HIS

Chapter Five

Anna's PoV

The next day:

I stared at myself in the mirror for the tenth time, finally wearing the white stilettos. I don't know what was harder to believe, if this beautiful dress was mine, or if it actually fit me this beautifully.

The girl staring at me didn't look like me. Away from the yellow professional lights in the boutique, I was having mixed thoughts of how the dress would actually look, but I was so happy to be owning this now. It was actually a dark, settled red, and I had gotten the neck, which was cowled, a little altered so it didn't look very deep. The back was still just being held my two straps and was open till my lower back, but my almost waist long hair covered it. I'd worn a pendant in my neck, a small crystal butterfly shaped, with Swarovski diamonds, and a platinum chain. It was really small and barely visible, but I liked wearing it, mainly because it was a gift from my mother when I was much younger and it made me feel close to home, always calming my nervous when I was anxious about something.

When it came to make up, I had one simple rule: less is more. However, when Nish insisted to let Sam do my hair and make up, I just couldn't say no. Sam was her best friend since college, and he'd gone back to his home town in Africa since a few months to spend time with his family. He landed back last night, and was our third roommate.

He was professional, yes, but not the salon professional. He was the celebrity kinda professional, a self-taught person. He was just a few years elder to both of us, and always jumped on the idea of being able to do hair and make up for either of us.

He thought we're too introvert, and don't live our lives at all. Every week, at least one day, we spend our day together and have dinner together other days, and always he kept pushing the two of us to finally go out, and party like any person our age.

And the moment Nish told that I had a party to attend to, I knew I had no escape.

He had curled my hair and made a small crown braid to the back with one portion of the hair, leaving the rest into soft curls, which rather looked like beach waves.

The make up was clean, with just a prominent winged eye-liner and my matte red lipstick. He was insistent on doing a smoky eye as well, but I didn't let him. We settled on a nude-brown eyeshadow.

Like I said, for me, less was always more.

"You look absolutely supercalifragilisticexpladocious," He complimented as I walked out into the living room, and saw the two of them lazily on the couch watching a repeat cycle of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., and I happily twirled around, still nervous.

"That's not a word," Nish challenged him, staring at him blankly.

"Actually, it is," I informed, and he gave her a smug face as he got up and walked to me, playing with a pin that held my hair twist together, making it firmer by pressing it deeper into my hair.

"What does it even mean?" She asked. I squirmed under Sam's intense gaze. He often didn't realise how busy he could get when he did his work, and that might just give goosebumps to an already conscious person.

And except that, also that he was breathtaking. He was that dark, handsome man who's description you read in books, but the one thing that always stands out about him is the determination in his eyes and love for what he does.

He was 6' feet tall, a good four inches taller than me, but my heels made me almost as tall as him. I usually wore two inch heels to work and around, but settled for a little higher this time, promising my poor feet it'll be just for a few hours. I wasn't very fond of heels, and had always seen it as a torture at first, but working around giants all day made me feel a little inferior about being short even at 5' 6", and so I'd opted comfortable block wedges for every day, that gave me a boost to be 5' 8". Still not as tall as them, but I didn't feel short either. I'd grown used to heels by now, but I still felt uncomfortable in three and a half inch stilettos , especially when I knew that I could wear my sketchers sport shoes under this gown and it would still not be seen.

"It means extra ordinary," I informed her when I realised Sam had probably forgotten to, "supercalifragilisticexpladocious... it means extra ordinary or really good."

"I could swear you two choked on a doctorate precious life," she rolled her eyes, as she continued watching her tv show, "And yes, you do look extra ordinary. Really gorgeous."

"Good enough for compete with all the models he takes for dates?" I asked her in small mumble.

She looked up at me with scolding eyes, "Much pewter than that. They have nothing on you, love. Grey eyes, brown hair, and this figure wearing such a stunning red gown... I'd like to see those fake ass models even try," she told me firmly.

"That's generous of you," I gave her a grateful smile. Every one deserved a friend like her, damn.

"Only the truth," she shrugged back. I didn't believe her a bit, but it was a good confidence boost. 

Here's the thing: I wasn't ugly. I got my looks from my mom, who used to walk pageants for my state back at home. I had good features, and a faintly tanned skin, hair naturally to the dark side with blonde highlights. I was pretty, but not the 'walking the ramp' kind pretty or the unforgettably charming kind. I was the moderate pretty, ones you usually look at for an extra second in public and then forget about.

I glanced at the time by the wall clock: 8:10 P.M. And, this clock usually ran a good few minutes slower than the digital ones, which usually showed the accurate time.

He was late. Not that I had expected him to be exactly on time, because he was almost always late at office too, and nobody could say anything, because well, the office was his and he was the boss.

I just had hope he'd be on time right now because the party is at his home and he's the boat, meaning he couldn't afford being late, or it would leave a bad reputation on all the business clients. And I definitely didn't want him to be late because of me, which is why I was dressed before time.

I checked my phone once again. No messages, no calls from him. I rechecked the address I'd sent him, making sure it was mine and correct, and it was.

I sighed, sitting on the couch.

"He'll be here soon," Sam told me as he noticed me staring blankly into my phone, again. I passed him a nervous smile.

And just then, my phone vibrated. It was a text message.

Zach Sir:

I'm here. Are you ready? :)

"He's here," I shoot both my friends a grin as I instantly type back: I am.

My message was barely delivered for two whole seconds when the door bell rang, making my heart skip a beat as I almost flinched in my place, unable to hide the grin from breaking on my face.

"I didn't know he was going to come upstairs," Nish's eyes widened, "s**t, I look shabby. And you..." she looked at me, "Come with me."

"What?" I ask her, horrified.

"Just come," she instructs me taking my hand and pulling me into her room.

"I guess I'll open then?" Sam raised his eyebrows in disbelief and I could hear him unclock the door from Nish's room.

"What?" I asked her, slightly frustrated.

"Hold on," she said, and started digging into her drawer by the dresser.

I rolled my eyes, feeling my heart beat fast. I could feel another scent full in the air and even from a distance away, and I knew exactly who's signature perfume it was.

"Hi," I could hear his voice, "I was expecting Ms. Collins. Did I get the wrong address?"

I glared at Nish angrily as she finally dig out something, looking happy with what she found as she walked towards me.

"Oh no, Anna'll be here any moment," Sam said, "I'm her roommate– Sam Wilson."

"Zach Davis," my boss replied, and I could imagine them shaking hands.

Nish wrapped a bracelet around my wrist, full of gorgeous diamond charms. 

"My mom gave this to me when I was eighteen, and it's my lucky charm since then. I'd like you to have all the luck in this world today," she smiled teasingly, locking it around the rose gold watch I was wearing.

Yes, the same one that he gifted me two days back on my birthday.

"This is beautiful," I say, admiring the way the diamonds reflected light falling upon it, almost looking like they shone, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she winked, "Now run, Cinderella. Don't make your Prince Charming wait."

I rolled my eyes at her dramatic self before giving her a quick hug and a nervous smile, walking outside and she trailed behind, after me.

I opened the door to see Zach and Sam talking about something quietly, and instantly stopped when I came into the view.

"Ah, there she is," Sam said, giving me his hand and I walked towards them, slightly flustered at the breathtaking man in front of me. And just to be clear, I was talking about Zach this time.

I'd seen him in a lot of suits, a lot of business ones, but I think there was just something about this black and white one that he wore, with a formal bow tie, that gave me jitters down my spine.

"I– uh– these are for you," he said, forwarding me the bouquet of flowers in one of his hands, and a small blush crept over my face as I accepted it, mumbling a "thank you, they're lovely," and passing it behind to Nish.

"I'll put them into water,"  she smiled, noticing they're fresh ones, "I'm Nish, by the way."

"Zach," he nodded back firmly, and then looked back at me, "Shall we?"

"Yes," I said in a whisper as he opened the door for me and I followed behind him. He shut the door to a waving Nish and Sam, and led me to the lift, which was held open by his chauffeur and occasional bodyguard, Taylor.

Taylor was as tall as Zach himself, in his mid thirties, and really, really muscular. He could easy pass for a wrestler. I met him a lot, and he was the one who usually accompanies and drove me around to meetings when I went with office work, like representing the company. I remembered being very, very intimidated by him in the start, mostly because of his body structure, but I had soon realised he was just so fluffy and sweet from inside.

"Hello Taylor," I greeted him with a smile as soon as the lift door closed.

"Anna," He nodded back at me firmly, because that's how he behaviours in Zach's presence. But when he noticed that our boss wasn't looking, he passed me a small smile.

The lift doors reopened and we stepped out, where two cars waited.

"Two?" I mumbled to myself, under my breath.

Taylor nodded, hearing it nonetheless, "You both ahead, I follow."

"Got it," I said, as Zach led me to his black jaguar. He opened the passenger seat for me, and closed it once I got in, walking back to his seat, while opening the buttons of his tuxedo and getting in.

The one thing I was bound to notice last time and this one, was that he was a recklessly smooth driver. It was weird to think about, he was reckless a lot of times, but also very smooth.

"I discovered a short cut," he said, reaching out to switch on the radio and I look at him as he goes, "From my house to yours. I discovered a short cut."

"Is that why you were late?" I tease. 

He rolls his eyes. "I took time in discovering the short cut," he reprimanded, "It's the first I'm driving to your place, remember?"

I nod, shrugging with a chuckle under my breath. Whatever helps him sleep at night.

"And I had to stop for those flowers," he reminded.

"Right," I say, "You didn't have to. But they were beautiful. Thank you."

"I totally did. Chivalry isn't dead for me," He replied with a smug face.

"You're going to be late to your own party," I tell him.

"Who even is on time?" He shrugged it away.

"The host is?" I say. He let it go.

Within the next ten minutes, we reached to his house. He had a big mansion, that a person could get intimidated by on a dark night, but was lit up like a Christmas tree today.

Another chauffeur at the entrance of the huge doors awaits us, and he gets down, handing him the keys. I open the door my side as well, and he rushes to my side, giving me a hand.

"Thank you," I mumble, straightening your dress from behind, letting it's tail flow.

"And Ms. Collins?" He says.

"Anna," I correct, "Please."

"Ms. Collins," he repeats, a smug smirk on his face. He loved teasing me, "I forgot to tell you, didn't I?"

"What?" I ask, looking up at him.

"You look good tonight," he says.

I try holding the smile inside but a blush creeps up, and I knew I became flustered as I mumble, "Thank you."

"No compliments to me?" He asks as we walk inside his house.

"You clean up pretty nicely too," I smile at him, as his friends, who it seemed like were waiting for the two us, stand up and I let my hand drop from his arm as he passes me a genuine smile and I look away to Tara, who hugs me.

"Tell me why did I expect you'll walk in with some super model when you mentioned date?" Justin teases Zach from behind.

"Hey!" I say fake offensively, slapping his shoulder when he walks to give me a hug too.

"Thank God it's Anna," Ruth passes me a smile, "And you look better than those super models."

Wow. Ruth was really, finally opening up to me.

"Thank you," I pass her a smile, "As do you. Both of you, actually."

"Not me?" Justin narrows his eyes at me.

"Nah. I'd have preferred seeing a super model," I tease him. He rolls his eyes, but laughs with me nonetheless.

"That was meant to be a compliment to you," he poked my arm, "That I looked at you and thought it would be a super model."

"I'm flattered," I ridicule.

"What?" He says, "I mean it."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Man, this girl has no confidence of how wonderful she looks," Justin teased, "Can someone help me here?"

"You do look really beautiful. Ruth beat me to saying that," Tara says.

"And now I'm embarrassed," I blush.

"I appreciate the help, but you weren't the someone I was hoping for," Justin flashes her a smug smile, "Can Zach he'll compliment his date?"

He glared at his best friend. "Justin...." I gave him a warning whisper, "Drop it."

"I did tell her she looks really nice," Zach adds, pouring himself a drink.

"That is not how you compliment a girl, my friend," Justin walks up to Zach while we girls settle on the couch, "Tell her she looks hot."

"She's not tea to be hot," Zach says and Ruth laughs beside me.

"Ah, so he's decided to play the gentleman tonight," Justin mocks, "Then tell her she looks cute."

"She's not a teddy bear," Zach responds. I purse my lips to prevent the grin threatening to break out.

"Then why don't you tell how you think she looks," Justin tried again, "Something except nice."

"She looks g–," Zach starts.

"Yeah, not even good." Justin cuts him off.

Zach sighs, rolling his eyes. "I was going to say gorgeous. But if you don't want that as well, I think you look very much breathtaking today, Ms. Collins."

Tara laughs. Justin smirks. The grin that was threatening to break out on my own face turns into a soft blush when his eyes meet mine and I thank him.

"You know she has a name, right?" Tara intersects. What was today? Embarrass Anna day?

"I do," Zach seemed annoyed too.

I decide to come to the rescue. "Give me a break, please," I tell her softly, "I know you love teasing me with everyone you can think of, but this isn't it."

She looks at me with fake sad eyes. I give her a helpless sigh.

"She's right," Ruth adds, "Zach doesn't very easily trust or let people in. Don't make her run away when he's finally accepting her."

I shoot her a grateful glance and she nods.

"This one's for business, you know that," I add, just as softly.

Tara opens her mouth to interrupt, when Zach cuts in, "She's right. This one's business."

I wonder how he even heard it, because I spoke so softly that I could swear even Ruth couldn't hear had she been a few feet away.

My eyes instantly snap at him, and his eyes were at me, but they seemed distant then they were before. He pulls on a smile on his lips, one that doesn't really reach his ear, and then looks away, back to a conversation with Justin.

Business it is, I guess then.