Chapter 5 Favorites

"Hello"

I say into my phone after answering it.

"Are you ready?"

"Sorry, who is this please?"

"Nathaniel, are you ready "

I stare at myself in the mirror for the one millionth time this night. The dress is red, it sticks to my curves like a glove. My entire back is exposed and I kind of feel insecure about it.

"Yes"

I answer

"Alright, open up"

"Sorry?"

"Open the door, I am outside".

I ended the call.

"He is here" I say to my best friends.

Betta and Danielle insisted on helping me get ready. Since my mom has started her treatment I have been living alone, so I appreciated the company.

Dani runs to open the door and I run after her to stop her from doing what I know she wants to do.

"What are your intentions with my friend?" I heard her say.

"Shit, stop it Dani" I yell at her but she just laughs.

"Sorry " I tell Nathaniel.

"Hi, I am Danielle," she introduces herself.

"As in Dani's coffee" he says and she smiles. Betts joins us with my coat.

"Do not forget this" she says and helps me wear it.

"Hi, Bethany" Nathaniel says and she freezes.

"Oh my God!" She exclaims then runs inside.

" Bye, Do not have her back until tomorrow or else" Dani says and winks at me before shutting the door.

"I am sorry about them" I apologize when we enter the car.

"It is fine they are nice, wine?." He says, offering me a glass.

I take it and take a sip.

"So where is this party" I ask

"My hotel in Tribeca" he answers.

As his assistant I have been to all his hotels in New York but not the ones outside. I have heard the one in Tribeca is the biggest. and the people that Lodge there are usually celebrities or people that want to keep their identity private so not just anyone is allowed there.

"I have a question" I say after we have been driving in silence for a while.

"I realize, I do not know anything about you other than you are my boss and your meeting schedules and your favorite coffee, I think we should be friends at least if this is going to work"

He does not say anything for a while like he is contemplating my request.

"You are right" he says "what do you want to know".

"Okay, for a start, how old are you?"

"Thirty one" he answers wow that is a lot younger than I thought he would be.

"Now you have to ask me a question" "I already know everything about you there is no need "

"that is not possible you can not know everything about me"

"But I do. I had a background check done on you before all this so I know everything about you, there is to know" he argued.

"Firstly, I would like to see that and anyways, did the background check tell you my favorite food, my favorite color if not you don't know everything about me". I argue back.

"Fine"

he agrees defeatedly

"what is your favorite food then"

"Hmm!, My mother's grilled chicken, they are the best, what is your's"

"I don't really have a favorite food, my mother was not much of a cook"

That is sad, I almost say out loud.

"We are going to have to fix that"

"My turn" he says "why do you dye your hair?".

I stare at him surprised.

"How do you know?"

"That is a question, you have to answer my question first".

"Fine," I sigh. "people tend not to take blondes seriously, I discovered that in college so I started dying my hair brown." I explain, There are a handful of people in my life that know my real hair color.

"So how did you know"

"I noticed your roots once"

I stare at him with disbelief. I am very cautious about it so I dye my hair very often, he would have to be paying a lot of attention to me to notice.

"We are here"

the driver announces stopping whatever I had to say next.

The car stops in front of the red carpet, I can already see the camera lights from the paparazzi and reporters.

"I can not do this, I am sorry"

I am panicking, my hands are shaking uncontrollably. The last time something like this happened was before a debate competition I had in middle school.

"Hey, look at me"

Nathaniel says holding my face.

"Concentrate on my eyes, and breathe now, in, out"

I do as he says and focus on his eyes. They are so green, deep dark green, They give the feeling of a dense forest at night with over growing trees, I could get lost in them.

"Are you feeling better now?"

He asks, drawing me out of my trance.

"Yes" I answer

"Are you sure"

I nod.

He comes down first then turns around and opens my door.

"Thank you, I say"

Two huge men help us pass through the paparazzi. They are all asking different questions at the same time making it hard to identify the questions but one question sticks out.

"Miss Lorelei Moore, are you pregnant"

Who on Earth comes up with these questions? Then again it makes sense that pregnancy would be a reason for a guy like Nathaniel to publicly date a girl like me.

We finally made it through the red carpet and into the event.

"What took you guys so long?"

Nathaniel says as he approaches us.

"Wow, Lore you look amazing"

"Thank you"

"This is Barbie" he says introducing the blonde beside him who I am sure is his date.

"It is Darbie" she corrects

"What?"

"My name is Darbie, not Barbie".

"Oh!, "

"Come on, let us get a drink" he says then they leave.

We follow them to the drinks stand. As we walk I can help but notice all the dresses, each and every single one of them is worth more than my six month salary and my salary is quite fair.

I take a glass of champagne and drink it down, I have a feeling I am going to need it. Nathaniel receives a call and he steps away to take it. Michael and his Barbie or Darbie are making out .

"Restroom?" I ask, tapping Micheal, he points in the direction without breaking his kissing.

"Thanks"

I walk in the direction he points, but instead of a restroom, I find a hallway, I decide to walk down, maybe the restroom is down the hall.

What was I thinking, taking direction from a half drunk Michael with his tongue down a Barbie's throat. Not only have I not found the bathroom, I have also lost the room where the party is, I try calling Nathaniel but. His number is busy, while Michael isn't responding.

"Hey you, what are you doing here?".