Page 45 of Interning For A Billionaire

“Not for long!”

That night she said, “If you want me to come, I will,” she said.

About a week later, I picked her up from her apartment and we drove over to Spruce.

Belle was looking ravishing in a tightfitting golden dress with her hair done up. She was wearing a thin gold necklace that shone in the late afternoon light.

“You look beautiful,” I said, kissing her cheek.

“Not too much?” she asked, and I could tell she was nervous.

“Don’t think about them too much,” I tried to reassure her.

When we came in, they were already at the table. My father got up a bit stiffly and shook my hand.

“Michael.”

“This is Belle,” I said, introducing her.

“Lovely to meet you,” Crystal said, her face barely moving as she smiled. She’d had more plastic surgery done, I thought, her eyes were somehow not lining up properly. Over the years I knew she had little procedures done and Nathan and I had a running joke on which feature she’d be working on next. She looked different but I couldn’t exactly say how. Could it be that her cheekbones had shifted? It was disconcerting, I kept staring at her face, trying to work out what had changed.

“I’ve been dying to come here,” Crystal said. “I just love their duck. Do you like duck?” she asked Belle.

“I like duck,” Belle said with a smile.

“You’re not a vegetarian or a vegan then? All the young people nowadays seem to be?” Crystal said, a dig at Belle’s age. But if she picked up on it, she didn’t comment on it.

“I’m not a picky eater,” she said.

“Wonderful!” my father said, ordering wine for the table without asking us what we wanted. Typical.

“So what brings you to town?” I asked.

“We had a party, remember Dean Jolla? I used to golf with him. He is retiring and there was a shin dig at the club.”

They spoke about the party for a while, where it was held, how old his wife had gotten and how rich and successful their children were. I had no idea who these people were.

“How’s work?” my father asked.

“Good,” I said. That was the extent of our conversation on that topic.

“So, what do you do, Belle?” Crystal asked.

I should have warned Belle to come up with another story. The moment Crystal heard she was an intern at Pyramide, a certain look came into her eyes.

“And that is how you met Michael,” she said, nodding knowingly.

“Yes, that’s right,” Belle said, like a lamb being led to slaughter.

“Belle is an intern at Michael’s company, dear,” Crystal said to my father. “Michael always did like them young!” she smiled at Belle.

“That’s a mean thing to say,” I said. “And untrue. When have I ever dated young girls? My last girlfriend was the same age as me.”

“Of course, darling,” Crystal smiled icily at me. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.”

Belle looked down at her hands.

“Nothing wrong with dating a beautiful young woman,” my father said with an indulgent and rather creepy smile at Belle.

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