Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

arrangements and scented white candles. By the looks of the people there I can sense that this place is very expensive. Everyone seems to wear their most elegant clothes from their closet. I was thankful that I changed my dress and lessen my make up cause most of the people there are old couples and business men and women.

“Table for two Mr. and Mrs.?” The waiter asked.

“Mr. and Mrs. Greene” he answered.

“This way Mr. and Mrs. Greene”

The waiter walked first and we tailed behind him, Carter pulled me closer to him.

“You look ravishing tonight” he whispered to my ear. “Help me God if I can control myself until after we finish our dinner.” He added though I wasn’t sure I was the one he’s talking to about that.

The waiter brought us to a table near the wine racks. I think he felt that Carter wants some privacy like always. The waiter pulled a chair and Carter carefully sat me on it and then he sat on the chair opposite mine.

“I’ll be back with the menu sir.” Then the waiter walked away from us.

Carter rested his back on the door while I sat still trying to stop myself from fidgeting. I’ve never been to this place and any place that looks like this. Way back home I’ve never been to any diner since the places that I was only allowed to are school and house.

“Do I still make you nervous?” he asked, smiling.

I shook my head.

“No. I just never have been to this kind of place before.” I answered telling him the truth.

He smiled.

“If you come with me in LA, you can go to anywhere you want.”

I wonder why he remains relax about this whole thing. It seems to him that we’re just having casual conversation when what he is asking me to do is move in with him in a completely different place with a complete stranger I know nothing about aside from his name.

“Why?” I took all my courage to ask that one question word that has been circling inside my head since earlier.

He smiled. Now I am getting irritated with his angel-like-Greek god smile, if he smiled at me another time I’m going to smack him real hard. The waited came back with two books covered with hard leather on his hands. He put one down on me and the other on Carter. He also pours some red wine on the glasses one on my side and the other Carter’s.

“My name is Lucas and I’ll be your server tonight.” He introduced himself. “I’ll give you some time and to choose and I’ll be back to get your orders.” The he walked away from us again.

Carter opened the menu and read something on it. I didn’t touch mine cause I want to hear his answer first; besides, I don’t think I’m going to even understand what was written there. For sure it’s Italian.

“Do you want me to order for you?” he asked staring at me intently.

I nodded.

“But I’ll appreciate if you answer me first.” I strongly said.

“I will while we’re waiting for our food to be served.”

Carter waived his hand and Lucas came back with the polite smile that doesn’t leave his face. He ordered an Arugula Salad with grilled peaches, shaved Parmigiano cheese and Prosciutto San Daniele, Taleggio Cheese with a Bruschetta of candied hazelnuts and orange blossom honey for appetizers while he ordered a Grass Fed Tenderloin with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Grilled Chicken Breast with Roasted Vegetables and Yogurt Recipe for main course. He hasn’t ordered anything for dessert yet but I think what he had ordered was already too much for just a simple dinner. Lucas urgently took the order and went back to the kitchen.

I looked at Carter with a blank expression. I am trying to make him understand that I am still waiting for his answer. But he met my gaze and it felt like the last man standing. I was the one to look down first. I’ll never win the gazing contest if Carter is my opponent.

“As always you never fail to amuse me.” He said smiling again.

I stared at him with daggers.

“I am not here to play games with you Mr. Greene. All I want is your answer not your Shakespeare statements.” I told him with my brow raise.

He smiled again. I really want to smack him.

“And please stop smiling at me, it makes you look like a freaking’ faggot.” I blurted out without even thinking it first.

His face turned blank and serious. Was he offended? Is he mad at me?

“My answer is simple. I like you. I want you. So I would like to take you with me . . . in California” he said and sips on his wine.

My glass remained untouched; I don’t know how to react appropriately from what he just said. Now, I regret asking the question cause it only confirmed that he wasn’t fooling around with me, in fact he sounded very certain with what he just told me.

Our food was served and we ate in silence. He didn’t say anything to me and I did the same. To be honest, I really don’t know what to tell him. I was still awe about everything. I still can’t believe that he feels that towards me. I don’t even know why I did to him.

Despite of the quiet ambiance with a bit of tension between us I was still able to enjoy the delicious food. I never imagined that chicken can be delicious. After our meal, Carter asked for the check, handed Lucas his card to pay then we were back inside the car.  He still didn’t say anything. I wonder if I made him mad. If that was the case then maybe he’ll get turn off about me and change his mind.

“Here”

We were sitting on his car going to a place I don’t have any idea about when he handed me a white envelope. I cocked my brow as I took it from him.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Open it.”

So I did, I opened the envelope and it was a magazine that came after my sight, it’s the issue of California Business Magazine that won’t be released not until the next three months. He was on the cover wearing his usual suit and tie and his Greek-god smile under him feet is the title “Bachelor of Business”. His biography is written on it. Everything, as in everything, from his personal information, the school he attended, a bit of information his family and mostly about his work. I found out that he is the CEO of a multi-million dollar real estate company that’s based in Los Angeles. He has more than a hundred hotels, condominiums and golf courses all over US and had already expanded it to Asia and still expanding in Europe. He also owns the hotel he brought me in at Lincoln Road, no wonder he was given the penthouse and was treated overly-nice by the attendants.

“Why are you giving me this?” I asked, still not understanding him.

“I want you to get to know me” he replied calmly. “I know you don’t trust me because you don’t know me. So I decided to do that interview they’ve been begging me for years, that’s my own copy I’m giving to you.”

I still didn’t understand. Why on earth did he exert so much effort being a cover of a local magazine as his way to introducing his self to me? Does he really like me so much? But why? What did he see in me? I am just a townie from St. Louis. I grew up being molested by my step father. I ran away from home, went to a different state with basically nothing and I strip to earn money for a living.

Carter brought me again to his penthouse where I spent another night, I slept in his arms, and he didn’t touch me that night. He just wrapped his arms around me hoping that I’ll change my mind.

Every night he takes me out. Showing me what his world looks like. Taking me to places I’ve never been before and making me remember of how being protected feels like. I don’t know but it seems like I am starting to get used to the life with Carter Greene. 

Chapter Six

"I am going to miss you."

I saw the pain in Nicole's eyes as I heard what she said. We are sitting in a small coffee shop inside the mall after walking for hours looking for a nice pair of flops. I am leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles. Yep, I am going with Carter to California. After a couple of weeks getting to know him and after Nicole used all his convincing powers I have decided to accept his offer. He is a nice person and he really does like me, a lot. Nicole said that Carter is the luck that I've been waiting for. She also said that Carter is good looking rich hot business man so it's a win-win situation. I can stop working as a stripper and at the same time I can just focus on my studies.

I stopped working since last week because Carter paid Keith to void my contract. I don't know how much money he gave Keith but I know it's more than what it should be. Nicole took the day off to spend time with me so here we are at the mall, spending as much time while we still can.

"You're leaving tomorrow and it still can't believe it. It hasn't sunk on me yet that you are finally going to California." She said with hurt on her tone.

Actually, it hasn't sunk on me too that I am already leaving tomorrow. Since the day that I gave Carter my yes I tried to spend as much time as possible with Nicole but it seems like it's still not enough. I feel like I am losing the other half of my body knowing that I'll wake up each morning without me seeing her messy hair. I'll miss so her so fucking much. I'll miss those times we had shared, the times we argue about simple things, the times when we laughed our asses out because of a TV commercial, the times when she taught me how to drive and the times she showed me how to be strong when things gets tough.

My thoughts we're taken away when I heard her sobbed.

"I feel like an idiot here." She said as she wiped her tears. "I mean, I am the one who pushed you to go with him and now I am crying like a child." Her tears continue to flow on her face.

I stood up and went to her. I hugged her so tight. I don't know what to tell her. It breaks my heart to know that I am not going to see her anymore. I know that Carter promised me that I can still visit her whenever I want but it hurts to know that she won't by my side as often as before.

"I'll keep in touch. I promise."

"You really should cause if not I'll fly to LA and kick your ass."

I smiled. I am not sure what is waiting for me in Los Angeles. I know Carter promised