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I rolled my eyes. “The money isn’t an issue. I told you that.”
My mom mumbled something about knowing my worth, which I ignored. I didn’t bother telling her about Brett and how attracted I was to him. Or that I was going to dinner with him tonight. I knew what she would say to me if she knew. My mom would lecture me until I ran late, and I didn’t have the time or the patience for her stories. I was an adult, and I could make my own choices, contrary to what my mom seemed to believe.
“I have to go,” I said after I had told my mom a little bit about the offices and my working conditions. “I’m going out.”
“Say hello to Katie for me,” my mom said and ended the call. I didn’t bother telling her that I wasn’t going to see Katie tonight.
I took a taxi to Madison Avenue. I had heard of Eleven Madison Park before, but I’d never been there. I realized why. It was a classy restaurant, not the type of place I would go to for a girls’ night out with Katie.
Brett was waiting for me on the curb, and he looked dashing. He wore a black suit with a butter yellow tie that somehow made his eyes seem darker than usual. The suit was tailor-made without a doubt, and it showed off his great physique. The guy had to spend hours in the gym to have a body this good. Or maybe I was biased.
He smiled when he saw me. “You look beautiful.
I blushed, and we walked into the restaurant. Brett had made a reservation, and we were led to our table.
The dining room had high ceilings, and everything was decorated in beige, brown, and gray. White-clothed tables had brown chairs all around them with beautiful wooden dividers and art deco plants and decor to break up the space.
“This is such a nice place,” I said when we were seated.
Brett looked around. “It’s one of my favorite places.”
In the office Brett was in charge, but he never acted like he had a lot of money or that everyone had to jump when he snapped his fingers. Now that we were out in public, his attitude had changed. He had the air of the rich and important, and everyone who came to serve us acted like they knew exactly what he was worth.
“Does it ever get tiring?” I asked when our appetizers were served and we sipped on dry wine.
“What?”
“Being revered as if you’re a god because of your money.”
Brett shrugged. “You get used to it, I guess. Sometimes it irritates me because they think they can cash in somehow—gain the rights to my riches—if they get friendly enough with me. Most of the time I just shrug it off.”
I nodded and took a spoonful of the cold avocado-and-cucumber soup I had ordered.
“I don’t get that feeling with you,” Brett said. “I don’t feel like you’re after my money.”
“Oh,” I said and chuckled. “Well, that would be accurate then.”
“I have to say, it’s not often I get an EA as beautiful as you are.”
I blushed again. “You don’t have to charm me, Brett. You pay me to do everything you ask.”
“Everything?” he asked.
I laughed. I couldn’t believe he’d said that.
“Too much?” Brett asked.
“You’d be surprised how much I can handle,” I said.
It was Brett’s turn to laugh in surprise. We were openly flirting with each other now. I shouldn’t have been doing it, but I couldn’t help it. I liked Brett, and I was comfortable around him. That and he was hot. I liked how heads turned toward us, how I was the woman who sat at the table with him when others stared longingly in our direction. It wasn’t lost on me how careful he would have to be in public. He seemed to be under constant scrutiny.
When dinner was over and Brett got the check, we left the restaurant.
“Did you drive here?” he asked.
“I took a taxi,” I admitted. I had expected we would drink wine, and I didn’t like driving with alcohol in my system.
“I’m here with the car. Allow me to take you home.”
As he said it, a black car pulled up in front of us and then a driver climbed out to open the door.
“Thank you,” I said and slid onto the leather seat. Brett followed, and we sat together in the back. I gave the driver my address, and we pulled into the busy New York streets. It was like a fairy tale. I was aware of Brett and how close he was to me. The tension in the car grew the longer we were together in a confined space. I glanced at Brett to catch him already staring at me, and I blushed. I was relieved it was dark in the car so Brett couldn’t see my flaming cheeks.
