Chapter 17

HAILEY

“Give me your answer after work,” Valerian released her wrist.

As she began to clean up the dishes, Valerian’s question echoed in her mind. Was he serious, or was this just a game to him?

Why would he choose her out of all the girls he could have? After the last customer left and they finished cleaning up, they locked the doors.

“Goodnight, Matt,” she called after him as he walked away without a word.

She knew she needed to address the tension between them. She didn’t like this growing distance. She resolved to have a real talk with him soon.

The only issue was her packed schedule this week. She planned to catch him on Sunday after dinner and ask why he was acting so distant.

When she arrived home, she noticed a message waiting on her phone. It was from Valerian.

Valerian

Come to work early tomorrow at 7:00 sharp, we have to discuss Saturday evening.

Hailey

Will do, goodnight.

She crawled into bed and set her alarm for an early wake-up call, which arrived all too soon. She got up, showered, and dressed.

She arrived at the office promptly at seven. Valerian’s office door was open. She peeked in to find him watching her with an amused expression.

“Good morning, sir,” she greeted, taking a seat across from him.

“You’re punctual. That’s good,” he responded. “Have you considered my proposal?”

Hailey straightened in her chair. “Were you serious?”

“I don’t have time for games, Hailey. Yes or no?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered quickly, not giving him a chance to retract his offer.

“Glad to see you’re enthusiastic.” He picked up his pen, ready to return to his work.

“Are we coordinating outfits?” she blurted.

Valerian gave her a strange look. “If you want to.”

She nodded, pleased. She loved matching outfits.

With work starting in half an hour, she wasn’t sure what to do. She rose from her chair.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Outside,” she replied.

“Sit. You can leave when your shift starts,” Valerian instructed.

She slowly sat back down, watching him work. It was mesmerizing, and she had to admit he looked good when he was focused.

She found herself absorbed in watching him. When he looked up and their eyes met, she quickly looked away. He chuckled and returned to his work.

The day was progressing at a decent pace.

At lunch, the girls called her over. “Do you have a date for the dinner, Hailey?” She didn’t want to admit that her date was actually the boss.

“Of course she doesn’t,” Clara answered for her.

They all laughed. “We should find you one.”

She looked at them. “No need, I already have one.”

With that, she went to lunch and devoured her sandwich. She was famished and ate quickly, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the fresh air.

Office work was tough and tiring. The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and she finished her work and headed home.

Thursday was a blur, and she still needed a dress for Saturday’s dinner. She had been procrastinating, and now she was in a bind. All the other girls had their dresses and makeup ready.

She was exhausted by the end of the day, and by Friday, she was panicking about not having anything to wear. She would have to make a mad dash to the mall on Saturday.

Saturday afternoon arrived, and she woke up late in a panic.

She threw on her tracksuit, pulled her hair into a bun, and raced to the mall. She sifted through countless dresses that didn’t appeal to her.

Finding a suitable dress was a challenge, especially since Valerian could easily outshine her.

She had told him she would wear white so they could coordinate. Now she was second-guessing her color choice.

She knew Valerian wouldn’t appreciate a last-minute change—he would see right through her lack of preparation.

So she redoubled her efforts to find a white dress. She didn’t know why she had chosen that color. Red would have been so much easier.

She searched through rack after rack in store after store until she found a dress she loved in the right color. She bought it.

Hailey had been at the mall for what felt like forever. Valerian had promised to pick her up at six-thirty on the dot, and she didn’t want to keep him waiting.

She arrived home at five-thirty, leaving her just enough time to prepare for the evening. She knew Valerian was punctual and would arrive exactly when he said he would.

Without wasting a moment, Hailey hopped into the shower and quickly dried off. She slipped into a robe, ready to start getting ready.

She began with her makeup, then moved on to her hair. By the time she was ready to slip into her dress, it was already six-thirty. Valerian would be waiting outside.

She hurriedly put on her dress and matching heels, making sure to turn off all the lights before locking up.

Stepping outside, she found Valerian leaning against his car. He was dressed in a form-fitting suit that made him look incredibly attractive.

As she approached him, she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks under his appreciative gaze.

Memories of their time in the Maldives flashed through her mind. Why was she thinking about that now?

When she reached him, she offered him a smile as he opened the car door for her. She slid into the seat, and he closed the door behind her before joining her in the back seat. He signaled for the driver to start the car.

“You look stunning, Hailey.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss to it.

His compliment caught her off guard. She collected her thoughts before responding. “Thank you.”

His grin was just as attractive as the rest of him. “You’re welcome.”

She shook herself out of her daze and turned her attention to the passing scenery.

The rest of the ride was quiet, her nerves making her stomach flutter. She knew all eyes would be on them because of Valerian.

She hoped the other girls wouldn’t be upset, and she would do her best to explain.

She felt Valerian’s hand cover hers. “We’re here,” he announced, startling her slightly.

“It’s okay. You’re with me. I’ve got you,” he reassured her. He exited the car and opened her door, offering her his hand, which she gratefully accepted.

Valerian guided her hand to his elbow, giving her a comforting smile. She took a deep breath, and they began to walk.

They were greeted by a few people, to whom she offered polite smiles. Valerian remained unfazed by the attention.

Hailey took a deep breath as they entered the event.

As they ascended the stairs, they came into full view of the crowd. All eyes were on them.