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Catherine

When Robert told me we were going to an event for a special cause this Friday, I was hoping we were going on a fund raising where we could paint faces and/or sell stuff on a stall. You know, the way they did it on Daddy Daycare.

Why would I assume this, you ask?

Well because it involves children.

Children that were orphaned and/or abandoned by relatives. Some of them taken willingly there because their parents couldn't afford to raise them properly while the others were either taken out of the streets or rescued from child slavery.

It's sad to read about them as fictional characters, but it was far worse when it sinks into you that there really are children out there who are supposed to be inside warm, welcoming homes instead of the cold outside.

So whoever thought of this ingenious plan to gather all those who can afford a fancy watch in three different kinds of gold, is worth thanking.

This event just so happens to have this requirement that you're supposed to earn enough money to pay at least seven employees' annual salary in a month. I guess its better this way.

Distributes the money (almost) equally. Keeps the cash circulating and giving someone the feeling that they did something to help those in need. Makes them feel superior. As much as the actual help of being there for the kids is important, the truth is, they can't operate without the money.

But hearing a man talk non-stop about who can bid higher was starting to irritate me. Not going to complain though. The money they're giving away for an antique or limited edition piece would go straight to charity.

Pulling at my sleeves for the nth time, I tried to look interested on the exchange happening among the men. The tattoo from my unfortunate night in the garage was almost gone. I don't know what Mitchelle used but I hate it. I was hoping it would come off in at least two weeks with some eager scrubbing. It's barely noticeable now but I wasn't taking any chances.

And I regret wearing this midnight blue dress that keeps getting caught on the foot's chair whenever I moved. But it had sleeves long enough to cover the tattoo so I'm trying to just get through the night.

I've been sitting like royalty for two hours now. Not because I was with a lot of filthy rich folks and I was trying to look poised (although that was something for me to consider) but because Damon left a ton of macaroni and cheese for me to eat before he left this morning. It was too late when Robert arrived to pick me up and told me that it was a formal gathering.

I knew it. Damon was trying to sabotage me.

Robert even went out of his way and got me a dress.

A dress.

Okay so it's not much of a big deal.

He invited me. Maybe he felt that it was something he should do as a gentleman and a sorta date. That's how they do it on the books I've read. The guy gives the girl what she needs. Reading a lot of that cotton candy stuff comes in handy sometimes.

"Fifty thousand!" I almost jumped when Robert raised his hand, a grin on his face.

I grabbed the glass of water to my right and drank half of its content. Almost instantly, my eyes began to water and the urge to cough violently was so strong that I could tell me my face was turning purple.

Nope.

Definitely not water.

"You alright, Catherine?" I felt someone's hand lightly rub my back. Attempting a smile, I ended up giving him a thumbs up instead. He took the glass I just drank from and frowned.

He took one sniff and looked at me. "This isn't water."

Wiping my suddenly runny nose, I laughed a little. "I figured."

"Going once! Going twice! Sold! to the man at table three. This fine family heirloom currently owned by the Johnson's family is from their late Spanish ancestors." He raised the brooch placed on a velvet covered pillow for all the people to see.

And there lay the most beautiful flower I have ever seen. I mean it's not really a flower. But a very believable one. If it didn't sparkle when the stage lights hit it, I would never have guessed it was a gem. It was crafted so wonderfully, the color not entirely white but was almost bearing pink on the edges of the petal-like design. And I was a couple of tables away.

Wait.

The Johnsons'?

Robert got up, smoothed the front of his suit and raised a hand while the others clapped. Like how politicians did it.

When he sat down, I placed a hand on his arm. Leaning to whisper my curiosity to him, he obliged. "You donated your family heirloom to charity, just to repurchase it for fifty thousand? Have you been drinking the water I've been drinking?"

He chuckled and took my hand, placing it on the crook of his arm. "We really couldn't attend this event without bringing anything to the table. I don't own anything worth auctioning those appeals to women. I know most of the men here." He looked around and leaned towards me, our faces mere inches from the other. He had this mischievous grin on his face before whispering back. "And most of them have their wallets in their wives' purses. My great grandmother's brooch was all I had to offer."

Laughing a little, I lightly slapped his arm so I could have an excuse to move my face and body away from his.

Unless I'm forcefully pinned on a solid surface or I start sleepwalking and end up on somebody else' bed with a person in it, nobody's going to get that close to me.

Hah. You only used the other exception because you already experienced it, Catherine. And you stayed there with him even after you found out you were on the wrong bed.

Patting my cheeks, I shook my head a couple of times. This has happened before. And my sassy inside voice only talks to me when I consumed alcohol.

I'm not crazy. Everybody has a sassy inside voice. In fact, it's the voice of non-filtered honesty that keeps a person sane. But I refuse to acknowledge the fact that ninety percent of the time, that sassy voice speaks the truth.

After two more items, the people were allowed to socialize before the last set of antique pieces was auctioned.

I just sat there. I was too scared stand up. I was feeling sweaty and the pit of my stomach was heating up. Robert was kind enough to hand me a glass of water.

He was really well-kind. And I admire him for doing this. Not the water offering. The donation he just made. "What made you want to be a part of this?"

He smiled before fixing his tie. "I'll be lying if I told you that I know how it's like to be homeless and hungry. I was well provided. Got the best education and got to where I am now with my family's backing." His eyes were focused on the crowds near the buffet. "Just thinking of those kids enduring the cold nights without any food...make me realize how lucky I am. And it makes me want to do something. Events like this give me that chance." He raised his glass when an old man nodded at him.

Tracing the rim of my glass with a finger, I thought it over. "And it's a two way process. You help people, and you get the exposure you need for your businesses." I'm not that clueless on how these things work. I've been to a few when I was young and I had to sit down while my father talked to other business tycoons. A little cruel and somewhat hypocritical, but that's just how it works I guess.

"Exactly." He clearly wasn't expecting I'd just put it out there. He didn't look offended. He looked fascinated on how straightforward I was about it.

"Nonetheless, at the end of the day, it's still about the children. How about you? What made you want to be involved?" Now he looks like he's really into talking about the topic.

"Well," I cleared my throat. "I've been to events like this before. Although back then, I never really thought of how serious this was. The only thing that runs through my mind during the bidding is 'Look at all these folks trying to show off how much money they've got.' You have to admit that it's partly true." he chuckled. I smiled and took a sip of water before continuing, "But I guess it really hits you home when you personally know someone who's been through what these kids are experiencing now. It may seem that they could get over it once they get adopted or when they grow up, but it's always going to be there. In the mind of a child, there will always be that feeling of being abandoned. No psychiatrist can help them on that. It always depends on the right person to come along and replace it with something else. The least we could do is make them feel comfortable and somewhat distracted while that someone isn't there yet."

I realized that I wasn't just talking about any child, but one person in particular.

That macaroni and cheese criminal.

At first I thought Robert fell asleep. When I raised my head, I found him staring at me with this look of awe on his face.

"You're beautiful, did anybody tell you that? Not just physically, but your soul..." He took my hand and squeezed it gently.

All I did was speak the truth. Maybe it really was uncommon to state the obvious nowadays. You're either too passionate or too sarcastic.

And by glob! I've never seen a man look at me with this much admiration before. "Thank you. So are you. I mean not beautiful like a girl. Beautiful as in-you're good-looking." Pulling my hand away, I finished my glass of water.

The event lasted for another hour and a half and I was thankful when everybody stood up to applaud everyone else on their money well-spent.

"Thank you for accompanying me tonight." We were in his car now, with me holding the box containing the brooch. He insisted that I hold it while he drives. For 'safekeeping' he said.

"You're welcome. Thank you for inviting me. Although I didn't spend even a penny to help." chuckling, I stared at the box in my hands.

It was too late to back out when he told me we were going to an auction. It was partly my fault for not asking the details.

Maybe I'll try visiting Sister Mary and help if they need any extra hands.

Robert's an overall good guy. He's smart, and good-looking. He carries himself well, especially in a suit and he respects my opinion on things. He's like this longtime friend that you know but without the goofing around.

I was confused when he parked the car a few blocks from my apartment. I almost jumped when he took my hand, enclosing it with both of his.

"I have to tell you something really crazy." he swallowed and squeezed my hand.

What. Should I say something in between the lines of 'I love crazy?' Because that would totally be crazy.

Holding onto the box I had on my other hand, I nodded.

"I don't know if you'll believe me but, I...really like you." He smiled a little before sighing. "It's the way you look at things, and how open you are about talking about it. You're not just another pretty face, Catherine. And I know a lot of guys before me already told you this. I'm sorry if it bothers you. I've never felt this...connection with anyone before. We get along just fine. And I know, I know I'm coming in too fast but this, "he looked me in the eye. "This just feels right."

I knew it.

He came out of a fairytale. Like some seven year-old's ideal prince charming. I mean I have to admit, I had my times when I visualized who I wanted to be with. And strangely, Robert Johnson fit the picture perfectly.

And some part of me wanted to agree with him. Just by judging the times we had a conversation, he was like my equal. We don't badger about the littlest thing, unlike every morning with Damon walking around without his pants on.

Robert was the majority of women's ideal partner. And I'm the kind of person who would take a risk on business, but never on the major aspects of life like choosing a lifetime partner. I wanted to stay on the safe side. Simple and uncomplicated.

But one, he was going too fast. Two, unlike his assumption, not a lot of men tell me the things he just said. Three, what he said was frick fracking crazy.

He got the 'we understand each other' part right. But how long has it been? A month? I'm not really into this whirlwind romance thing.

I mean I guess sometimes it works. But then you have to be someone's soulm-

Wait.

WAIT.

Is he? He's here? I'm with him?

A sudden rush of panic came over me.

Is he?

I withdrew my hand and placed the box on the headboard. Grabbing my phone inside my purse, I pretended to scroll through my messages while he looked.

"Darn. Miss Mason just texted me if we have any spam. I better go buy her some."

He seemed disappointed as he leaned back on his seat. "Oh...should I...wait for-"

"Oh no no. It's fine. I'm just a couple of blocks away. And there's a convenience store on the side of the street. I can handle myself. Besides, you must have other important things to attend to. It's still seven so no goons around." Unbuckling my seatbelt, I gave him a reassuring smile. Surely, his phone rang. That gave me enough time to hop off his white Porsche.

"Call me when you get home, okay?" I nodded eagerly but he moved his upper body towards the passenger seat with this anxious expression. "You're not freaked out, are you?"

I swallowed the lump on my throat and gave him what I thought of as a sincere, calm smile. That's all I could give him right now.

Of course, all you could do was smile. He just kind of indirectly directly told you he likes you as more than just a friend. And he just might be who you think he is. He certainly fits the picture frame.

Glob what was the heavens thinking. I do know I asked for this, but I was intoxicated. And they might have had a lottery happening up there on who they could answer prayers a.s.a.p. mine just happened to make an entry and was the lucky player to be just that.

I waved at him as his car drove off.

Okay. Time to walk five more blocks.

In heels.

Just because I think I just met my soulmate.

If this happened to someone else, minus the knowledge that they actually just met their potential lifetime partner, they would have loved it. That girl would have walked home with stars in her eyes. A smart, funny, and financially stable man fancying you was like hitting the jackpot for some.

But let's not forget that I'm Catherine Wright. And I would run the other way if you get too close for my comfort. And that too much of the mushy stuff was toxic for me. I applaud the Guy above for actually having someone for me.

I was three blocks away when I realized that a black car has been following me since I passed the closing ice cream shop on the first block.

"Biscuits..." I started walking a little faster and ignored the screams of agony my feet were chanting.

I was relieved when I turned around and found out that it was parked four cars away from me. Good. Maybe he just wanted to go grab a beer or something.

If I ever kidnapped again, I swear to glob...

My soul felt like it jumped out of my body and back again when I felt someone touch my elbow.

Turning around quickly, I raised my knee and held onto the person's shoulders.

And judging from the way he quickly got to his knees, I knew I hit the cherry.

The banshee scream I was about to let out got stuck in my throat when I looked down at this huge man in a suit, breathing like he just finished a marathon.

I wasn't sure what I'm supposed to do now. There was no need to run or think that he would stab me since his hands were too busy cupping his acorns.

"Why?" He chocked, nearing a sob as he looked up.

I gasped and quickly got to my knees, the scent of apples faintly covered by his perfume reaching my nose.

"You could have called me, you know. I almost pee'd myself." wiping the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"I don't think I could even pee after this." He took deep breaths and I soothed his back as he tried pulling himself together.

"I'm sorry." my voice was a mixture of pity and amusement and he had to glare at me so I would stop snickering.

He finally got up, still slightly crouching and looked at me.

"Why were you walking home? Did Roberto just drop you off and left you to walk alone?" he wiped his brow, it must hurt a lot. I must admit, he looked darn good in a suit. Aside from the occasional ghost of a sob, he looked like he could sweep anyone off their feet. Unless you kick him on the uh-yeah.

"Why are you wearing a suit? And," pointing to the black car parked on the side of the road "is that yours?"

He nodded and ever so slowly placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I attended a client's wedding. We've been discussing about me purchasing his car since he got engaged. Now help me walk." I placed a hand on his waist and we walked like some drunken couple on a fun Friday night.

"What happened to your Lady Gaga philosophy?" It was funny how I was the one to open his door for him. When I got in, he answered me with this serious tone.

"Sometimes, you just have to disregard your beliefs and take the risk on trying other things." He gave me a small smile before starting the car. "You just gotta hope you've made the right choice. And Catherine?"

I felt my back stiffen. When he called me by my name, it usually meant he's being serious. I looked at him, and boy did I like what I see. Let's just pretend that I didn't just kick his acorns a few minutes ago.

"You look beautiful just like any other night."

I swallowed and murmured a thank you before looking outside.

"Nailed it." He chuckled and he drove the short distance back to my-our apartment.

Well this was quiet a night.

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