The CEO's Cinderella

Chapter 2

Travis Simpson sat another full ten minutes watching the woman in front of him playing with her now empty glass. She kept watching the news reports, typing on her phone from time to time. She seemed bored and she didn’t seem to be interested in anything or anyone surrounding her. So she’s not here to be picked up or pick up. Maybe she’s waiting for someone?

After five more minutes of watching and fantasizing about her, Travis decided one thing: he wanted her. And what Travis Simpson wants, Travis Simpson gets.

The only problem is that he didn’t know how to approach her. It wasn’t that he lacked the confidence or the means to make her want him, but that he never did something like this. His s****l relations were limited to the ones common in a b**m lifestyle. He didn’t pick up a woman before. That’s just too…ordinary for Travis Simpson. I must be really bored.

He knew he was charming enough and good looking enough for any woman to want to go to bed with him. And God knows he was rich enough. And in that moment, a full realization hitched the breath in his throat: he never had a woman that didn’t want also his money. Except for Hilda…but that was entirely another story. She was after him…and that meant all of him. She never wanted money, but she wanted his all…she wanted…no, needed to control him in any way. But now that she couldn’t have him…she wanted his money. She needed him to be a part owner of her salons…So yeah. Travis Simpson never had a woman that wasn’t also after his money.

He wondered how it would be to have a woman that would want him only for…him. Not for his last name or for his fortune. And suddenly an idea tethered to his mind. The distraction he needed. He will play a little game with the small brunette. He had to keep his name to himself. He won’t introduce himself to her. He will have her for only one night.

A one-night stand. Travis felt almost giddy, captivated with his little game, spurred by the new challenge. With that in mind, Travis downed the rest of his scotch and made his way towards the bar. He approached the place where she was sitting like a lion stalking his prey and with an easy grace.

After two seconds of waiting to see her reaction (there was none), he cleared his throat and spoke:

“The British and the French never seem to see eye to eye, mm?” he said, referring to a news report about the European Parliament.

The woman turned her head towards Travis, offering a tight, but polite smile and then turned once again towards the television.

What the f**k? She barely gave me the time of her day. Maybe I should quit while I’m ahead…NO!

Travis stood there, her back to him, raking his brain for something to start a conversation. Oh, this was embarrassing. Travis Simpson was not used to make efforts to gain a woman attention. During this time, he noticed her phone vibrating on the counter, repeatedly.

“Excuse me, Miss, but your phone is vibrating.”

The woman turned and checked her phone, offering a half smile to Travis and said “Oh, thank you but it’s just work emails. I’ll deal with them in the morning”.

And Travis smiled broadly at the woman, sensing his opening. After all, work was something he knew all too well.

“Yeah…I know how it is to get non-stop emails. So…what do you do?”

“Usually business” the woman said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

So that’s how you want to play…Travis thought, but asked “Are you here on a business trip?”

“No, I had a meeting earlier here at the restaurant and thought to get a drink before returning to the apartment”

“So you’re French? “ Travis asked, with a tint of surprise, as he couldn’t detect a hint of accent.

The woman chuckled and gave him a mysterious answer. “I’m not French per say….I’m living temporarily here in Paris. Work related. ” she finished softly, briefly casting her eyes downwards.

Travis was now confused, but intrigued. “So then….where are you from?”

The woman closed off…pursing her lips in a tight line. She seemed…offended. What did I say?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name, mister….” She said

“I didn’t offer it. “Travis replied.

She seemed to get more riled up and angry because of him and started to turn around. Travis was about to miss his chance so he had to think fast…Keep up with the plan. Don’t give her your name i***t….She’s going to be a one night stand…No NDA, no nothing….But then…what’s going to be my name? I can’t possibly invent a new persona right here on the spot. But I can always use the familiar…after all I’m not looking for more than a few hours with her. And he won’t find out. Ever.

With an inward mischievous smirk, Travis replied “I’m sorry….I didn’t mean to be rude. My name is….Mark. Mark Simpson.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Simpson. I’m Brina.”

“Just Brina?”

“Yes, Brina….Just” the woman replied with a smirk.

God, that smart mouth….And she’s pretty confident in your presence…that’s a first for you Simpson. Travis laughed a little, feeling further more intrigued by the woman and the way she didn’t seem to melt in his presence, like all the others.

“So Brina, where do you reside permanently then?”

“I actually travel a lot”, Brina said, avoiding the answer expertly.

It’s like she’s avoiding my questions on purpose….maybe that’s exactly what she’s doing. But why?

Seeing that he won’t get anywhere, Travis took a step back and recalculated his strategy. He suddenly didn’t know if he was playing his game or being played.

“Can I get you another drink?” he asked, always the gentleman, motioning towards her now empty cocktail glass.

“No, thank you. A friend is going to pick me up in a few minutes, actually.”

Fuck, f**k, f**k! The game will be over when I say it’s over.

“Oh, I understand. If you need a ride, I can take you. It’s not a problem.” Yeah, real smooth…

Brina sank her teeth on her bottom lip, appearing to mule the idea over.

“No, I’m good. Thank you though” she replied chuckling.

Oh god…I REALLY want to bite that lip…fucking sexy…and it seems I’m not going anywhere with her.

“No problem. The offer stands if your friend doesn’t show up. Or better yet, you can spend the night in my room. I have the top floor penthouse, so I have an empty guest room.” Travis said with his panty-dropping grin.

Brina blushed and then flushed a little, cleared her throat and glancing at her phone, said with a convincing tone “I don’t think that it will work for me, sir, seeing as my friend arrived. Thank you for your company. Have a good night”. She took her phone and grabbed her bag so fast that Travis nearly got whiplash.

So…that’s how Travis Simpson, hotshot CEO, got completely blown off by a small woman, barely 5’5. He stood there for a moment, with his hand still on her glass, bewildered. Oh, f**k me. Well…instead of using only Mark’s name, maybe I should have picked up some of his moves too.