Page 43 of Shattered

"Ooo."

"Will you be stealing some?"

"Of course. You can obviously have some of mine, too. I'm not totally a beast."

The waiter comes to take our order. I order a whiskey while Daphne orders a champagne. He comes back with the drinks in a timely manner.

"What would you like to talk about?" I ask her. She takes a sip of her champagne.

"For your sister's wedding, what is the attire going to be? I have to start planning something."

"I have it figured out. I called in a favor, and someone is making you a dress that will fit the dress code. Do you trust me?"

She hesitates a bit. "Of course, I trust you." Hmm, I wonder why the hesitation. Maybe she's not into not being able to see what she can wear.

"You can, of course, bring other options. The code asked all guests to wear exquisite clothing in the shades of cream or soft gold."

"Hm, and I'm assuming you have jewelry tailored to this dress as well?"

"You know it. And please don't care too much about cost. You're my guest; I am paying. Let me spoil you, little fox."

"I mean, when you say it like that, it makes it pretty hard not to just let you."

"Well, just ask for my card anytime. It's yours, no limit."

"And what do you do to get these unlimited funds?" Why does it sound like she's fishing for something?

"My trust fund kicked in when I was twenty-one, and I invested instead of spending it. I also own some side businesses."

She looks at my response with shock. "Interesting. I also have a trust fund from my uncle. So, in theory, I also have unlimited funds." Is there a little challenge in her tone, or is it just me?

"Yes, but why spend your money when I'll freely give you mine. I want to see you in stuff that I bought simply because it will be mine to tear off." She gets red, and I know that she is soaking

while in that seat. It only makes it worse when the waiter comes with our food. We are swept into the calm of eating food with someone we are growing to know and care about.

***

Daphne insisted on walking the riverside, so we came back to her apartment a little later than I initially expected. Though I wouldn't change it for the world. It was a lovely night to go for a little stroll. She even needed my suit jacket, which looked terrific on her. It feels good to be needed by someone.

We go up to her apartment. Daphne is giddy to show me the piece of furniture she bought. She said that it would be all my dreams come true and she bought it because she had seen my house. I can only imagine that it will be as colorful as I imagine. It's probably even more pretty with her on top of it. She unlocks her apartment door, and we step inside.

"Follow me," she says as she rushes to her bedroom, still in her heels. I slip my shoes off and do as the lady commands. I'm not one to refuse. I can tell she went to her bedroom because it's the only

door open. When I step into the room, she's in the corner, standing in front of a beautiful pink daybed.

"I figured this would be a good place for all those fantasies you have of me."

"Every fantasy?"

"Yes." She says breathlessly, and I haven't even taken a step towards her yet.

"Show me."

Chapter Fifteen

Daphne

"Show you?" There's a lot I can show him. I need him to be a little more specific.

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