Chapter 4
"Two thousand pounds?" she asked at a loss, "You gotta be kidding me, right?…"
"No…" he shook his head softly,
"But why, David?… Why are you giving it back to me?"
"Because I owed you this money."
"No, you owe me nothing." she answered softly, and felt deeply touched as he added,
"… I just don't want you to pay for the date."
"I gave this money for charity… so actually, the two things have nothing to do with each other," she stepped closer with a gentle smile,
"I know, but… I just want it to be about the two of us."
"It is all about just the two of us…" she answered warmly, "Or you took me on a date because this is the right thing to do if I already paid a large sum of money?" she teased him, and he answered with a loving smile,
"… Do you really think I took you on a date because of that?"
"No…" she shook her head softly, and reached out her hand, "But please, take it…"
"I won't."
"David…" she still held the envelope.
"I won't take it, that's for sure."
"Right," she took a sigh, "Then I have to transfer it to your bank account."
"… Then I will give it back to you."
"Gosh, you have kids, David… you can't throw around that much money!"
"I got a very decent amount of money for saving your life, so it's actually from you in a way."
"Nice trying, but I'm not buying that…" she took a sigh and reached out the envelope again,
"So you think a date with you not worth two thousand pounds?" he asked with a smile,
"I think no-one's date worth that much…" she answered with determination, then added with a soft chuckle, "But if a simple date pays that well, I'll surely change jobs."
"I think a lot of men would pay more for a date with you," he added with his boyish smile.
"That's very kind, and I do believe you think so… but please, take it."
"Or can we say that the value for money is not in balance?" he smiled, while she knew it's a trap, but answered,
"Yeah… we can."
"Then how about trying to balance the two?"
"To balance them… but how?" she asked, which was barely a whisper, because he was already dangerously close,
"Maybe like this…" he just smiled, stroking her cheek with his thumb, before he captured her lips and kissed her lovingly… as his lips brushed hers, she completely lost touch with reality. All she could do was feel… feel his loving lips, his gentle arms around her and his closeness which she wanted to be wrapped up in forever… his closeness was what she yearned for the most since he showed her that night what it feels like to be completely safe and warm… and she became addicted to this feeling… being close to him was the most relaxing thing she has ever experienced, and now she just couldn't stop kissing with him… so for a while, they were completely lost in their own little world, then her stomach started growling, and they both ended up laughing into the kiss,
"Maybe I shouldn't have eat that much sweets in the end…"
"But it's so delicious," he smiled into her lips, "You taste like raspberry and chocolate."
"Gosh another one…"
"I think this is the time when a gentleman leaves the place discreetly."
"Yeah, I think so…" she chuckled,
"So do you want me to leave?"
"Actually, it's quite a hard question to answer, but let's say you should…"
"Okay," he nodded understandingly with a bit of a sadness in his eyes.
"But you don't have to hurry that much," she grabbed his hand to stop him, "I can hold on for a little more," she chuckled, and with that she drew him closer for another kiss,
"Soon, I'll owe you again…" he kissed her back happily, and her answer was a chuckle,
"It will go back and forth as I see…",
"And don't forget that I still owe you a date."
"How you mean that?" she released him a bit,
"The movie… it was dinner and a movie."
"Oh, yes indeed." she smiled sweetly,
"So what do you say for a second date?"
"Well, I don't really know that…" she teased him, "Maybe I'll need a little more time to decide."
"Okay, but don't think too long, because you know…" he teased back, "We promised that the wedding will be hold in the Summer."
"Don't worry, we won't waste time," she laughed.
"Then tomorrow?"
"I would love to, but I'm going away for the weekend to my mother."
"Yes, sorry. I do remember,"
"Monday is always a chaos, but Tuesday would be fine, how about that?"
"Perfect," he smiled, "At least there's something to look forward to."
"Uhm, what does 'movie' mean this case exactly?" she asked sweetly, "A cinema or a movie night?"
"I think we should stay at home for a classic movie night," he answered and they shared a smile, because they both knew what's going on.
"That sounds great, after a long day at work I would rather stay at home anyway."
"Then it's a deal, I'll arrange everything by the time you get home…" he answered lovingly, when her stomach growled again,
"Gosh, it's like an alarm system."
"I'm leaving you now to relax…"
"Thank you," she whispered with a smile, but it was so hard to leave her,
"Anyway… I did not expect this night would be such a success."
"Success?" she asked teasingly, as he leant closer for a kiss,
"Uh-huh," he deepened it, when a loud tooting was heard from the street.
"Gosh, the backup team seems very impatient…" she chuckled,
"This is surely not them, they would never disturb a moment like this."
"Do they really?"
"Yeah, I think they would rather sleep in the car."
"Hm, that's good to know…" she smiled cheekily and kissed him as a goodbye, but he just drew her closer,
"I'm leaving…" he smiled into the kiss, but couldn't lose contact with her,
"Okay," she kissed him back,
"I'm going…"
"Right," she whispered into his mouth, "Then… see you on Monday," she kissed him long and let him go,
"I can't wait for that…" he smiled from the door, before she closed it with a happy sigh… David was so uplifted and full of energy that he rather walked home, which was quite a distance and the rain started to pour also, but he felt as if he could walk around the whole world… as he finally got home and went to bed, he was just lying awake, because he was too happy to sleep and couldn't stop thinking of her… he knew it was already dawn, so he just sent her a text message,
'Are you asleep?'
'Not yet…' came her answer quickly,
'Me neither, I'm just too excited to sleep. Do you feel any better now?'
'Yeah, much better, thanks. By the way, you were right about the chocolate, it was too delicious to stop.'
'It was indeed, I'm still feeling the taste of it…' he flirted,
'I hope it's something sweet…' she flirted back, and they continued the texting until she fell asleep… then the next day… then through all weekend, even while she was at her mother's house…
"… Who is the guy?" asked Julia's mother stiffly at the dining table,
"Hm?" she didn't look up from her phone,
"I said who is the guy you're chatting with?"
"Why do you think it's a guy and not work?"
"Are you kidding me?" she asked mockingly, "You've been on the phone since you have arrived and you're smiling like an idiot."
"…" she was typing a message.
"So?"
"You don't know him," she murmured,
"Yes, that's exactly why I'm asking it."
"Okay…" she took a sigh, "He's name is David."
"David? Like your bodyguard David?"
"How do you know what my bodyguard's name is?" she lowered her phone.
"Excuse me for the inconvenience, but when someone tries to kill my daughter, I will look into the details."
"Yes, it's him." she took a sip from her tea.
"Finally."
"How you mean that?" she looked up abruptly,
"I'm glad, that's all."
"You're glad about him?"
"Uh-huh."
"No harsh comments… no poking."
"No, why would I do that?" she asked with poker face, "He's handsome, sporty and can protect you, what else can a mother could wish for her daughter?"
"That he may love her…"
"Love is overrated."
"… Okay, if you say so." she made a face, still looking at her phone.
"But if it counts, he's quite a progress compared to all those clowns like Roger."
"I thought you liked Roger…"
"No, I didn't like him. But he was right about a woman's place… being at home, supporting her husband and taking care of their children," she remarked, then added sharply, "… and not fighting with men at her workplace for a higher position."
"Well, we're not in the 1900's anymore."
"That's a mistake… but we got off topic, you found a new guy, that's the point."
"Did you notice that he is younger than me?"
"Of course. How many years, six or seven?"
"Ten." answered Julia and was ready for a spicy comment.
"That's perfect."
"…"
"I mean he is still in his full strength," she remarked, "I'm sure he can keep up with the pace."
"…"
"Oh, please don't look at me that way,"
"… We haven't had sex yet."
"Why?"
"Because we just had or first date, that's why." she grabbed her phone again,
"It hasn't bothered you in the past."
"So are you trying to say that I'm a slut?"
"No, it was just a statement of fact."
"First of all, that guy who I slept with after the first date, we had known each other for a long time, and secondly… I don't know what the fuck do you have to do with who I'm dating with."
"I don't care about the man you choose, I just still haven't given up on having a grandchild, that's all."
"Ah… here we are again."
"Yes, where else? And you should try to hurry things up a bit."
"Thanks for the advice, but I want to enjoy every step with him for the fullest…"
"Don't you want a child with him?"
"I won't discuss that with you."
"Do you want a child at least?"
"…"
"Can you imagine that you two'll have a child together for heaven's sake?!" she didn't let her to get away with it,
"… Of course, I can!"
"That's what I wanted to hear…" she sighed with relief and leaned back in her chair, "Then you shouldn't waste your time with your mother here… if I would be in your place, I would surely be in bed with him."
"Look…" she took a deep sigh, "I travelled a lot to spend this weekend with you, what you demanded, if you can remember."
"Yes, of course I remember, but I didn't know about the circumstances."
"So are you throwing me out?"
"No, I'm just saying that if I were you, I would go home."
"But I'm here to visit you and I won't go home in the morning, you have to endure me till noon, okay?"
"Fine, just do as you wish." she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "As always…"
OOOOOOOOOO
The weekend with her mother went as usual, but this time it was much enjoyable, because she couldn't wait to see David again and that kept her going the whole time…
"Good Morning, ma'am." he smiled at her doorway, and the pure joy on her face was an indescribable feeling for him,
"Morning, Sergeant…" she flirted as he closed the door and drew her closer for a sweet welcome kiss, "Gosh, I've missed you so much…"
"Me too," she whispered, enjoying his closeness,
"So it wasn't a dream that we kissed last time…"
"No, it's all real," she smiled, playing with his shirt now and enjoying another kiss with him,
"… And how was your visit at home?" he asked and her mood changed a bit and she just let him go,
"Uhm, as expected…" she sighed, "We never really found common ground with my mother."
"I'm sorry…" he squeezed her hand kindly,
"That's okay."
"But you still want to date tomorrow, right?"
"Of course," she answered as an instant, "Why wouldn't I want it?… oh, about my mother?"
"Uh-huh," he nodded. "I thought you mentioned the date, and then she talked you out of me."
"Actually, if she didn't like you, that would be an immediate green sign to me," they shared a chuckle, "But, actually she just some kind of liked you."
"That's good, isn't it?"
"Well… let's say it doesn't really matter," she remarked, "But you okay?"
"How you mean that?"
"Your voice is a bit hoarse."
"Oh, it's nothing… I just got caught in the rain, but no big deal."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely," he smiled and added, "And I can't wait for our date tomorrow."
"As I," she leant closer for a kiss, then grabbed her purse and they started the day…
Sitting down at her desk in her glass wall office and switching on her computer, she looked up and saw a very upset Roger hastening towards her office with a newspaper in his hand…
"Just what I needed…" she murmured as he entered,
"Could you tell me what the hell were you thinking?!" he said harshly, throwing the newspaper onto her desk.
"Good Morning to you, Roger…"
"How dare you do this to me?! It's a fucking disgrace!"
"Let me see it, okay?" she took the paper calmly, "Because it can be so many things what you can call that way."
"…" he was more upset than ever,
"Ah, it's a pretty good picture actually. It couldn't have been better even if I wanted to." she smiled,
"Do you think it's funny?!"
"I'm just saying that it's a good picture, do you mind if I keep it?"
"How can you humiliate me like this?!" he tried to breathe normally, "He could be your son!"
"That's a bit of an exaggeration… he could be YOUR son, that's true, but we have only ten years between us."
"It's a disgrace!" he hissed, "Not to mention he is a nobody, what kind of life can he provide you?"
"I'm not looking for a sponsor, Roger… but a real man beside me, the kind of man you'll never be." her voice was steady and calm, "And if I can remember we've been divorced for six years now. You really should try to move on, because it's very unhealthy to stick in the past."
"You were the one who threw me out, if I can remember!"
"Actually, you kicked yourself out… but tell me, is there a point in this conversation, because I have a lot of work to do?"
"Of course, there is! You humiliated me with this toy boy of yours in public, that is the problem!"
"He's right…" nodded Rob, who just entered the office, "This is unacceptable."
"…" Julia had to keep back a laugh,
"You show up with a guy like him, while you left me in the restaurant on our date!"
"Date?!" laughed up Roger, before she could say anything, "What date, hm? Do you really think you were on a date with her?!"
"…"
"You're a pitiful loser, who's trembling to ask even for another bread roll, rides a bike like a five-years-old! Do you really think a woman like her would ever go on a date with you?! What the fuck do think of yourself?! If you would be the last man on earth, even then she wouldn't go anywhere with you!" he took a deep breath, and they just watched him,
"…"
"Don't you say anything?" asked Roger, turning to her.
"Yes, I do!… That this is my office, where I work and not the customer service hotline. We are divorced, and you…" she glanced at Rob, "You are my political advisor… so these complains of yours seems like a personal problem to me… and I would like to start working, so it would be fine if you two would fuck off!"
"…"
"Or I can call David, and he will surely throw you out." she added, just when David showed up on the corridor and it was clear that he didn't like what he saw, "Oh, here he is…"
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" asked Roger mockingly,
"Awfully…" she smiled on her own special way, when David arrived.
"Is there a problem here, ma'am?"
"Well…" she looked around, "Tell me, is there a problem, boys?"
"…" but they didn't answer, just made faces.
"I think these gentlemen are just leaving."
"This way, sir…" David held the door, to show their way out, "I'll escort you down…"
"But I work here," remarked Rob as if they didn't know.
"I said I will escort you down…" repeated David and they unwillingly left her office, while Roger 'accidentally' bumped into David, but he didn't bother with him, because he was the winner at Julia, and nothing else mattered…
OOOOOOOOOO
"You okay?" asked Julia as they arrived home in the evening as usual.
"Of course, never felt better." answered David and tried to smile, but it was not too convincing.
"No, I don't think so…"
"I just can't wait for our date tomorrow."
"You were pretty absent-minded whole day."
"Really?" he tried to be nonchalant,
"Yes, and your gaze is quite glassy."
"Maybe, I'm just a bit tired, that's all. But a good sleep, and I'll be okay for tomorrow."
"Come a bit closer…"
"I should really go now, I don't want to keep the backup vehicle wait…" he tried, but she was faster and touched his forehead.
"Gosh, David… you're forehead is burning, you have fever!"
"It's just a little cold, don't worry. I'll be okay for tomorrow!" he protested, because he so didn't want to miss that date with her about a little weakness.
"No, you're not." she shook her head worriedly, "You'll stay here."
"Just a good sleep at home, that's all I need."
"Really? And do you have food at home, medicine or that kind of things?"
"There must be an aspirin laying around somewhere," he tried to joke,
"Yeah, of course." she remarked with a sigh, "There's no way I'll let you go home to the empty flat, you'll stay here."
"But…"
"And that wasn't a question."
"Yes, ma'am." he smiled gratefully, knowing she was the best he could ever wish for…
To be continued…