Chapter Three

Derek found her excitement infectious and he couldn’t help but laugh. The ladies he usually brought home always did their best to act unimpressed whenever they came around, but he could literally see the effort it was taking them to maintain their composure. He liked how original Rachel was and how she was comfortable with showing her true emotions because that made him feel at ease. He didn’t even have to try to impress her and to him, that was the real definition of peace of mind.

The elevator stopped in front of his penthouse apartment and they got out of the car with an equal measure of excitement. He couldn’t wait to show her around his place, while she couldn’t wait to feast her eyes on all of the beauty waiting inside. When they entered the huge four-bedroom apartment, Rachel was not disappointed. She oohed and aahed as she followed Derek around as took her on a tour of his home.

“This place is phenomenal,” she remarked after they finished their tour. “I’ve never been inside a penthouse before.”

“I’m glad you’re impressed,” he said with a feeling of satisfaction.

“I can imagine doing a vlog in here. It would totally go viral and blow up my YouTube channel,” she gushed dreamily.

“You post on YouTube?”

“Yeah. Lifestyle content mostly, you know, I just talk about all the fun stuff I’m into, share a few dance videos, makeup tutorials, and stuff like that.”

“Sounds interesting. How long have you been doing that?”

“Five years.”

“That’s quite a career.”

“Yeah. I enjoy it and the money I make from the channel pays my bills, so yeah. If I had to rely on the stipends I get from the parents of the children I teach ballet to, I’d be homeless by now.”

“You teach ballet too?” He was surprised.

“Yes. I once thought I was going to become a famous ballerina one day, but I couldn’t keep up with the weight requirements, so I stopped.”

She’d meant the last part as a joke, but she couldn’t deny that her heart still broke when she thought about her past struggles with her weight and the body image issues that had taken years of therapy for her to overcome.

Sensing a drop in her mood, Derek came to stand beside her in front of the window with a breathtaking view of the city below. “I don’t know much about you, Rachel, but from the little I know now, I can tell that you are a remarkable woman. Never forget that. Now, let’s continue with your birthday celebration.”

She smiled at him, appreciating his effort to lift her spirits. “What do you have in mind?”

“How about a rooftop dinner featuring a six-course meal and a bottle of champagne to top it off?”

Rachel laughed. “That sounds ridiculously expensive, but since I’m not the one paying, why not?”

“Do you always say what you think?” Derek asked with a laugh.

She shrugged.

 “I’ll call my chef to have our dinner sent up here, but in the meantime, what would you like to drink while we wait?”

“Boy, I could get used to this kind of life,” she smiled. “I’d like a bourbon on the rocks if it’s available.”

“Coming right up,” he said and strolled to his bar to fix her drink.

Rachel knew instinctively that she was about to have the most memorable birthday celebration of her life.

*******

Dinner with Derek was a luxurious affair; the six-course meal featured a variety of fancy foods that looked like something out of Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook, the drinks were just as bougie and tasted great too. The final course was a slice of peach and caramel upside-down cake with a tiny candle on top as a reference to her birthday. This was by far the sweetest birthday experience of her life.

“Happy birthday again, Rachel,” said Derek. “I hope all of your dreams come true.”

She blew out the candle and said, “I think they just did. I have always dreamed of having a special dinner to celebrate my birthday and here it is happening thanks to a handsome stranger. Thank you, Derek. You have made me very, very happy today, and it’s not just about the dinner, but the thoughtfulness behind it. And you don’t even know me, that’s the weirdest part of it.”

“It doesn’t have to be weird, and it takes a lifetime to know someone but that too has to begin at a moment. This is the beginning.”

Rachel felt all warm and fuzzy inside at his words. Derek was such a sweet guy who knew what to say and when to say it. How come he’s single?

“I think I should be on my way now,” said Rachel, dabbing her lips with a napkin. “I don’t want your girlfriend to walk in and start having the wrong ideas.”

Derek chuckled. “If that’s your way of asking if I have a girlfriend, the answer is no. I’m single.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“I mean, have you seen yourself? You are handsome, well-spoken, and rich. You can have any woman you want, so why would you be single?”

“You’ve already answered your question, Rachel. I can have any woman I want but that doesn’t mean I have to be in a relationship with them. So, relax. Nobody comes to visit me without letting me know first.”

“I see,” she mused. “So, does that mean you have many lady friends that you invite over whenever you want?”

Derek grinned. “That sounds like a trick question that I’ll rather not answer. Come, let me show you something.”

“Sure,” she said and let him lead back into the penthouse. The outdoor dinner had been so lovely, it almost felt romantic.

She followed him to another section of the house that looked like a gallery with different oil paintings, artworks, and a white grand piano in the middle of the room. The place looked so heavenly that Rachel couldn’t think of the best adjective to describe it.

“This is my favorite room, besides my bedroom, of course. I always come here to relax whenever I feel drained after a busy day at work, or when I need to clear my head.”

“Derek, this place is amazing!”

“I know,” he smiled.

Rachel walked over to the piano and ran a hand across the smooth, polished surface. “Do you play?”

“Yes,” he said and he sat down on the piano seat and began to play a tune.

“Fur Elise,” sighed Rachel. “One of my favorites.”

“It’s my favorite Beethoven piece too,” he said as he continued to play.

Rachel’s body seemed to move of its own volition as she began to sway, then suddenly, she was on her toes doing a ballet dance routine that she thought she’d already forgotten. She twirled and soared around the room while Derek kept playing the tune and watching her performance. When the tune reached its crescendo, she ended her routine by sitting on the piano seat beside Derek.

“That was brilliant,” he whispered. They were sitting so close to each other that his breath fanned her cheeks as he spoke. “You are a wonderful dancer, Rachel.”

“And you are an amazing pianist and a ridiculously sexy man,” she whispered back and pressed her lips against his. It felt like the natural thing to do with this beautiful man, in this beautiful place. Rachel didn’t mind if she never saw this guy again after tonight, but right now, she wanted all of him. He was going to be her birthday gift to herself this year.

He broke the kiss and said, “I guess it’s time we did a grand tour of my bedroom and I can show you why it’s my second favorite room in this house.”

“I think I can guess why,” she giggled. “But I’d like to find out firsthand. Go on, lead the way.”

Encouraged, he took her by the hand and led her upstairs to the master suite. The room was done in white and different shades of blue, giving it a cool and relaxed ambiance. His bed was a huge four-poster creation with a shiny golden frame.

“I’d call this place a minimalist over-the-top bedroom,” laughed Rachel. “I like it.”

“You have good taste,” he complimented her.

“I agree,” she said and climbed on the ottoman at the foot of the bed, making her nearly as tall as him. She leaned forward and kissed him again, pulling him closer to her by the lapels of his suit jacket.

Derek liked how bold Rachel was – no dilly-dallying, just a straightforward expression of passion with no mixed signals. I like this girl, he thought to himself as he began to take off his clothes feverishly.