The Valentine Date: Long Distance, Billionaires and Former Bad Boy's Collection (3 page)

“I’ve got to admit. This is breathtaking,” I stated before turning my attention back to the view.

“You haven’t seen the sunset and sunrise yet,” he informed confidently.

“And your point?”

“This view is only an appetizer. The main course will be served in less than five hours from now,” he replied as he glanced down on his wristwatch.

“Any suggestions on what we’re going to do while waiting?”

“How about you rest on one of the bedrooms? The one down that hall would have the same view as this one. I suggest you take it,” he gestured across the hall from my left.

“Good. I have my own bedroom,” I stated, trying to sound less disappointed that I actually felt.

“Who said it’s your room?” he cheekily asked.

I pursed my lips while I trying to hide my amusement. “Do you really want me to fight this one too?”

“I like it when you get worked up because of me,” he teasingly said.

“Oh my god! I hope you won’t be saying stuff like that in public from this moment on. You’re making me think of something disturbing now.”

“Care to share what disturbing thing you’re thinking of now?”

I assessed the slightly wrinkled suit he had worn since that morning and felt my face flushed for a moment. Ignoring his sly words, I turned away from him and headed towards the direction of the room he indicated.

“Was it something said?” he called out playfully.

“Don’t be too smug now. You had this round. But we have the whole weekend. I will get my revenge for this,” I warned firmly without looking back. Though I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Let’s hope I could survive the weekend without daydreaming about him in a suit and without it.

Want to know more about William and Andy’s story? Grab
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About Mel Ryle

Mel Ryle is a Filipina writer trying to finish her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts Major in Advertising. Currently, she has written a total of four novels, all of which can be found on Wattpad from the username Melon Diaries. With her first published novel “Meeting Mr. Mogul”, she has won an award in an online writing community called Wattpad as talk of the town in the general fiction genre. When she isn’t writing about strong-willed, lead women characters, she’s mostly drawing another artwork or watching movies. Also, she is a huge fan of watermelon design plushies and accessories.

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mel-ryle.awesomeauthors.org

The Valentine Suprise

Marriage By Law Short Story

N.K. Pockett

©
N.K. Pockett 2016

"Are we still meeting up for dinner tonight?”

Ivory stared at nothing as she dazed in and out, thinking. Whoever made Mondays really needed to be taught how not to be such a buzz kill. Or whoever invented work, but then she liked her job; she just didn't like going in before sunrise half the time.

Covering her mouth as she yawned, she looked up towards the bathroom. She was positive she heard a voice. “Hmm?"

She ran a hand through her freshly combed hair, but somehow there were still small knots forming. She couldn't wait till she got to work and her hair was once again a knotted mess. What was even the point of brushing it?

Darius appeared in the doorway of the bathroom and she blinked.

"Dinner. We said we would meet up with Jesse and his wife tonight. Are we still doing it? Did you hear back from Sarah?"

"Oh," Ivory said as she leaned over grabbing her phone, "I think so, I forgot." She scrolled through her messages trying to find the one from Sarah. She watched Darius out of the corner of her eye as he struggled to do his tie, as always.

Sometimes she didn't even know why he tried. She stretched her legs, leaning against the bedside knowing well that her ironed dress was going to get creased, but the bed was the best place to sit in the morning while she waited for her husband to get ready.

"I'll ask Jesse today,” He said, failing once more to do a knot.

"Just give it to me already.”

“What?"

"The stupid tie."

Just watching him try and fail was making her very agitated. Darius unwrapped the tie around his neck and walked over to hand it to her. It was done in less than a minute once it reached her fingertips.

"I don't get why it's so difficult. I taught you how to do it." She teased as she sat up tugging it over his head before fastening it.

Darius raised an eyebrow as his green eyes watched her amused, "Well I don't know dear. I teach you how to make toast but you always burn it.”

Ivory blushed shoving his chest. "Now, that's just not fair."

But the message was duly noted. Some things never change; she would never be able to not burn something and Darius will always need help with ties. In her opinion, ties were so much easier than toast.

"Come on, you're going to be late." Darius reminded her and Ivory groaned. All she wanted to do was flop back into bed and disappear within the blankets, to let them engulf her how a fire engulfs her toast.

"Do I have to go?”

“No."

She blinked staring at Darius as he walked back out of the closet with his suit jacket on, "Just call in sick.”

"Yeah," Ivory scoffed, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. She jumped up, grabbing her coat and bag from the bedside cabinet where they were thrown messily.

"You try telling my boss that."

Or maybe not since her boss was kind of scared of Darius anyway.

Darius chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist and placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Nine hours will be over before you know it.”

***

Ivory was tempted; incredibly tempted to try that coffee Belinda was sipping away. She didn't get why so many people drank it because for her it was revolting, but maybe she should try it since her eyes were nearly shutting close while she tried to write this stupid article.

If Darius liked it, maybe she should give it a shot. But then she remembered all the other times she gave it a shot and ended up disliking it.

"What are you doing tonight?" Belinda asked as she stretched in her chair.

"Hmm?" Ivory hummed as she tapped her pen against the magazine. "Oh, uh, I don't think I'm doing anything, oh wait, I might have plans with a friend.”

Belinda raised her eyebrow and Ivory looked up feeling her intense hazel eyes on her.

"What?" She asked.

"You're not doing anything with that hunk of a husband of yours on this special day?”

Ivory stared at Belinda, feeling confused. She shook her head. "What special day?"

Shit was it his birthday? Damn it, she should have checked Facebook before she left. Belinda's eyebrows rose, her lips parting in shock.

"Are you serious?”

"Serious about what?" Ivory asked. She dropped her pen and scratched her head, getting very confused about what Belinda was talking about.

"What's the date today?”

"I dunno...like Feb something," she tapped her laptop til the screen turned on. "Fourteenth."

"Wow, you really forgot." Belinda shook her head before laughing at Ivory.

"Babe, it's valentines day.”

“Shit."

Ivory groaned leaning back in her chair. How could she forget? Did Darius remember? Was that why he wanted to know what they were doing tonight? Guilt filled her. She didn't even get him anything. She could get him a new tie, he could always do with another tie, but that was boring.

Maybe she should get him a dog….

"What are you going to get him?"

"I don't know," Ivory grabbed her phone off the table, "But I better cancel the dinner plans and plan something for tonight.”

One part of her told her that the holiday was overrated, but the other part told her the purpose. It wasn't about lovesick couples getting together and partying in their single friend's eyes. It was a holiday of appreciation, in this busy work-to-work world, it was a moment to thank your partner for sticking by you, or being there to support you and just appreciating one another.

She had to find something to get him, and sneak out during her lunch break to get him that something.

***

The clock could keep ticking normally but for Darius, it was going too fast. He had this business report to finish but for some, a lot of people called in sick, which irritated him. This report should have been done this morning, not afternoon.

He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing as he read through the terribly written report. He ought to fire whoever wrote this. It was now taking him more time to read it, to understand it and rewrite it. It was clearly rushed. It looked like a teenager wrote it before the submission date.

“Jesse!"

Jesse rushed into the room as Darius threw the report across the table.

"Where the hell is Sam? Get me Sam! This is rubbish."

He wasn't wasting any more damn time trying to re-write it.

"Sam has a day off today.”

"What? Who the hell approved it?”

"You did Darius." Jesse pointed out with an amused smile.

"Oh, right of course." Darius dismissed it, leaning out of his seat to grab the stupid report.

"By the way, Sarah just messaged me, we need to reschedule tonight.”

"Of course." Darius waved a hand, flicking back to the page, secretly glad that tonight was canceled. He was too tired for a barbecue with friends.

"Get me Mike. Mike can fix this.”

"Mike is also on leave.”

"Why the hell is everyone away today? I'm firing them all.”

“Darius..."

“What?"

"It's Valentines day. You told them they could use their annual leave today.”

Darius paused, his pen hovering on the paper, as his green eyes flickered up, "Valentines day?"  He asked turning around to check his computer.

"Shit."

How was it already February?

"I take it you forgot like I did.”

"Yeah. What are you doing?”

"No idea. Sarah just reminded me it was. We're probably going to stay home. All the good places would be booked out.”

Darius groaned, dropping his pen and running his hand through his hair. How could he forget? Aluminium wouldn't have forgotten. He didn't even get her anything.

What should he get her?

He looked up at Jesse, "The pet store will be open today won't it?”

***

"You're buying him a pen?”

Ivory paused spinning around in her chair, placing her hand over her heart to calm herself down.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"I wasn't even sneaking. But a pen? Really Ivory?”

"It's engraved and it's an expensive pen!"

She said before she shrugged. It was a brilliant idea...or maybe not. She groaned, collapsing into her chair and shoving her laptop.

"I give up.”

Belinda shook her head, patting Ivory before she sat down next to her. She reached over, grabbing a pen and paper.

"Now, list all the things your husband likes, and we can work from there.”

Belinda watched as Ivory scribbled down a list, a long list, but she couldn't help but point out that she wrote 'work' and 'coffee' at least twelve times.

"Should I get him a Quartz, you know, be all punny...or not." She said, looking at Belinda's expression.

Maybe she should get him a bottle of milk, but then maybe he wouldn't find it as funny as she did. Damn it, how could she forget, no, more like why did she always forget important things.

She felt incredibly guilty. He probably thought of something carefully and planned it all out and once again she screwed it up.

But it was just a holiday, she wouldn't feel so bad if he forgot about it, but it was Darius, he never forgot anything.

She looked at her phone just to double check the message.

She was so happy he told her to meet her an hour later than they originally planned. That meant that she could go sneak out after work to get a present and meet him back here.

Darius refused to let her catch a taxi.

"You know I saw this really cool thing the other day," Ivory turned around in her chair, "It’s like a hammock but for your feet, so you have it under the table and let your feet rest on it."

Belinda groaned. "Oh boy."

"Ooh! I know! How about a cookbook?”

***

Ivory shifted on her feet as she watched the familiar car pull up into the car park. Crap, she looked at her bag to make sure her gift wasn't sticking out. It wasn't even a good gift. She would have to get him something else this weekend, something more thoughtful than her stupid gift.

Walking up to the car her heart raced. Even though it was a small holiday it felt so much bigger, seeing as it was their first Valentines Day together. Well...first proper one.

She got in, casting a look at Darius who seemed nonchalant. Maybe it was her lucky day and he forgot. They could drive home, have dinner and fall asleep. After all tomorrow was a Tuesday and they both had to get back to work.

Who the hell put Valentines Day on a Monday! Not like they had the choice but still, can they postpone it?

Who was meant to bring it up? Should she wish him a "Happy Valentines Day"? Do people say it or is it something they already know?

Ivory stared out the window. She didn't recognize the road they were taking but before she could ask where they were she got a whiff of one familiar thing: the smell coming through her window.

"The beach?" She asked, excited as Darius parked the car. It felt like she hadn't been here in forever, and even though it was dark and the tide was probably mostly in, she couldn't wait to get her feet soaked in salty water.

She looked at Darius, who was watching her excitement light over her face. He leaned towards her, giving her a light kiss.

"Happy Valentines day.”

Ivory returned the gesture by wrapping her arms around his neck. Damn it, he didn't forget. And yes you do wish them. She made a mental note for next year.

"Come on, the food's getting cold.”

"You brought food too?" Damn it, Ivory, you should have gotten him more presents.

She jumped out of the car, following him to the boot where there was a picnic rug and a small basket.

"I didn't make it, I had to buy it." Darius confessed, rubbing the back of his neck, not really wanting to admit he forgot about it and made Jesse run out to get food while he finished that stupid report.

He had three phones. He should have put a reminder on them.

He watched Ivory, trying to see if there was any disappointment on her face that he didn't take her out to dinner or anywhere special. But he also knew that she loved the beach.  

Walking over to the sand, he set the picnic up as Ivory slipped her shoes off, running her toes through the sand before she sat down.

He set everything up and Ivory helped as they leaned against each other, enjoying the quietness and what little view they could make out from the moonlight.

It wasn't till Ivory started coughing and nearly dry gagging, spitting whatever she was eating out onto a serviette, "What the hell is this?"

She asked confused.

Darius looked over at what she was eating and started to go slightly pale, "Damn it, Jesse.”