Susan

Two months. Two fringing months is how long it took me to gather my courage and all I've done in the last hour is stand outside Lily's Grace. It's ludicrous that when the idea first popped into my head I'd thought it would be perfectly easy to pull off, that it was brilliant, maybe even my best idea yet and there was no way he would refuse it, but for some reason being on the verge of implementing it, shivers ran down my spine and doubt gripped me like an unexpected autumn breeze. I felt cold, and way too covered up to blame it on the weather even though it was quite breezy.

What if he refuses to see me because I didn’t book an appointment? That can't be right... I'm Susan frigging Claire. Billionaire bachelorette. He'd be glad to just hear my name... right?

My courage keeps wavering. shit...

I didn't have the time for this. This is insulting to the person I am. I’ve always been known as very courageous; even though some might like to use a more stretched word like impulsive, but the point is I’m a courageous woman, yet something about asking a man to marry me for the sake of mutual benefits makes me want to run away. My fear grew with every doubtful thought I had, and soon enough it overwhelmed me to the point that I began to look to Albert every few seconds.

Albert stood a few feet away from me, concern etched on his features as I paced back and forth. I'd seen him form words he refused to mouth even though I wouldn't have complained if he said them. Maybe it was because I needed a reason, an excuse to give myself so I didn’t have to do this, but I looked at Albert a few more times in hopes that he would say something but he kept mute. Finally, for the sake of his and my sanity, I decided to forgo the mission.

Maybe another day.

I was about to turn back and get into my car when I saw the familiar, now in-famous face through the glass doors running out of his company like a mad man on the run. I instinctively ran towards him, my legs doing the work my brain had refused to. He was too fast for me to keep up with, so I called after him shamelessly on the street but he did nothing to show that he had heard me. I continued yelling his name until he stopped, an exasperated look on his face.

so he had heard me... the bastard.

"Do you... do you remember... me?" I said, catching my breath.

He looked at his watch, a cold expression on his face, "whatever this is about, I can't talk right now."

rude much?

"No. of course not. Sorry. I just wanted to introduce myself before we officially met." I stretched my hands, "Susan Claire. Of Delmonte. co. We had met at la crème? remember? you eavesdropped on my conversation and we spoke briefly? you made snarky comments—"

"Oh god! Stop talking, please. I know who you are. Hell, the whole city might even know who you are. But like I said earlier I'm in a fucking rush and it's quite important. So good day."

"Please, just one minute. Can I have your private number so I can contact you on a better day? I have a proposal for you and it's something myself and you must talk about in private. No third party."

I know I wasn't sounding like someone in her right mind or any mind at all but I was too damn scared to make sense. And with the look he gave me, he thought so too. He stared at me, eyes boring into the very depths of my soul. My forehead creased, sweating, and my legs shook, my nervousness screaming through my body. Thankfully it only lasted a few seconds and then he gave me his phone. After I had finished dialing the number with shaky hands, I called, returning his phone after mine had rung. He left immediately, running towards an empty cab.

***

The day of the meeting finally arrived. Since I was practically begging to be met with, I let him pick the place and time of our meeting. I got all dressed up in a casual outfit, something I usually wore whenever I didn’t need to go into the office since we had arranged to meet outside, then I remembered that I had to look the part if I wanted to stand a chance at convincing him. I quickly changed to a mauve-colored suit, a black tank top, and black suede heels. I put my long curly hair in a bun, wearing my most expensive wristwatch and the custom-made gold necklace my father had gifted me before he died. The pendant read my name. If my father had taught me anything, it was that people answered to money. I wasn't an accessory kind of girl but I knew the situation demanded it. After one more final look in my bedroom mirror, I sauntered downstairs where Albert had been waiting for me for over thirty minutes now.

"I'm so sorry I've kept you waiting, Albert."

"It's no problem, miss Susan."

I gave him a stern look before entering the car and he returned it with an apologetic one.

"Old habits die hard. I meant to say Susan."

"Sure you did." I smiled, and though I couldn't see his face because he was driving, I knew he smiled back.

I have known Albert for more than thirteen years now. He was dad's chauffeur and the closest person I had to a family. When I was ten and mom had died he was the only one who stayed with me and made sure I was okay. He cared more for me than my father ever did. While I cried every day in my closet and was unable to fall asleep whenever dad was off on some business trip leaving me to the maids, he was there to assure me I would be okay, making jokes about how his son preferred he was away more often when he was my age. That was a lie in my dad's defense but still, it made me smile and laugh, and it gave us something to talk about till I fell asleep. Maybe it's because I was a child or maybe it's because I needed some kind of diversion, but whenever he started telling me stories; whether about his family or about the time he spent as a thug before coming to work for my dad, it distracted me from my pain. Albert wasn't just my best friend, he was like the father I always wanted.

"You look beautiful, miss..." he cleared his throat, "... Susan."

"Thank you. It's a very important deal. Gotta dress the part."

"Have you been there before?"

"Not really. Why? Should I be worried?"

I could see his shoulders move and the corner of his mouth raise like he was laughing, but I wasn’t sure. I wondered what he found so funny…

When the car finally came to a stop, I peered out the window because the neighborhood looked nothing like anywhere I'd visited before. My face scrunched up in disgust as I saw the less than refined restaurant Albert had brought me. Maybe my reaction was a bit exaggerated but the restaurant looked nothing like the three and five-star restaurants I frequented. I'm not sure it even had a star at all.

You've got to be kidding me. I got all dressed up for this?

"Albert, what am I looking at?"

"A restaurant."

"Oh you know what I mean."

Albert laughed. "It's not that bad. The food here is amazing. I come here a lot with Matteo. He used to love it here, that is before he grew up..."

The words Albert said were words of reprimand, but his tone was wistful. He talked about his son with so much love and longing in his voice it made me wonder if my father had ever talked about me like that.

Probably not. I didn't matter. Not to him.

Hearing Albert talk about his father-son moments put a smile on my face. The relationship he had with his son was something I had always longed for with my father, but agonizingly, that never happened. He was always too busy building Delmonte. co and turning into the billion-dollar enterprise that it is today that he forgot he had me. Delmonte was always more important. Ballet competitions were second to board meetings, soccer games were unacknowledged, but still, I kept giving him chances, kept hoping that he'd come true, sadly, he never did. In the end, all I was left with were memories of his disappointments. So I lived my longing for a father daughter relationship through the stories Albert told of his father son relationship.

"You'll love it here. Trust me."

"But I'm so overdressed." I wailed. "Why didn't you warn me?"

"You look beautiful and there's nothing wrong with looking too damn nice for a place."

I rolled my eyes, "I guess. I mean it’s always best to look more than less, right?”

Albert gave me a nod, smiling.

Unbuckling my seat belt, I slumped on my chair, taking a moment to myself before stepping out of the car. I waved at Albert when he wished me luck.

The minute I walked into the restaurant, all eyes fell on me. They weren't even trying not to look. From the corner of my eyes, I saw a little girl point at me, almost immediately her mother lightly beat her hand down, explaining how impolite it was to stare and point. Lazily, I dragged my eyes away from the mother and daughter, standing awkwardly at the entrance of the restaurant, desperately searching for Arian with my eyes. Fear gripped me when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey."

I turned to face that familiar smirk, frowning but am I glad to see it though...

"Follow me. This way."

I followed Arian to the back of the restaurant. Immediately the view came into sight excitement bubbled inside me, my eyes growing wide as I absorbed the beautiful scenery. It was like nature resided here. At the center of every table were huge beautiful trees that stood as shades. The chairs were made of wood and on them were cushions of different colors. When I thought it couldn't possibly get better than that, I looked up and saw birds of different colors and species chirping, sending calmness over everything under the sound of their voice. And the flowers; all-natural and very appealing, were used to decorate the environment. I walked to the chair Arian offered me and as I sat down, the ocean came in view. I was pulled into a trance instantly, completely forgetting why I was mad in the first place.