A Stand-In-Date

"I've been doing fine for years now. Please just go back to wherever you're coming from and let me be."

Brett moved over to her and crotched down opposite her. "Go on a date with me, over the weekend."

Daisy burst into laughter. "Is this guy a joke or something?" She asked rhetorically, loud enough to Brett's hearing. "No."

"Come on....."

"I'm not going on any godforsaken date with you Mr Lexington. Not in your wildest dream."

"Okay." he said, pushing two open hands forward to calm her down. "Go to a fundraiser with me then. Technically, I wanted you to be my plus-one at the fundraiser organized by the Mayor over the weekend and maybe we could go on a date afterwards. But since you said no date, let's go to the fundraiser together." He offered.

"No."

"Daiz. I promise you, if after the fundraiser, you decide that you don't want to see me ever again. I won't bother you. Just this once, please?"

Daisy became calm for a moment. She looked up at his angelic face and watched him flash a smile, that type she always falls for. She took a deep breath before speaking up. "What's so special about the fundraiser?"

"Nothing." he shrugged. "Just some regular event that will raise funds for the kids project I spoke to you about, earlier."

A beep came in his phone and he tapped on it immediately. Barely three seconds later, the elevator roared back to motion with the bright light back on. Daisy took a clear look at her once-upon-a-time man. He was too gorgeous, too handsome, more beautiful than the world's most beautiful woman. And he was here trying to get her to hang out with him. Her mind tried to imagine what Ugo would say in this situation.

Leave your goddamn-life queen. You only live once.'

Brett got to his feet and reached out a hand to help her up. His hand lingered in hers for a while before he let it go.

"So, if I go with you, that would be all?"

He nodded.

In no time at all, they reached the eighteenth floor. Daisy was treated to one more glimpse of that good looking chest of his as he pulled his suit jacket on. "Looks like your friend and I are on the same floor," he said as they got off together.

"Looks like it." She managed to smile up at him for a second before looking away from those grey orbits.

"Which way is she?" They both looked up at the arrow signs by the elevator bank.

"This way," she said, pointing to the left.

He pretended to consult his room key. "Ah, mine is that way." He pointed to the right. They smiled at each other and didn’t say anything for a moment. "I can honestly say that I’ve never had a more entertaining time in an elevator. Thank you." He reached out a hand.

"Likewise." Daisy stretched out her hand for a handshake but instead he took her in a hug.

"So, what do you say?" He said against her curls before releasing her.

The whole thing sounded crazy, but Brett was ready to do crazy. He hadn't taken all that stress and extra work just to be here for nothing. If he was going to walk away tonight. He must be able to achieve something positive and that was exactly what he was working on.

"You would be free this weekend, won't you?" Grateful that he knew how honest Daisy can be. Lying or pretense wasn't in any way her forte. So, he took that cue.

"Tomorrow is a public holiday and I'll be battling some serious hangover that I might be wasted all through the day. I'm working on Saturday."

"What about Saturday night?"

"I can be free." She answered tactically.

"Please come to the fundraiser with me."

"Brett, I..... Are you sure?"

He smiled. With that question, he knew he’d almost got her. "Positive. Come to the event, be my partner, protect me from poisoning and disaster. It’ll be your good deed for the year. And it is only March. look at you, getting your good deed for the year done before the year is even half over." He was so close to victory. He could tell by the smile in her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Come on, Daiz," He touched her shoulder. "Help me." She took a deep breath, and he held his as she considered.

"Well, the truth is I'm actually coming for the fundraiser either way. My parents got invited. So, I'll be there." She laughed out loud, shaking off the nervous feeling.

He pulled her into a hug. Her champagne bottle. laden bag clanked against his butt, and they both laughed. "You had to pull my legs this much before you said that?"

He received a chuckle, his favorite sound from her. "You won’t regret this." He pulled back and blew her a sweet kiss.

"I'll pick you up Saturday night." He said before taking a backward step to his own side of the hallway.

"Wait, but you don't even know where I stay, you should take my number." She told him as he started taking backward steps.

"Oh, but I do." He said to her surprise. "Congratulations again to your friend. I'll see you on Saturday."

Daisy nodded, not forgetting the kind of man he was. She paused and stared at Brett's back for a few seconds. What just happened? Did her ex just ask her to be his date for an event that would record the most wealthy and powerful people in Fairview and its environ. And she really said yes!

She turned and raced down the hall to Ugo's room and knocked on the door. Her friend threw open the door and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Get in here, you beautiful work of art." They grinned at each other and hugged again.

It was great to see her friend. She had been in a very tough case for the past couple of months and the last few weeks had been so bad that they didn't set their eyes on each other until now. Thankfully, the case was over and her friend was now partner.

"What did you do to your hair, it looks amazing," Daisy said.

"Oh, thank you babygirl." Ugo looked her over and frowned in that way older sisters can. "This outfit is great, and I love the shoes, but I thought you were going to get blond highlights. What happened?"

Daisy shrugged. "Sorry, I chickened out. I didn’t think I could pull off the blond. Besides, you weren't there to ginger me up."

Ugo made a face at her. "Haven’t we been over this. Look at Ciara's new hairstyle."

Daisy laughed. "I know I have the same skin highlights as Ciara, but me in her blond weave? I doubt it would go well with my personal style."

"It's not a bad thing to review one's style once in a while though. You're due for a personal style review" Ugo plopped down on the bed. "You can always get away with some blond highlights, easy. But then, you are always thinking of being and remaining basic. Awful!"

Daisy opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. Only a mad person would muster the strength to argue with Ugo.