I declined, mainly because I was actually tired.
He nodded. "Another night,"
We arrived back at his home and I immediately took off my heels. I thought my feet were going to fall off if I had them on for another second. I let a breath out of relief when I stood barefoot.
"I'm going to finish some things in my office. Don't hesitate to get me if you something." Alexander said.
"It's almost eleven, what could you possibly working on?" I asked him.
"Work never stops when you run a company as big as mine." He said.
I nodded. "I'm going to sleep, goodnight." I walked up the stairs, but stopped half way and turned back to him. "Thank you for dinner, Alexander."
He gave me a small smile. "Any time, Anastasia." and with that he walked away and I went up to the bedroom.