The Billionaire’s Over 40 Love

Faydra: you didn’t tell me! Luckily I googled it to know what kind of dress I should wear. I was worried you didn’t know.

Cal: 1. You’re the most beautiful woman I know, they’d let you in in a potato sack.

2. You’re a googler, it’s what you do the second you don’t know something or you’re nervous and want to double check. I knew you would find out on your own.

Cal: it’s one of my favorite things about you.

Faydra obviously hadn’t meant for this conversation to turn into a relationship discussion, but she smiled at the fact that he did know her. Just a couple of small things, but they mattered nonetheless.

Faydra: all right, all right. You’re right, thank you for letting me figure it out on my own and thank you for having a suit so you don’t embarrass me.

Faydra: I’m sure you’re gonna look sexy as hell in that suit.

The last message was unnecessary but it made her feel better.

Cal: see you tomorrow

He used his favorite winky face emoji, to which she sent the big smile with teeth. She would be glad if they were able to work things out, she enjoyed even the shortest conversations she had with him.

*****

Friday, Faydra went into work for a few hours to discuss some of her progress with the new store budget with Candace. She informed her boss that she was going to a fancy party with Cal.

“A fancy party, huh? That’s exciting. Have you guys worked out all of your problems?” Candace asked inquisitively.

“We’re getting through them I think. I think we just need time to get to know each other better and learn how to communicate, and I need to continue to heal from my break-up with Kevin.“

Candace nodded in understanding. “Well, it sounds like you’re working through it. Party tonight right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well get out of here, you’re representing us tonight and I don’t want you looking sloppy because you were here instead of getting ready. Let me know if you need anything! Good luck!”

Faydra picked up her dress at a tailor down the block from their store. The woman there had kindly agreed to do a last-minute alteration on the dress she’d found for the gala. It was a wine-colored floor-length gown that had gold embellishments at the top. One of the reasons that she’d picked this dress was because of the neckline, which was perfect on its own without any necklace to adorn it, but if you did happen to have the perfect diamond necklace to go with it…it would look that much better. After all the arguing about the necklace she knew the Cal had given it to her out of the goodness of his heart, and that he would be so happy to see her wearing it.

She took the dress home and hung it up, spending the next couple of  hours relaxing, sipping on wine and doing her makeup. It had been a long time since she’d had a reason to get dressed up and she’d missed it.

She was excited and nervous to see Cal given that they hadn’t seen each other in person since the argument that night almost a week ago. She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake in agreeing to go and thought that as long as she could get enough wine in her she could enjoy herself.

Finally, at about half-past five she slid on the dress and her gold heels. Her hair was tied half-up with a matching gold clip, and her makeup had the faintest gold highlights. She smiled at herself in the mirror; at how much she’d grown in the months leading up to this moment. She had a lot of growing left to do but she hoped that tonight would be a step forward in the right direction.

She took another moment to admire the necklace, the one that had caused her stomach to churn and doubt the authenticity of Calvin’s character. It truly was beautiful and simple in all the right ways. And based on his letter he’d picked it out because of that. She never expected a man to be able to read her mind, all she asked was that he try to listen and remember–though she knew it would take a lifetime to learn everything about someone.