Page 8 of The Reverse Cinderella

“Adam talked up this poised, beautiful woman who I just had to meet. Part of me wondered if she wasn’t too good for me.”

“And did you meet her?” she asked.

“I did. She likes expensive wine,” Max smiled.

Piaget flushed but before she could say anything in her defense, he spoke up. “Wine which I can’t currently afford, which may have been why I was a little nervous. She seemed to like the house wine though.”

“I did. It was better than I expected. And I can understand not being able to afford expensive wine anymore.” Piaget gestured to the building she was now living in.

“Seems like both of us have taken a step down.”

“Maybe,” she whispered. She didn’t much like her step down. She wondered what his had been like. His thumb was rubbing along the back of her hand. It was kind of nice.

“I learned a lot from taking a step down. More than I ever learned taking steps up.”

“What did you learn?” Piaget asked.

“Humility. Kindness. Who my friends were. How to make new friends. Respect.”

“Those are all very good things to learn.”

Max nodded very seriously. “Important things.”

“Max, you should go,” Piaget gently pulled on her hand.

“Right. Absolutely. As soon as you promise to give me a call. I need to show you those stars yet. Plus, it would be interesting to see what else we have in common.”

She smiled at his blatant flattery. Truth was, it was a balm to her soul to have him paying such attention to her. He made her feel sexy and beautiful which she hadn’t felt for a very long time. “I’ll call you.”

Max smiled happily and lifted her hand to kiss the back of it. “That’s all I ask.”

Piaget watched him stumble as he turned. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I’m more than okay. I met you.” He gave her a wave.

Shaking her head, Piaget closed the door to the apartments and watched through the glass as Max disappeared into the night. She looked at the business card. It simply said ‘Max R. On Time, On Budget’ followed by his number. Smiling, Piaget put it away in her purse and went to her apartment.