Her Billion Dollar Man

“How do you know we aren’t being watched right now?” she asked looking around the studio.

“I called ahead and had one of my guys made sure there was nobody around. Besides I leaked to the press that I would be at a restaurant uptown.” He told her with a shadow of a smile.

“How do you deal with it?” she asked him quietly.

“I wanted the money that goes with the fame so I have to accept the lack of privacy as well.” He said with a shrug as he ushered her into a room that acted as a conference room. “I will give you the tour later.” He promised.

He led her over to one of the deep seated couches and sat beside her, his knee close to hers.  “I am having some food sent over in a little bit but I wanted to talk first.” He reached for her hands and Debra felt the shiver through her body. “I meant what I said about being friends but I want more,” he lifted one of her hands and brought it to his lips. “I am afraid we have a problem.”

“What is that?”

“My brother thinks he is in love with you,” he said with a brief laugh, his hands tightening on hers. “I have no idea what you said to him the other day but he came home a different person and we have been having a better relationship since. He is going to think I am poaching on his territory if he finds out I am into you.”

Debra felt her heartbeat quickening at his words. “I never did anything to encourage him-“ she began.

“You don’t have to do anything Debra,” he stared at her artlessly made up face and the nude colored lipstick she was wearing. “I noticed you the first time I saw you and you made an impression on me then, can you just imagine an impressionable teenager?” he asked her wryly. “I am surrounded by beautiful women in the business I am in and you stand out from all of them.” He looked down at her hands, absently rubbing his thumb over her skin. “I am attracted to you,” he told her huskily. “So I cannot blame him one bit.”

He held her gaze with his and she could not move, she felt the pull of attraction for the first time in her life. Before she could say anything there was a discreet knock on the door. “There is our food.” He released her and went to the door to let the person in. He did not introduce her to the big muscled man who came in with several packages and the man barely looked into her direction as he placed the packages on the table. “Thanks man,” Derek told him. “I will let you know when we are leaving.” The man left quietly for his size.

“Okay we have a variety to chose from,” he turned and looked at her. “You will be doing the sharing; I am hopeless when it comes to that.”

She stood and walked over to the table sniffing the air appreciatively, while he took the packages out. He had ordered Chinese, Italian and crispy fried chicken. “I was not sure of your preference,” he told her with an apologetic grin. “I figured you cannot go wrong with these.”

“You are right,” she told him with an answering smile. She dished the meal onto paper plates provided and he poured the red wine into paper cups and passed one to her.

“I used to wish for meals like this when I was at the home,” she murmured as she swirled the pasta onto her fork. “I would tell myself that as soon as I grew up and had a job that I would treat myself to something like this every day.” She said with a laugh. He watched and admired the whiteness of her teeth against her lips.

“I grew up in the worst area downtown,” he was toying with his drumstick. “There were the sounds of gunshots all around and I used to see my dad staying up some parts of the night and peering through the window. We lived in a little house in the projects and I swore to myself that I was going to get out one day. I escaped into writing songs and rapping out on the streets and was friends with some of the gang members there. When they encouraged me to do small jobs for them and kick start my career with the money I earned, I respectfully told them no, saying that it was going to break my parents’ heart and that I preferred to wait until I was older. Thankfully they accepted it and did not try to force me to do anything. I am still friends with some of them even now.”

“You stayed strong in spite of all the pressure,” she said softly.

“Don’t give me too much credit,” he told her with a grin. “My parents’ were hard asses, especially my mother and she would have broken every bone in my body if she discovered I was doing or dealing drugs.”

“I almost went into the escorting services but I kept remembering how my mother died and made up my mind to stay clean because I wanted to live,” she told him, remembering how tempted she had been. “It was difficult but I was determined to make it on my terms.”

“Good for you,” he told her softly. “I have never spoken to anyone so frankly before, not even my best friend Shaun. We grew up in the projects together and he has gone into the boring corporate world and is now a big shot lawyer. I would like you to meet him one day.” They had finished eating and were now sipping the sweet refreshing wine. “What are we going to do about Tyler?” he asked her suddenly.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she answered swallowing the wine nervously as she felt the atmosphere change inside the room.

“You know exactly what I mean Debra,” he put down his paper cup. “I am going to cut to the chase and tell you that I am incredibly attracted to you and I have a feeling you feel the same way too. I know you think I am a player because that’s what the press makes me out to be. I am not like that. I am not saying I have not been with a few women but I have never used any of them, it was a mutually beneficial agreement. I have never felt like this before and I want us to be together.”

“You sound like one of your songs,” she told him shakily.

“I want you to be my love song.” He said huskily.

“I thought you said friends,” she whispered helplessly.

He had come around to pull her up from the chair. “We have done the friendship bit just now.” He told her softly, tilting her chin to look at her. “You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen,” he murmured. “Songs should be written about them.”

Debra could not breathe and she felt her breath caught inside her throat as his nearness threatened to overwhelm her. To her surprise he only kissed her on her forehead and stepped back leaving her feeling bereft. “Now it’s time for the tour,” he told her faintly, taking her hand and leading her from the room.

The place was empty and he told her he had told them he needed privacy for tonight. He took her into the main studio where he did most of the recording and he sat behind the controls and sang her one of his hits leaving her sitting there staring at him as he sang. He was totally transported and transformed when he was singing and she saw him pull himself into the words of the song as if he was actually living it. She had an idea that was what made him such a magnificent artist. He took her home shortly after and she had to admit that she had never enjoyed herself more.

“Goodnight Debra,” he told her kissing her lightly on the lips before getting out and opening the door for her. He walked her to her apartment and kissed her again, moving away swiftly. “I will call you.” He told her before leaving.

Debra went inside and closed her door, leaning against it, trying to still her racing heart. She was starting to fall for him.