Page 10 of Sold to the Highest Bidder
"Yes, Nazalie. To the point that you're sitting in front of a stranger willing to sell your virginity to him." She liked the way he called her name. It made her want to hear it over and over.
"To be frank, it’s none of your business." She answered, meeting his piercing gaze.
They were locked in an intense stare down. Nazalie was unmoved, and neither was he. If he was going to be like this and try to make her feel terrible, then two can play that game. Joshua suddenly burst out laughing. Nazalie was shocked, but she waited patiently.
"You're right, it's none of my business. You're feisty, I like you."
"Isn't that why you placed a bid on me in the first place?" Joshua laughed again
"Fair enough." He said, leaning back into his chair. The waiter came then, holding two fancy looking trays and a bottle of expensive-looking wine.
Nazalie had to admit. Her food tasted amazing. She could already see the smug look on his face, and she hadn't even said anything. She decided it would be best not to stroke his ego any further.
"So, what do you do for a living?" Joshua enquired after they had finished eating.
"I am a bookkeeper at a small business."
"Did you study accounting?"
"I did and I have the degree to prove it. My dream however is to run a bakery."
Joshua nodded, "A bakery? I wouldn't have taken you for the baking type."
That made Nazalie smile. Was she supposed to wear oven mittens wherever she went?
"And what exactly is the baking type?"
"I don't know." He said, shrugging nonchalantly. "You don’t seem like the type.
Nazalie shook her head and took a sip out of her wine.
"So, what do you do for a living? You seem like a cut-throat businessman. I’m getting that vibe from you, no offense."
Joshua laughed again. Nazalie decided that she liked it when he smiled. He looked much more relaxed.
"You're right, I'm a businessman. Some might say I'm cut-throat. In my line of work, you need to be if you want to be successful."
Nazalie downed the wine in her cup. She was going to need a lot to get through tonight.
"My turn," Joshua said, refilling her wine glass. "Why do you want to own a bakery?"
"Baking is my passion. It was something my mum and I did together when I was younger. It reminds me of the good old days.” Maybe after she owned the bakery, she and her mom can bake together again. She can only hope. “What is up with this music anyway?" She asked to dispel the direction of her thoughts.
Joshua laughed, and Nazalie joined in. "It's like a mix of pop, rock, and blues." He replied shrugging. "That's what's popular these days. It's a complex blend, but the younger crowd seems to like it."
"The younger crowd?" Nazalie exclaimed, still laughing, "You make it sound like we're ancient or something."
"Well, in the eyes of teenagers, we are."
Nazalie no longer felt as nervous as she was when she first got there. They were able to have a normal conversation; that was a good sign. Nazalie made sure she answered all his questions with appropriate but not too personal answers. She skillfully dodged his personal questions by asking him some of her own. By the time their dessert, a molten lava chocolate cake arrived, they had learnt a little bit more about each other.
"It's getting pretty late, I think we should get going," Joshua said after they had finished their dessert. Nazalie stilled. What was she expecting? Amid their talking, Nazalie had forgotten about this part. She seemed to have mistaken it for a regular date.
Reluctantly, Nazalie stood up and followed him to the entrance. He took her coat and draped it over her shoulders before they stepped into the cold Toronto air. She felt his fingers brush her shoulders for a shadow of a second. Nazalie could have sworn she imagined it. She wanted him to touch her more.
The valet handed him the keys to a black Ferrari. Nazalie wasn't surprised. It was the kind of sleek ride she was expecting. She realized she had been standing in the same spot for a while when she heard the impatient honking of his horn.
The hotel wasn't that far from the restaurant. They could have walked if they wanted to, but Joshua didn't strike her as one to walk. With stiff legs, she stepped out of the car. Joshua was already waiting for her at the entrance. He didn't even wait for her. The breeze from the car when the valet drove away made Nazalie feel exposed.
