Page 23 of Meeting the Billionaire Boss

The lift stops and the doors open then we step out onto the 52ndfloor. Edward takes my hand and as we walk into the bar, I am struck dumb by the sheer elegance and beauty of the sight that lies before me.

Chapter25

Ava

Darkness has fallen outside and the room glows with spotlighting above tables and the bar itself. Dark furniture adds to the atmosphere while foliage adorns some of the planters and fittings, making it seem like we are in a dense forest or woodland hideaway. There are sofas to our left and booths to the right alongside the window.

‘It’s so quiet here.’ I glance at Edward and see his mouth twitch. ‘Why is that?’

He shrugs but I nudge him. ‘You didn’t?’

‘Of course not.’ He laughs but I know in that moment that he has rented the bar just for us.

‘But how?’

He turns to me and cocks an eyebrow. ‘Really?’

‘OK, I get it, money opens doors and buys whatever you want. But also, wow!’ Not only has he brought me to an exclusive bar at The Shard but also rented it out for just the two of us. If I wasn’t such a practical person, I might just swoon at the sheer romance of it all. If it was a romantic scenario, that is, because this isn’t a date. It’s a night out, a birthday celebration a boss is providing for his employee. But it’s hard to hold on to those facts when we’re dressed like this, when the few members of staff in the space are quiet and discrete, waiting to tend to our every whim.

‘Where would you like to sit?’ he asks and sweeps his arm around us.

‘By the window of course!’ Part of me wishes I could pull out my phone and take some photos to show Mum and Daniel but I don’t for two reasons. One: Edward might think I was planning on posting them somewhere. Two: I don’t want to do anything that takes me away from being right here, right now. No man has ever done anything like this for me before and I doubt any man ever will do again. Therefore, I’m going to treasure every second.

We go to a small round table and sit in two plush blue velvet tub chairs. It’s a relief to sit down because the heels are already making my calves ache.

I lean forwards and take in the view. Ahead of us, London stretches out, a city of lights. Tower Bridge is right there, lit up, and the lights are reflected in the darkness of The Thames. ‘It’s incredible up here.’

‘I hoped you’d think so.’

When I turn to him, Edward is gazing at me in a way that makes my stomach fizz and I haven’t taken a sip of alcohol yet.

‘Champagne or cocktails?’ Edward asks.

‘Surprise me.’

He raises one brow. ‘I thought I’d already done that.’

‘And you’re doing brilliantly so far…’ I tilt my head, surprising myself because I’m being flirtatious, but it seems to be coming naturally now and I’m convinced it’s because of Edward. He brings out a version of me I’ve never met before.

A waiter appears at Edward’s elbow and he whispers into the man’s ear then we’re left alone again.

‘Did you ever want to come here?’ he asks. ‘I know you said you couldn’t afford to but was it somewhere you’d have liked to visit? Or were there other places?’

I look down at my hands with their sparkly nails and moisturised cuticles. So different this evening from the wrinkled hands that spent so long sweating in rubber gloves scrubbing hotel baths, showers and toilets. ‘There was no point wanting anything like that. Wanting only leads to dissatisfaction. I think I got to a point where I didn’t dare to daydream.’

‘God, Ava, that’s so sad.’

Closing my eyes, I breathe in deeply, exhale slowly. ‘I had people relying on me. I didn’t have time to waste being self-indulgent. But, no… I’m not being completely honest. I read a lot to escape and, of course, that fuelled my dreams, but I was pretty good at putting them into a box in my mind and locking them away.’

‘What dreams did you allow yourself?’ His eyes are fixed on my face, filled with intense curiosity, and I feel like he can see down to the bottom of my soul.

My cheeks flood with heat and I turn my head away from him. I’m not sharing those dreams with anyone.

‘Ava?’ He’s leaning towards me and when I do look at him, I see the mischief in his eyes. ‘You don’t have a… a boyfriend? Or partner?’

I shake my head. ‘Not for a long time.’

‘How long?’

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