Evergreen Eyes

Chapter 6: Interesting Conversation

It had been a week since I went on the date with Laiden. He had called me a couple of times checking in, seeing how I was, but nothing really big. The conversations weren’t even interesting. They were always the kind of conversations you had with your parents when you came home from school...

"How is school?"

"Good."

"Anything new and exciting?"

"No, not really."

"I am sorry."

Maybe a little flirting here and there, but then he would end up having to leave for a meeting or have an important incoming call, and the conversation would end abruptly like that. It sucked. I wanted to talk to him again so badly though. I only had a slight taste of the most enthralling man on the planet last Friday, and God I was begging for more. He was funny, charming, beautiful, and oh yeah... he was my future husband. He was my drug of choice and I was addicted from one night and a couple of random incidents. I wanted so much more.

When I finally stopped my infatuated rantings, I began to wonder if that was all it was. Just me being infatuated. I fell for him so unbelievably easy, but isn't that what people do? I began to get upset over my lack of experience when it came to relationships. I mean, of course I had a couple boyfriends, but it was only a childish game. I had been pecked on the lips by a shy boy, when I was younger. I had been on a date at a pizza parlor. I had even dared to let a boy touch my bare knee! *sarcastic gasp*

RING. RING. RING... that damn phone blared again. Can I just break that thing already?

"Hello?" I answered, trying not to sound annoyed by the phone.

"Hey Olesia, it's Laiden." Laiden said. His voice was enough to make me smile.

Speak of the devil.

"Hi," I said more enthusiastically.

"How does dinner sound tonight?" He asked.

Just what I wanted to hear! I've been wanting to spend time with him and get to know him more.

"Wonderful," I held back a squeal and remained calm. My enthusiasm might scare him away.

"Okay, good," He began. "Umm... wear something nice, because tonight my family is meeting yours." He informed me. 

"What?" My jaw hit the ground. I did not know about this! When did this even happen?

It was completely silent on the other line.

"My family is in town?" I said. I began to get angry because one, I was not told, and two, I wanted to spend some alone time with Laiden.

"Yes," He said and quickly whispered something to someone else, probably about business. "My father just told me this morning. He said he was not even expecting them."

"This is bad," I thought aloud. This was really really bad.

"Why?" He asked intently. There was confusion in his voice. 

"My mother is against this whole affair," I tried to explain. She does not want me to marry him. 

"The arranged marriage?" He asked for clarification.

"Yes," I continued. "I can't promise she is going to be the most amiable person."

"Don't worry, once she gets to know my family she will be fine," He tried to comfort me.

"That is the problem," I sounded uneasy.

"One minute," He whispered harshly to someone else. "No, I can not just call her back. I haven't actually talked to her for a while". I smiled to myself at the thought of him wanting to talk to me.

Then reality hit. "Sorry for the interruption. Continue please," He said calmly.

"My mother does not approve of the marriage, because..." Why was this so hard to say? But he deserves to know the truth. 

He waited patiently on the other line.

I took a deep breath before letting it out, "Because you are German."

That was probably the most shallow thing conceivable, but it was the truth. I felt horrible for saying it too. I didn't want him to think I thought the same way, because I didn't. Who cared if he was German!? My mother had been raised as a strict Polish girl, and as such you were supposed to marry a Polish boy, which contributed to the whole racist, yes I said it, racist situation.

I waited for his answer, but he was dead silent. I began to wonder if he was still there, until he said, "Do you feel the same way?" He asked.

"No!" I couldn't have said it sooner. I really didn’t care if he was German or not. 

His silence continued once again. I hated being over the phone telling him this, because I didn't know if he was thinking or getting angry. I couldn't dash him with my puppy dog eyes, or give him an encouraging smile.

"Please say something," I felt my heart ready to drain. I was afraid.

"I am simply baffled," I heard the disappointment in his voice.

"About what?" I asked meekly.

"How was this ever planned or agreed upon if she was upset about me being German?" He asked curiously.

"My father," I replied. I let out a sigh.

"Well," He paused for a while. "I need to get back to work."

"Please," I begged for a bit more of his time. "I really don't want to end the conversation like this."

It took him a few seconds before he finally said, "I will pick you up at five, an hour before dinner. We will drive around and talk some more." I was relieved. It brought a smile to my face.  

"Thank you," I was honestly thankful.

"Bye, Olesia," He said.

"Ola," I corrected. Ola was more personal.

"Bye, Ola," He said it so sexily.

"Bye," I laughed at him.

"I knew you would like it," He kept serious.

"Whatever," I only laughed harder.

"Don't deny it," He acted dead serious. "You want me."

"I just met you a week ago," I didn't deny it. I did want him. I wanted him so bad.

"And who's to say I don't want you," He questioned.

"I wish you wanted me," I said honestly, but tried to disguise it as me playing along with him.

"I know you do," He said. "But seriously, do you?"

"Are we being serious, or still joking around now?" The conversation began to be fun.

"Hmm," He thought for a little bit and then said, "Serious."

"Well," I had no idea how to answer his question. "Don't you have to leave?"

"You are lucky that I do, otherwise you would be in trouble." He said.

"Trouble?" I asked.

"Yeah, but only once I have you alone." He said huskily. The way he said it made me shiver.

"Alone?" What would he do to me once we were alone? I mean sure that one night we were alone, but now there was a s****l application to the idea. "What are you going to do to me once you have me alone?" I asked curiously. 

"I need to go," He said.

"Not fair," I couldn't believe he was not going to tell me.

"Yes it was, you wouldn't tell me whether you wanted me or not," He said.

"I am a girl," I defended myself. "I am not supposed to tell things like that."

"But men are?" He asked.

"I never asked you if you wanted me," I corrected. "You were talking about doing things with me once we were alone again. You led me on, but then dropped me."

"For me to be able to lead you on, you would have already had to have some type of s****l interest in me," He analyzed my every word.

"I can not believe you would insinuate such a thing," I actually couldn't believe how correct he was.

He sighed, "Before I go, I just have one question, but you have to answer it honestly."

"Okay, I promise," I was going to uphold this promise.

"Do you want me to kiss you?" His question made me breathless.   

I suddenly got a rush of answers. Do I say yes, and tell him all my thoughts? Tell him no to protect my dignity and pride? Maybe I should just tell him I don't know him well enough yet, I mean that was a safe answer. I wouldn't hurt his feelings, and I would save my skin... the only catch is I promised to tell the truth. I wanted him to kiss me.

It was a few seconds before I finally answered, "Yes." I said it as quietly as possible. I hope I didn’t sound too desperate.  

"Okay," There was no obnoxious comment from him. "I really need to go this time."

"Bye," I said embarrassedly.

"See you at five," He reminded me before hanging up.

Once I heard the click of his phone, I began to feel the blood rush through my cheeks. I collapsed on my bed completely surprised by what had just happened. I actually said yes. The whole conversation began to replay over and over in my head. It was so strange how he turned the conversation around from something so bleak and dry into flirting and teasing. This man was amazing and captivating. With that in mind, I began to anticipate five o'clock.

KNOCK. KNOCK. The door sounded as I straightened my last piece of hair, but I still had not gotten dressed. I wrapped myself in a towel and cautiously opened the door; hiding my body behind the door and poking my head out.

"Oh come in," I said as I spotted Laiden. "I am not dressed yet so don't peek."

"I thought you were supposed to be ready by five?" Laiden asked as he entered my room without looking at me.

"I was, but it doesn't mean it happened," I said. "You can sit on the bed or something."

He did as I instructed, but when I walked back into the bathroom I could have sworn he was staring right at me. The idea gave me goosebumps and sent unneeded shivers down my spine. I probably should have had half the sense to close the door, but he couldn't see anything. Plus, who would want to? I proceeded to put on my little white dress. It was the cutest dress that I had recently bought in Sweden. It reminded me a bit of Marilyn Monroe's dress only it was less sleazy and had green designs, which matched my eyes.

"Now I am ready," I announced walking out of the bathroom.

"Are you planning on wearing shoes?" Laiden ended my small parade.

"I don't know," I walked over grabbing them, and went on sarcastically. "Do you think I should?"

"It would be a good idea," He told me.

"Sounds good," I said putting them on.

"And don't forget your key," He reminded me.

"Never do." I said finishing the last strap on my sandals. "Now I am ready."

"So tell me once again about the whole mom situation," He said as we left the room.

"She is against the arranged marriage," I told him.

"And why is she?" He asked.

"Because you are German," I didn't sugar coat my answer.

"Because I am German," He repeated to himself.

"I don't want to defend her, because she is wrong for her reasoning, but you need to understand that she was raised very strictly. When she was brought up, my grandparents believed the only Mr. Right was a Polish Mr. Right," I continued. "Although my father has tried to explain to her numerous times that you and your family are wealthy and higher up in social and government status, she still is against it."

"Do you just want to marry for the family name?" He asked regarding my last statement.

"Right now that is all it is for," I was trying to be logical. "We are not in love with each other."

"But if you were to fall in love with me, would your reasoning for marriage change?" He asked.

"Well, yeah," I said it like it was an obvious factor.

"So, this relationship to you is all for money?" I noticed he was a bit taken back.

"Not this relationship," I corrected. "I mean, we are friends, right?"

"Yeah," He said as we left the hotel and got into his car.

"The marriage is for money, not our relationship," I did my best to explain.

"Okay," He started the car and drove off. "I know what you mean."

"Good," I sighed with relief.

"But if you get money, what do I get?" He teased.

"Great s*x," I whispered to myself.

"What did you say?" He must have caught my words.

"Nothing," I was shocked.

"Did you say something about s*x?" He was about to laugh.

"No," I denied it.

"Yeah you did," He smiled at me. "Already thinking about it, aren't you?"

"I have never had s*x, so what would there to be to ponder about," I stated bluntly.

"You have never had s*x?" He asked in disbelief.

"No."

"Why not?" He asked still in surprise. 

"What do you mean why not?" I asked. How was I supposed to answer that?

"Just what I said."

"I haven't had s*x, because" I stopped to think. "I have not had sex."

"Haven't found the right person?" He asked.

"Not really," I was surprised that I was not embarrassed by talking about the fact. "Have you?"

He waited awhile before answering, "Yes."

I wanted to ask him who and why and where and when and how so badly, but instead I said, "Oh."

"Is that a bad 'oh'?" He asked.

"No, it is just an oh," I said. "What am I supposed to say... congratulations?"

He chuckled at my comment, "When we get married, if we get married." He was referring to my mother's problem. "Will we have s*x?"

"I haven't really thought about it," I said honestly. "I am still stuck at being friends."

He laughed, "How can you not?"

"Because I haven't had s*x," We went back to the fact. "Which means it is not an important concern for me."

"It is for me," He was astounded at my answer.

"That's because you have had s*x and you are a guy."

"No, neither one of those have anything to do with it. I have had s*x before, so what?"

"Well, you know what it is like. I mean, I don't mean to be prying into your personal life, but you enjoyed it, right?" I asked.

"For the most part, yes," He answered.

"When somebody enjoys something, they anticipate when they are going to do it again."

He sat there thinking about my comment. I knew he wanted to say no and continue the argument, but I had won. You could not counter my last statement.

"I think I have realized why your father issued an arranged marriage," He teased me once again.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

He smiled at me really big, "I think he was a complete i***t for doing so though."

"Why?" I asked. 

"You are not a dog," He said simply. "You could have easily acquired a husband."

"Thank you," I willingly accepted his compliment. "So, why are you in an arranged marriage?"

"My father thinks I work too much," He explained. "He believes I don't have time to find a wife, but once I do get one I might be home more often and work less."

"Do you think it will work?" I asked.

"I am here and not in England, aren't I?" He asked.

"Yes, and I am glad too," I told him.

"You are very sweet," He replied. "Are you ready for tonight?"

"No," I rolled my eyes.

"Tell you what," He began. "Through the middle of dinner I will make up some excuse to get us out of there early."

"You would do that?" I was excited.

"Anything for you, beautiful eyes," He said.

I smiled at the nickname he gave me. It was probably the sweetest thing anyone had ever called me.

"You have a pretty smile too," He noticed.

"I find it completely unfathomable that you can be this nice, charming, rich, and handsome, yet you can not find a wife," I replied.

He shrugged his shoulders, "There has been one that I thought, well both of our families thought we would get married."

"What happened?" I asked him to continue.

"I realized that I cared for her, but did not love her."

"Is she one of the girls you slept with?" I bravely asked.

"Yes, but she is more than just one of the girls I slept with" He informed me.

"Was she pretty?" I asked.

"She was beautiful," He looked at me saying. I quickly turned my head to appear as if I was staring out the window in order to avoid his eyes.

"But nowhere as beautiful as you," He must have caught onto to me.

I turned to face him and gave him a gracious smile, which he replied back with a very beautiful smile

"Ready for dinner?" He asked.

I quickly checked the clock to see it was 5:45, "Not really."

"Sorry," He said as we drove towards the restaurant.