“Huh. So, not what we expected, was he?”
Lauren smiled to herself at the many ways that comment was true. “Not so much, no. Come on, Kay. Let’s go reassure the troops.”
As they walked to the elevator, Kayla asked, “Drinks after we clear things out? I feel like I need something to take the edge off.”
Lauren hesitated. “I would, but I, um, have plans.”
Kayla took two steps then stopped suddenly. “What plans?”
Lauren didn’t answer, and Kayla peered closer at her. “Who, exactly, are these plans with? A certain billionaire who just bailed us out?”
“They might be.”
“He’s making you go out with him? That jerk! I take back every nice thing I thought about him just now.” Kayla was all but yelling.
Lauren put a calming hand on her friend’s arm. “I want to go out with him, Kay. I really do. I want more, too, but my mom would be furious, so I’m going to have one awesome date and then let him go.”
“Just like that?” Kayla asked.
“Sure. Just like that.”
She said it so confidently she almost believed it.
Once she and Kayla knew that everything was taken care of, Lauren rushed home to get ready for her date. Greg was handling the transfer into the payroll account and, after going through the books with a fine-tooth comb, had assured Lauren that the stolen money was the only financial problem BingeWatch had.
Lauren had held a short all-hands meeting at the end of the day to talk to her employees. She had reminded them that it was how they reacted to challenges that defined them as individuals and as a team, not the fact that they faced challenges. She had encouraged them to pull together and emphasized that the problem was with one person, not a department. She’d been gratified when several employees stopped her after the meeting to tell her thank you.
She had promised Kayla that she would leave her phone on, just in case.
Every time she’d spent time with Hakim, she’d been wearing that terrible maid’s uniform or travel clothes or something more work appropriate. That night, she wanted to knock his socks off, so she picked out her favorite dress, the one with a deep V-neckline and almost no back. She left her hair down in artfully messy waves and added gold jewelry. Taking a quick look at herself, she changed earrings and then nodded at herself in the mirror; if she only got one date with him, it was going to be a good one.
Hakim picked her up right on time. Lauren didn’t even give him time to knock on the door before she had it open. He was carrying a giant bouquet of pink and white daisies, which he handed to her quickly.
“I thought about flowers and chocolate, but I didn’t want to appear over-eager,” he said grinning.
“They’re lovely.” Lauren breathed in the smell of the flowers, holding them carefully. “Let me put them in some water and I’ll be ready to go.”
When she came back, she was carrying a wrap that matched her emerald-green dress and tucking her phone into a small clutch purse. “Okay, I’m good.”
“Yes, you are that.”
A note in Hakim’s voice made her look up sharply. His look of open admiration sent a thrill through her. She smiled a little shyly and he shook his head.
“I don’t think I’ve said this out loud before, but you are a stunningly beautiful woman, Lauren Sanders. And tonight, I think you outshine the stars.”
Spontaneously, Lauren leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
Seeming a bit nonplussed, Hakim escorted her out to his car and helped her into the passenger seat. “Dinner first, if that’s all right?”
Lauren nodded. “Sounds good. For what it’s worth, I’ve barely eaten all day.”
“In that case, let’s get going.”
By now, she was used to Hakim’s extravagant gestures, so it wasn’t that surprising when they pulled up in front of one of the most exclusive restaurants in Los Angeles. Lauren had always wanted to eat here—the chef was a culinary legend—but it was one of those places that she would have felt weird showing up to eat at by herself. And the vibe was romantic enough that eating here with a group of friends didn’t sound like that much fun.
They were led all the way through the restaurant to a table set on a dais off to one side. Sheer curtains interspersed with chains of giant glass beads fell in long drapes behind a long-backed booth, giving the space a romantic, intimate feel, but at the same time showing them one of the best views in the house.
Being Los Angeles, dinner was as much theater as it was a meal. The wine was presented with a flourish, the meal with a choreographed staging that rivaled Olympic-caliber synchronized swimmers, and their dessert was actually on fire. The chef deserved every bit of praise he got, and Lauren told him so when he came out to their table to say hello.