SIX: Breath in and out

Gideon's pov

I fixed my tux jacket, walked down stairs and sat down on the couch. I glanced at my hublot, we have at least twenty minutes to make it to the event venue.

I glanced around nervously, I had hired Antoine not out of guilt but because I don't trust Maren fashion taste. My stomach churned as I kept glancing at the stairs.

Why am I nervous?

I took out my phone to see if I was good to go. I have been this anxious before, maybe because I want to ask to be friends.

Yes it must be that, then I saw Antoine coming down the stairs, Maren followed.

I stood there, Antoine said I do lose my breath and yes I did. I was hypnotised. The way the dress clung to her curves like it was made to be on her, that dress was made for her.

I cleared my throat and quickly changed my expression. I am only feeling this way because it has been a long time that I have been with a woman sexually.

I walked towards her to grab her hand, “you look stunning” I complimented.

Her face flushed “Thank you, you look good too” she replied shyly.

Antoine cleared his throat, “I have to go now love birds and I hope you guys also get your asses to the event and not end up in the bedroom” Antoine teased as he signals his assistants to follow him.

“I hope I see you again, Maren,” he said over his shoulder.

“Bye,” Maren said.

“bye bye love birds” Antoine bids and steps out.

I turned to Maren “we should go now”, I said and turned to the door direction.

“Okay” she said and followed quietly behind me.The silence between us was tense. I didn't want to say anything more so she wouldn't think I like her that way.

We settled in the car that I had arranged to take us to the venue when I noticed she was shaking.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah i am” she lied, pressing her hands together on her laps, she was nervous.

I moved closer to her, placed my hand on hers. “You are nervous,” I said.

She looked where my hand was but didn't flinch. “Yes,” she admitted.

“It is okay to be” I rub my thumb against the back of her right before taking hers in mine. It was soft and fit perfectly. “ Just smile and don't say much if you are not feeling it”.

I don't know why I am doing this but I had to stop, I shouldn't care if she is nervous, she is here to work. I removed my hand from her.

“Is that one of your coping mechanisms?” her questions made me cut off my thoughts.

I furrowed my brows before realizing what she meant. “Yes..I mean we all have coping mechanisms to survive day to day”

She laughed, her pearly teeth showing, her dimples deepened.

“What! Why are you laughing?” I asked, what did I say wrong.

“I was only laughing because I can't believe you said everyone needs a coping mechanism to survive day to day” she paused. “ I can't believe Gideon Patton has a coping mechanism,” she finished.

I looked at her, she was smiling as she turned to the window. I am human too, I am not perfect neither is anyone but people seem to forget I am human and see me the way they want.

“Just breathe in and out”

She turned to me and smiled, “Thank you”. We didn't speak to each other until we reached the event. I made sure I acted as a gentleman should do, opening the door for her.

As soon as we reached the event venue, the camera started to flash. I wrapped an arm around Maren's waist.

“Is she your girlfriend?” A reporter asked.

“Is she the lady with you?” another one asked, different questions were thrown to us, some reporters even tried to come closer but were held back by security.

We quickly moved to the red carpet to pose for a picture, I noticed Maren took a deep breath as we turned around for the pictures.

“Please smile for the camera” the photographer spoke, Maren gave a smile despite the fact she was nervous.

“Your dress is gorgeous, can we take a few pictures only you miss..” the photographer asked.

“Maren and Yes” she finished, I stepped back and she posed for three pictures.

“Have you ever modeled before?” the photographer asked.

“No I haven't” she replies she has stepped down the platform.

I quickly ushered her away before we got any questions, and we stepped into the hall. I walked up to our table where some of my teammates are already sitting, I pulled a chair out for Maren.

I greet my teammates. They are happy to meet Maren except my nemesis Dante Morris. He was quite all this while he was still angry that I almost got his a** kicked off the team last year.

He was wearing this annoying smile on his face before he spoke his first word since we had sat down on the table. “Where did you guys meet?” . Only Jaxon knows about the contract, the rest of my teammates are clueless but I knew they all suspected something.

My jaw clenched, we haven't even thought about that yet what am I going say to this f**ker.

“We met in the art gallery, I work at an art gallery and he came in to check some paintings.” Maren lied smoothly. I turned to look at her, I couldn't believe that rolled out her mouth as if it was true. “So he asked for my opinions about art and the rest is history”, she turned to me with a loving smile on her face.

“Wow, it is a cute meet. Gideon, I don't know if you like paintings.” Dante turned to me, I know he is trying to push me.

“Oh he had a lot of good collections” Maren answered before I could.

“Yeah, you want to see my collection” I seethed.

“Hey guys, you want some champagne?” Jaxon said, breaking the tension. And it is my turn to smirk at Dante.

“Bastard” Dante murmured under his breath but everyone heard him.