Chapter 5: Dinner Meeting

Vino Matthew Thompson rode his new Range Rover into Skylar's neighborhood as he kept asking himself if it was a good idea to bring Skylar along tonight.

He wouldn't deny that he didn't see the way Skylar's face fell after his explanation that he was only taking her tonight because he needed a date or that he didn't notice the cold shoulder she gave him even after him telling her that she could go home to prepare for tonight.

After packing the car at the address she sent to him, Vino took out his phone to call her. His hands hover on the dial call just as the door opens and Skylar walks out leaving Vino but breathless.

Tonight she was putting on a long glittering silver bare back gown with a slit at the side. She looks stunning in a nude platform and clutch. 

Even after opening the car door for her in a dazed. He couldn't stop glancing sideways at her after pulling out of her driveway. He felt tempted to turn the car around and take her back to his penthouse, no one should see her like this except him.

“Hmm!. What's the meeting tonight about?” Skylar asked after she felt suffocated by the unending silence in the car and she felt the need to start a conversation.

“Just the usual. Business talks. You shouldn't bother yourself with it ” Vino shrugged as he pulled over at the ‘La Bite’ restaurant. After getting out of the car and opening the door for Skylar, he gave the keys to the valet and guided Skylar into the restaurant.

“Wow!!!” Skylar gushes immediately as she steps into the expensively furnished restaurant. She has always wanted to come here but since she couldn't afford it, it has always been on her wish list but now she's glad she could finally make it.

“This is lovely” Skylar smiles looking around the restaurant, she couldn't believe her eyes that she has finally made it into the restaurant.

“It ought to be,” Vino replied tersely as he watched her fascinated. “ This is the best restaurant you could find in New York. I'm surprised you've never been here before”.

“I have never been here” Skylar laughed nervously after seeing the frown on Vino's face and rushed to correct herself “ I mean I can never afford the high cost of eating her, moreover I never found the need to”.

Vino stopped in his stride. He swings around to stare at her, the frowns on his forehead becoming more pronounced as he questions her softly “What do you mean by that?. No boyfriend?”

Skylar rushed to correct him when she saw the accusation in his eyes “No, no. I didn't mean it that way. I mean I did have a boyfriend but we broke up a year ago” Skylar supplied while glancing around wishing for a way out.

That seems to spike Vino's interest. His face fell as he frowns at her “And what happened after that?. No new guy?”

”Nothing. I mean it's not like there wasn't any guy but I was not interested just wanted to focus on my career” Skylar folded her hand on her  clutch gripping it tightly, wishing this conversation would be over soon. Since when has she become the topic of tonight conversation. Skylar couldn't remember.

“That's good but one year, is too long a year to remain celibate. Don't you think?. Was he your first love?”

Vino turned on his feet and began guiding her to a secluded part of the restaurant where a table has been reserved for them while pretending not to see how his questions had made Skylar uncomfortable. Since he's used to having whatever he wants, he couldn't wait for her answers.

“I'm sorry. I'm not comfortable answering that. That's too personal, don't you think?” Skylar said clenching and unclenching her fists. Even though he's the boss, how dare he unnerve her so badly. She felt like punching him right now for making her feel guilty of a crime she didn't commit.

Vino's hands froze on the chair he intended to pull out for Skylar as he watched her face shocked. He noticed the way her breath seemed to rise and fall rapidly and the way her hands gripped her clutch. He could see she wasn't comfortable with his questioning. Even though he was used to having whatever he wants, he decided to let go of it, this once...

“It's alright if you're uncomfortable with my questioning but I felt since we are working together why don't we get to know each other?” Vino replied after she was seated, he went over to take the chair beside her while he waited for Mr. Valente Devlin.

Skylar huffed as she dropped her clutch on the table. “He sure doesn't know how to give up ” she mustered to herself.

“I'm sorry, what did you say?” Vino asked her as he signaled to the waitress.

“I__mean____” 

A man stroll in with a woman between his arms who Skylar assumes to be the client for tonight. She smiled, he has obviously saved her from answering Vino's ridiculous question.

“I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Thompson ” Mr. Devlin said as he and Vino shakes hands while he turns to regard Skylar curiously “and who is this beautiful damsel?”

“Pardon my thoughtlessness. This is Miss Evans my assistant artist and Miss Evans, Mr. Valente Devlin and Mrs. Laura Devlin his wife.

“How do you do, Mr. Devlin?” Skylar greeted him as she stood up to peck his wife on her cheeks, they both nodded at her. Although, she was quite sad that Vino introduced her as his assistant but she soon learned to pull herself out of it and enjoyed the evening.

“Miss Evans, I must say that was a very good mural you painted at the art centre. It was such an exquisite piece of work that I just couldn't stop reflecting on it anytime I'm there” Mr. Devlin complimented her as he took a sip of the red wine in his glass while glancing at the beautiful lady who was all smiles from his compliment.

“Thank you sir. I'm glad you think so” Skylar replied, smiling as her hand paused on the food as she turned to watch him.

“That's why I brought the proposition for tonight” Vino and Skylar froze as they both watched him curiously, Mr. Devlin was all smiles seeing that he had grabbed their attention.

“After confirming from Mr. Ernesto that you were the artist, I got in touch with your boss immediately. I need you to paint a nude picture of my wife for me”

Skylar gasped shocked as she blushed furiously while glancing subtly at Vino to see his reaction but just as his personality, his eyes were blank.

“I___mean___I'm honored but I ___don't know if that will be alright” Skylar stammered as she tried to put her rejection across to them.

“Are you rejecting my offer?. I promise to pay you a huge sum for it. You should consider it an honorable thing because I cherish my wife and I wouldn't want anyone close to her, not even a woman but I'm granting you that privilege to draw my wife”.

“I___I'm___sorry____”

“Please excuse me, I would love to speak with Miss Evans in private” Vino said to Mr. Devlin who nodded in response before Skylar could register what was happening, she was being dragged by Vino out of the restaurant toward the garden at the back.

Now safely hidden in the garden, Vino let go of her and stepped back, maintaining a safe distance from her “What was all that in there?” Vino asked her, his voice getting cold and distant.

“That was nothing. I've never drawn a nude person using a live model before. What if I don't do it right?. I don't want to embarrass myself ” Skylar protested angrily as she paced back and forth in the garden scared.

“You seem to be forgetting something, Miss Evans” Vino's cold voice stops Skylar on her track as she turns to look at him with questions in her eyes.

“And what could that be, Mr. Thompson?” Skylar asked as she matched his gaze with hers stubbornly refusing to back down. She hasn't come this far for an egotistical man to step on her.

“That I'm your boss and you work for me. Meaning, you do whatever I ask you to do ” Vino answered, smirking when he saw her resolve hanging on a thin thread.

“So? Miss Evans?” Vino continues triumphantly, for a second there he thought it will be a lot of challenge convincing her to take up the job. If only he knew it would be this easy, he would ask her directly inside instead of dragging her outside but he wanted to save himself from embarrassment in case she refuses his offer.

Skylar scoffed. She couldn't believe that Vino could stoop so low as to use the boss and employee card on her “Fine ” she replied reluctantly as she avoided his eyes. She can't believe she failed. How dare she think that she could win against a man like Vino Thompson.

“But you will have to agree to take responsibility if something goes wrong” Skylar arched her chin up at him, challenging him to reject her condition.

“What could possibly go wrong?” Vino thought to himself. Since he trusts her and believed in her work, he's confident that she will do a perfect job. He nodded at her as Skylar relaxed and turned to walk back into the restaurant.

After informing Mr and Mrs. Devlin that she had accepted the job, the rest of the evening was spent fixing the date and the amount of money to be paid.

After saying goodbye to Vino after he has driven her home having spent the whole drive to her apartment giving him the cold shoulder even when he attempts to start a conversation with her. 

Skylar couldn't stop wondering if Vino had been aware of the condition of the job right from the beginning, that's why he brought her along tonight under the pretense of needing a date.

Even though her mind wanted to stay awake all night with the thought of Vino, her body protested adamantly that immediately her head touched the pillow she slept off with a contented smile on her tired face after she had discarded her dress.