Someone Like You (9 page)
Authors: Andrea Carmen
A few minutes later, Ben was driving down the streets of Manhattan. Lucas was suddenly nervous. Would she? She should, right? He had never felt this way about anyone, yet. It irritated him, he felt so helpless against the emotions growing inside him.
An hour later they arrived in front of her apartment.
“Where’s her flat?” Lucas asked.
Ben pointed to a lit room with some flowers hanging on the little balcony.
“I’ll call you later,” Lucas said. “Wish me luck.”
Ben smiled and tipped his hat. “Best of luck, sir.”
Lucas pushed a random button. A minute later, an old lady wearing a floral dress and fluffy slippers opened the main door.
“Who are you?”
“Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m looking for Alex, Alex Forbes.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not some stalker, are you? I’ll beat you senseless,” Mrs. Jenkins warned.
“I assure you I am not,” he said, “Lucas Conrad,” he introduced himself.
“Of the Conrad Group?” she gasped. “Why, I used to be your grandfather’s secretary! What do you want from Alex?”
“I need to tell her something,” he said.
Mrs. Jenkins opened the door wide. “Door 18. By all means, go get her.”
He smiled and ran up five flights of stairs, his heart pounding all the way. Please, please…he thought to himself. He finally reached the door with the brass number 18 on it. He took a deep breath, trying to collect himself. Then he knocked twice.
“Who is it?” a muffled voice said.
“Alex?”
Alex’s eyes widened. Did she just hear Luke’s voice? She quickly walked for the door. He heard her fumbling for the locks.
The door flung open. “Luke! What are you doing here?”
He did not hesitate to kiss her this time.
Chapter Seven: We hurt the ones that matter
“What—” Alex began, breathless. She started to feel light-headed.
Lucas pulled away from the long kiss. “I…I,” Lucas began. “I’m sorry. Wait—no, I’m not. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time.”
She looked down and bit her lower lip, unable to believe it had happened to her. “Luke I—” She quickly drew him in and kissed him again. “Me too,” she finally said, letting go.
They stood there, quiet for a few seconds. Then Lucas let out a shy smile and without thinking, scratched his head .
Alex stared at him, her heart still pounding. “Come in,” she said, unable to say anything else. He slowly stepped into her studio.
Quaint. It was the first thing to enter his mind. And neat. He saw stacks of books in one corner (she had probably read them all) and canvases and thick pieces of paper on another corner.
“Sorry, there isn’t much to see…” her voice trailed off.
He smiled. “I like it already. Can I look at your paintings?”
She nodded as she went to the kitchen counter and grabbed two mugs, filling it with hot water and two bags of tea. He was quiet as he went through her paintings.
“You’re…you’re really good. Watercolour?”
She nodded. “I’ve had more time to paint again. And…I just really like watercolour. Mom joked it was my Chinese blood.”
He smiled again.
“They’re really good,” he murmured. “Why don’t you have your own show?”
“I might,” she said shyly. “I just spoke to an art gallery owner on the edge of the Upper East. It’s a small new gallery and he liked a painting I posted online and bought one.”
“Etsy?”
She grinned. “Yes.”
They heard the pitter-patter of rain on the roof. In a few seconds, it rained heavily. Alex quickly closed her balcony door.
“You’re stuck here for a while with cheap organic tea.”
“Chamomile?”
“Yours is green.”
“Excellent. All because of a kiss?” he joked. “Damn, I’m good.”
She stuck out her tongue. “Shut up and drink it.”
“You told me to shut up,” he said, incredulous.
She turned red. “I’m sorry—”
“I’ve never heard you say something as harsh as that,” he laughed. “Next thing you know, you’ll be cursing around me.”
“I already have. In Mandarin,” she grinned.
“You cheat! Swear in a language we both understand.”
“I’ll try to next time.”
He sat down on a hand painted chair. “How have you been?” he asked, holding his mug with both hands.
“I’ve been artistically inclined and bored out of my wits.”
He laughed. “I’m sorry. Is this my fault?”
“A little,” she grinned. “That contract made me a recluse of sorts…and the butt of everyone’s gossip in the office.”
“Whatever,” Lucas told her with a frown, “Every time someone looks down on me, I troll them,” he laughed. “I annoy them by being a hell of a lot better or smarter—”
“Or richer,” she interrupted.
“That too. But I just troll them in subtle ways that make them go nuts,” he said with a laugh. “You should try that too.”
“You know I can’t.”
“We talked about this, remember? Stop being too nice. Not everyone deserves it.”
“I’m trying,” she said.
“Try harder,” he said. “But I like it when you’re nice to me.”
“You’re my boss, of course I’ll be nice,” she teased. “Bound by contract.”
“I’m making a new contract tomorrow. You’ll bitch it out in the office,” he smiled.
“Why, I would never!” she said in a southern accent.
He laughed. Then they grew quiet, each in their own thoughts. They sipped from their mugs once in a while. He would look at her paintings again and she would look away, trying hard to not gaze longingly at his face.
“Alex,” he began, “I’d really appreciate it if you would go to the gala with me.”
She looked down. “I’d love to—it’s just that…you’ve done so much and I work for you and…”
“Screw them. I’m not going if you aren’t.”
“Pressure much?” she said.
He nodded with a knowing smile.
She relented. “Of course I’ll go. It’s Ellie Saab.”
“You mean you’re not going for me but for the dress?” He feigned a pained look.
She punched his arm. “Shut it. That kiss had to mean something.”
“So…we’re officially dating?” he said with brows raised and then he gave a shrewd smile.
“I don’t know,” she said, reddening.
“Well, I think we are officially dating now. Our first date. Apartment 18,” he said dreamily.
And she laughed and so did he. The rain slowed down a few moments later. He finished his mug of tea and stood up.
“I guess it’s time I take my leave. It’s getting late,” he said.
“Is Ben here already?” she asked.
“Nope. I’m taking the train.”
“You sure you won’t get lost?”
“Like I didn’t grow up in New York,” he smirked. “I’ll be fine, if you’re worried about me. Wait, you’re worried for me?”
“Don’t push it,” she warned with a smile.
He laughed and kissed her nose. “Damn, why are you so cute?”
She shrugged. “You’re the only one who finds me cute.”
“Good thing. Less competition,” he grinned. “I’ll see you Saturday?”
She nodded.
He kissed her on the lips again, this time it was a very soft kiss, light and slow. It left her reeling with delight as soon as he left her flat.
* * * *
There was a knock on her door. She had just finished showering after painting some landscapes. She hurriedly put on her wardrobe and looked into the peephole.
“Alex Forbes?”
Alex opened the door. “Lucia! What are you doing here?”
“Saturday, remember?” Lucia replied as she and Sandra went in, carrying with them cases of makeup and hair products.
She bit her lower lip. She nearly forgot about it while painting that morning. “Well, you guys are here pretty early.”
“I want you really pretty,” Lucia said. “Besides, the gala starts at six o’clock and you have to be ready by five at most.”
“Well, do you guys wanna eat first? I made a chicken and potato salad.”
“Answer to my prayers,” Sandra grinned.
They exchanged light-hearted banter as they ate, with Lucia and Sandra doing most of the talking on what to do with her hair and makeup and pairing it well with her long gown.
As soon as Alex finished brushing her teeth, a makeshift studio was set up in the middle of her flat. Lucia set about doing her makeup while Sandra started blow-drying her hair.
“I’m so excited for you,” Lucia said.
“You’ll be the belle of the ball,” Sandra chimed in, “And we won’t let you down.”
“I’ll try not to let you down, too,” Alex grinned. She had been practicing with four-inch heels yesterday and Jason kept laughing as she walked inside the conference room at Temperley.
“You are so going to suffer after,” Jason said, “I mean Jimmy Choo’s are really lovely to look with your legs and all but you’re just not used to the height.”
“Support me, Jason,” Alex groaned.
“I am. They’re on your feet. Are you getting a mani-pedi to? Wanna come with?”
Alex shrugged. “If it’s not too expensive. If it is, I’ll do my own.”
Jason laughed. “Like you know how to. I have never seen you wear nail polish—ever. I’ll treat you out to one. Just don’t embarrass me by stumbling during the gala, okay?”
It was nearing five o’clock when she received a message on her cell. Ben was waiting for her in the car outside her flat.
“We’re almost done, sweetie,” Lucia told her as she lightly covered her face with an all-nighter makeup setting spray.
Sandra beamed at her as she did the finishing touches on a loose bun and she took out her phone. “I am so taking a picture of you.”
Alex smiled at Sandra. She looked at herself in the mirror, unable to believe the transformation. She not only looked like a socialite, all of a sudden she felt like one.
“Well, I believe we’ve done another masterpiece,” Lucia said proudly, also taking a photo of her.
“Thank you so much. I’d be lost without you,” Alex said earnestly.
“Come on, let’s go. Ben’s dropping us off too,” Sandra announced.
Lucia and Sandra quickly packed up their materials and Alex wore silver sequined flats, her gown safely nestled in one box and her heels in another. She wore a short white dress. Lucas had wanted the both of them to go together and he also wanted her to dress up at his place (she did protest, but in the end Lucas persuaded her).
The black Cadillac smoothly ran along, dropping Lucia and Sandra off along the way at East twenty-third street.
“Excited?” Ben asked her.
“Anxious, more likely,” Alex replied with a sigh.
“I’m sure you’ll do splendidly.”
“Thank you, Ben.”
“He’s never asked a girl before to dress up at his place. And he’s never been so restless waiting for a girl or in choosing which tuxedo to wear,” he grinned.
“Really?” Alex said, feeling pink in the face.
“Really,” Ben replied.
* * * *
It was nearing six o’clock when the car arrived in front of the Stanhope building. Alex quickly got out, thanking Ben. The security guard smiled seeing her.
“Good evening, Miss Forbes.”
Alex rode the elevator and then walked to his door. She rang the doorbell once. A maid opened it for her. It was the first time she had seen a maid inside his unit.
“Good evening, miss,” she said. “Let me take those boxes for you.”
“Hi,” Alex said warmly. “I’m fine. Where is Luke?”
“Changing,” the maid smiled a little. “He has been for an hour. You’ll change in the guest room, if you please.”
Alex nodded, following her. The sheets were new and there was a vanity mirror set up, along with a table full of unopened bottles of perfume.
“What’s with all the perfume?”
