Meeting Mr. Mogul(51)

After getting the receipt, I gestured for him to go ahead and take a  seat on the farthest booth from Ally and Logan. I hoped that they got  the clue that I was not in the mood to catch up. I knew that Ally had  seen right through William's lie when my eyes finally landed on hers.  She gave me a suggestive wink and smirked.

"I think we should have the food to go. I don't feel like eating here anymore," I stated in defeat as I turned towards William.

"I understand …  So, where to? My place?" He nodded in understanding and asked like he was trying to weigh options.

I snorted at his question and slid out of the booth. "There is no way  I'm taking that lame bait easily, Maxwell," I said and walked towards  the counter to tell them to have the food packed as to go.

It took me awhile to get back to my seat since I had to pay for extra to  have the food packed. As I got back a few minutes later, our table had  crowded a little. Why didn't it cross my mind to check on him?

"Oh! Andy, you're back …  I hope we aren't being a bother. I just wanted  to properly introduce myself to William here. And talk a little  business … " Ally said shyly, as she slowly slid out of the booth across  from William.

"I promise you, Andy. I tried to talk her out of this … " Logan pointed out in defense.

"No worries," I replied to both of them with a small smile, and quickly gave William a glance to see his expression.

The way his mouth was set softly and his eyebrows relaxed, I was  relieved to see that this didn't annoy him at all. I didn't want them  both seeing his not-so-good side. I had enough experience not to mess  with a man with money-though, I realized he never really did anything  with that power against me.

"So, are you two not going to eat here? Are you heading back to the  apartment, Andy?" Ally asked, her tone bordering on an intrusive way

Before William could try to answer her question, I gave her a reply that  would make William's day. "No. We won't be heading back to my place.  It's his turn to do the cleaning at his own place," I replied with a  strained chuckle.

"Oh! You live close by?" Ally turned to William in surprise.

"Ah! No. His house is on the edge of town," I replied, cutting William  off again as he tried to answer her question. "It's a long drive from  here, but when I told him about this place, he wanted to drop by before  heading out," I continued, predicting her next question.

From the way Ally smirked at my words, she was contented on my reply. I  was about to end the conversation when the arrival of our order did it  for me. Ally was quick to follow and suggested that we walked out  together. Since I didn't want to be rude to someone who's been nice to  me, I accepted her offer.   





 

As we got outside the café, we made a quick farewell before we separated  ways. While I was doing so, I gave sly glances towards William to warn  him not to go on the direction of his apartment. Even though I trusted  Ally, I didn't want his address to be common knowledge. Even the  paparazzi don't exactly know where he is currently living from my  understanding, since I hadn't seen any paparazzi in these parts.

We walked at the opposite direction of his place as Ally and Logan  continued to walk back to my apartment building. As we continued walking  towards the curb, I pushed William on the corner to hide him before  peeking back in the direction where Ally and Logan had gone.

"They are still a few meters from the apartment. We have to wait at  least fifteen minutes before making a run for it," I stated in a whisper  as I kept my eyes on them.

"Why are you so paranoid if they'd know where I live?" he asked in  refined interest as I felt him lean back on the wall behind me.

I turned towards him before giving a reply. "I don't want to be too  suspicious, and us together is suspicious enough," I replied sternly as I  gave him a scathing gaze.

"So, what if they found out that we are dating?"

"Are you freaking kidding me?" I snorted in disbelief.

I didn't add anymore for his benefit and turned back to check on Ally  and Logan. They were already by the entrance of my apartment and had  gotten in. I glanced down at my wristwatch as I calculated how much time  we had left before making a run for it. After a few minutes or so, when  nobody in the street looked familiar to recognize me with William, I  grabbed William's arm and pulled him out of the corner. I quickened my  pace as I walked towards his apartment.

"You don't have to be rude about this … " I heard William mumble in protest behind me, which I pretended not to hear.

When we finally reached the lobby of his apartment building, I let out a  huge sigh of relief that we made this far without any more  interruptions. I made a quick glance at the reception desk and looked at  the guy behind it.

"Good evening, Fred," William called out beside me before he made his way towards the elevator.

"Good evening, Mr. Maxwell. Miss," he greeted back with a nod towards his direction and mine.

I nodded back in greeting and hurried my way towards the elevator. As  the metal door closed on us, I sighed yet again, faced one of the metal  walls and leaned my forehead to it. I couldn't believe how tiresome  today had been.

"Are you okay?" William asked behind me, feeling his warm hands caress my back.

"I'm fine," I mumbled in reply as I let his hands soothe me.

We stayed quiet for a while until the elevator door stopped on his  floor. I slowly stepped out as William held the door for me. Then, I  suddenly felt nervous and shy as we reached the main door of his  apartment.

"Are you going in or not?" William asked, his voice brought me out of my stupor.

"I'm sorry. I'm going in now," I said as I quickly walked past him  towards his living room. This would be my third visit within the span of  three days.

"Please make yourself at home." He gestured towards the living room  after he closed the door behind me. "I'll place this is the dining room  and I'll change," he added as he raised the paper bags in his left hand.

I nodded in reply and made my way to one of the black couches in his  living room. And as I sat down on the single couch, I could feel  William's eyes on me. I didn't dare to meet those eyes with mine, not  until I've calmed down my pounding heart.

When I heard a faint sound of a closing door, I quickly got up from my  seat and walked towards the dining room. I got the paper bag with my  food and drinks and I sat down on one of the seats in the table and  started munching on my sandwich  –  well, eating it with big bites is my  description of munching. I was really hungry.

"And you just couldn't wait for me," William's voice startled me enough  to make me jump in my seat as I turned towards his direction.

"Please do not creep behind someone, Mr. Maxwell," I grumbled in annoyance.

"I told you to call me William," he countered in the same tone, though his eyes were bright and amused.   





 

"Yeah. Yeah. Right," I chuntered but brushed it off as I took another bite of my sandwich.

"Is it good?" he asked as he made his way towards me. He sat down on the chair across from mine.

"I won't be eating it if it wasn't," I replied caustically after I  swallowed the food in my mouth. "Aren't you going to eat your food?" I  asked when he continued to sit and look at me.

"You are distracting me with your eating," he replied with a sly grin.

I coughed twice at this smooth comeback. "I can't believe that you're  using a cheesy line like that," I laugh in disbelief. "You can do better  than that, William," I added with a smirk.

"I agree with you there. That was pretty lame," he chuckled in agreement and grabbed the food inside the paper bag.

We ate silently for a while until William opened another topic for us to  talk about. He started asking me about my previous jobs and what I did  before moving here. I was very vague when I told him about my six-month  painting sting after I graduated as an art major. Then I briefly told  him about my short-lived teaching job before my father was diagnosed. I  skipped the sad parts of my struggle and told him how I got the  waitressing job that crossed our paths.

"Why didn't you just find another teaching job in the city?" he interjected. His tone was filled with curiosity.

"I did apply, but there were no available slots. Then, your sister  offered me this job. So, here I am," I replied and quickly wrapped up  the conversation.

"Well, I'm glad that you accepted that job. We wouldn't be here if you  didn't," he whispered in admission. His words sent a tingling sensation  all over my body, making me stiffen at the alien feeling.

"So, I'm done eating …  And, it's getting late … " I stated aloud as I brushed it off and tried to start a new topic.

"How about you stay here for the night, we could watch some movies … " He  stood up from his chair abruptly. My plan on changing the topic had  worked its magic.