She stands instantly up in rage and slaps Drake on his cheek, leaving a red spot. "You, son of a bitch! You're not going to get away with this." Shannon threatens before she scampers out of the restaurant in furious haste.
I gasp and stare at Drake while he rubs his cheek. "So, that was Shannon, huh?"
Drake's eyes twinkle. "You find this funny, don't you? Just as well. That woman was becoming a nightmare."
Interesting. Wasn't he planning to marry her? "Um, so I guess there's no wedding then?"
Drake sighs and looks away. His eyes seem distant as he watches the beach. He looks sad. If Shannon meant so much to him … then why break up with her?
"I never wanted to get married … well not right away, and especially, not with her," Drake says, breaking the silence.
He waits until the waiter is done placing our food on the table before starting again. "Four months ago, Shannon was pregnant. I know it's not enough reason to marry someone, but I want to offer my child the same childhood I had, with two loving parents. My parents didn't know that she was pregnant. I was going to tell them, eventually, but there was never a right time, you know? Shannon miscarried during her sixteenth week. I was going to tell her that the wedding was not going to happen, but each time I tried, she would go into a crazy meltdown. She almost killed herself once. After that incident, I was complacent and told myself that I will wait for a few more months before I break it off with her. I wanted her to seek professional help, but she insisted that she was fine. Anyway, that's the story behind Shannon and me." Drake takes a lengthy sip of his water and starts to eat his meal.
I stare at him in astonishment. How could he just eat after the shocking information he just bombarded me with? "What if she tries to kill herself again, what are you going to do?"
"That's her family's problem now. Her parents know how their daughter is, but they just brush it off. If they can do that, so can I. Shannon used her pregnancy and miscarriage for far too long. I am well over it."
"I'm sorry about the baby," I murmur.
He shrugs. "Yeah, but it was for the best. I don't honestly think she and I would've been any good as parents anyway. I can always be grateful for that, I suppose."
I'm still reeling from all the insane information. I can barely even manage to put the food in my mouth, let alone swallow it. Drake, a father … it's the most bizarre thought. He's never been keen on kids. I mean he finds them cute, but he stays away from them like they were diseased or something. I guess that was the old Drake. The new one might actually love to have babies. I suppose I really don't know this man anymore.
After that eventful lunch, Drake hands me a spare key for his house and gives me some other important details that are essential for me to know, like where he gets his dry cleaning done and so forth.
When the clock hits five pm, I get up and gather my belongings. I glance towards the door when I hear a knock.
It's Drake.
"There's an event tomorrow night. I will send a car at six to get you."
Um, you mention this now? "Do I have to be there? I don't think I'll be necessary." I don't want to be an idiot accessory, either.
"It's work related. You will meet a lot of our contacts and it's good for you to know who they are." Sigh. Of course he brings up work.
Shit.
I nod. "Okay, six tomorrow night." I get up, sort out my things, and shove whatever it is that I need in my tote purse. When I hear him clear his throat, I'm a little startled. He didn't leave yet? I thought he left already.
"Yes?" I ask, not glancing in his direction.
"I won't be here tomorrow, so I will see you at the event. Mindy will have all the information on your desk tomorrow morning. She already picked up the dry cleaning, so you don't have to do it any longer."
Thank God for Mindy. I totally forgot about his other demands. He also added that Skull was already taken care of. Okay.
"So, I guess I will see you tomorrow night?" He lingers longer.
Does he plan to leave any second now?
"Yes, Drake, I will be there tomorrow night." I gather up my things and stride towards the door. I frustratingly halt when he blocks my passage.
I groan. "What now?"
"Do you need a ride home?" he whispers sultrily at me. His eyes focus on my lips.
I need to get out of here, NOW! "I drove here. I have to go. I have things to do. Will you move out of my way, Drake?" I try not to look at him directly. I simply can't. I don't have it in me to do so.
"You have plans tonight? A date with that boyfriend of yours, perhaps?"
"What is this, twenty questions? You already know that I do. Drop it, will you? You're starting to get on my nerves!" I exclaim with passion, but the man is being infuriatingly dense.
"I was just curious, Lil. I haven't seen you in almost a decade. I suppose you can say that I miss making you blush. You're blushing now and I must say I like this look better on you." A devilish grin suddenly emerges as he eyes me closer as if in inspection, again.
Not today, Drake, or ever AGAIN will I succumb to you. Once was lesson enough.
Without blinking, I speak with utmost certainty. "I am not interested, Drake. So, please, do us both a favor and drop the Mr. Seduction act because it will never work on me."
Drake moves closer, our chests touching. I instantly try to pull away, but he has my shoulders on lockdown. "Why do you tense up when I'm close to you, Lil?" Drake painstakingly brushes my cheek and I look away and try to avoid his touch. "Or why does your breathing become shallow … " Drake whispers as he draws himself closer. All air leaves me when I feel his hot breath against my ear. "You still want me, but you're fighting it."
Fine, maybe I still do, but that doesn't mean I'll act on it.
"Dream on, Drake." I forcefully push him aside and stride out of my office. It doesn't take him long to catch up with me as I wait for the elevator.
The man is beyond exasperating! He makes me want to commit bloody murder.
I don't acknowledge him when he jumps next to me inside the elevator.
"Do you want to go out for dinner?" Drake annoyingly asks.
For the love of God! Leave me alone! I want to scream, yet, I hold myself in check. I can't lose my temper on my first day of work. Although, I'm tempted … oh, so tempted.
"Nope, I'm going out with Jared. Remember?" I almost feel triumphant when I don't hear a smart comeback. It only lasts briefly.
"Is Jared staying over at your place, too?" he finally speaks, his voice low, but succinct.
I glare at him. With both of my hands on my hips, I tell him off. "My sex life is none of your business. Who I fuck and don't fuck is irrelevant. This interrogation ends now."
"For now," Drake states in a matter-of-fact tone, but I completely ignore him.
I don't even bother to respond because the elevator doors open. I hurriedly scramble out and into the lobby and race towards the parking structure.
Once I'm in traffic, I begin to fume some more. "Fuck you, Drake Tatum." I swear. Drake is royally screwing with my head and I hate it.
8
The fundraiser event for independent films is held at The Beverly Hills Hotel in The Crystal Ballroom. It's illuminated with subtle pinkish-lavender lighting and each table is decorated with white orchids. The ambiance is dreamy and the soft jazz eases some of my tension.
I'm sipping my champagne when I feel a zinging sensation on the back of my neck all the way down my spine. There is only one man who can make me feel like a fucking magnet and that is Drake. Knowing he's close by, I don't even bother to look for him. Instead, I opt to savor the beautiful surroundings and the beautiful ambiance.
"Lily."
Guess that didn't last long. I spin around and greet him, bitingly, "Drake." I briefly assess him, looking handsomely dapper as ever, but I force my eyes to drag away from his striking features. I am not going to dwell about this man, I repeat many times in my head.
"You look gorgeous. Gold suits you. It brings out your eyes," he compliments as his eyes gingerly rove over my body. Admiration clearly stated in those metallic orbs.
Well, heck, I didn't plan to look like crap even though it crossed my mind, once. Or twice. Instead, I wore a tight-fitted, body-hugging, gold sheath dress that exposes my entire back with a slit up one leg. My hair is stylishly piled on top of the crown of my head.
"Did you need something?" I go back to my old pose, trying to block out his handsome face.
He comes closer. Drake stands behind me, brushing my butt softly against his thigh. "You can't expect to ask me that question and not get hard. I always need you, it seems." His lips caress the tip of my ear.
I simply shudder and try to ignore the tell-tale signs of my own arousal. "Stop being a twit and start thinking with your head, Drake. And I mean the head up there and not down south, nestled in between your legs." I bring the point home by poking my finger at his topmost head.