Mr. Handsome A Billionaire Romance(21)

He wore a black tuxedo and his hair was coiffed perfectly. He looked gorgeous and I knew we would have issues throughout our evening. Women wouldn’t be able to help themselves…he’d probably cause car accidents!

“You look…Christina you look amazing…” Jeffrey’s eyes roamed every inch of my body and his tone was almost in awe.

I bit my lip and gave a small smile.

“Thanks, you don’t look so bad either. I think you might stop traffic,” I joked, though I was entirely serious. How I ended up with Jeffrey Bates is a complete mystery.

“It won’t be me stopping traffic, I assure you. So how about we get going?” Jeffrey offered me his arm and I slipped my hand through to rest on his forearm. When I stepped forward, Jeffrey got a look at my heels and he stopped moving at mid-stride.

“Can you sit down for a sec, I just want to see something…” Jeffrey steered me to a sofa chair and I sat, bemused as to why he wanted me to sit down. He got on his knee and then placed his hand on my calf to lift my leg and reveal my heels.

“We bought these today?” he asked me while caressing my calf distractingly. The stilettos were sexy, they were strappy and showed off my pedicure nicely. I was glad I had decided to get a pedicure while I was out sick from work.

I simply nodded at Jeffrey and he smiled almost mischievously. “I think you’ll be wearing nothing but heels again tonight. Thank goodness this dress doesn’t show off your legs. I’d probably get into fights.”

I rolled my eyes as Jeffrey helped me up and we actually managed to make it to the car that time.

The Lincoln Center was full of people as we waited for A Midsummer Night’s Dream to start. Vanessa and Victor arrived just before we did and we met them in our box seats. I’ve never been in a box seat before and I really could see everything. It wasn’t too high or far away from stage; it was just above the normal seating and offered privacy.

“My goodness, Christina, I know I gushed over your dress enough, but you have to tell me where you got it?” Vanessa leaned over Jeffrey to ask me and I felt kind of embarrassed to tell her that it was from Valentino.

Normally, I’d never be able to afford this dress so it was obvious that Jeffrey bought it for me. Vanessa didn’t make anything of it though, she simply gave me another compliment before Victor drew her attention away.

“You know, it’s okay to tell people who your clothes are by, for all they know you have millions stashed in an overseas account somewhere,” Jeffrey joked.

My heart sped up, though, as he was close to spot on to something my parents left behind for me. My father was a successful investment banker. The best in the State of Pennsylvania.

My small family, though humble we were, gained a lot of wealth through his smart investments. I could just never bring myself to touch any of it. The memory of them would be too hard for me to bear, only because I knew they wanted me to have it, so I’d never have to struggle.

Jeffrey was perceptive, though, and his intense gaze never missed a beat, especially when it came to me. He was about to ask me something, when thankfully, the show started. I couldn’t enjoy much of the first act though, because I was worried that Jeffrey would be upset with me.

He took my hand in his after a little while and started rubbing circles against my skin with his thumb. I relaxed a bit and was able to enjoy the show after that. During the intermission, though, Jeffrey held onto my hand while Vanessa and Victor went to use the bathroom.

“So…was my joke not really a joke for you?” Jeffrey asked me once we were alone.

I looked up at him and slowly shook my head.

“So how come you don’t touch any of it?”

I tilted my head to the side, the answer was obvious, he should know.

“I just can’t get over their deaths, really, and anything they left me is a glaring reminder that they’re gone. The money, especially, is like a message from beyond the grave that they love me and just want me taken care of and that…that kills me when I think about it.” I admitted it all to him and he pulled out his handkerchief to gently dab my tears away.

“I get it, I do. I know you must miss them a lot and it f*cking sucks that they’re gone…but you have to let yourself think about them, baby. Or else you’ll tear yourself up inside. You have to let yourself remember the good times, let yourself miss them. It’s normal and that is what will help you heal.”

Jeffrey’s tone was earnest and heartfelt. It made me want to cry even more, but I couldn’t break down entirely. We were supposed to be having a good time, plus Victor and Vanessa were going to be back at any minute.

Jeffrey cupped my face and kissed me tenderly. He burrowed into my heart at that moment and I barely realized it.

“So…how much are we talking and how overseas is this money?” Jeffrey quirked an eyebrow at me and I giggled.

“It’s…a lot…for me anyway, and it’s in a Swiss account…as well as a French account.” I sighed, I simply couldn’t not tell him everything. My brain just spat out information at him without double checking if I actually should.

“So, I’m guessing around, fifty to a hundred million altogether?”

I simply looked at him questioningly. How he was so spot-on, and why did the actual number matter to him?

“I’m just curious about your dad, it sounds like he was really good at what he did.”