Melanie's POV

"You look great," Tammy my best friend said putting on the finishing touches of my makeup.

Tammy Perault and I had been best friends since middle school. She worked in Uptown as a hair & makeup artist for a motion picture company and I had called her over to do my makeup and hair.

"I still can't believe you are going out with Mr. Arrogant Asshole."

"It's for charity, the hospital foundation is trying to build a pediatric cardiac wing. And whatever you do please don't call him that when he arrives. I need my job."

"Well until I meet him, he will remain as that."

"Just don't say it out loud."

"Fine, but you can't stop me from thinking it."

I pushed back from the bathroom counter and walked over to the bed where my dress laid.

"Twenty- five hundred dollars!" she called out. "Shit, I will go out with him if you won't."

"Shut up."

"I heard the tickets were a thousand dollars a couple. The creme dela creme of New Orleans socialites will be there."

"Really?" I had heard it was a nice event.

"Yes and they have chefs from all over the world cooking and competing. I heard Al Green, Michael Buble, Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald are performing. There is a silent & live auction and a diamond dig with a diamond worth over twenty thousand dollars. It's suppose to be huge, the hottest ticket around."

"Wow, I didn't know all that."

"I heard the chairman of the hospital board, Jacob Moore and his wife have ties to the hospital so they pulled out all the big guns to make sure it's a success. It's normally held in the summer but they figured they would do it around Valentine's Day for National Heart Month."

"Okay now I'm nervous. That's probably why he mentioned something about prospective clients."

"It's suppose to be romantic too," she said grinning. "Who knows he might have asked you for a reason."

"Now you are taking this overboard Tammy."

"Maybe he is not as bad as you think. Maybe he plays the tough guy role because of the type of business he's in."

"No, he thinks people are suppose to cater to his every need, I will do it sometimes but not all the time."

"With his playboy ways why did he ask you?"

"Uhm... it was a last minute thing."

"Sure it was. Your left eye just twitched."

"It did not."

"Whenever you lie, your left eye twitches."

"Fine! He wants to make his ex jealous."

"Awe, so he is using you?"

"It's a two way street."

"Boo please. You are in love with that man."

"WHAT! I think you are mixed up in the head."

"You talk about him every time we are together."

"I do not!"

"Yes you do. You give up a little fight in the beginning, but you normally give in to him."

"I do not!"

"When Chris planned a romantic getaway, you blew him off to go on a business trip with Mr. Asshole."

"It was a client he had been courting for months. I arranged the meeting so he wanted me to come and enjoy the fruits of my labor."

"Yes but, you had requested the days off weeks ahead of time. You all could have met with the client when you got back."

"Things happen."

"Things always seem to happen when you have plans. You've missed out on concerts, weekend getaways and even friend's birthday functions. You are more than his assistant, you are like a slave or wife to him without the sex."

"No I'm not."

"What's his favorite color?"

"Seafoam green."

"What's his favorite suit maker?"

"Emilio Puccini."

"Favorite Cologne?"

"Clive Christian Number One."

"Favorite food?"

"Depends. Steak with creamy mash potatoes and grilled asparagus with apple pie for dinner. For breakfast an egg croissant with crispy bacon, tomatoes and lettuce, no cheese and a black coffee. For lunch it changes."

She stared at me.

"What?"

"You said it as if it was normal."

"I'm his assistant. It's my job to know it, Tammy."

"Whatever you say," she said unzipping the dress.

I took off my robe. I was wearing a black strapless bra that went around my waist and fasten right above my backside. I wore a matching thong so you couldn't see any panty line.

"Sexy underwear huh."

"Only so you wouldn't see the imprint."

"Surreee."

Sometimes Tammy took things to the extreme. I wasn't wearing the set for him. It was no way I was in love with my boss, because we were complete opposites. I was down to earth while he was a rich spoiled brat. I shook the thought away as I put on the five inch red bottom pumps. I did look a little sexy in just the underwear and heels.

I eased the dress on and zipped it up. Tammy had pulled my hair up and fixed the draping in the back.

"Perfect," she said smiling and clapping.

"Girl he is going to flip when he sees you. No man is going to be able to keep their eyes off you. You look like forbidden fruit and everyone and I mean everyone is going to want a piece of you."

"Girl stop playing. I look okay."

"Okay? You should be walking a runway."

I couldn't help but laugh at her statement. She was taking this overboard.

There was a knock on my front door. I looked over at the clock on the nightstand and he was early. He was always punctual.

"I'll get it while you make an entrance."

"An entrance Tammy really?"

"Girl, just listen to me. You could have him eating out the palm of your hands. Use what ya mamma gave you. Bat your eyes, queue that sexy laugh, lick your lips every now and again and touch him in different places. If you do that, that man will be putty in your hands."

"I'm not trying to seduce him."

"Well if you keep working for him you will be alone for the rest of your life. Might as well live it up for a little while and have some fun. Just think of it as payback for all the long hours and horny nights you didn't get any."

"I hate you Tammy."

"I love you too," she said going down the stairs to answer the door. I took one last look, grabbed the black clutch and walked out my bedroom.

I heard Tammy laughing and Marc talking about something.

"We were in Vegas celebrating Melanie's twenty- first birthday. She was a wild child. She was so drunk, she streaked down the Strip. She got arrested but the cop was cool and didn't book her."

"Really?" Marc said chuckling.

"Melanie is a daredevil. She will try anything once. She has this bucket list with like hundreds of things to do. Each time she does something, she crosses it off. She's had it since elementary school."

Dang Tammy was telling all my damn business. What kind of friend was she to be talking to the enemy? I was getting pissed so I cleared my throat and walked down the stairs.

They both looked back as Tammy winked her eye at me. Marc stood there frozen as if his feet were stuck in place. Did I make a good impression?

"Well what do you think?" I asked him.

"Good choice," he said clearing his throat.

That's it!

"We need to go before we're late," he said opening the door. I looked at Tammy and she shrugged her shoulders. Nothing to say about how gorgeous I was or you look really nice. He was definitely Mr. Arrogant Asshole.

He held the door open and I walked out. I heard him tell Tammy goodbye and Alfred was standing there holding my door open.

"You look ravishing tonight," Alfred said as he helped me in the car.

"Thanks Alfred. At least you know how to make a woman smile."

I heard Asshole clear his throat. I looked back and he was mere inches behind me. He looked a little taken back as I slid into the seat. I saw him give Alfred a dirty look before he slid in next to me.

I placed my hands on my lap and looked out the window.

"You look very nice," he said clearing his throat.

"Thanks," I said with a little attitude.

"When I saw you, I have to admit you took my breath away. I need to work on my manners and I apologize for not telling you sooner how beautiful you look."

I looked back at him and he seemed a little uncomfortable. He was being vulnerable and it made him look even more handsome.

"You look handsome," I said reaching over fixing his bowtie.

"Who tied this?"

"I did."

"Why didn't Abraham do it for you?"

"His father is in the hospital and he had to fly out to Texas to be with him."

"Come here," I said undoing the bow tie and fixing it the correct way.

"Who showed you how to tie a bowtie?"

"My mom. She was old fashion. She did everything for my dad including dressing him. She told me it was always important for a woman in love to always anticipate her man's needs. They were married thirty-five years before she died and I think when she died, my dad died with her. Since she's been gone, he's never been the same."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thank you. I wish I could find a partner that worked hard but also knows that family comes first. My parents were a team and one knew that without the other things fell apart. They both appreciated one another and that made all the difference in the world. It's hard to find someone like that."

I hadn't realized that I had shed a tear. I felt the pad of his thumb wipe under my eye.

"Make a wish?" He said looking at me. I looked down to see a small puddle of water on his thumb.

"Close your eyes, make a wish and blow." He nodded and I did as he said. I watch the water blow into the air and dissipate. We locked eyes for a moment as I felt my hand itching to touch his smooth shaven face.

Alfred hit a bump bringing me out of my daze. I quickly fixed his bow tie and sat back.

"There you go, all done," I said quickly opening my clutch to fix my makeup.

I could feel him staring at me, but I was too chicken to look his way. The car stopped and I felt a slight wind when Alfred opened the car door.

Marc got out and held his hand out for me to take it. I gladly took it and he escorted us inside.

We arrived downtown at the New Orleans Aquarium. We walked in and was escorted to the ballroom with the huge four hundred thousand -gallon tank located inside. The lights were dimmed as only the giant tank lights reflected off the walls. On the dark ceilings were twinkling lights with large paper mâché fireflies, butterflies, and ladybugs hanging and climbing on the walls.

"Wow," I said totally in awe. I felt as if I was in a magical place. We walked in as the most influential people in New Orleans were congregating in different corners. Marc grabbed my hand as we found our table.

"Nervous?" he asked.

"Nope not at all," I said winking.

"Marc how are you?" A tall drink of fineness walked over.

"Hey Paul," Marc said shaking his hand and patting him on the back.

"This is Val, my fiancé," Paul said smiling at the very attractive Italian woman. She had legs for days and she was working that split.

"This is my girlfriend Melanie Guillory," he said putting his arm around me.

"It's a pleasure Melanie. It's good to see my friend has stepped up his game."

"Paul..." Val said looking totally shocked at him.

"Actually Paul is right, Marc had to do some serious bribing to get me to be his girlfriend," I said as we all laughed except for Marc.

"So you two have jokes?" Marc said taking a sip of his wine.

"Yeah," Paul and I both said laughing. Val was trying to cover her laughter but she failed.

"Well Paul next time let's see if you have jokes on the golf course."

"Okay you win," Paul said holding up his hands.

"Paul and I met a few years ago. He's been traveling for so long he doesn't know if he's coming or going. He works for Monroe International."

"Tell me about it. When Lilly Monroe tells you she wants to see you ASAP, you make it a mission to be here. Then I have Val and she keeps me rooted."

"I try but it's hard sometimes," Val said in a thick Italian accent.

"How long are you in town?" Marc asked Paul.

"Three weeks. Lilly brought me here to wrap up a few deals. You know we are going to have to get together before I leave."

"Sounds like a plan," Marc said as Val smiled at me.

"There's a diamond dig over there Melanie. Make sure he buys a chance for you to win," Paul said smiling at Marc."

"We will definitely check it out."

"Good," Val said smiling. Another couple came up to Paul and Val.

"It was really nice meeting you both," I said as we said our goodbyes.

Marc and I worked the room. He introduced me to a lot of people. I just stood there pretending to enjoy.

A young woman came up looking as if she walked right off the cover of Vogue Magazine. She was wearing an ivory gown with fine beading and gold specks. Her hair was pinned up and she looked like royalty. People were gravitating towards her as if she was. She looked up at me and smile. She excused herself and came over to where we were.

"Marc Hernandez where in the devil have you been?" she said walking up to him and giving him a hug.

"Working. Working hard to make you richer."

"Very funny. You know I'm simple. Who is this stunning young lady you have here? Is this the young lady people have been buzzing about?"

"This is Melanie Guillory," he said introducing me. "This is Cadence Montgomery." She and I shook hands. She was even more beautiful up close.

"This is the Melanie who keeps you in line."

I looked at Marc. Had he been talking about me?

"Yes if you must know."

"I'm proud of you. I was starting to worry about you. It's about time you..." Someone cut her off before she could finish her statement.

"I have to run. The presentation is about to start and I'm needed in the back. Hopefully Melanie and I can chat after," she said giving me a hug. I didn't know who she was but evidently she knew about me. She walked off and Marc seemed as if he had gotten off the hook.

"What was she going to say?"

"I have no idea. Cadence and I go way back. I manage her twin girls trust funds. She was married to a very well-known music mogul many years ago. Since then she's remarried."

"She's looks like money."

"She's also Lilly Monroe's granddaughter."

"That explains it."

We continued through the crowd. Cadence made the announcement that the presentation would be starting soon. We finally found our table that was right in the front of the stage. It had reserved for board members. To the left was Marc's name and next to his was mine. He pulled out my chair.

"I have a question?"

"Okay?" he asked.

"How do I have a card when you just asked me yesterday? Looking at these cards it probably took weeks to have them designed. Not overnight."

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Are you not going to answer my question?"

"I better get us drinks before the presentation starts. We can discuss place cards later."

"Fine. Get the drinks and believe me this conversation is not over," I said looking at the program. He walked off leaving me sitting at the table.

"Here we go," I heard a deep voice say. A very handsome man and attractive woman were about to sit down at the table. I smiled at them both.

"Hello," the young woman said. She was a brunette with dark green eyes. She was wearing a dark emerald dress with rhinestones going up one side. The man standing next to her had blond hair and blue eyes wearing a black designer tux. I watched them take their seats across from us. Mr. and Mrs. Kane Stevens.

Why did the name Kane Stevens sound so familiar?

"I thought this was a reserved table?" she said looking at me.

"It is," I said touching the place card with my name on it.

"I think you may be sitting at the wrong table," the man said looking disgusted at me.

"No, I'm at the right table."

The brunette looked me up and down. Did rich people have to be so rude?

She whispered something in the man's ear. He nodded, got up and walked away.

"Who are you?" the woman asked me.

"Excuse me?" She was really starting to piss me off.

"You look really out of place. This table is reserved for the top patrons of the hospital."

"And your point?"

"Ms...."

"Guillory."

"Well Ms. Guillory, I don't think you serve on the board?"

"But I do," Marc said walking up with my drink. He looked from me to this bitch that I was about to snatch.

"Stacey Arrington- Stevens meet my girlfriend Melanie Guillory."

The blood drained from the woman's face. She looked very uncomfortable. Marc leaned down and kissed me on the side of the head.

"Care to dance sweetheart?" he asked me as he pulled my chair back.

"I would love to handsome," I said smiling and looking back at the now dumbfounded woman. I blew her a devilish smooch.

Marc grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. Michael Bolton was singing, When A Man Loves A Woman.

"Is that the ex?"

"The one and only," he said moving his arm around my waist.

"She's a bitch."

"Yes, she can be one."

"She's rude and I think she's a racist."

"She can be rude but not sure about the racist part, I am Galician slash Spaniard."

"I think she was trying to have me removed from the table. Helloooo my name was on the place card. She was lucky you came when you did because I was about to come across the table and snatch that piece out of her head."

"Behave. There are people watching."

"Please tell me I don't have to sit back at the table with her? I don't need to catch a charge."

"Catch a charge?" he asked confused.

"Get arrested. I could just easily throw her in the river. Yes...yes... I could fill her mouth and shoes with rocks and watch her float to the bottom."

"Now how would you do that?"

"Since you are my boyfriend you could help."

"I will not be an accessory to your crime."

"Well I'll just think of something else."

I looked back and if looks could kill, I would be burning in a pit of spitfire. I rolled my eyes and held on to Marc.

"Please just let me have a piece of her?"

"Nope. Remember our deal?"

"Yes, but you never said she was a snotty nose snob."

"She wasn't like that when we were together. She was sweet. I broke her heart."

"What did you do?"

"I cheated on her."

"With who?" I asked wondering who it could have been with.

"With my company. I was building MCH Investments when we met. We eventually got engaged but she called it off. She said I didn't have time to spend with her and I became a workaholic."

"So she married someone else."

"Yes my ex-best friend Kane Stevens."

"Oh."

"Kane Stevens owns some of the most prominent restaurants around town. We went to high school together."

"So I'm assuming he stole her from you?"

"If you want to say that. She ran to Kane when I couldn't give her what she needed in a relationship. He comforted her and then a year later I was reading in the paper about their engagement."

"I thought she was single and we were here to make her jealous. I thought you wanted her back?"

"Honestly I don't want her back but I did want to make her jealous. I wanted her to see that I had moved on. She told me I would never find a woman like her and that she was the best thing that ever happened to me. She