CHAPTER FOUR

"I just need you to get one thing straight. You can only touch me when I want you to, do not try that rubbish again," Enrique snapped.

The man was so annoying, what did she expect, though. He had already showed himself off as a rude jerk at the office, why did she expect him to be different now?

"I also would like you to understand that I'm not a cheap slut or some object that you can control. I am here for strictly business, you don't have to sound so harsh with me. I have had better clients than you," Grace found herself saying without even thinking of it.

"I'm sorry about my tone, I just don't like unwanted touches," Enrique apologized. He rarely apologized, but something about what Lila just said had him rendering an apology.

She was absolutely stunning, so feminine and gorgeous. Her large ice grey orbs were so captivating when he looked at them, he felt like he was drowning.

Enrique had met several beautiful ladies, probably some even more beautiful than Lila, but something about this woman hit differently.

He had never thought of himself as the type to hire the services of an escort, but with his current situation, there was nothing else he could do.

Margot Prescott, his supermodel ex fiance had hurt him in ways he had never imagined possible. Enrique had broken off their engagement six months ago when he caught her in bed with her manager.

Tonight's event was very important to Enrique, his mother Gabriela Black was the organiser of the Masquerade Ball. The aim of the event was to raise funds for the blind. His father, Arnold Black was also blind and hence, was interested in helping out others like himself.

Margot, as well as many of Enrique's business associates and important people in society were going to be present at the ball, therefore, he couldn't possibly be absent.

For the past six months, Enrique had taken great lengths to avoid Margot and her attempts at getting back together with him. This night was going to be their first time meeting each other face to face since almost five months now.

After their breakup, Enrique had lost faith in the female species and had stayed away from women since then. He knew very well that Margot would be pleased to know that he was still very much hurt by what she did and as a result had yet to move on.

The thing was, he didn't want to give her that satisfaction. After consulting his best friend, Miguel Gerrard, the Spanish filmmaker had told him to hire a date for the event.

Enrique had no idea how such a thing could be done, but had been grateful for his friend who took care of hiring Lila.

Miguel had stressed on the fact that Lila was a famous, beautiful and sophisticated escort who could be his girlfriend for the night.

Enrique had been hesitant, having never been the type who hired prostitutes or escorts or strippers. Miguel had assured him that Lila was a businesswoman and far from being a prostitute.

That was how he ended up here with Lila in his limousine. She had long, dark brown hair and her fingers were long and delicate. Though he couldn't see her facial features well, he had the feeling that she certainly was more beautiful than Margot.

He could just imagine the displeased look that Margot would have on her face as soon as she saw Enrique with Lila.

"What do I have to know? If you want everyone at the ball to believe that we are dating, then I'm would have to know stuff about you," Lila said in that same low, husky and seductive voice.

She was a living, breathing temptation. Was that her real voice or was she sounding like that as a way of seducing him?

"Pardon me, what do you want to know?" He smiled and Grace felt like she should have taken a photo of that smile.

This man was so handsome and why was he suddenly being so polite with her? She figured that her looks tonight contributed to it. He was a total jerk to her earlier today at the office.

"Okay, I already know your name is Enrique Black. Let's start with your family, tell me about them."

"My family is a very loving one, we are all very close. I have a younger sister, Sophia, she is twenty-five, she is a fashion designer. My father Arnold Black used to be in charge of our family business until he had a car accident five years ago which caused him his sight. He now stays in our family mansion with my mother Gabriela. They got closer than ever before after his accident. After his accident, I took over his position in our company," Enrique explained.

"I'm so sorry about that. I hope he is happy?" Grace asked.

"Yes, he is. He already had plans of stepping down, so I guess the accident just hastened his decision-making."

Grace noticed the huge smile on Enrique's face as he talked about his other relatives. She had expected that a man as wealthy and powerful as him would be totally detached from his father or have the typical dysfunctional family.

"What about you? What's your family like?" Enrique queried.

He watched Lila's eyes widen in surprise. She looked bothered by his question and so he asked, "is it against company rules for you to talk about your personal life? Forgive me for asking."

He had apologized how many times now, three? That was strange, he usually never did that.

"It's fine, I have a younger sister too. Her name is Penny and she's twenty-four," Grace told him.

Enrique noticed that she didn't mention having parents or any other family. What could have made her resort to being an escort?

It was probably the money, of she had no other family asides her younger sister, then she was probably working hard for their survival.

"What country are you from?" Grace asked.

Enrique poured them both a flute of champagne and handed one to her before replying, "my mother is from Spain and my father is mixed. My grandfather was a British man and my grandmother, Spanish. We all speak Spanish when we are together."

"Wow, that explains your accent and skin tone. I am totally American," Grace smiled.

"I figured as much, you have a New York accent after all. Have you been here all your life?" Enrique asked.

Grace gave him a frozen look and he said, "so sorry, I shouldn't be asking you such questions."

"Why don't we talk about why you need a hired girlfriend?"

"You don't have to know that," he said and proceeded to tell her about the purpose of the masquerade ball.

"What is your favorite food?" Grace asked him.

"Anything with pasta and chicken in it. What about you?"

"Spaghetti with meatballs, "Grace smiled.

"We are going to tell anyone who asks that we've been dating for three months now. We met at an art gallery and instantly felt attracted to each other. You are a very private person and that's why I haven't shown you off to anyone yet," Enrique explained.

"Wow, you really thought this through. My other clients usually leave it to me to create the fake story."

"What university did you study at? I studied Accounting at Prestigious University," Grace said.

"That's impressive, Prestigious University is a private school, you know?" he frowned at her.

If she attended such an expensive school, then why was she working such a terrible job?

"The agency paid for my schooling. It's necessary to increase my prospects. We deal with wealthy clients, some of which wouldn't want to hire an illiterate or someone not properly groomed."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your look said it all. Where did you study?" Grace asked taking a sip of her champagne.

"Rivers University, it's also a private school. I'm sorry if my comment offended you."

"What endearment should we employ for each other?" She asked him.

"You can call me "darling," or "my love." I'll refer to you the same way."

They discussed relevant topics that they should know about each other for the rest of the ride until the limousine came to a stop.

Enrique got out and made his way to her side, opening the door and holding out his hand for her.

Grace smiled and he raised her hand up to his lips, kissing it briefly. She heard the sounds of cameras taking photos and that's when she realized that the media was present to cover the event.

"Are you ready, Lila?" Enrique smiled at her.

"Yes, I am, Enrique."

Grace had no idea that Enrique Black could actually be as polite and charming as he was being tonight. Hopefully, she would do her job and return to her normal life, never having to meet him at Howard Tech ever again.