Turn Towards the Sun (11 page)

I shower and shave my legs and attempt to get this
stick-on
bra in the right place. I straighten my hair with a flat iron and like how it lays with its new layers. I keep my makeup light again with a swipe of blush, some mascara and lip gloss. The dress is provocative enough without heavy makeup. I slip on the dress and pumps. I really hope Enzo likes it. I feel different. Sexier. He should be here soon.
I
want him to be proud to be seen with me. I hear his knock and take a deep breath. Here we go.

“My God Ava.”
His face breaks into a full smile. “I get to take you out tonight. Every man in town will be jealous of me.”

“And every woman of me
.”

He’s still
looking me over and
amazingly,
I don’t feel self-conscious at all. I want him to approve. He hasn’t seen the back yet so I take a little spin. He quickly walks back behind me, then back in front of me and stands close.

“How am I going to keep my hands off of you tonight?”

“I guess we’ll
just have to see.” I tease
. He puts out his arm for me to
take,
and we head out.

“This dinner is going to be very
boring,
but it’s important. Many of my investors and potential clients attend.”

“What would you like me to do Enzo?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a reflection of
you
and I want to represent you well.”

He stops walking.
“Ava, you’re amazing. You know what I want you to do? I want you to be exactly yourself. You represent me perfectly.” He pulls me to him and kisses me
.

We drive to downtown Phoenix. Enzo explains that it’s still an underdeveloped area and there are lots of opportunities down here.

The
restaurant
we’re eating at tonight specializes
in contemporary American cuisine, whatever that is. We pull into valet and are ushered to a private dining room. There must be about 150 people in here. As soon as we walk in, everyone in the room breaks into applause for Enzo. I wonder what that feels like to have people clap at you for being you. I realize they are all intently staring at me too. Enzo reaches over and puts his arm confidently around my waist
,
escorting me to our table. The clapping dies
down,
and conversations
begin
again.

There are discussions of buildings, plans, locations, and scale. I smile politely pretending to pay attention but understanding nothing. The restaurant is modern with stark walls, soft pendant lighting
,
and pale wood floors. The menu features an eclectic mix of familiar foods made in unique ways. I’m thankful the
dinner
choices
were
preselected,
and I can sample numerous dishes.

Enzo keeps his hand on
mine the entire dinner. I shove
pasta in my face as delicately as a girl with my appetite can do.
Just as
I take a huge bite
,
one of the visitors decides to engage me in the conversation.

“Ava, let’s get your perspective.”

I look up startled and
chew quickly. A stout man in
a black,
tight-fitting
suit addresses
me. I have no idea what I’m being asked. Five people and Enzo are looking at me waiting
for me to speak
. Enzo, realizing I have no
clue how to respond
, provides some context.

“Yes
,
Ava, tell us what you think. Purple is very in right now, but is it right for a hotel lobby?”

I can’t tell from his tone how he would like me to respond. I remember what he said, be yourself. You do you. I hear Cassie using her pretend gangsta voice in my head. So here goes.

“Well,” I start unsure, “I think it would depend on the style of the hotel and the target demographic. A young hip crowd would probably appreciate a bold trendy style. A more mature crowd not so much.” I hope this is the right answer. The group is quiet for a moment. Enzo
grins
from ear to ear.

The man
who
asked me the
question,
speaks. “Well that’s market research for you. The young and hip Ava thinks purple will work. I say we move forward with it as it aligns with previous focus groups. If we want to bring some Vegas to
Phoenix,
I agree with
Enzo,
and I vote purple.” An older woman in the group purses her lips but nods in agreement. I boldly add another statement.

“I suppose if purple falls out of favor in a few years, you could add it as an accent piece so it would be easy and inexpensive to swap out with another color. That
way,
you could always follow the trends, if that is the direction you want to go.”

Enzo squeezes my hand and winks. The woman who was pursing her lips a moment ago widens her eyes and smiles.

“Oh I like that. Maybe we go purple and white.” The group launches into a discussion about this new option.

“Miss Bradshaw, that’s
a fantastic idea,” a
nother woman says.

“Maybe you should add her to the payroll Enzo.” The stout man
chuckles,
but I can tell it’s a compliment.

I watch Enzo as he talks to the group. I can tell that they hold him in high esteem even though he’s much younger than anyone else. Every now and
then,
he glances at me and winks or offers a seductive smile. I can’t get over how attractive he is. It shouldn’t be legal really.

When he talks
about work his face lights up and his whole body is involved in the discussion. He’ll be describing an idea for a fixture and grandly gesture with his arm
s
. I know it’s an Italian thing to talk with your
hands,
but it’s also his passion for the topic. If he directs half as much of that passion towards
me,
I’ll be one lucky lady.

“Are you ready to
go,
Ava?” He turns to me and extends his hand.

I take it and stand. “Yes Enzo. I’m ready.”

Enzo walks
so fast to the valet I struggle to keep up. This is the first time I’ve seen his cool demeanor give way to excitement.

“Ava, you have no idea how much you helped me in there. I’ve been trying for three months to convince them to go bold and go with the purple. One word from you and they are sold.” We speed down the highway back to Girasole.

“I’m going to build a Vegas style hotel in downtown Phoenix. We want all the glitz and glamour that people travel there for but generate that excitement here.”

“Would it have a casino?”

“Not yet, we need to work that out still with the state. We are in negotiations. But I think we could do it without the casino. It’s not about the gambling. It’s about the other exciting offerings that Vegas nightlife provides. Even Vegas has luxury hotels now without casinos.
Ava,
I really think you just sealed the deal for me.”

We arrive at the
hotel,
and he practically jumps out of the car. He opens the door for me and pulls me into his arms. Heading into the
lobby,
he walks to the front desk
.
What a revelation to see him so excited.

“Send the best bottle of champagne you have to my room. Prosecco if you have it.” He tells the girl behind the front desk. He is still grinning. 

“You’re coming back to my room.” Enzo announces. We walk across the
courtyard,
and my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. Maybe tonight’s the night.

He opens the door to his
room,
and it’s different. The linens, furniture, even the fixtures.

“This room looks very different than mine.”

“Do you like it? There are five different themed rooms because I couldn’t pick one.” 

His linens are a charcoal
gray,
and all his furniture is dark brown.

“This
one feels
very
masculine. My room definitely has a feminine vibe to it.”

He smiles again.
“You get it Ava. That is exactly it. We try to match our guests to the rooms using that scheme. We have several
gender-neutral
rooms as well, for couples.”

“
T
his is definitely a room for a man.” I run my hands across his bedding.

“Well you’re here now, so it’s a room for both of us. You really impressed me tonight with your ideas about the new hotel. You’re very intuitive.”

“I just know what I like, that’s all.”

“So do I
.” He wraps his hands around my hips, slowly swaying me back and forth to imaginary music. We hear a knock on the door. Room service brings in a cart with chilled Prosecco, two glasses, and a bowl of delectable looking strawberries. Enzo walks to a
table,
and presses play on his iPod, filling the room with romantic music. He lights two candles and turns off the lights in the room. He stands across the room looking at me, his face expressionless. I have no idea what he’s thinking.

I don’t move a muscle. He walks towards me, loosening his tie. He reaches for a strawberry and lifts the red orb to my lips.

“Open.”

I open my mouth and take a bite of the sweet, juicy fruit, keeping my eyes locked on his. He puts the rest of the strawberry in his mouth, chewing slowly. Who knew fruit could be this fucking sexy.

He drops to his knees, completely surprising me.

“These shoes must be tiring. Let me take them off for you.” I place one hand on his shoulder and lift my leg slightly. I watch as he removes my shoe. I’m aware that his face is dangerously close to the hemline of my dress. He removes my other shoe and rubs his face slowly across both my thighs, releasing hot breath as he does. I steady myself on his shoulders, catching my breath. Is he going to do something already? I don’t know if I can take this. He looks up and rises slowly
,
keeping his eyes locked on mine.

“This dress Ava,
is so stunning, so alluring, so perfect for you.”
His words, slow and accented, hang on me like silk.
He runs his fingers over my shoulders and walks slowly behind me. I stand completely still, pretty sure I stopped breathing five minutes ago. He traces his finger down the bareness of my back. I shiver. He pulls me close to him, my back pressed against his front
,
and whispers in my hair.

“Ava, Ava, Ava. You must know how much I want you.” He buries his face in my hair. “You smell so fucking good.”

I close my eye
s, absorbing his closeness
, saying nothing. He turns me around and slides his hands down my back, stopping briefly over my ass and continuing down my thighs. I moan softly.

“Enzo.” My chest rises rapidly as my breathing quickens. I lift my eyes to meet the stunning blue of his. His hands start at my shoulders again
,
running down the length of my body, avoiding my breasts. I start to close my eyes again.

“Open.” I do as he says. His hands run up my
neck
and into my hair as he pulls me towards him for a kiss. I fall into him, allowing his kiss to invade me. I haven’t been touched like this in a long time. No wait. Ever. It’s so sensual, evoking all my senses. It’s almost better than actual sex. He sure knows how to get a girl worked up.

I break away from the kiss. “Enzo. I want you to make love to me.”

He frowns and shakes his head no. No? Is he serious? What is this seduction about?

“Ava.
We need to talk about this.” He paces the room a few times
,
running his fingers through his thick hair.

“I know you don’t understand. I don’t either
entirely,
but I know the right thing to do is to wait and not rush into this.”

“What’s with the big seduction scene then? Why are you teasing me?” I feel tears welling in my eyes. Oh shit, I don’t want to cry.

“You keep saying you like me, you want me. And then you touch me like this. And kiss me like that
.
And then talk about waiting. I don’t get it Enzo.”
I turn away, frustration releasing in the hot tears flowing down my cheeks.

“Ava,
don’t cry. Not over me. Please.”
He gives me a helpless look.

“What is it Enzo? I know there’s more to it. If it’s not
me,
then what is it? You have to tell me.”

“Please sit.” I walk to a chair and sit down. He uncorks the Prosecco and pours us two glasses, then turns the music down a bit. He sits down across from me trying to catch
my eye,
but I look away. I just want to leave.