Chapter 44 - Emily

**EMILY**

Emily smiled foolishly and began to wrap a loose strand of her blonde hair around her finger in a way that almost drove her to despair. Then she put her arm around Alexander’s and fluttered her eyelids wildly again.
„Oh, Alex, you look *so* great too!“ she squeaked in a voice that was noticeably higher than her natural pitch. His name, which she had deliberately shortened so casually, twitched through the air like an unpleasant note in a symphony. She could almost feel his shoulders tense. His brow furrowed slightly, but he remained polite.
„Thank you, Emily. Let’s go.“ He gestured with an elegant hand toward the exit.
Emily noticed several gentlemen and a lady in the vicinity begin to move - his bodyguards were with him again, of course. Did he even notice them anymore?
The bodyguards remained discreetly in the background as they walked outside to a limousine. The chauffeur bowed slightly and opened the door for them. Emily got in and took a seat in the luxurious limousine that reflected the full extent of its wealth. The car was filled with buttery leather seats, soft lighting and a subtle scent of expensive perfume, leather and wood. Sitting next to Alexander, who seemed so calm and relaxed, unintentionally made her heart miss a beat. *Stay professional*, she reminded herself.
Since she knew she couldn’t question her hostess contract, she’d been studying Alexander Fitzpatrick, feeling almost like a stalker. Surely she could make it clear to any judge that she had been surprised into this contract. But she wasn’t wealthy. Emily knew that the DarEnd-Agency would have good lawyers against whom she would never stand a chance. So she had to find another strategy to get out of the contract. Only now did she realize how difficult that would be, now that she could still smell his masculine scent and feel the taste of his mouth on her lips. Maybe she had overreacted when she kissed him. But it had occurred to her spontaneously as a good way to start.
She had looked into his last few *girlfriends*. There was enough information in the press and the Internet was full of old information about her boss. Britney, Charlene, Tabea and Marietta had been tall, slender women with blond hair, hardly any curves, but always perfectly styled. They had model proportions, not like her with her curvy hips, round ass and large breasts. Except for her blonde hair, she had nothing in common with his previous hostesses. Perhaps that was what attracted him to her, those curves and a certain sensual charisma that her predecessors had not had.
So her plan was as simple as it was comprehensive: she had to play a blonde bimbo, giggle as much as possible, grin wide and be ridiculously exaggerated. Then he was guaranteed to lose all erotic thoughts. And if all went well, after the evening he would call the agency and ask for a new hostess. She would be out of the contract and free to concentrate on her accounting duties.
Emily sat close to Alexander, with a man and a woman from the security team sitting across from them. Two more bodyguards drove in front of them in a car, with two more following behind. Emily thought it seemed a bit much, but then she remembered what the attacker had done to her last time, and a shiver ran down her spine. She tried not to think about it!
The drive through Los Angeles, past glowing billboards and sparkling shop windows, provided the perfect backdrop for her to continue her *show*. Emily almost pressed her nose against the tinted window as she giggled slightly. „Wow, this town is *so* big! I hope I don’t get lost when you leave me alone,“ she said with a broad grin.
Alexander slowly turned towards her. His expression was blank, but the slight raise of his eyebrow betrayed his growing confusion. „We’re in a car, Emily. There’s no way you can get lost here.“ His voice was cool but polite, as if trying to understand the situation.
Emily was not deterred from her foolish behavior. „Oh yeah, of course! I totally forgot!“ She giggled again, this time even more shrilly, and shifted slightly in her seat. She secretly hoped he would eventually get tired of her.
When they reached the restaurant, security rushed over and held the door open for them. Alexander calmly stepped out and held out his hand to her. She placed her fingers in his and felt an electrifying sensation. The tingling went through her entire body and she could feel her nipples hardening. She also felt a longing stirring in her lower abdomen. Alexander Fitzpatrick was turning her on! It couldn’t be.
Hastily, she climbed out of the car and cuddled up to him. „Shall we go to a fancy restaurant again?“ she asked, batting her eyelashes.
„Yes, *sweetheart*,“ was his curt reply before he led her into the elegant foyer of the restaurant. The scent of fresh herbs and exquisite wines filled the air as they were led to the perfectly set table. Emily felt a surge of emotion as she saw the romantically set table, discreetly arranged in a separate booth off the main room. The crystal glasses sparkled in the soft light and the heavy dark red curtains gave the alcove an intimate atmosphere. A flickering candle in the center of the table bathed the room in soft light, while soft rose petals adorned the white tablecloth. Emily hadn’t expected any of this. Her heart beat faster and for a moment she was tempted to give up her silly role. *Would Alexander go to so much trouble for a hostess?* She couldn’t imagine it. But what did she know about the handsome, desirable, hottest bachelor in Los Angeles? No, she couldn’t be distracted; she had to stick to her role!
„Oh, how romantic!“ Emily exclaimed, deliberately stretching the word and putting her hands to her cheeks in an exaggerated gesture. It’s like something out of a fairy tale!
Alexander pulled out her chair before sitting down across from her, and for a moment he seemed speechless. He watched her with an expression that alternated between confusion and slight resignation.
„I’m glad you like it,“ he replied, but his voice was almost mechanical. It was obvious that he was trying to keep up appearances. He had far too much control over himself for her liking. On the other hand, it wasn’t bad, since she could enjoy a wonderful dinner. At least she didn’t have to pay for it.
While the waiter brought the menus and remained discreetly in the background, Emily continued to play her role. She spoke with feigned enthusiasm about the simplest things, wiggled her fingers as if they were in constant motion, and giggled at inappropriate moments. Alexander’s expression grew stony with each passing moment, and Emily knew she was getting closer to her goal.
Still, she couldn’t help but look at him admiringly from time to time, for he looked so confident and elegant in this atmospheric light. Deep inside her, a fascination stirred and with it the desire for more, for his hot kisses, his strong hands. She had long since felt how wet it was between her legs. She clearly had the hots for her boss!
Should she stop this silly game and just enjoy what he had to offer her?