Somehow in the span of a minute, it had arrived without Macy realizing it.
Her eyes were wide and she looked back at Derreck.
“This is my ride,” he said. “Hope you don’t think I’m lazy for not driving myself around the city.”
“No, I would never...”
“I figure I’d rather enjoy myself in the back.”
He winked and led the way.
Macy felt uncomfortable bending over and climbing into the limo, wondering what Derreck would think of seeing her at such an angle. He didn’t seem to mind when he moved into the limo and sat across from her. His hands rested on his knees, his tie was a little more loose then it should have been for a suit, and his eyes were fully attentive on Macy.
“What is this?” Macy asked.
“What is what?”
“This limo ride? You wanting to see me?”
“Can’t a man command the company of a woman?” Derreck asked so calmly.
“Sure. But why me?”
“Why not?”
Macy had no response.
“Now, you’re going to have to put those heels on.”
Macy looked at the heels next to her on the seat and sighed. She looked to the white shoes on her feet, knowing how terrible they looked with her black dress, but they were comfortable. Didn’t that matter most?
“I like the white shoes,” Derreck said, “they look much better without the coffee stains. But the heels...”
“Are really expensive,” Macy said.
“So?”
“Because you’re a billionaire, money doesn’t matter?”
“Actually, money matters quite a bit to me.”
“So you go and buy a strange woman diamond encrusted heels? And that doesn’t mean anything...?”
“I never said that,” Derreck said. “You delivered that painting in my building. I own it. You spilled your coffee on my sidewalk. And last Tuesday you delivered three paintings to another one of my buildings.”
Macy’s eyes widened.
“I noticed you, Macy,” Derreck continued, leaning forward. “I saw the look on your face, holding those paintings. The way you gripped them tight, it wasn’t because you were protecting them. It was because you wanted the paintings to be... yours... right?”
Macy shrugged her shoulders.
“You don’t have to live in the shadows around me,” Derreck said.
His left hand moved from his leg to Macy’s leg, his hand feeling warm against her skin. She shuddered, blinking wildly, trying not to look too obvious that she enjoyed Derreck touching her.
“Tell me, Macy, why work for your friend?”
“My friend? How do you know Stacey C. is my friend?”
“Answer my question,” he said.
“Tell me where we’re going.”
Derreck’s hand gripped tighter on her leg, just above her knee. As he loosened his grip, he started to slide up her leg, moving from flirty to inappropriate, both of which Macy welcomed.
“You’ll know what I want you to know,” Derreck said. “Focus on yourself for a second. And those white shoes.”
“The white shoes?” Macy asked.
She looked down, taking her attention off Derreck’s beautiful eyes and strong hand. He slid from his seat to one knee and his hands were at her feet, untying the shoes. Before Macy could do a thing, the shoes were coming off her feet.
“You cannot wear these,” Derreck said. “I won’t allow it. Put the heels on.”
He looked at Macy with a serious face. His hands held her right foot. Gently, he began to squeeze at her, almost massaging her foot. She didn’t want to admit that it tickled, but her foot twitched out of her control, giving it away.
“Jumpy, aren’t we?” Derreck asked.
“No,” Macy said. “Just unsure what’s happening.”
“That’s half the fun of life. Isn’t it? Being unsure. That means anything can happen.”
Derreck moved back to his seat. He checked his watch, smiled, and tightened his tie. He turned his head each way and took a long breath.
“We’ll be there in two minutes. If you’re going to walk around barefoot, that’ll probably look worse than being in white shoes. Just my opinion.”
“Be there? Where?”
“Nothing important. A small investor meeting. For one of my companies. I needed a date.”
“A date...”
“See, this is all information you would have known if you came to the elevator today like I told you to.”
“I was working,” Macy said, feeling her voice on the verge of cracking.
An investors meeting? What the hell did that mean?
“So was I,” Derreck said, “and I am right now. We get to stand in front of a hundred people and talk about last quarters numbers.”
“We?”
“Sure. You and me. I look more credible with a woman on my arm. Makes me look stable. Makes everything more believable.”
The limo came to a stop and Derreck pointed to the black heels one last time.
“Last chance,” he said, “or else you’re going to be Mr. Hagan’s crazy date...”
Macy wanted to be mad but didn’t have a chance, yet. The backdoor opened to the limo, the driver asking for Mr. Hagan.
“Shit,” Macy whispered as she grabbed the heels.
She didn’t want to wear the heels. She didn’t want to be a date at an investors meeting. But she didn’t want to mess anything up for Derreck either. She was the one who didn’t show up today at noon. Thinking back, it could have been so easy. She could have gone to the elevators, talked to him, and told him no.
But instead...
Macy forced her feet back into the heels and prayed with all her might that she wouldn’t fall flat on her face.
Macy didn't fall
on her face but she did stumble three times. All of them were thankfully outside, long before she had eyes upon her. Even as the front doors opened to the most luxurious hotel in the city, Macy didn't want to believe what was happening. Derreck slipped his hand into hers and took her through the main foyer and quickly into an employees only area.
Derreck looked calm and in control, constantly looking back at Macy, smiling, doing all he could to keep her involved and letting the suspense build by the second. At the door to the stage two men stood holding folders of paperwork. The men were dressed almost as nice as Derreck.
"Mr. Hagan," one said with a nod.
"Sir, if I can be honest..."
"Have you met Macy before?" Derreck cut in.
Both men shook their heads.
"This is Macy," Derreck said. "My date for this evening."
The men looked at Macy with the eyes she expected to receive. The questioning kind. The judging kind. The kind that made her step towards Derreck, wishing he could protect her more.
"Time for the show," Derreck said.
He stepped to the door and Macy looked at the men with cold eyes. They were still staring.
Derreck had his attention on the door, opening it, talking to someone standing on the other side.
"Something wrong?" Macy asked one of the men.
"No," he said and offered a fake smile.
"What about you?" she asked the other.
"Just surprised..."
"Steve, enough," the first said.
"Surprised at what?" Macy snapped.
"I didn't think Mr. Hagan could settle."
"Settle?" Macy asked.
"Sure... you are his wife..."
"Let's go, love," Derreck called out and reached for Macy again.
She stumbled, again - damn heels - and was ushered into another room, one filled with people who wanted to hear what Derreck had to say.
The lighting was hot, as was Derreck. He looked amazing walking back and forth, one hand in his pocket, spouting numbers, settling concerns, and filtering questions like a pro. It hadn't been his first investors meeting but it was one of the easiest, thanks to Macy. She sat at a table on the stage along with two other couples, creating a sense of family and dedication, just what Derreck wanted to achieve.
Macy thought to herself about what the man said outside before she followed Derreck into the room.
His wife?
Is that what the entire date was all about?
Derreck wanting to create some image... for what?
As Macy scanned the room, she couldn’t understand what it would be for. Derreck certainly didn’t look the type to appease people, not for image. He looked more of a man who commanded a room. He looked more of a man who people wanted to pretend to be whatever he wanted them to be.
Including Macy.
She thought about that, hating herself even more for not showing up at noon when he wanted her to. So much could have been talked about, diverted, decided.
Derreck’s speech regarding the next quarter and his plan for growth, a healthy blend of low risk and high risk investments, along with expanding on the outskirts of the city with an apartment complex and a small housing development all left Macy in awe. He thought fast, he worked fast, he talked fast, and he definitely acted fast. He moved in a way that wouldn’t allow a second to be spared for a person to think or question him.
He was... perfect.
The exact kind of man Macy could use in her life. A man who cut to the chase, said what he wanted, did what he wanted, and left it at that.
“And now, I invite you all,” Derreck said, making his way back to the podium where he hooked the microphone to its stand. “I invite you to go to Room B and have something to eat, something to drink, and enjoy yourselves. Remember, it’s not about a return on investment, it is about a return on our life. And their lives...” Derreck turned and pointed to Macy.
She gasped, not sure if she was supposed to smile.
“Our families,” he continued, his eyes dead locked on Macy. “The ones we care about. The ones we love. The ones we depend on.”
Macy couldn’t believe her ears.
The flirty billionaire spoke the words like a happily married man.
It was about image.
Derreck finished speaking and the room applauded him. He walked towards Macy with his hand out. She wanted him to look worried so she didn’t reach for him. She wanted to make him sweat, wanted him to feel a little uncomfortable.
But that wasn’t the style of Derreck Hagan.
His lips puckered and a smile forced itself across his face.
He loved it and Macy couldn’t deny that. He loved the game, the cat and mouse kind of thing, only he knew he was going to win.
The bright lights shined on Macy like spotlights. She realized the longer she sat there, the more awkward the situation would become. The easiest thing to do would be to go with the motions.
Whatever Derreck Hagan wanted, he’d get.
Just for now.
And tonight.
Macy took his hand and stood. She took a step, looking down at the heels. They looked as beautiful they shined in the light. The silver trim shined like diamonds. They heels were so expensive, probably worth more than what Macy made all year.
She walked from the stage out the door they came in without stumbling once. Her feet were in pain and for a second she felt like telling Derreck about her discomfort. But what would that do? It would appease him probably, in some strange way.
So Macy sucked it up. She walked proud, letting her hips sway as she walked. With her curves there should have been no way she could manage the heels for as long as she did. Her voluptuous body hated her for doing it, but each time Derreck looked back at her, smiling, his eyes scanning up and down her body, it made her gush.
Everyone wanted to talk to Derreck, saying hello, trying to shake his hand, some calling his name. He walked through the lobby of the hotel like a rockstar. Most of the people were satisfied just seeing him or calling his name. Some insisted on getting close, sometimes too close for Macy’s comfort. She figured it would only be a matter of time before someone called out Derreck’s choice in such a curvy woman. Not to mention some of the women who were there with other wealthy men. They were tall, beautiful, super skinny. They walked in their heels putting one foot in front of the other, letting their bodies rock back and forth like a pendulum. At first it bothered Macy until she realized she didn’t need anything fancy to show of her hips.
A few men followed Derreck until he got to his breaking point. He stopped walking and spun around, throwing his hand out, not for a handshake, but with his pointer finger pointing, in command.
“What do you exactly want from me?” Derreck boomed.
“Time,” the first man said. He looked young and hungry.
“Time,” Derreck said. “That’s the most valuable thing I have.”
“But sir, Mr. Hagan,” the other man said, “this technology we’ve developed...”
“Oh, here we go,” Derreck said. He looked at Macy and rolled his eyes.
“No, you don’t understand,” the first one said with his voice squeaking.