“So where are we going?” Evie giggled as Jack’s hands covered her eyes.

“You’ll see…” he teased as he led her through what sounded to Evie like a large hall. Their steps clacked and echoed on a hardwood floor while she awkwardly followed Jack’s steps behind her.

Jack had picked her up in his car as promised and as usual before any date, Evie was running late. Chocolate hair curled and cascading down her shoulders, a last minute slick of lipstick and tying the stretchy ribbon waistband of her oxblood wrap dress and she was ready to go.

When she got outside her apartment, Jack was standing by his black Jaguar, dressed in a navy suit and white shirt unbuttoned at the top. She couldn’t help but feel her breath catch at how well it suited his angular and swarthy features. When Jack saw her, his jaw practically hit the floor.

“You look gorgeous!” the words left his mouth before he even knew what he was saying. The oxblood dress clung to her curves in all the right places, the colour bringing out her pale, creamy skin.

He’d been feeling the same stab of doubt since the night before. Was he doing the right thing? Could he get close to her? She was a sweet girl, the last thing he wanted to do was lead her on or break her heart.

Yet the second he laid eyes on her standing at the top of her apartment stairs, any doubt flew out of his mind. He lit up from the inside. Her eyes glowed from his compliment and he felt his chest tighten at her shy smile.

“Thank you,” she said, “Not so bad yourself.”

He opened the passenger seat door and gestured for her to hop in.

“Shall we?”

The journey there had been charged with a sparkling tension. Neither of them really knew what to say, but their stolen glances at each other as the Jaguar glided down the cosmopolitan streets said enough.

Evie felt the rustle of cool air graze her skin when she felt Jack’s chest against her back. The feel of his lips against her ear sent a spark shoot down her spine while his hands warmly covered her eyes.

“Ok,” he murmured, removing his hands, “You can open them now.”

When she did, her jaw dropped in a loud, audible gasp. They were standing on a balcony overlooking the whole of central London. A myriad of blue and yellow lights lit up the buildings and landmarks, from Tower Bridge to the London Eye the beautiful finishing touches to a beautiful sight.

She tilted her head back to face Jack, who was grinning down at her.

“Like it?” he asked.

“Like it?!” she scoffed, “Jack, this is beautiful!”

His grin broadened and Evie let out a flabbergasted laugh.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Look behind you.”

With a hand on the small of her back, Jack smoothly guided her round to see. Not only were they on a gargantuan balcony, through the windows there was a luxurious restaurant kitted out with finely dressed staff, assortments of cherry blossom draping the pillars and ceiling and candles illuminating each table.

Her eyes darted around the couples and groups quietly chatting over the meals and drinks, the quiet hallway that Jack had led her through, when her eye caught what was on the balcony itself. A carefully laid out table for two with candles, fine china and polished cutlery, wicker seats with the same cherry blossom decoration draping across the balcony railing.

“Oh my God…” Evie looked up at Jack, “Is this –?”

“A private balcony?” Jack finished for her, “Yes, it is.”

“So you booked this for the evening?”

“No,” Jack shook his head, “I own this restaurant.”

Evie stared up at him aghast before her mouth twisted amusedly and she shook her head with a chuckle.

“Young, handsome billionaire CEO? Of course you own a bloody restaurant…” She folded her arms in a good natured jibe as they headed towards the table. While others may have took it as an insult, Jack let out a hearty laugh as he pulled out one of the wicker chairs for her.

“Ladies first…” he grinned, giving Evie a charming wink. Evie stared at him shrewdly while her mouth twisted again.

“And chivalrous, what a shocker!” she joked and sat herself down.

“Yes, we are dying breed I’m afraid,” he joked back in an overdramatically wistful tone. He pushed the seat gently so Evie was settled at the table, when he leaned down so their cheeks touched.

“So you’re a very lucky lady…” he mused again, when he stole a quick kiss on her cheek. She gasped and he bolted up before she could move, settling himself in the seat opposite with a cheeky smile. He was starting to really like that shrewd stare of hers.

“Oh, I don’t know…” she smiled slyly, took the soft napkin at the side of her cutlery and laid it across her lap, “The evening’s still young.”

If Jack didn’t know any better, he would have suggested they skip dinner entirely and head back to his apartment right away. He wasn’t used to the kind of humour she had, the kind that easily brought him down a peg or two.

Many around him were too wary to use it for fear it would cause insult, like many other pompous businessmen he knew. But he loved it from her. He bounced off it. She never once quaked in reverence at his position or money. In fact, she didn’t even seem to care, which refreshed him all the more.

It was then a stocky, bald man of around fifty dressed in a pressed, white chef’s uniform walked on to the balcony.

“Mr. Palmer. It’s good to have you back, Sir.”

Immediately Jack stood and shook the man’s hand.

“Thank you, Frank. It’s good to see you.” Jack turned to Evie, “Evie, this is Frank. He’s our Head Chef.”

Frank politely held out his hand, which Evie shook with a polite smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madam.”

“You too.”

Evie noticed Frank a small pen and notepad held in one hand.

“Well Sir,” Frank brightly said as Jack sat back down, “are you ready to order?”

*

Violet Grey

Copyright, 2018 – Life of Violet

All Rights Reserved.

*Picture – Pinterest