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I removed her hand from my tie. I have plans for tonight. I m sorry.
You always have plans lately, she whined. This doesn t have anything to do with that girl you
were with last night, does it?
Ellery doesn t have anything to do with it. I ve explained to you a thousand times that I ve been
busy. You work at Black Enterprises; you know how hard I ve been working trying to secure the
acquisition of that company in Chicago.
She reached over and grabbed my hand. Connor, you need to take a break. I worry about you.
I pulled my hand away. Remember the rules, Ashlyn, I scowled. She turned away and looked out
the window. I could see Denny glaring at me from the rearview mirror. We finally arrived at Black
Enterprises, and Ashlyn stepped out of the limo and onto the sidewalk. I followed behind her. As I got
out of the limo, I adjusted my tie that she messed with. I looked over into the crowd of people,
scurrying to get to their destination and saw Ellery a few feet away, standing in the middle of the
sidewalk, and staring at me as she held a Starbucks cup in her hand. She lightly smiled and waved. I
was furious at that moment because she must have seen Ashlyn getting out of the limo. The look on her
beautiful face was sad. God knows what she must be thinking right now. She tried to fake her smile,
but she couldn t hide the fact that she was hurt. I saw the pained look on her face when she looked at
me. I couldn t force a smile because I was upset that she saw us like this. I wanted to walk over to
her, hug her, and tell her how much I enjoyed last night, but I could only managed a small wave as I
walked into the building. Fuck, what am I going to do now? I hurt her again, just like last night when I
put her in the limo by herself to send her home.
***
My meeting had ended on a positive note, and I was in a fairly good mood. I had an idea, so I sent a
text message to Denny.
I will be having dinner tonight with Miss Lane. I believe she told me last night that she gets off
work at 6:00 pm. I need you to pick her up from her place of employment and bring her to The
Steakhouse where I ll be waiting for her.
Does she know she s joining you for dinner? he asked.
She will when you pick her up.
Very well, Connor.
I got the impression from that last text that Denny didn t believe Ellery would have dinner with me
tonight.
I wrapped up the day and looked at my watch. It was already 5:30 pm. I stepped out of the office
and hailed a cab to the restaurant. I sat in a booth and waited for Ellery to join me. I wanted to talk to
her about what she saw this morning. I didn t know how I was going to explain it, but I had to think of
something quick. It was 6:30 pm, and Denny should ve been here by now. Just as I was about to pull
my phone out and call him, I noticed him walking towards me.
Miss Lane told me to tell you she s not available this evening and that she has plans. She also said
that if you want to have dinner with her, then you should pick up the phone and ask her, he started to
laugh.
I m glad you re finding this amusing, Denny.
I m sorry, Connor, but she doesn t take orders from anybody. She s one-of-a-kind.
I shook my head and looked down. She s mad about this morning. I know she is. You re right,
Denny, she is one-of-a-kind, and I need to make things right. Take me to her apartment, I said as we
exited the restaurant.
She s not at her apartment, Denny said.
How do you know?
I followed her after she declined your dinner invitation. She s dining alone at a pizza place called
Pizzapopolous.
Then it looks like I m having dinner there tonight.
I stood in front of the window and watched her as she sat at a small table, fumbling for something
in her purse. She looked just as beautiful as she did last night. I walked through the door of the small
restaurant and sat down across from her. She looked up at me and rolled her eyes. That attitude of
hers was arousing.
So this is where you want to have dinner? I asked.
She cocked her head to the side. Yes, Connor, this is where I m having dinner tonight, and I don t
believe you were invited.
I put my hand over my heart. Ouch, that stings, Ellery. I invited you to dinner, and you turned me
down, so I took it upon myself to join you.
How do you know I want company? she asked.
I put my hands on the table and folded them. I don t, but since I m here, we might as well dine
together, I said as I looked around the restaurant.
She shook her head and lightly smiled. I opened up the menu and glanced at it as the waitress
stopped at our table to take our orders. I used to eat pizza when I was a kid. I haven t had it in years
and I wasn t about to start now. Just as I placed my order for an antipasto salad, Ellery reached over
and grabbed the menu from my hands.
You can t sit in a pizza place and only get a salad. she said.
The waitress was eyeing me and wouldn t stop to look at Ellery. She cleared her throat to get her
attention.
We ll have a large deep dish with pepperoni, mushrooms, and black olives, and a large antipasto
salad with an order of bread sticks, she smiled.
I brought my finger up and rested it on my lips, Do you actually think I m going to eat that pizza?
I don t think you are; I know you are, she smiled.
Damn that smile. I m finding it very difficult to say no to this girl. It s like she has some control
over me, and I just can t help it when I m around her. The waitress brought the pizza and set it in the
middle of the table. I looked at it and then at Ellery who was putting a slice on my plate. I grabbed my
fork and knife and started to cut into it when out of nowhere, she startled me.
What, are you kidding me?! Put that down right now, Connor Black!
What? What the hell is wrong?
You are not eating pizza with a fork and knife, she said as she leaned over the table and took
them from my hands.
Then how the hell am I supposed to eat it? I frowned.
Like this; pick it up and bite into it, she said as she chewed.
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