Page 146 of After Hours

“Thank you, Jasmine.” He flashed his million-dollar smile. “It’s good to be here.”

“Let’s get right into it, shall we?” she said while gathering her folder. “The gala this year was amazing. It was bigger and definitely better. What are your thoughts on that?”

“I am very proud of that initiative. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time, and I have to thank our sponsors and everyone who helped put it together. I couldn’t do it alone.” He continued speaking about the process of getting sponsors and how someone can end up being a donor or volunteering at a shelter.

“That’s exceptional. Most men with your status do things like that.” Was she flirting with him?

“That’s true, but I’ve never been like many men.” He’s so right.

He’s so much different.

So much better.

“Speaking of the gala, you had a date. Was that just a decoy date, or are you….” She stopped talking. Here we go.

He sat upright. “Am I what? Dating her?”

“Are you involved with her? Are there rumors and camera speculations true? Or is it nothing serious?”

A smirk came up on his face, and that sparkle in his eyes when he thought about me came out. I got some amount of security from it. As he sat up in the chair, he said five simple but effective words, “As true as life gets.”

Oh.

“The provocative Dillon Xander is finally settled?”

“I don’t like labels, but I am settled,” he said and dropped his shoulders, “but yes, she’s my girlfriend and so much more,” he added.

“So much more?” Jasmine asked.

“She’s the first woman I’ve ever truly loved, as I’ve learned that it’s not a crime to love what you cannot explain. And trust me, she’s the most unexplainable person in my life, but one I never want to let go of.”

“Sources say you left for England yesterday, but you’re in NYC today. Why is that?” Finally, she’s asking the right questions. I wanted to know that too.

He took a sip of the coffee and clenched his jaw. “I thought we were here to talk about my gala?” He’s such a smartass. “I was in England, but the articles circulated, and I just had to be here. The media can be a very intrusive thing.”

“It was inevitable; you’re a very public man. Shouldn’t that have been expected?”

“You’re right, I am a public man, but I have a very private life. The media sees and knows only what I allow them to. My relationship nor anything in my private life is the media’s business,” he icily and blatantly declared, “whether it’s expected or not, she has the right to her feelings, and I won’t let a single soul devalue that.” Was it possible to love him more than I already did?

I looked over at Abigail and saw her texting him. I couldn’t see the full messages, but the first line said, “she’s watching it now,” and when I glanced at the TV, I saw him texting too.

“The people want to know how this woman came into your life.” I know it from my point of view, but I’ve never heard it from him, and this interested me deeply.

“She was the intern at my office. I met her, and it was very challenging. If I said yes, she’d say no. If I gave a directive, she’d question it, and it drove me crazy. I wasn’t used to being challenged by anyone, and she challenged me. She’s very stubborn and set in her ways. You can’t easily sway her mind, and that’s one of my favorite things about her. From that day on, I found myself trying to get closer to her. It was very hard because I’ve never been rejected in my life, until her, of course.” I laughed at this. It wasn’t a rejection; I was just trying not to fall in love. “And the rest is history.”

“Right. Let’s get back to the gala; how many sponsors in total….” She started talking about the actual reason he was there for the interview. And I sat there, listening to every single word.

There’s nothing he could’ve done that’d make me stop loving him. Even when I think he’s not thinking of me, he proves me wrong every time. I can’t ever find another like him, and I wouldn’t be looking. The day I lose this man would be the day I lose every goddamn good thing in my life.

“Thank you for coming today.”

“Thank you for having me,” he said and got up, fixing his tie. Jasmine closed the set, and Dillon left. I was completely speechless, and all I knew was that I needed to see him. The public knows, and there’s nothing I can do about that right now.

I’d just have to brace myself for the negativity, and once he’s with me, I’d do just that.

Some minutes passed, and then there was a knock on the door, and all our eyes shot over. I was almost 100% sure it was Dillon, so I ran. I ran to the door like my life depended on it, and when I saw his beautiful face, I couldn’t help but get lost in him. This man right here was my forever, and I’d never, ever give him up. I jumped into his arms, and he took me to my bedroom. We needed the privacy to talk as well as engage in other important things.

“Jasmine likes you.” I had to point out. It would be very out of character for me to see something like that and let it go unnoticed.

---