The CEO and Her Driver

Chapter 20

"Oh good! You put on the brace!" Iz exclaimed, popping up next to me. "Tate wasn't sure if you'd be open to wearing it." 

I tried not to smile. I didn't blame him. It was hard to get me to do anything. But I wasn't an idiot. The brace was going to keep me from hurting it worse. I had enough common sense to know that. It also helped that Tate wasn't here when I decided to put it on. I didn't want to deal with his smug... sexy smile. Dimples that made him adorable and sexy all at once. Like the perfect package of "sexily adorkable" a total dork which was adorable and sexy. Stop brain!

"Yeah, I am not the easiest person to deal with," I said with a shrug, walking towards my office. 

"You seem fine to me," Iz replied, her eyes bouncing across everything as she moved like my shadow, following me into my office, her eyes bright, drinking in everything.

I shot her a challenging grin. "Well, give me an update before you leave today. You'll probably change your mind." I motioned towards my masquerade dress with a halfhearted wave from where it hung on the hanger. "There it is."

Iz gasped. "Ohmygosh," she sputtered through her fingers. "This is your best piece yet." She walked towards the dress, her motions slow like she was afraid of shattering an illusion. 

I crossed my arms, amused. "How do you know if this is the best piece I've made? You just met me." 

Iz didn't spare me a glance, her eyes too focused on the dress. "I've followed your work in magazines." She crouched before the bottom of the dress, fingers hovering over the delicate lace. "I want to do what you do when I get older. Make beautiful things." 

Iz looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with determination. "So put me to work Ms. Winters. I'm ready for whatever you throw at me."

I grinned, impressed by the challenge in her voice. I knew I liked this kid. 

...

I stood mouth open wide, like a baby bird waiting to be fed, arms outstretched to keep my balance on the small platform I stood on, finishing off the bird-like pose. Iz reached towards me, fork filled with a bite of chocolate cake in one hand, a large plate hovering beneath it with the other. 

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Iz asked, hesitant as she moved towards my mouth, cake now hovering dangerously close to my masquerade dress. 

"Yep. Believe it or not, we do this all the time here." I replied, opening my mouth a little wider. 

I wore the masquerade dress so Iz could finish the bottom, layering the lace so it laid naturally against the material as I moved in it. I couldn't take off the dress until she was done without impaling myself with pins. It was like wearing inverted porcupine garb. Beautiful, unstable, and deadly. 

But even after I had eaten most of what Tate had brought, I had gotten hungry again and the chocolate cake was calling me. So with a bit of creativity, Iz was handing me bites of cake while I stood perfectly still, like a street performing statue. 

Iz giggled. "Somehow I find it hard to believe. I think you just want cake." 

I enjoyed the rich flavor that filled my mouth as I took a bite of pure perfection. Chocolate frosting, an airy cake body, and chocolate chips swirled together, making me forget I was in the middle of a conversation for a long beautiful moment. Transforming me into a world of bliss and chocolate.