Read Online What He Wants: Trusting You prequel novella by L.P. Dover - Free Book Online

“Okay, you have my word. See you then.”
    We both said our good-byes and hung up. The last thing I wanted to do was let my friend down when she’d done so much for me. Who knows, I might actually have fun.

 
     
    THE DRESS I picked out for the evening was a one shoulder, olive green sheath gown that was classic but not overly formal. I had bought it long ago when Daniel and I would attend dinners and parties every weekend. It was one of the dresses I never got around to wearing. Since it was still hot and humid outside, I decided to wear my hair up, placing it into a messy ball of curls at the nape of my neck and adding in a white flower to help decorate the style. Once I completed the finishing touches of makeup to my green eyes, I was ready to go.
    I was running a little late, but I didn’t want to get there too early anyway. Hopping into my red Lexus LFA, I slowly made it out of my gated neighborhood and then onto I-85 once I got through all the residential areas. Traffic wasn’t too bad downtown, so it only took about twenty minutes to get from my house to the front of the M&M Architectural building that Korinne’s husband owned. When I pulled up, the whole group of valet attendants gaped with their mouths hanging wide open.
    Getting out of the car, I smiled and passed the keys to one of the wide-eyed valet attendants who then handed me a ticket, keeping his eyes completely glued to my sports car. It was a rare and expensive mode of transport, and was one of the things Daniel got me that I didn’t want to get rid of. I was never a materialistic girl, but I had never had a brand new car until that one. I loved it.
    “Do you mind if I take a picture of it?” the valet guy asked sheepishly. “I’ve only ever seen one other of these around here before. My fraternity brothers are gonna freak out.”
    Grinning, I nodded and motioned toward my car. “Go for it. I don’t mind at all. Just take care of her for me, okay?”
    “You have my word,” he promised, staring at it in awe.
    Shaking my head, I left him to do his thing while I started through the revolving glass doors. The elevators were up ahead and I saw several people waiting to board them, so I joined them in the wait. When the doors opened, I sidled into the same one with another couple who both acknowledged me with a grin.
    “Are you going to the top floor, too?” the lady asked, pressing the top button.
    “Yes, thank you,” I replied, leaning against the handrail.
    We rode in silence as the elevator took us to the top floor. I couldn’t stop the butterflies from fluttering around in my stomach, but it felt more than that … almost like a pull on my soul. Something about being in the building just felt odd. It was as if there was a magnet pulling me to the top faster than the elevator could take me.
    I refused to admit out loud I was nervous, but deep down I really was.
    As soon as the doors opened, I took in a calming breath and sighed. The couple strolled out and left me alone in the elevator, which was perfect; it gave me time to get the nerve to walk into the crowded room where I knew no one. Peering out over the mass of people, my stomach dropped when I couldn’t spot Korinne or her husband, Galen. Slowly I strolled out of the elevator and into the fray of people.
    A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne, so I grabbed a glass and sipped it while searching the crowd. Instead of walking around like I was lost, I noticed a vacant seat overlooking downtown Charlotte and decided to take it. I sat down and finished off the rest of my champagne that went down way too easily.
    “Would you care for another one?” one of the waiters offered, approaching me and taking my empty glass. He was a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair and kind eyes; he reminded me of my father with the way he smiled.
    “Yes, please. Thank you.”
    I accepted the glass he offered with a smile of my own. Nodding, he grinned again and made his way through the crowd.