A Millionaire, His Suit, And Poor Me

She was incredibly charming. Her dark jeans were tight on her legs, those long legs that would make models jealous. The elegant black jacket complemented his shoulders, giving him a more authoritative air than he already was. A white shirt and a black tie completed the ensemble.

Henris Steve's hair was styled on the side, not up like the two times I met him. They made him look younger. His face wor the same cold expression until he started chatting with a few people. Then he laughed and I noticed a dimple in his chee that I had never seen before. Because I realized that I had never seen him laugh.

He was laughing, smiling and talking animatedly with his huge hands, pulling Cara close to him and smiling at her, then a soon as he turned away from people, the same cold expression returned to his face. But the strange thing is that he seemed to have control of every situation.

Every time Steve stopped to talk to someone, the men's shoulders seemed to sag, as if to surrender. He was shaking their hands and I could feel how intimidated they were. Men or women, no matter how tall they were, they were all inferior to him. His presence was overwhelming.

Fingers snapped in front of my eyes, taking me back to reality, where Henris Steve was a creepy 24-year-old company CEC and not a smiling model. “Noras!'Jace called my attention back. Reluctantly, I turned my gaze away from Henris.

“It's so much... perfect I complained. “Oh my god, I have to hide. 'm going behind the scenes to help.’

“You were drooling thinking about him and now you want to hide? I"

“It would frighten me if he came and spoke to me. Or I could jump on him. I still don’t know if I should kiss or kill this man."l blew, crossing my arms over my chest. “Now I'm going to go hide backstage until the parade starts."

“Too late," said Jace under his breath with a frightened expression. I turned around and immediately saw Henris staring a me from across the room. I couldn't look away, even though her eyes were watching my body from head to toe. He sent m a little smile, saying something in the ear of Cara, the beautiful model on his arm, then walked over to me.

I did the only plausible thing. Run.

“Aaron,” I said breathlessly, diving backstage. He looks up, surprised, kneeling in front of a mannequin, straightening the hem of his dress. “Can I do something?”

“No, I think that's it..”

“Anything,” I begged him. “Really, give me something to do, please Aaron.”

He rose with an amused expression. “Since when do you want to do extra work?” He asked.

“Ym just trying to help” I huffed, running my hands over my red dress anxiously.

“OK! He said uncertainly. “Um, you could go check that all the models are ready. And make sure to the DJ that everything fine. Make sure everything is perfect”

I sighed with relief and immediately got to work, fixing a few things here and there on the models, mostly trying to waste time.

My heels hit the floor as I made my way upstairs. The DJ was already in position with his machines full of buttons in front him.

“Hey, uh, I just wanted to check that everything was okay." I explained, attracting his attention. He was cute. Not the s*x g Henris Steve, but cute. I blushed a little when I realized that I was staring at him.

“Yes, everything is fine,” he replied. “People are starting to come. Should I start with the first song?”

“Mhm. I answered absent-mindedly. I looked through the glass at the room where the event was supposed to take place The white walkway was superb with the lights that illuminated it. The door opened and people started coming in, finding their names and sitting down.

I inhaled when Steve came in, which earned me a confused look from the DJ. Cara arm in arm laughing, but Henris's face was emotionless. She sighed, giving up after trying for a good minute to change her mood, and I couldn't help but smile. They sat on the seats stolen from Tayra Banks. Of course they did. I should have known about it. He crossed one leg over the other, resting his ankle on the opposite knee.

I stared at him, thinking about those dimples that I used to see appear on his cheeks when he laughed, wondering if I could ever make him laugh like that. Then the DJ cleared his throat in embarrassment.

“Oh, um. Yep. I'm leaving now” I stuttered, I went out and stumbled on the last steps on the way down. I waited until the last moment to take my seat next to Jace. We were in the third row, on the opposite side of the catwalk where Henris was sitting, fortunately.

“Where have you been?” Jace whispered. “I've never seen you move so fast.”

I couldn't hold back the slight laugh that escaped from my mouth. “I went to help Aaron. Oh my God, Henris Steve is right my line of sight. Jace, I can't do this. I'm going to end up crying because of her beauty or her cruelty, I'm not sure yet” “Don't look in his direction, Noras," Jace replied. He tried to hold back his smile, without success. I pinched his earlobe an he glared at me with one hand on my ear. “What was it for?”

“To tell me to do something physically impossible. You've seen it, Jace.”

“My God, if I saw him.."He whispered in a dream. I hit him again. “Okay, fine. Ignore it then. He's with Cara anyway, he should be more than happy."

“You are right."l sighed.

The lights dimmed. I had butterflies in my stomach when the podium lit up and the music started. Jace took my hand, shaking it excitedly, and I squeezed his. But all of a sudden, I had a fixation.

I looked up, to try to see if it was Henris. I stopped when my eyes met hers. He looked at me insistently. I shuddered und his gaze, but I managed to maintain contact with his eyes. It seemed to last forever. He tilted his head to the side, a smirk on his face.

I was getting hot and I was saved by the models who diverted my attention from Henris Steve. I admired them as they walked, their legs long and angular and completely beautiful.

The outfits were perfect, each one exceeding our expectations. I kept shaking Jace’ hand every time he passed one that I particularly liked, he did the same.

“Noras." Jace whispered suddenly in my ear.

“Hmm?” I answered, my gaze fixed on the bridge.

“Steve's been watching you all this time,” he said softly. I started to turn my head to see. “Not, he whispered. “Don't look yet, he'll know we're talking about him. Wait, like, 30 seconds after I finish talking to you.”

I nodded and moved. My heart was pounding in my chest, and this time it wasn't because of the dress the model was wearing. I counted slowly to thirty, then turned around.

As expected, Henris Steve's eyes were fixed on me. I quickly turned my head. But since Jace pointed it out, all I could see out of the corner of my eye was his gaze. I shuddered, trying to refocus on the parade.

Then the reception took place in another room. There would be more alcohol, food and discussion. I was walking next to Jace, following him and nervously playing with the rings on my fingers. Henris would be there, and the only way to avoid him would be to leave. And I wasn't going to do that.

I ordered a vodka and a Sprite at the counter, sipped, grimacing at the strong taste of alcohol. I paid and turned around, coming across an all too familiar body, with an equally familiar smell of coconut shampoo.

“Noras."He whispered simply. I took my glass down in one gulp, before answering.

“Mr. Steve.”

A smirk appears on his face at the formality of the name. Or maybe to the use of alcohol to calm me down. “Call me Henr “I don't really consider us friends, so I'm going to continue with Mr. Steve I answered softly, avoiding his gaze.

“You kept looking at me during the parade. You looked like you were scared.”

“I kept looking at her because she was looking at me.” I answered.

He ran his hand through his hair, moving it to the side, before taking a step toward me. I held my breath as his hand grabbed my wrist. “I was looking at you because I want to touch you.”

I cleared my throat in embarrassment, turning toward the counter. “Yes, can I have another vodka and a Sprite, please?” I asked the bartender. He nodded, telling me it would only take a moment. I turned back to Henris, “How about you go han out with Cara Delevigne. You know, the beautiful blond model who's been circling you all night?”

“You're jealous,” he observed. He put his hand on my waist, pulling me closer to him so our kisses were pressed together. gasped at this sudden action and he laughed. “For the record, I'd rather be with you."

“Ym not jealous, I said angrily. “Arrogant as hell”

His eyes darkened, letting me go. “Don't talk to me like that"

“You've completely lost your mind." I mumbled, shaking my head. The bartender handed me my glass. I sipped eagerly. Steve paled, his expression cold and his shoulders square. I felt uncomfortable under his gaze. After a moment's silence, seemed to relax.

He moved closer, pressing his cheek against mine, his lips close to my ear and his fingers pressed against my hip. “You should be scared” He whispered. Without thinking, my hand grasped the arm at my side. He paused for a moment. I felt I breath on my neck.

He withdrew quickly. “Noras, you've got goosebumps.” He said softly, his fingers brushing the length of my neck. It was ha to keep up with his mood swings. I made a strange sound in response. His hand finally withdrew from my neck and I coul breathe again.

“Vl pick you up at seven tomorrow night.”

“What... 'm... no. I'm, uh. No." I stammered, shaking my head. I realized my right hand was still holding his left arm and immediately let go.

“It wasn't a question, Noras,” he pointed out. Then he pressed his lips lightly to my jaw. “Put on something pretty.”

I watched his silhouette return to Cara and the others. Jace quickly returned to my side, babbling about what had just happened, but all I could hear was Henris's deep laughter from across the room.

“I need another drink,” I stammered, turning to the bartender. “Can you make me a double shot?”