Invest In Me

After she had shut down the laptop, she had gone into the shower while Sam had been constantly plugged into her own laptop. She had washed thoroughly, had dried herself, and with a towel around her had gone back to her room.

Bella hadn’t even gotten the time to unpack, so she had furiously spilled out every piece of clothing stuffed in there. Before it had been too late, she had settled her mind on an elegant blue dress that fell a bit lower than her knees. It had been decorated with small pearls and diamonds, randomly sewn all across her top. She had put it on and had applied the right make-up that went with it. A bit of rogue, red lipstick, and a blue eye shadow. She had smacked her lips and had known that she had chosen a killer combination. She did her hair and smoothed down the natural curls before putting her feet in the blue high heels.

“Who’s the man?” Sam asked her, teasing her new roommate. “I haven’t even met you properly and you are already slaying the men, sister.”

Bella giggled. “It is a friend of my mother’s.”

“A sugar daddy?”

Bella burst into laughter. “No, no. It is a long story, but my mom had invested into his business many years ago and now he is two or three years older than me and asked me out to dinner. As a thank you.”

“I smell something else there, Bell,” Sam said and smiled.

“He is not that kind of guy. We will have a wonderful night, talking and getting to know each other.”

“You can get to know each other by getting to know your bodies, am I right?”

“You know, Sam, you didn’t strike me as such a funny person.”

The both of them chortled as Bella headed to the door.

“Wait, you almost forgot this,” Sam said, holding the blue purse.

“Oh, thanks.” Bella pecked her on the cheek, grabbing the purse, and was out of her new, temporary home.

The night air was chilling against her bare arms. The stars were already shining up above her as they seemed to blink at her. A group of them were nestled around the round silky moon that threw a milky light on the city. Bella quickly learned that New York was even louder and shinier during the night. People were milling around dressed casually or in their best clothes to get to some place where they would have the time of their lives. It was a rather positive change, but then again, she disliked huge crowds.

For the third time that day, she sat in the back of a cab and told the cabbie the address. He was actually the one who had brought her to New York and was now a little bit too chatty. He asked her about the city, the weather, and the overall impression on her. Bella answered politely to every question and in the end got a sizeable discount. She thanked him and stepped on a red carpet. She stared in wonder as her feet were actually walking on a red carpet. She felt her head spinning.

Her apartment was in a rather poor neighborhood, so when she came here, the glitz and the glam were almost too much to bear. The women wore fantastic gowns, matched with fabulous jewelry, hairstyles, and make-up whereas the men were all gorgeous in suits and tuxedoes. It was just like watching a Hollywood movie or a reception at a king’s palace.

Bella’s eyes popped up in surprise when she saw the restaurant’s interior. It had an impeccably high ceiling and a huge chandelier was hanging from the heart of it. The restaurant was stuffed with people; she tried to look for Thomas but in vain. She went to the hostess and asked for a reservation in his name. The waiter showed her to probably the best table where he was sitting, sipping a glass of wine.

At her sight, he stood up and hugged her. His powerful, muscular arms around her made goosebumps trickle down her back. He wore a different suit from the one she had seen him that day. This one was the color of champagne.

“Bella, you look fantastic tonight,” he said and kissed her hand like a true gentleman.

She giggled in return, feeling heat rising up in her face. “Thank you, Thomas. You look marvelous as well.”

“Oh, but surely not as much as you,” he said as the both of them sat down. They were looking at each other, each thinking their own thoughts. For a second, Bella thought that she was Cinderella and the guy in front of her was the prince.

The waiter broke their passionate eye contact. “Would you like something to order?”

“What do you think, Bella?” Thomas looked at her in a way that brought warmth to Bella.

“Hmm… Perhaps champagne to start the night?”

“Yes. Perfect,” Thomas said, winking at her.

She felt that when he set his eyes on her, all of her bad moments suddenly disappeared. When he talked with her, it was as if she wasn’t still mourning. He had that ability to take some of the weight himself, and Bella was endlessly grateful to him for that. He made her feel special, even though this was their second time meeting. Was it right? Bella was questioning herself. Was that a healthy thing?

“So, how do you like the city so far, Bella?” Thomas’ words brought her back to the reality. She still couldn’t take her eyes off the walls and the tiniest of details.

“It is rather hard to explain, you know. When I was in the country, and that is practically my whole life, I didn’t like living in the city. Everybody was moving to the cosmopolitan, fancier side of life, but I never did. Everything seemed too big, too cruel, and simply not for me…”

“I totally understand. I, myself, hate living here, but I guess that I have too many strings pulling me back,” Thomas added in.

“Exactly. But after coming here, I think that I can describe this whole New York experience as a melting pot. Especially after this night. I live in the poorest corners of it and saw the corroded side of the coin. However, now, sitting here… This is the brighter, polished side of the coin. So, it really is a melting pot of all the cultures. Everything placed into one,” Bella finished with a sigh. Her eyes were watery as she spoke. Perhaps from the candles lit up on their table, or perhaps because of her feelings. She was after all, one of the most emotional people on the planet. Those were Amy’s words.

“You know what, Bella? I have talked to thousands of people, both living in New York and coming to New York for the first time and no one, literally no one, has described it like this. Simply wow. You have a talent for story-telling. Have you tried doing business with that?” Thomas said with an ear-to-ear smile, which made Bella’s heart dance.

“The true businessman. Always having ideas to get his hands on some cash,” Bella teased him, smiling.

Thomas burst into a booming manly laughter that made Bella’s stomach twist. “You are a remarkable woman. Just like your mother.”

Bella’s eyes were teary as he said that. It was precisely what she needed in those moments. Her biggest accomplishment was to be the woman her mother had been. Even better.

“Thanks,” she said and ran the tip of her forefinger on the place beneath her right eye, where a tear threatened to spill down her cheek.

Thomas apparently saw that he had made her really emotional, so he put his hand over hers, squeezing it softly. His touch was burning hot against her skin, and she took a breath when he did that. That man sitting before her was doing something to her. Something she couldn’t put into words. Something that was beyond the both of them. Something much grander than the universe itself.

The waiter was the one that broke the moment, champagne in two glasses and offering them each. “Our restaurant wanted to reward loyal customers as you, Mr. Graves, so we prepared you a portion of an exclusive risotto that our new chef from Italy brought. It can’t be found on the menu.”

“Thank you very much. And thank the chef and your manager from me.” Thomas patted him on the back and flashed him his best business smile.

“You are a much respected man, Thomas. I am sure that my mother would be proud.”

“She is definitely proud of the both of us, dear Bella. I am sure of it.” He smiled, his hand found its place on hers again. She had no reason to object. On the contrary, she liked it very, very much.