4 Doorbell

"Ms. Xenos, how was your dinner last night?" Eric asks me after calling me into his office.

"It went well. We didn't get through the whole contract, he was more interested in talking to me about frivolous topics. However, we have another dinner on Friday to continue going over the contract." I pause and Eric raises a brow at me.

"Spit it out, Ms. Xenos. There is something on your mind."

I clear my throat and nod, "Well, he wishes to go out for drinks afterwards, as friends to catch up." I let him know.

Eric claps his hands together once, "Excellent! Yes! You're making progress then!"

I nod, "Yes sir." I say solemnly.

His face falls, "What's the matter? This is a good thing."

I give him a weak smile, "I don't drink sir. I can't hold my liquor and I really don't enjoy it. I use the excuse that I don't drink when I'm working but .... He specifically wants to go out for drinks." I twist my hands together and Eric's eyes soften a bit. He knows I had a drunk for a father when I got a call that he had passed away during one of our meetings. He started to tell me I could leave, but I merely smiled and said that it was not necessary. After the meeting he took me aside to talk to me to let me know if I needed time to handle anything I could take it. I politely declined and told him that drunkard could be dropped in the dumpster for all I cared. I shed no tears over his death. The only think I did was breathe a giant sigh of relief.

"Ms. Xenos, while I understand your aversion to alcohol, I suggest you order something non alcoholic that sounds like it is or you come clean that you don't drink at all." He gives me a pointed look, "You're a grown woman and can handle this situation. I believe you will make the wisest decision."

"Yes, of course sir." I nod and he excuses me going over a few other smaller contracts I had completed. I finish my work for the day and try to figure out what I could order that was non alcoholic but didn't seem to be so. I didn't even have someone I could ask. Maybe my secretary?

"Julie?" I say her name as I step out of my office.

"Yes, Melita?" She asks with a smile.

"Do you know of any drinks I could order at a bar that don't sound like I'm ordering a non alcoholic drink?"

Julie looks at me oddly. "Um, a Shirley Temple or Roy Rodgers is the only ones I know of, but everyone knows they're non alcoholic. Maybe you should stop by a bar and ask a bartender?" She offers.

"Yes, thank you Julie. See you tomorrow." I add and head toward the elevator.

"Ginger Fizz or Cranberry mule!" She calls out to me before the doors close.

I'll have to thank her tomorrow. My eyes widen, my knees get weak, and my stomach flips as I realize tomorrow is Friday.

Oh my god... I've got to figure out what I'm wearing still!`

The second I'm home, I'm going through my closet, looking over every dress I own and comparing it to the one I wore last night. Not finding anything with the right touch of class and allure, I check to see which stores may still be open. I call the store that I normally go to and ask if they will stay open so that I can make a purchase. I promise the girl I'd make it worth her time, but she has to ask her manager.

She gets back on the phone and tells me that her manager said if I get there before they close, they'll stay after. I thank her as I climb into the cab that showed up as we rush over to the store. I arrive with ten minutes to spare, but as soon as I walk in I'm approached by the Manager.

"Ms. Xenos! What's the occasion?"

"Business dinner and a friendly date? Same night, can't change, sensible shoes." I tell her.

She pauses, a Cheshire grin spreading across her face. "Did you say date?" She squeaks and I'm slightly shocked.

"Sorry. You haven't said that word since.. Trevor? That was almost a year ago now." She says excitedly.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." I agree, surprised that she remembers all that. "Well, what do you think I should go with?" I ask her opinion to see what she will offer. She'll know what stock she has on hand.

I read her name tag and want to smack myself, Michelle. That's right, I always forget her name. I repeat her name in my head a few times while she sends the other employee to go lock up the store front, before she sets me down and starts fetching clothing from the racks.

Her first option is a black pencil skirt with a cream, satin, V neck blouse with lantern sleeves. "That's a keeper, but not for tomorrow. Too much business not enough friendly date, but I still want it." I tell her, she smiles and pulls the next one off the rack to show me.

It's a navy blue dress, with gold pinstriping, with the fabric crossed over the waist in a simple x design. It would be form fitting but might work. "I'll try it on, let's see what else you've got though."

She pulls out a high waisted, pleated, beige skirt and black jacket with a white, cowl neck tank. I shake my head and she pulls something else off the rack.

"Okay, Ms. Xenos. This may be more date than business, but I promise that this dress was made for you to wear." It's a two tone dress, the off the shoulder top area that cross over the breasts is white, and the high waisted skirt is all black and spreads out enough to give the skirt some volume.

"That's perfect Michelle!" I clap my hands together. "I knew I could trust you! Oh my goodness! I love it! I need to go try it on!" I jump up and take the dress to the changing room and put it on.

It's perfect! I walk out, giddy and excited, looking in the mirror and checking myself out as I walk.

"Wow, it was really made for you." Michelle says her eyes sparkling, her employee also smiles widely and nods in agreement.

"Now all I need are shoes." I add, "Other than the beige outfit, we can ring everything else up." I say taking a walk over to the shoe section to check what they had. I find a pair of flats that go well with the dress and I can't help but stare at myself in the mirror for a moment.

Jacks.... if this doesn't make you sign the contract, I don't know what will. All I know is I'm going to make your jaw drop when you see me. You are going yo love it.

What the fuck?! Did I really just think that?!

"You're glowing right now. May I ask what the dates name is?" Michelle asks.

Snapping back to reality, I try to hide the crimson in my cheeks, "Jackson."

"Well I hope this goes well for you tomorrow. I hope you stop by and let me know if it goes well." Michelle winks at me.

"I will." I say stepping into the changing room to get back into my normal clothes.

I pay my bill and tip them both before getting an Uher back home. I take a shower and am in my satin pajamas when I realize I need to eat. I look through my fridge, thinking of what to make for dinner when my doorbell rings.

I approach the door and use the peep hole to check who it is. I'm trying to focus when whoever it is begins to knock.

"Who is it?" I call out.

"Um, it's me Jacks!"

JACKS! What the hell?!

I open the door, but keep my body hidden behind the door. "Um, hello, Jackson. You've caught me at an inopportune time. What brings you by?" I smile awkwardly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I ... should have called before I came over. I just wanted to go over some of the contract so we'd have more time to enjoy each others company tomorrow." Jackson's eyes droop as do the corners of his mouth as he assesses the fact I'm hiding my body behind the door.

He wanted to go over the contract? "Um... I guess you can come in... I was just about to make myself something to eat though and I am in my pajamas...Could you maybe give me a moment so I can go put on some clothes please?"

Jackson's face picks back up, "Of course. You want me to wait outside or come in to wait?"

"Um.... one second." I open my coat closet and pull out my long duster before letting him in.

"Please, take a seat, I'll be down in a minute." I force the smile full of embarrassment as he steps in.

"Thank you." He says, walking to the living room.

"Shoes!" I shout, before he steps onto the carpet. "Sorry, I don't allow shoes past the tile."

He apologizes and removes his shoes and bends over placing them on the mat by the door.

Damn, he has a sexy ass. Focus MELITA!

"Thanks, I'll be back in just a sex.. I mean second." I stumble out, mortified as he smiles raising a teasing brow at me. I laugh awkwardly before darting upstairs to my room to change.

I throw on my forest green skirt pants and a plain black fitted shirt that I tuck in and slip into my house flats before throwing my hair up in a clip and head back downstairs.

I look to the living room and Jacks is not there. "Uh... Jackson?" I call out in question as I head to my kitchen where sound is coming out from.

I step in to find him cutting up something and starting to cook the chicken I had pulled out along with some veggies and potatoes. He's cooking my food?

"Jackson? What are you doing?" I know what he's doing, but why is what I really want to ask.

He smiles at me, looking up from the chicken that he just finished cutting. "You said you were about to make dinner, so I figured I'd help you out. I hope you don't mind?" He says, placing the rest of the chicken into pan.

"You didn't have to do that." I say shyly, approaching him to take the knife and cutting board to the sink.

"Well, seeing how I showed up unannounced and messed up your evening, I thought I could at least do this." He grins, taking a spatula from my counter and stirs the chicken that browning. I pull out my apron to protect my clothes and pull out the spices I would normally use.

"Here, I can handle it from here." I attempt to take over but he just gives me a look that says I'm forgetting something. "What?" I ask, chuckling because I'm not sure what he's giving me the look for.

He raises one of those beautifully sculpted brows at me, "Where's the contract for me to start reading?"

A hand flies to my mouth, "Oh.. you're right." I want to face palm myself as I head to my office and pick up the contract folder. I head back to the kitchen and see Jackson seasoning my chicken and adding the thinly sliced potatoes with some water, before covering the pan with its lid.

I put the folder on the island and head to the fridge, "Would you like something to drink?" I ask opening up the door.

"What kind of wine do you have?" He asks, leaning against the island.

"Um.. I don't have any wine." I say biting my bottom lip.

"Whiskey? Vodka? Rum?" He shrugs.

I shake my head, "I don't have any alcohol in the house. I ... I don't drink.... by myself." I clear my throat, "I have some seltzer water, juice, some soda, or tea?" I offer.

Jackson turns his gaze from the contract to me, "Tea would be nice." He gives me a wink, "I like it hot though."

I shoot my breath through my nose, suppressing my laughter that wants to escape. "I'll get right on that then." Nodding and rolling my eyes as I walk over and pull out my tea options and get the kettle started.

Was he just flirting with me or teasing me? Both?

When I turn back around he's stirring my chicken and potatoes, checking the firmness before tossing the vegetables in.

My electric kettle doesn't take long to heat up and I take the cup of seeping tea over to the island. "It's needs to sit for another minute or two. I can handle the food, seriously Jackson." I say pulling out two plates from the cupboard.

"Oh yeah, really? When it's done?" He bumps his shoulder against mine standing right next to me, shoulders relaxed and smiling.

Scoffing, I pout a little bit, " You know what, I should be thanking you." I ooze sarcasm, "Because you've been slaving over this hot stove just to cook me a meal." I make my eyes bigger and blink them up at him, "Thank you, kind sir. This woman doesn't know how she survived without you."

It's like a dark veil gets pulled over his eyes as the mood suddenly changes in the room.

Shit. Did I just say the wrong thing?