The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 5

Ember POV

I still couldn’t wrap my head around the events that had just unfolded. The auction was done, and I was reeling from the fact that John had started the bid with a hundred thousand dollars and ended up winning after bidding two million. I never thought I would fetch more than ten thousand, and the bidding war that erupted was beyond my wildest expectations. John looked elated when he won, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness too, even when I knew he only did it for charity. The man in dark glasses, who looked like a gangster from a movie, didn’t seem like someone I would want to date anyway.

Before John could whisk me away for our lunch date, a wave of people surrounded us, congratulating us and taking photos. A few modeling agents even handed me their business cards, which was utterly surreal. The crowd kept growing, separating me from John. I turned and saw him looking back at me. I silently pleaded for help. He must have read my mind because a few seconds later, he came to my rescue.

“Excuse us, everyone,” John announced, taking my hand. “We still have a lunch date to get to.” He winked at me, making the people gush. We then approached his parents and told them we were going.

Guided by the organizers and hotel staff, we made our way out of the ballroom and up to the top of the building where a restaurant was located. It was a perfect location, offering a breathtaking view of the city. We were seated far from the other patrons, giving us the privacy we desired. At first, it was awkward, but John was the ever-perfect gentleman and made me feel at ease.

A bouquet awaited me at the table, and John handed it to me with a smile. After a few photos by the event photographer, John pulled out my chair and assisted me as I sat. More photos were taken, but I didn’t care anymore. I was starving. I had only eaten a granola bar the previous night, one I had taken from John’s kitchen, and three small squares of sandwiches before the actual auction began.

John helped me choose from the menu. I ordered everything my heart and stomach desired: soup, salad, steak with a side of fries and mac and cheese, and New York-style cheesecake for dessert. John ordered almost the same, except he had chicken for the entree and skipped dessert. While we waited for our food, John began questioning me about the information I had put in for the auction introduction.

“So…I had no idea you loved dancing,” John said.

I laughed. “Those were things I loved to do in the past, but I haven’t had much time lately.”

John looked apologetic. “I never realized how little time you had for yourself. You’ve been working so hard for me.”

“It’s okay, John. I enjoy my work,” I replied, smiling. “Besides, I wouldn’t know what to do if I took a vacation. You wouldn’t survive without me.”

He chuckled. “I think I could manage for a week. You deserve a break, Ember. Take the next week off. I’ll even pay for you to go somewhere nice.”

I shook my head. “You don’t need to do that. I’ll just visit my parents and catch up on some reading.”

After some back and forth, we finally agreed that I would take a week off. Just then, our soup arrived. The conversation flowed smoothly as we ate, with John asking about my other interests–what I liked to read, what I loved about dancing, and which beaches I wanted to visit.

“I’d love to go to Greece someday,” I said dreamily. “The beaches there are supposed to be amazing, and I’d love to explore the ancient ruins.”

“Greece, huh? I’ll have to remember that,” John said with a smile.

As our next dishes arrived, we continued talking as we ate. I was thrilled to be sharing the moment with John. When my cheesecake arrived, I insisted that he try a bite.

“No, thank you,” he said, but I pushed a forkful of cheesecake towards him.

“Come on, just one bite,” I urged.

He finally relented, taking a bite. “Wow, that’s good,” he admitted.

“See? We can share mine,” I said, offering him another bite. I didn’t know where I got the confidence to do that to my boss! I might have been so high that I didn’t bother to check that I already crossed the line.

John thought for a moment, then agreed. We shared the cheesecake, and just as I was about to finish the last bite, John leaned and gently wiped a bit of cream from the corner of my mouth with a napkin. I felt a flutter in my chest at the tender gesture.

Overall, the lunch was superb. It was heavenly, and I wished it could happen again. I asked John if he had managed to get tickets to Broadway.

“Yes, I booked us a gala show,” he replied. “We still have a few hours before it starts. I have a few ideas for how we can spend the time.”

Before we left the restaurant, a staff member from the organizers checked on us and thanked us for participating in the auction. After a few more photos, we finally left the restaurant.

As we stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, I felt a surge of excitement. The day wasn’t over yet, and I couldn’t wait to see what else John had in store for us.

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I didn’t know where we were heading, but I expected it would be somewhere away from the crowds. In any case, John had bodyguards around to deal with them. John had his NY driver stop in front of one establishment where I thought we would be going. It looked like a souvenir shop. However, that was not where John intended us to go as he tugged me to follow him. As we walked through the streets, John held my hand, guiding me through the bustling city. Eventually, we reached a sleek, modern building. It looked unassuming from the outside, but when we stepped inside, it was like being transported back in time. The interior was filled with wooden shelves, the scent of old paper, and the quiet hum of whispered conversations.

“Welcome to one of New York’s famous bookstores,” John said with a smile. “They specialize in old, limited editions, and first-edition books.”

I almost cried with joy. “This is amazing!”

He grinned. “I knew you’d love it. Take your time. We have four hours to explore.”

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, my eyes darting from one shelf to another. The bookstore was enormous, with six floors and books everywhere! Each floor seemed to hold a different genre, and I was overwhelmed with where to start.

“Where do you want to begin?” John asked, watching me with amusement.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, spinning in place to take it all in. “There’s so much to see!”

“How about we start with the classics?” he suggested, leading me to a section filled with leather-bound volumes.

I spent hours browsing the shelves, finding books I had read as a child, and discovering new treasures. I picked up a couple of history books that caught my eye, which made John furrow his eyebrows in confusion.

“You like history?” he asked as I laid the books down on a table to check their prices.

“I do,” I said smiling. “There’s something fascinating about learning how the past shapes our present.”

As I began sorting the books, deciding which ones to buy and which to leave behind, John looked puzzled.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I have to stay within my budget,” I explained. “These history books are first editions, so they’re not cheap.”

He shook his head and placed all the books back in the cart. I had around a dozen books in total. “You’re not leaving anything behind.”

“John, you don’t have to do that,” I protested. “I can’t afford all of these.”

He gave me a stern look. “I didn’t bring you here to use your money. Consider these a gift. And an apology for last night. I should have made you leave.”

I was dumbfounded. Last night was something I had forgotten after the morning’s event and the lunch after. “You don’t have to apologize for that. And you definitely don’t need to buy me all these books.”

“Come on. I want to,” he said firmly.

Without another word, he wheeled the cart to the counter. I followed him, hissing under my breath that I couldn’t let him buy everything. He ignored me though, giving the cart to the cashier and pulling out his credit card.

“John, I’ll pay you back when I get my next paycheck,” I insisted in a low voice, not wanting to make a scene.

He turned to me, his expression softening. “There’s nothing to pay back, Ember.”

I sighed, knowing there was no arguing with him. “Thank you, John. Really.”

He smiled, folded the receipt, and then placed it inside his shirt pocket. “You’re welcome.”

We left the bookstore with a large bag filled with books. I couldn’t stop ginning, despite the lingering tension from last night. I didn’t want to touch the topic of Claire, fearing I might say something I would regret. Out of nowhere, John’s driver came and took the heavy bag from him.

“Where to next?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

John checked his watch. “We still have some time before the show. How about we grab a coffee and relax for a bit?”

I nodded, feeling the excitement of the day catching up to me. “That sounds perfect.”

We found a cozy cafe nearby and settled into a corner booth. As we sipped our coffee, the conversation flowed easily. John asked about my childhood and my dreams, and I answered them all. When I tried to ask about him, he said it was “Ember Weekend” and that everything was about me, not him. I shook my head and then laughed. I loved how going out with John, outside of work, seemed so natural.

“I always wanted to travel,” I said wistfully. “Greece is at the top of my list. The beaches, the history, the culture…it’s like a dream.”

John smiled. “We’ll go to Greece someday. I promise.”

I just laughed again but felt thrilled again. I wouldn’t count on it. John had so much on his plate, acting both as CEO and a royal family member.

As we finished our coffee, I realized how much I cherished these moments with John. As we prepared to head to the theater, I couldn’t help but wish again that something more would happen between us.