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“Okay. I’ll be there.”
He kisses my cheek and I wish he’d give me more, but I tell myself that I need to put my trust in him. I have to allow him this time to prove that this is what he wants. He’s asked me to do this for him and I will, because I want to know what he has in store for me. I head downstairs in a daze, passing the other staff members as I head back to my bedroom. I close the door behind me and stand in front of my easel, but I don’t pick up a paintbrush for a very long time, taking a moment to let this whole thing sink in. I don’t know what to expect next, but the more I think about it, the more excited I feel. He said I’d get a delivery at six. Is he planning a special evening just for the two of us? It’s all I can do to stop myself from crying out in joy.
I manage to curb my excitement by starting a new painting. It’s abstract and emotional, splashes of color on a canvas inspired by the turmoil of emotion inside me. It’s different from what I’d usually paint, but today is a very different day. It feels like everything is about to change, and if that’s true, I will remember this feeling forever. Hell, maybe this is just how life will feel from now on. I didn’t realize it was possible to feel so good, so hopeful, so lucky. With each passing moment, my fear fades and hope takes me over.
The day passes agonizingly slowly. I can’t wait to see what my delivery is at six o’clock. By the time it rolls around and I hear the knock on my door, I’m so nervous and excited that I squeal to myself.
Opening the door, I see that there’s a clothes bag hung on my door. My heart thumps hard in my chest and I unzip the bag to reveal the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. It’s pale pink and soft as a rose with a tulle skirt and silk top. It makes my heart swell with love. Leo just gets me. He understands me better than I ever thought he would. Now, I know why he’s been so busy today. He’s been throwing this together for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful. It shows how much he really cares.
And the dress fits like a glove. I glance in the mirror and for the first time in a long time, I feel really good about myself. In this dress, I can see how a man like Leo might fall for a girl like me. It’s taken me a long time to love myself and my curves, but now, I know that it was worth waiting. Now, I can be the girl he wants to love.
I carefully style my hair and add a little bit of makeup, keeping an eye on the time. Seven o’clock is fast approaching, and my nerves have me glued to my seat. But five minutes before the hour, I rise to my feet, feeling like a princess as I glide toward the dining hall. I can’t walk away from this. There’s so much for me to be happy about for the first time in my life.
And as I enter the hall, all of the staff turn to look at me. I see Rachel, her face creased in disgust at me, but all of the others seem to have a smile ready for me.
And then there’s Leo. My handsome Leo. He rises from his chair, looking dapper in his navy suit. He stares at me in awe as I walk toward him, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest.
“You look so beautiful,” he growls, taking my hand and kissing it gently. I blush deeply, unable to stop myself.
“Thank you. You look really good, Leo. I’m so glad you asked me to have dinner with you.”
“Me too,” Leo says. “On the menu tonight, we have some of your favorites, prawns for starters, steak for our main, and then a lemon posset for dessert.”
“How did you...how did you know?”
Leo smiles at me, his eyes dark and alluring. “I pay attention. I know you inside and out, Amelia. I’ve been watching you for a long time and… I asked around a little just to be sure.”
He pulls out my chair for me at the long table, though only two places are set. Tonight is just me and him. He sits at the head of the table, right beside me, and the staff spring into action, pouring us drinks and bringing out the starter. I catch one last glimpse of Rachel as she disappears from the room, her eyes hard. I’m not a bitter person, but she deserves whatever she’s feeling right now for everything she’s done to me.
