Someone Like You

by Carmen, Andrea

  Lucas pulled away from the long kiss. “I…I,” Lucas began. “I’m sorry. Wait—no, I’m not. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time.”

  She looked down and bit her lower lip, unable to believe it had happened to her. “Luke I—” She quickly drew him in and kissed him again. “Me too,” she finally said, letting go.

  They stood there, quiet for a few seconds. Then Lucas let out a shy smile and without thinking, scratched his head .

  Alex stared at him, her heart still pounding. “Come in,” she said, unable to say anything else. He slowly stepped into her studio.

  Quaint. It was the first thing to enter his mind. And neat. He saw stacks of books in one corner (she had probably read them all) and canvases and thick pieces of paper on another corner.

  “Sorry, there isn’t much to see…” her voice trailed off.

  He smiled. “I like it already. Can I look at your paintings?”

  She nodded as she went to the kitchen counter and grabbed two mugs, filling it with hot water and two bags of tea. He was quiet as he went through her paintings.

  “You’re…you’re really good. Watercolour?”

  She nodded. “I’ve had more time to paint again. And…I just really like watercolour. Mom joked it was my Chinese blood.”

  He smiled again.

  “They’re really good,” he murmured. “Why don’t you have your own show?”

  “I might,” she said shyly. “I just spoke to an art gallery owner on the edge of the Upper East. It’s a small new gallery and he liked a painting I posted online and bought one.”

  “Etsy?”

  She grinned. “Yes.”

  They heard the pitter-patter of rain on the roof. In a few seconds, it rained heavily. Alex quickly closed her balcony door.

  “You’re stuck here for a while with cheap organic tea.”

  “Chamomile?”

  “Yours is green.”

  “Excellent. All because of a kiss?” he joked. “Damn, I’m good.”

  She stuck out her tongue. “Shut up and drink it.”

  “You told me to shut up,” he said, incredulous.

  She turned red. “I’m sorry—”

  “I’ve never heard you say something as harsh as that,” he laughed. “Next thing you know, you’ll be cursing around me.”

  “I already have. In Mandarin,” she grinned.

  “You cheat! Swear in a language we both understand.”

  “I’ll try to next time.”

  He sat down on a hand painted chair. “How have you been?” he asked, holding his mug with both hands.

  “I’ve been artistically inclined and bored out of my wits.”

  He laughed. “I’m sorry. Is this my fault?”

  “A little,” she grinned. “That contract made me a recluse of sorts…and the butt of everyone’s gossip in the office.”

  “Whatever,” Lucas told her with a frown, “Every time someone looks down on me, I troll them,” he laughed. “I annoy them by being a hell of a lot better or smarter—”

  “Or richer,” she interrupted.

  “That too. But I just troll them in subtle ways that make them go nuts,” he said with a laugh. “You should try that too.”

  “You know I can’t.”

  “We talked about this, remember? Stop being too nice. Not everyone deserves it.”

  “I’m trying,” she said.

  “Try harder,” he said. “But I like it when you’re nice to me.”

  “You’re my boss, of course I’ll be nice,” she teased. “Bound by contract.”

  “I’m making a new contract tomorrow. You’ll bitch it out in the office,” he smiled.

  “Why, I would never!” she said in a southern accent.

  He laughed. Then they grew quiet, each in their own thoughts. They sipped from their mugs once in a while. He would look at her paintings again and she would look away, trying hard to not gaze longingly at his face.

  “Alex,” he began, “I’d really appreciate it if you would go to the gala with me.”

  She looked down. “I’d love to—it’s just that…you’ve done so much and I work for you and…”

  “Screw them. I’m not going if you aren’t.”

  “Pressure much?” she said.

  He nodded with a knowing smile.

  She relented. “Of course I’ll go. It’s Ellie Saab.”

  “You mean you’re not going for me but for the dress?” He feigned a pained look.

  She punched his arm. “Shut it. That kiss had to mean something.”

  “So…we’re officially dating?” he said with brows raised and then he gave a shrewd smile.

  “I don’t know,” she said, reddening.

  “Well, I think we are officially dating now. Our first date. Apartment 18,” he said dreamily.

  And she laughed and so did he. The rain slowed down a few moments later. He finished his mug of tea and stood up.

  “I guess it’s time I take my leave. It’s getting late,” he said.

  “Is Ben here already?” she asked.

  “Nope. I’m taking the train.”

  “You sure you won’t get lost?”

  “Like I didn’t grow up in New York,” he smirked. “I’ll be fine, if you’re worried about me. Wait, you’re worried for me?”

  “Don’t push it,” she warned with a smile.

  He laughed and kissed her nose. “Damn, why are you so cute?”

  She shrugged. “You’re the only one who finds me cute.”

  “Good thing. Less competition,” he grinned. “I’ll see you Saturday?”

  She nodded.

  He kissed her on the lips again, this time it was a very soft kiss, light and slow. It left her reeling with delight as soon as he left her flat.

  * * * *

  There was a knock on her door. She had just finished showering after painting some landscapes. She hurriedly put on her wardrobe and looked into the peephole.

  “Alex Forbes?”

  Alex opened the door. “Lucia! What are you doing here?”

  “Saturday, remember?” Lucia replied as she and Sandra went in, carrying with them cases of makeup and hair products.

  She bit her lower lip. She nearly forgot about it while painting that morning. “Well, you guys are here pretty early.”

  “I want you really pretty,” Lucia said. “Besides, the gala starts at six o’clock and you have to be ready by five at most.”

  “Well, do you guys wanna eat first? I made a chicken and potato salad.”

  “Answer to my prayers,” Sandra grinned.

  They exchanged light-hearted banter as they ate, with Lucia and Sandra doing most of the talking on what to do with her hair and makeup and pairing it well with her long gown.

  As soon as Alex finished brushing her teeth, a makeshift studio was set up in the middle of her flat. Lucia set about doing her makeup while Sandra started blow-drying her hair.

  “I’m so excited for you,” Lucia said.

  “You’ll be the belle of the ball,” Sandra chimed in, “And we won’t let you down.”

  “I’ll try not to let you down, too,” Alex grinned. She had been practicing with four-inch heels yesterday and Jason kept laughing as she walked inside the conference room at Temperley.

  “You are so going to suffer after,” Jason said, “I mean Jimmy Choo’s are really lovely to look with your legs and all but you’re just not used to the height.”

  “Support me, Jason,” Alex groaned.

  “I am. They’re on your feet. Are you getting a mani-pedi to? Wanna come with?”

  Alex shrugged. “If it’s not too expensive. If it is, I’ll do my own.”

  Jason laughed. “Like you know how to. I have never seen you wear nail polish—ever. I’ll treat you out to one. Just don’t embarrass me by stumbling during the gala, okay?”

  It was nearing five o’clock when she received a message on her cell. Ben was waiting for her in the car outside her flat.

  “We�
�re almost done, sweetie,” Lucia told her as she lightly covered her face with an all-nighter makeup setting spray.

  Sandra beamed at her as she did the finishing touches on a loose bun and she took out her phone. “I am so taking a picture of you.”

  Alex smiled at Sandra. She looked at herself in the mirror, unable to believe the transformation. She not only looked like a socialite, all of a sudden she felt like one.

  “Well, I believe we’ve done another masterpiece,” Lucia said proudly, also taking a photo of her.

  “Thank you so much. I’d be lost without you,” Alex said earnestly.

  “Come on, let’s go. Ben’s dropping us off too,” Sandra announced.

  Lucia and Sandra quickly packed up their materials and Alex wore silver sequined flats, her gown safely nestled in one box and her heels in another. She wore a short white dress. Lucas had wanted the both of them to go together and he also wanted her to dress up at his place (she did protest, but in the end Lucas persuaded her).

  The black Cadillac smoothly ran along, dropping Lucia and Sandra off along the way at East twenty-third street.

  “Excited?” Ben asked her.

  “Anxious, more likely,” Alex replied with a sigh.

  “I’m sure you’ll do splendidly.”

  “Thank you, Ben.”

  “He’s never asked a girl before to dress up at his place. And he’s never been so restless waiting for a girl or in choosing which tuxedo to wear,” he grinned.

  “Really?” Alex said, feeling pink in the face.

  “Really,” Ben replied.

  * * * *

  It was nearing six o’clock when the car arrived in front of the Stanhope building. Alex quickly got out, thanking Ben. The security guard smiled seeing her.

  “Good evening, Miss Forbes.”

  Alex rode the elevator and then walked to his door. She rang the doorbell once. A maid opened it for her. It was the first time she had seen a maid inside his unit.

  “Good evening, miss,” she said. “Let me take those boxes for you.”

  “Hi,” Alex said warmly. “I’m fine. Where is Luke?”

  “Changing,” the maid smiled a little. “He has been for an hour. You’ll change in the guest room, if you please.”

  Alex nodded, following her. The sheets were new and there was a vanity mirror set up, along with a table full of unopened bottles of perfume.

  “What’s with all the perfume?”

  “Mr. Conrad wanted you to have a signature scent for tonight.”

  “He what?” Alex shook her head and laughed.

  The maid hung out her gown gently and took out her shoes and placed them on the carpeted floor. Alex shyly took off her white dress, revealing nude coloured lingerie. She took the gown and began to dress herself when the maid stepped in to help zip her dress up.

  “Thank you,” Alex told her.

  The maid stepped back. “You look so beautiful, Miss Forbes.”

  “Alex. Call me Alex.”

  “Whatever name I use, you’re still really elegant.”

  Alex smiled timidly.

  “Your shoes?”

  “You mean torture,” Alex laughed.

  Alex sat on the bed and put on the Jimmy Choo shoes Jason lent her. She stood up and breathed out heavily. “Five foot three to five foot seven,” she murmured.

  The maid excused herself as Alex’s hands skimmed across seven bottles of perfume. She picked up a bottle and sniffed it and wrinkled her nose. Too strong. She picked another. Too flowery. Then she picked another and sniffed. It smelled clean and fresh, like green tea with a dash of some citrus aroma… She liked it and sprayed it on her pulse points; something Margo taught her two years ago. Then she went out of the guest room, holding her phone in one hand.

  Lucas was standing across her with his back turned.

  “Uhm…Luke?” she called out.

  Lucas spun around and nearly felt himself blown away. Holy mother of…his heart hammered seeing her standing there, biting her lower lip, looking unsure but extraordinary. She was too stunning, seeing her all dressed up and with makeup that enhanced her features…he knew his mouth was half open.

  “Alex, you look really beautiful…” his voice trailed off.

  She smiled and tried to find the right words. “Thank you. Lucia and Sandra and Ellie Saab are a wonderful combination.”

  He smiled and walked closer to her. Alex could smell his aftershave. She loved looking at Luke in a grey tuxedo. He looked so…dashing. Her heart beat faster than usual. She took a deep breath. Control yourself, she thought.

  “You look really nice, too,” she said with as much conviction as she could. He was six feet and two inches of handsome in a tuxedo.

  Lucas raised a brow. “Compliment for a compliment?”

  “I mean it,” she said.

  “Well, I meant mine more than yours,” he paused. “You look really, really beautiful, Alex.”

  “Thank…thank you,” she stammered.

  “God, I feel like I’m in high school dating my first crush or something,” he said.

  “I feel like I’m in high school too, with my first pair of heels and a really nice prom dress.”

  He laughed. “Ready?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “We could go to a coffee shop looking really spiffy,” he suggested satirically.

  She punched his shoulder lightly. “I think this is overkill for a coffee shop, Luke,” she replied laughing.

  “Wait,” he said, taking out his phone. “I’m making a memory and being cheesy. Smile!”

  Without warning, he kissed her cheek lightly. Her eyes looked surprised as he snapped the photo. He laughed, looking at it.

  “I look like a deer caught in headlights,” she said.

  “A cute deer,” he reminded her. “I am so keeping this picture. Shall we?”

  She nodded.

  “By the way, did I tell you that you look really beautiful?”

  “Only twice, Luke.”

  “Thrice,” he corrected with a smile, holding out his arm.

  * * * *

  “Good evening, Mr. Conrad and Miss Forbes,” a well-dressed woman greeted them as they entered the grand ballroom of the five-star city hotel.

  A sizeable, sophisticated crowd had gathered by then as it was nearing six-thirty in the evening. Flutes of champagne were freely passed around along with delightful canapés and other hors d’oeuvres. Music floated in the air with a twenty-five piece orchestra in the backdrop.

  “Lucas! Hi!”

  “Mr. Conrad!”

  “Hello Lucas.”

  It seemed a lot of people knew him and he smiled pleasantly and said his hellos as he introduced Alex. People eyed her; society certainly didn’t know who she was. Some of his male acquaintances kissed her hand by way of greeting her, much to Luke’s annoyance (which he hid rather well).

  “You’re certainly the belle of the ball tonight,” a man in his mid-thirties told her as he smiled.

  “Mr. Alder, this is Alexandra Forbes.”

  “Pleasure to meet you. Of the Forbes-Kerry clan?”

  Alex shook her head. “Of the Chen-Forbes clan,” she said with a playful grin.

  “Oh,” Mr. Alder said with a confused look. He excused himself and went on his way.

  Alex and Lucas burst into laughter as soon as they saw him across the room talking to another associate.

  “That was the most brilliant thing I’ve heard today,” Lucas said in between laughs.

  “Thank you,” Alex said trying to control her laughter as a few people looked their way.

  “Champagne’s really good,” Lucas said, holding up his champagne glass towards the curious guests. “Really, it is.”

  “Alex!” a voice called out.

  Alex and Lucas saw Jason wearing a peach coloured tuxedo and stylish shoes. He waved as he walked towards them.

  “Oh my god! Don’t you look stunning?” he twirled her around a bit.

  Alex
tried not to stumble in her heels. “Thanks, J.”

  “Lucas, you’ve done us all a really big favour,” Jason joked. “Now if you could do me a favour, where’s your brother?”

  “With Jennifer Edwards,” he responded with a laugh, holding Alex close to him.

  Alex blushed, feeling his arm around her shoulder. Don’t kick yourself, he’s just holding your shoulder, she told herself. You’ll be fine. Oh god, I’m so close to him…

  “Jennifer Edwards of Edwards Realtors?”

  Lucas nodded. “Where’s Margo?”

  “Somewhere here,” he said, lifting a glass of champagne off a waiter’s tray. “You should see her dress, it’s divine,” he told Alex.

  “I will, later.”

  “Anyway, I shan’t disturb you two lovebirds,” he teased as he left.

  Lucas smiled. “Love birds?”

  “He’s being silly,” Alex told him.

  “Silly is an understatement, isn’t it?”

  “Why is your brother with Ms. Edwards?” she suddenly asked.

  Lucas grinned. “How else could I bring you as a date if that pesky female is around?”

  “I’m just…”

  “Worried? Concerned? “Lucas interrupted. “She doesn’t mean anything to me. But you-you do,” he said not looking at her. Smooth, no—really, that was fine, Luke. You said it fine. Not too cheesy. Who am I kidding? Major cheese alert. You can do this, Luke, he told himself.

  Alex smiled at him.

  “Don’t push it,” he warned with a laugh.

  “I’m not,” she said innocently.

  A waltz struck up from the orchestra and he held out his hand.

  “May I have this dance?”

  She smiled and took it and they both began a graceful waltz, joining the crowd.

  “You dance?” he asked, surprised.

  “I learned this in high school,” she said with a laugh, “Along with violin lessons.”

  “No shit?”

  “You like me that much?” she teased. “You’ve been cursing a lot.”

  He laughed. “Is it that obvious?”

  Out of the corner of Luke’s eye, he saw Jennifer Edwards glaring at them as his brother stood beside her, apparently trying to get Jennifer’s attention. He looked at Alex again and smiled, forgetting Jennifer’s irate face.

  “What are you looking at?” Alex asked.

  “You,” he said with a grin. “Man, do I want this moment to last…”