"Are you all packed for tomorrow?"
We were the only two in the elevator so I was grateful to have a bit of privacy. Maybe he would warm up to me again since we were alone.
"Yes, I am all packed. Are you?"
He raised an eyebrow at me, I could see the surprise on his face and I doubted that anyone had ever questioned him about being ready for anything. He had a small smirk on his face as he answered me.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am packed also. Did you remember to include something to wear the two nights we will be entertaining clients?"
"Yes, and I hope that they are appropriate."
"I will let you know when you model them for me on the airplane and if they are not what I had in mind, I will have dresses sent over to the hotel for you from one of my favorite boutiques. Don't forget to pack them in your carry-on luggage."
"Sebastian, I am afraid I will not be able to afford to buy new dresses while on this trip so hopefully what I packed will be good enough. I am on a budget and I am saving every penny that I can."
He sighed and almost looked offended as his eyes searched mine. "I would never expect for you to pay for anything on a business trip Elena so, like I said, if I don't like what I see I will arrange to have dresses sent over for you. Please just accept the gesture, there is no hidden meaning behind it."
When the elevator opened on the first floor, Sebastian barely looked at me as he said goodnight and walked out of the building. I stood in the lobby worried, once again, that I had pissed him off. I wanted to kick myself over what I had said and I wished so badly that I could take it back. Oh well, there was nothing that I could do about it then so I did my best to push the whole elevator ride out of my mind and I went home.
The next morning as I got ready to leave, I made sure I had my passport because that would be a huge nightmare if I left that behind. The only reason I had a valid passport was because I studied in France for a semester my junior year of college. The car picked me up right on time and dropped me off in a section of the airport I had never been to. I was the first to arrive so I checked in and I waited inside the private jet terminal for Sebastian. I was reading a magazine when I heard footsteps getting closer to me. I looked up to see Sebastian, walking toward me and he looked like a male model plucked right of a magazine. He was wearing beautifully tailored tan pants, a casual white linen shirt and sunglasses. The white shirt complimented his olive skin and I was literally speechless, as he got closer to me.
"Good morning Elena, the plane is ready for us, shall we go?"
He was still cold and very formal with me. This sucks.
We walked out onto the tarmac and boarded the plane that said Blu Sierra Hotels on the side in big blue letters and I wanted to pinch myself to make sure it was real. The plane was super plush inside and it looked like it could seat eight people. It had a couple of bedrooms and a small conference area and had the signature crystal vases on the table. Sebastian and I were the only people on board aside from a flight attendant and the two pilots. The flight attendant directed to my seat and Sebastian sat directly across from me, facing me.
He took off his sunglasses and gave me a slow once over and I was hoping I looked okay. I thought that my black pants and light pink short-sleeved button down shirt was an appropriate outfit for the flight because it wasn't too casual or revealing.
"Elena, you look … comfortable."
Well we are going to be on a long flight, why wouldn't I wear comfortable clothes?
"Thank you, I think."
He pulled out his newspaper, slipped on reading glasses and peered over the top of the paper at me and held my gaze.
"That wasn't an insult, it's just that your clothes don't suit your figure."
I could feel my cheeks getting warm and wished so badly that I could control that. I was a bit annoyed at being given the once over like I was a piece of cattle so I decided to say something. He might be my boss, but I was not going to let him insult the only clothes I could afford. If I had his bank account my clothing would be beyond gorgeous.
"This is what I can afford right now and I happen to think it is a very nice business casual ensemble."
He put the paper down, crossed his legs, took off his glasses, his gorgeous dark eyes held my gaze and he did not speak to me for a full minute. I wished that at that moment I could duck and hide from his imposing stare because I appeared to have irritated him.
"When we get to São Paolo, I am going to have a personal shopper stop by to see you to select more suitable clothing for you for this business trip."
"That is not necessary." Defiance dripped from my words, I wasn't some charity case. I was making pretty good money in that new position and I would be able to buy a few nicer things in a couple of months. Until then, I thought I looked perfectly fine.
He gave me a stern look and I knew not to say anything. "There is no room for negotiation on this Elena." He put his glasses back on and continued to read the paper.
Okay, I guess he had the final word on that. I told myself that I would pay back every penny he spent on the clothes, but I would quickly find out that the clothes that were going to be selected for me cost more than I would make in five years in my new position.
I pulled out the book I was reading and immersed myself in the story, hoping it would make the time pass more quickly. Sebastian clearly was not interested in me anymore so I needed something to distract me from the ache I was feeling in my heart. About an hour later Sebastian finished his paper and I could feel his eyes on me after he put the paper away. I raised my eyes to his and he just about took my breath away. The man was simply beautiful.
"I'd like to see the dresses you're going to wear. Did you remember to pack them in your carry-on?"
I felt nervous butterflies flutter in my belly.
"Yes."
"Go try them on, please."
He was serious about that?
"You can change in the bedroom behind you."
"Sebastian … " I wanted to tell him how uncomfortable I felt but there was a part of me that was excited about flaunting my figure in front of that gorgeous man.
"Elena." His voice was firm so I did as I was told.
When I emerged from the bedroom I was wearing a simple but pretty black form fitting long black sleeveless dress. My breasts were pretty ample and the dress hugged the silhouette of my curves perfectly. I could see the appreciation in Sebastian's eyes turn to lust as they traveled the entire length of me.
"Your figure is incredible, very sexy. That dress does not do you justice. Let me see the next one."
The next dress was a bit more conservative and it had a zipper in the back that I would need help with. I was planning to ask Carol to help me with the zipper the night I was going to wear it but now I would have to ask Sebastian. The dress was a simple, red, knee length cocktail dress but it was pretty, or at least I thought it was. It also hugged my curves perfectly and had a v-neck which showed just a hint of cleavage. I walked out holding the back closed with my right hand and stood in front of Sebastian. I was nearly shaking with anticipation as I asked him the question.
"Will you please help me with the zipper?"
I saw a gleam in his eyes as he stood and told me to turn around. His fingers lightly grazed my skin as he zipped me up and then I felt his hand rest gently on the back of my neck. My breaths were short as my heart began to race from his touch. He began to lightly stroke the back of my neck and I wanted to just lean back into him and feel his arms wrap around my waist. His hand moved from my neck, gently slid down my arm to my wrist and he slowly turned me around. Lust was brimming in his eyes as they perused my body. He leaned in close to me, my heart thumped against my chest and I just knew that he was going to kiss me. He moved my hair behind my shoulder, grazing my skin as he did so, causing it to tingle.
"The dresses don't do you justice." He then took a step back and I was left practically panting for him, craving his kiss. "Clarissa, the personal shopper will meet you in your room this evening, I'll have Bev make the arrangements."
We were scheduled to arrive at 6:00 p.m. and Sebastian told me that we were meeting the others at 7:30 for a quick dinner. The personal shopper was meeting me in my room at 9:00.
"Isn't that kind of late?"
"No, it shouldn't take long, just tell her what you like and she will be able to do the rest. You'll have the clothes by Thursday afternoon, plenty of time for you to choose something to wear to the client dinner. You can change back into your comfortable clothes now. If you turn around I will unzip you."