Jazz was waiting by the car when we reached the garage. Nope, no heavy making out session in the elevator. He had his BlackBerry in his hand, and I just stared into thin air.
I got in next to him and pulled the dress around me. There weren't any slit in this dress, but there were a lot of fabric in the dress.
Alexander was working on his BlackBerry the entire drive.
Right until Jazz parked the car.
"I'll open your door," Alexander said.
I nodded and unbuckled.
Alexander got out of the car and walked around it to my side. He opened the door. I let the shawl be in the car and accepted his hand when I stepped out.
He had his hand on my lower back, and this clutch made me less self-aware about my hands. I knew what to do with them.
I followed him and he stopped so they could take pictures, when he felt like it. I would let him do this, I was just arm candy.
I smiled and gazed up at him.
He returned my smile with something that was almost a smile. Then again, if he actually smiled it would be very unlike him.
We got inside and away from the many blitzing cameras.
I looked at Alexander.
"Do you want to walk around?" he asked.
I smiled. "I know no one here," I said. "You lead the way."
He grabbed my hand, and I followed along. I didn't see anyone as such that I recognized.
"Her," I said quietly. It was that young woman I'd met in the bathroom last time I was with Alexander. The black hair and the face were recognizable.
Alexander looked at me.
"The girl with the black hair," I added quietly. "Where have I seen her before?"
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "On my phone," he said.
Money isn't enough!
Ah. That explained why I felt like I'd seen her before but couldn't place it. I nodded.
"Come, dinner's served in a second," he said and led me to the many tables.
He pulled out my chair and made sure I was settled before sitting down.
And then he joined the men.
We were half-half of men and women.
Alexander looked at me, when the napkin was placed in my lap by a passing waiter.
I looked at him. "What?" I asked quietly.
"I know nothing about you," he responded quietly.
"Conversation," I reminded him.
His eyebrows dived, causing his eyes to be shadowed.
I smiled. "You'll learn it someday," I said and declined the wine.
Alexander didn't say anything.
I probably shouldn't tease him, but he was so easy to.
The starter was soup.
A creamy one, decorated with prawns and something that resembled a flower in the middle. It looked good, but there was no way I'd be able to replicate that, or even explain what it was.
"You must be Christina," my dinner partner said.
I looked at him.
Alexander leaned into me. "Marketing executive, Chad McGrevor."
I found his hand and gave it a squeeze as thank you.
"Yes," I replied and smiled. How the hell did he know my name? Except the place cards.
He smiled. His hair was white and he had vivid green eyes. Also, he seemed more spirited than Alexander.
"What brings you here again?" he asked.
I looked at Alexander whose gaze was resting on me. It appeared as if he was actually seeing me. Was it a defense mechanism, or wasn't it because he just didn't know how to look like he wasn't bored out of his mind?
"Yes, Alexander," McGrevor said. "I'm Chad."
I smiled. "Alexander invited," I said and looked back at him. "I couldn't reject that invitation."
Alexander actually smiled by that comment. Thank God he was showing some emotion.
Beneath the table he found my hand and held it between both of his.
Chad laughed. "He doesn't often show, how charming he can be?"
"No," I said and smiled. "But we aren't all public people who wish to share our life with anybody."
"Especially not the many prying journalists and photographers," Chad said. "It's impossible to support any charity if you haven't been in a similar situation that the event is supporting, or if you don't know any who has been."
"What?" I asked surprised.
He shook his head, defeated. "I don't know any children who have been placed outside of the home. But I've read about it, and while my wife and I cannot have children of our own, we've had orphanage children or adopted children staying over," he said. "Think about all of those who didn't have that sort of secure base? They have become our children."
I smiled. It was true. I believed. It sounded right.
"What are you working with?" Chad asked.
"Advertisement, and graphic designer," I said.
"Graphic designer?" He asked.
I nodded. "And I concern myself with stocks and obligations."
"A girl with a head for money?" he asked.
I smiled. "I like money," I said. "Who doesn't? But there are others things I love more."
He laughed and took the spoon.
There had been sent a thin slice of bread around, which now very decoratively was placed on the side of the soup plate.
I pulled my hand out of Alexander's so I could eat the soup.
He looked at me. "Stocks and obligations?"
"I have learned how to handle money," I said.
He nodded slowly.
"I'm taking classes too," I added.
"Really?" he asked, surprised.
I nodded. "Just ask," I said and had a spoonful of soup. It was good. Obviously.
Alexander was still looking at me. "Don't you have a bachelor degree?"
I nodded. "What harm is there in learning something new?" I asked.
He didn't answer but looked at his food.
I smiled and had a spoonful of soup. "Have you considered we know nothing about each other?" I asked. It was so quietly no one else would here.
"No," he said and looked at me.
"If you invite me again, I believe it will be difficult for you to not know just a little about what I do." I said.
"You are working with advertisement you're and a graphic designer, that's what you said, so you make advertisements," he said.
"Thanks for making me sound as if I don't do a damn thing." I hissed.
We didn't know one another. But compared to him, I had no one to impress. I didn't try to be a burden just to annoy him, but if he wanted to act stupid?
I tore of a piece of bread and put it in my mouth.
"I didn't mean it like that," he said.
"Then don't phrase it like that," I said.
He took a deep breath and blew out his breath, slowly and controlled.
"I have to use the bathroom," I said. "And no, I'm not running." I added.
He was standing and helped me stand before I had done anything, beside move my napkin.
"Thank you," I said.
He kissed the back of my hand and sat back down when I went to the bathroom.
Couldn't he see that it would help if we knew just the basics about each other?
I went to the bathroom and into a stall.