Chapter 13 - THE FIRST DATE AFTER THE STORM
Our first date was at a small restaurant overlooking the harbor.
No photographers.
No business partners.
No elaborate security display.
Just Julian and me.
He looked nervous.
I smiled.
"Are you okay?"
He laughed.
"I negotiate billion-dollar deals without blinking."
"And?"
"And apparently asking you what you'd like for dinner is more difficult."
I laughed.
"That's because I might say no."
He smiled.
"Exactly."
We talked for hours.
About childhood.
Family.
Loss.
Responsibility.
I told him about Benjamin's treatment.
He told me about his father's death.
I told him how frightened I'd been when Victoria threatened to fire me.
He told me how ashamed he'd felt after discovering what happened to Evelyn.
At one point, Julian reached across the table.
Then stopped.
"May I?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
He took my hand.
And for the first time, I wasn't thinking about money.
Or fear.
Or whether I was allowed to be happy.
I was simply there.
With him.
After dinner, we walked beside the water.
The wind was cool.
Julian removed his coat.
I laughed.
"Don't you dare."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Give me your coat like we're in a movie."
He smiled.
"Would that be so terrible?"
I shook my head.
"Only if you expect me to fall in love with you because of it."
He looked at me.
Then said quietly:
"I'd rather you fall in love with me because I show up."
My heart skipped.
May you like
I smiled.
"That's a much better answer."
