Page 44 of Consumed By You

“I’m hoping you’re a Mr. Darcy.”

“I’ve heard of him.”

“He’s reserved and cold to Elizabeth at the start of the novel, but after time, he realizes how fit they are for each other despite the obstacles that come between them.” I hope he’s understanding what I’m trying to say to him. By the gentle searching look on his face, he is.

“Maybe I should read it.”

“You should.” I take a sip of wine.

“Is there anything else you would like tonight?” our server asks, interrupting quite a moment.

“Darcy?” Benjamin nudges, eyebrows raised. “Dessert?”

“I’m okay.”

“The check, please.” With that, the waiter disappears. He removes the fine napkin from his thigh, laying it down with finality onto the tablecloth. “I do have dessert at my place, if you’re interested.”

I’m beet red.

“I’d like that.”

Pleased with my answer, he brings my hand up to his mouth, pressing his lips softly to my palm. “We need to talk about work, Darcy.”

“I really don’t think it’s best to work for you, especially now.”

He looks wounded and inhales deeply, obviously trying to control a quick temper. “You get paid well, you have weekends off. Sure, it’s hard work but we’d be together. We’d have more time together.”

“And if we fight? If things start to go south, what then? How do we handle that? It’s not going to work.”

“We can make it work. Please, Darcy, do this for me.”

I don’t know whether to commend him or hit him. He knows I feel guilty about how much I’m asking him to change, and now he can get what he wants from me.

“Fine. I’lltryit. But you have to promise if I say I want to leave, you’ll let me.”

He accepts with a sharp nod of his head, clearly pleased he’s won this argument. He signs the check with faultless penmanship and says, “Let’s go.”

He leads me out of the restaurant, styled elegantly with baroque architecture, a loyal hand positioned at the small of my back. It’s hard to resist swooning when he touches me there. It’s possessive, telling.

People walking by can see we aren’t friends. We aren’t business partners.

People can see we are together.

***

Benjamin’s building is everything I expected it to look like. Tall and modern, his impressive abode towers in the sky, shining down on the city brightly. There must be a club or something here, I’m guessing, due to the colorful flashing lights in the windows throughout the middle of the skyscraper.

“This is a beautiful building,” I tell him with awe, unable to tear my eyes from it.

“Thank you. It’s mine.”

I swing my head to the left to gawk at him with shock. “You own this?”

“Yes.”

Must be nice.

He takes my hand and leads me through the doors to the elevator. The gorgeously decorated lobby is filled with refined tenants. People with money. They observe the tall, dark, and handsome man beside me with unmistakable curiosity but don’t speak to him.