Chapter 41

"Eli, this hotel belongs to your mother right? Is she here tonight?" Helen questioned curiously wanting to know. If his mother was here tonight Helen would probably make a run for it. She had no plans of meeting his mother on the third date.

"No, She's out of the country right now," Eli replied checking his watch once more. They had a few more minutes to get to the room before the show would start.

Helen rested her hand on her chest letting out a deep breath. 'Thank goodness,' she thought now being able to relax. 

Eli told her his mother was hellbent on setting him up on dates. Imagined if Elaine caught sight of Helen next to Eli in such casual clothes. The woman would probably chase her out of the building and try to slap some sense into her son.

'I look good but damn that would be embarrassing,' Helen mentally thought overthinking what wasn't even going to happen tonight. She made her own heart race all for nothing. She missed the opportunity to look around the hotel's grand floor as they had already made it to the elevator.

'Hopefully, I remember to get a good look when we're leaving,' She told herself.

"I'll take it from here."

She heard Eli told someone and now that they were inside and had the chance to look back where they came from, Helen noticed the number of eyes watching them or more specifically her. Not with curiosity but a mix of confusion and anger. Was it that mind-blowing seeing Eli here with someone like her?

"Ignore them," Advised Eli who noticed her attention on everyone else who was watching them. He was sure the news would slowly start to circulate trying to figure out who the woman beside him was but it didn't bother him.

"Okay," Helen replied taking his advice. Not that she minded the stares but if they were going look so hard they should at least come up and say something to her. 

The doors of the elevator closed and she no longer cared about their stares. 

The whispering only started when the guest knew Eli wouldn't hear their gossip.

"Eli King is here with a woman. Have you seen her around here before?"

"No. Is she one of us?"

"There's no way he would date outside his kind."

"That woman isn't going to be here for too much longer."

"Obviously not! I have my eyes on becoming a part of the King family."

The doors of the elevator opened on the thirteenth floor of the hotel which was for a private room to cater to special wealthy guests who could afford it. 

Eli led Helen by her hand out of the elevator and down a hall that had no other door except for one. He took out a key card from his pants pocket and opened the door. 

Upon the doors opening the first thing which caught Helen's eye was the immediate clear view of the city. The floor was high enough to see more of the city lights she always admired. She walked straight to the window to get a better look at the city.

Eli closed the door and said, "I figured you'd enjoy one of the best places to see the view of the city."

"You're really attentive Eli," Helen commented still looking out at the beauty of the city. The lights from the city sparkled in her eyes. "This is the one thing I love about the city. It's crazy how this evolved over the years."

"Harlow city can have its charm sometimes," Eli said approaching Helen. He kept some distance between them to allow her to enjoy the moment. 

"Yes but darkness lurks in the beauty of the lights."

"Well, the world has to balance itself out. One thing can't exist without the other. You just have to hope the darkness doesn't consume the light," Reasoned Eli. "Would you care for that drink now?"

"Champagne please," Helen replied not taking her eyes off the view. She always wanted to be able to overlook the city like this at night but had no time to do so. To think he would consider sometime like this for the date. "Do you-"

She paused when there was a loud noise from outside the building and tiny lights fell from the sky. Helen was in awe at the new scene. The fireworks light up the sky above Harlow city adding so much more to the scenery.

"It appears someone is having a firework display tonight and we're just on time," Eli said walking back to Helen with two glasses of champagne. He handed one of the glasses to Helen. "Lucky us."

Helen smiled looking away from the window and took the glass. "Lucky us indeed."

"What can't you do Eli King?" She questioned before taking a sip.

With slow steps closing the distance between him and Helen he replied, "I can't bring anyone back from the dead."

Helen couldn't help herself from laughing at the joke. "Finally, you told a joke that isn't scary just weird."

Eli found himself laughing along with Helen. Once again he took a strand of hair and played with it. "It's hard to tell if I can make the beautiful woman in front of me stay with me a little longer."

Helen stared into the black eyes of Eli who equally stared back at her with desire. 

She took a long sip of the remaining champagne and looked back outside to the firework display which was still happening. "I don't think it's hard to tell when you knew what I was going to answer before we even arrived."

"But I'd like to hear it from you," He told her. Eli wanted to hear it from her own mouth that she wanted to try being in a relationship. "Nothing serious in the long run. Just two people attracted to each other enjoying whatever happens."

'I must be crazy,' She thought watching the display whilst listening to Eli's words.

She threw her bag on a small couch, looked back to Eli, and answered, "Fine, let's give it a try. But don't get too attach Eli. I might break your heart one day."

"Is that so?" Eli questioned as he wrapped his left arm around her waist to pull her against him. "I highly doubt that," He added before finally doing something he had on his mind for a while now. He kissed her.

Helen smiled against his lips wrapping her arms around his neck to pull down further into the kiss.

Helen's phone buzzed from a text message inside her bag on the couch.

Did you seal the deal yet? - Unknown number.