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It started to rain again, because London weather was really determined that I could not have straight hair for longer than a couple of hours.
When the car pulled up to my building, he jumped out immediately, shaking his head at the driver. He had an umbrella prepared and was ready to go. His hand was warm when I placed mine into it as I stepped out of the car.
"Thank you so much."
"A gentleman always walks a lady to her door."
He walked me to the revolving door and made way for me to go first, which I did. To my dismay, he followed.
He gave me a nod and rubbed his jaw. "Good night, Miss Bracknell. I trust you had a lovely evening with the exception of my father’s poor behavior?"
"I did, thank you." If you call lovely being berated by a man who hates you.
The junior agent posing as a doorman signaled that someone had been in my flat, which, given what I'd seen before we left for dinner, I'd expected. He’d planted a few bugs, more than likely. And I’d have to sweep the place before I went to bed.
To my surprise, Jennings walked me to the elevator and all the way upstairs to my floor.
When he walked me to my door, I turned with a smile. "Well, this is me."
"Before my father interrupted us, I was having a good time. And I hope you were too."
"I was, but obviously, he put a damper on the mood. And if I'm being perfectly honest, the fact that he took time to find you when you're off the clock is concerning and not entirely something I'm sure I want to deal with."
His brow furrowed. "Look, he's a lot. I know that. But I’m not him.”
I tilted my head, shifting on my feet. "He's a lot? Is that what you call that? He's offensive. Abhorrent. Not to insult your family, but he casts a shadow on who you are, who you've been raised by. He's more than rude. He was not someone I would like to spend any amount of time with. And I have no indication that it wouldn't happen again."
His brow furrowed even deeper. "But surely you can overlook his behavior."
I shook my head. "No, I can’t. He was insulting and extremely offensive. Look, you seem kind. And you’re knowledgeable about art. I just have a set of boundaries for how I want to be treated and the people I involve in my life. You come with your father as baggage, and your father is someone I most definitely do not want in my life. He made it very, very clear that someone like me is not welcome in your circle. So I think we should probably just call this a closed topic. Please know I had a lovely evening prior to all that."
I turned to open my door, but his hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Look, I can't control him. But I will talk to him, and you saw that I didn't let any of that stand."
"No, you didn't, which I appreciate, but that’s just basic decency."
He sighed. "No, you're right. It is common decency. As the Yanks say, I shouldn’t get a merit badge for being a decent human being."
"No, you shouldn't."
"I might not be able to change the old man, but I will treat you like a princess."
"What if I don't want to be treated like a princess?"
His brow lifted. "Excuse me?"
"I'm sure you're used to the kind of woman who likes the pomp and circumstance of all this wealthy living, but I lead a quieter life. I want to sit with my person and read the Sunday paper and do the crossword together. Walk through the farmers’ market, go to art museums and gallery openings. It seems your life is very complicated. Despite your charm and your devilish good looks, I feel like maybe we should call this quits. While you masked this as a business dinner of sorts, I know what you intended it to be."
He sighed. "Look, I appreciate your boundaries and I hear what you're looking for. I can give you that. I just need half a chance."
"And I don't think I can give you half a chance as much as I would want to."
That was the hooker line right there. The fact that I wanted to, but something so heinous as being degraded in public had happened. I couldn't move forward with him.
He was the kind of man who relished a good competition. He did like to win. And my resistance was only going to pique his interest more. "Look, all I'm asking for is a chance to show you that I'm different."
"But are you different, really?"
"Yes, I am. I will show you that."
