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A few months later

It was a simple boy meets girl story, we were just two individuals insanely attracted to one another. I was at the Boutique steaming the mannequin's outfits and making sure that all was in order. He approached me, with a curly mop of dirty blonde curls. I looked up and came face to chest with his buff figure. When I looked up I realized he was smirking at me. "How may I help you sir?" I asked him politely.

"I have an appointment, I need to get myself fitted into the suit that Antoinette Michel set aside for me." I recalled my boss saying that some VIP was coming in to get measured. Liné one of the other sales assistants walked up and introduced herself. "It's so nice to meet you Grayson Holmes I am a huge fan of the team and hope you all make it to Super Bowl", she said beaming. He smiled politely and followed her to get measured.

A football player huh, I thought to myself. I finished my duties and then went out for my lunch break. I was so happy that the queue at the Mcdonald's, was in walking distance from the Boutique, was really short so that I didn't have to wait long. I ordered my Big Mac and strawberry milkshake and then found a corner to sit in and then opened my phone and started going through my social media and listening to some music to hype me up for the afternoon rush as most of the private school kids in the area would come by.

Antoinette had just finished her spring collection so the demand would be great. A shadow came between me and my sunlight which caused me to look up annoyed. To my surprise it was Grayson in tow with an order of food. "Hi", I said tentatively not sure why he would approach me. He gave me a bright panty dropping smile that showed me that he has dimples. Removing my air pods I smiled back him. "May I sit?" he inquired.

"Sure", I responded moving my handbag to my other side. "I know you must think that I am creepy but I saw you walk in here and just thought I should shoot my shot." I blinked several times, he was into me? "Or I could leave", he said unsure of himself and rubbing the back of his neck. "No, my bad. I am just surprised you would be interested in a checkout girl," I said laughing nervously. "Don't be like that I saw your tag earlier it said executive sales assistant."

"Translation, glorified check out girl", we both laughed and then talked as we ate our meals. My timer went off and I groaned. My Cinderella moment had come to an end. "Work?" he asked with a slight frown. "Yeah, its about to get really busy. I need to go back and help Liné". "Oh, I thought her name was pronounced Lineh", he said smiling. "No its Linehr, it's a really pretty name."

"Well now I have to get your number, you are beautiful and kind. Most beautiful girls don't compliment other girls or they tend to put one another down. Miss Zuhair." "I am all about female empowerment sir, I love to see women winning especially other black women." He smiled and then held out his hand for my phone. I happily gave it to him and then he entered his number. "I have training tonight but could we meet up afterwards?" he asked me. I was taken aback. I couldn't believe that he wanted to see me so soon. He wanted to see me so soon.

I agreed even though I knew I would be tired. He felt like a breath of fresh air. He stood up and then kissed my cheek and then walked away leaving me breathless all of a sudden. I gathered my things and then threw away my trash and returned to the Boutique. The hours were grueling with the ups and downs but I was so grateful when it was finally 7pm and we were locking up. I ordered my uber and then went home to change and freshen up.

With Pop Smoke playing in the background, I showered and then had a glass of wine to get me into a good mood. I did my makeup to complement my bright look of a blue denim skirt and a cute yellow and white striped bandeau. I left my hair out in a huge puffy afro and then added a few clips in for a cute vibe and finished my outfit off with my white Nike air maxes. I smiled at my reflection and then went out to wait for him. I had texted him my address after work and then he told me he would be at my place at 9.

He pulled up in a sporty blue Range Rover with tinted windows and the Cinderella moment continued. He came out, and hugged then told me I looked beautiful and smell good, after parking the car on the curb. He smelled really good. I had told my mom that I was going on a date and she had decided to wait at the door and see me off. He whispered that he would be back and then walked up to her and greeted her. We were both taken aback. A man who acknowledges and introduces-

himself to my mother without being asked out of courtesy? I was obsessed with him in that moment and knew that ours would be an epic love story. She waved and called out to us to enjoy. Once we were in the car she messaged me and said that she liked how much of a gentleman he was.

"Where are we off to?" I asked him watching him drive. He made even this simple task look sexy and I couldn't help but just watch him. "Like what you see?" he asked playfully. I giggled and looked away for a moment. "We are going to the amusement park." I glanced at my silver stainless steel "Completion" Calvin Klein bracelet watch. It was almost half past 8 and the amusement park closed at 9:30 pm. "We have an hour", he said smirking. I shrugged and then we spoke about our interests and passions.

When we arrived he opened the door for me and then we went in. We went on the anaconda, ride with lots of twists and turns and then the tower of terror which I was completely fixated on. "Again", I said in glee. His face lost its complexion for a moment. "How about I hold your stuff whilst you go?" he suggested. I laughed at the expression of torture on his face. "How do you invite me out on a date and not want to go on the rides?" I said mocking him playfully.

He smiled sheepishly, "I went on the first time I usually avoid that ride so I think I was a good enough sport." I smiled and then told him it was okay, we got candy floss and then went to a picture booth and took some pictures together. Then we went on the Ferris Wheel and talked about his life and friends, I didn't have much to say because work consumed most of my time and for me to talk about Park Min Jin would be to reveal a side of me that I wasn't sure I was ready for anyone to find out about.

The date was almost perfect until some asshole grabbed my handbag and made a dash for it as we were walking out. Grayson saw it happened and before I could even say a word he had dashed after the man. Thankfully because it was a weekday there weren't that many people around and Grayson could see. He came back with my bag and a bloody nose. "Fuck! Are you okay?" I asked him grabbing some pocket tissues and dabbing at his bleeding nose.

"Yeah I am alright the bastard just caught me off guard when he punched me. He thought I would let go off the bag." After about 5 minutes the bleeding stopped. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the emergency room?" I asked him again hovering uselessly. He had refused saying that it wasn't broken and that he had sustained injuries like this and worse during practices and games.

"Okay we might as well," he said giving in. He then tried to slide into the driver's seat. "Nah kid hop in on the passenger side, I will drive us there. I said grinning at him. He raised a thick eyebrow and then shrugged and acquiesced. I got behind the wheel and then adjusted the seat before starting the car and driving to the closest emergency room that we had seen on maps. Every other time I looked at him he seemed to be watching me.

"Like the view?" I asked mimicking him. "Yeah, very much", he said smiling. We got there and then he got examined. The blood had ruined his white hoodie. The doctor confirmed that it was not broken and would be swollen for a few days after he had patched him up. "I am so sorry. I feel so bad and like a bad luck magnet. You probably won't want to see me again." I said feeling bereft and sad at the turn of events.

"No not at all," he said lifting my chin up and pulling my face gently towards him. "Want to go to my place?" he asked me gazing into my eyes. I was mesmerized. Even with his face fucked he was still hot. I didn't want the date to end even though it was half past 12. I nodded and then he put in the directions in his car gps system. The valet got the car and parked it as we walked in. He lived in a modern beautiful building in the city. He had a penthouse suite, which I wasn't surprised by.

When we got in, he excused himself to go and change and then told me where I could get some wine and where the glasses were. The penthouse was gorgeous. It had some inviting warm colours like velvets and whites and oranges. It was very tastefully curated. Probably done by a designer. Nobody had recognized when we were out because he was wearing a cap and had the hood on most of the time.

Maybe Joe from the show You was onto something. When he returned, I handed him a glass of the white wine and then we went to sit on the charcoal chaise longue. We got to know each others interests. We talked until I started dozing off. "I should go", I said sheepishly. We both checked the time and to our surprise it was 5 am. I ordered an uber and then he walked me out. "Hold up", he said as my uber arrived. I turned to look back at him. "I want to see you again", my heart lifted at this.

"Let's exchange something that we both like, I will give you my ring, the one I was wearing it is really special to me it's a Rolex ring." He said taking the ring off and handing it over to me. This date was perfect in every way. I slid off my watch and handed it to him in return. "take care of my baby", I said looking at the watch wistfully. It had taken months of saving for me to be able to afford it. It was nowhere near as valuable as his ring regardless it meant a lot to me. I went in to hug him and then he kissed my forehead.

"No pg13 kiss?" I asked him coyly. He laughed and ran a hand through his curls. "Nah babe you will have to wait for the second date to get that one", I laughed and then waved goodbye as I slid into the awaiting uber. I was on cloud nine. How had I gotten so lucky?