Mr. Handsome A Billionaire Romance(11)

“Um…uh—what are you doing…here?” I asked, very confused as to his presence. It was still early and my mind hadn’t fully woken up yet, the processing department was lights out. Jeffrey looked amazing for six in the morning. He wore a perfectly tailored, blue pinstriped suit and his hair looked silky smooth and was pushed back out of his face. His green hazel eyes were as intense as ever and completely focused on me.

“I came to see you, actually. Why don’t you have a cell phone?”

My mind was thrown back into error mode. I just couldn’t process this. He came to see me?

“I broke mine a long time ago and never got around to getting a new one,” I explained automatically.

“You know, that could be a big factor as to why you’re having a hard time finding a marketing job,” Jeffrey pointed out.

I shrugged.

“I was able to get the job with Marissa Fiore easily enough without one,” I replied a bit defensively. I did have a computer and people more often used e-mail and Skype. Jeffrey raised his hands in surrender.

“You’re right, I was just pointing out a crucial point, is all…this isn’t going how I planned it. I’m sorry, I came to ask you if you were going to be busy tonight?” he asked me almost tentatively.

Why on Earth was he asking about my schedule?

“I um…I have to wake up early in the mornings for work, and I’m still getting over a cold, so I’ll most likely be asleep,” I said slowly.

“You work on Saturdays?” Jeffrey asked, seeming shocked. I nodded regretfully.

“Yeah, it sucks, but working weekends is overtime and I need all that I can get,” I said without thinking. Why did I have such an urge to just speak so freely around him? I bit my lip to try and keep my mouth shut.

“Well, how about tomorrow night then?” he asked, this time hopeful.

“Why are you asking me if I’ll be free?”

Jeffrey gave me a look as if to say that it should have been obvious.

“Because I wanted to take you on a date. You ran away from me at the shoot before I could ask you,” he said, almost seeming to be a bit nervous.

I tilted my head at him questioningly.

“You want to…date me?”

Jeffrey’s slightly anxious look turned earnest.

“Of course I do. I…I’m very attracted to you…” he said in all seriousness, his gaze locked on mine.

“I’m not the kind of girl you usually date. In fact, I hardly think I’m your type, Jeffrey,” I said, being bluntly honest. I opened my car door and made to get in so I could head to work. If he held me up outside any longer, I would be late. I didn’t want to take the rest of the week off if I didn’t have to.

“No, no, that didn’t come out right. I meant…I like you and I want to see you again, I want to go on a date with you.” Jeffrey floundered a bit and held my car door open so I was forced to either tell him to leave me alone or accept his offer for a date. I’d be an idiot if I turned him down, but really…he was way out of my league.

“Don’t doubt yourself. I really do like you. I mean it’s been two days and I still tracked you down to ask you out. That has to stand for something,” Jeffrey pointed out.

I sighed and then gave in, almost reluctantly.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go out with you Saturday night, then.”

Jeffrey smiled crookedly and stole some of my breath away. He was just a beautiful, beautiful man.

“I’ll pick you up around seven thirty, then…and Christina…?” I looked up at him expectantly.

“Please get a cell phone, it’s unsafe not to have one,” he said.

I sighed, I keep meaning to get one, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.

“Okay, I’ll get a cell phone after work,” I assured him halfheartedly. Knowing me, I would much rather go straight home after work and pass out on the bed.

“Good, here’s my number so you can put it in your phone and call me when you get it,” Jeffrey placed his card in my hand and then winked at me before walking confidently towards his car. “Oh, and I’ll just show up if I don’t hear from you by the end of the day tomorrow,” he warned, before he got into his car and pulled away.

As his car passed me I could see into the front seat and found that he even had a driver. Yeah, Jeffrey Bates was way out of my league. I sighed and then tucked his card into my purse before heading off to work. During the entire ride to work, I couldn't figure out just how this date was going to turn out and I was considering backing out of it altogether.

I at least arrived to work on time, thanks to light traffic, miraculously, and Jennie was surprised to see me in so soon. Her big blue doe eyes widened with pleasant surprise and her exotic Hispanic features conveyed relief.

“You came back early, thank God,” she said. She even hopped down from her perch behind the reception desk to give me a hug. “Marissa has been in a mood ever since you got sick. Whenever she needed you for something and you weren’t there, she’d yell and be like, ‘where’s my Target girl!’” We both laughed and I shook my head. Of course Marissa would say that.

“Oh! Oh, Christina! You’re well, you’re back, thank God!” Kristi came hurrying out of her office and hugged me, too. Well, has it been that bad without me there? “You know you’re Marissa’s favorite, you’re not allowed to get sick and stay home anymore. It’s for reasons of everyone’s mental health!” We all laughed and then froze as Marissa walked gracefully out of her office in a long flowing summer dress.