Birthday Surprise

Sitting in his 2021 matte black Audi R8 waiting for Sam to arrive he could feel the nerves building. She is breaking her own rule by going out with him and he’s taking that very seriously.

Sam never called Steven back. She texted her acceptance to the birthday party invitation. He texted her back the time, address and dress code. Happy she is accompanying him but still distraught how their conversation ended.

Steven sees Sam’s 1970 powder blue Fiat pull into the parking lot. He gets out of his car to greet her as she parks. Steven giggled watching Sam stepping out of her car. As she comes around the car and walk toward him he freezes to the spot, and tried to drink her in. He'd never seen her dressed for an evening out. Her mini black deep V front cocktail dress with floral crochet long sleeves and Louis Vuitton stilettos with the signature crimson soles to match was almost too much to process. Her hair whipped on top of her head in a loose bun with strategic renegade curls tumbling around her face.

“What is this?” Sam points at his car and their location. Only ever seeing him take a town car everywhere, she didn’t know he owned his own.

“This is my weekend car,” he turned to the left and looked at his toy. He knew it was a bit much but he loved cars and going fast. It made for an entertaining commute to his dads every weekend. “And, this is our transportation to the party,” Steven waved his arm to the right revealing the helicopter as it sputtered to life.

“Where exactly is this party?” Sam cocked her head to the side.

“Leeds Castle,” Steven said as he took his suit jacket off and put it around Sam’s shoulders to protect her from the helicopters rotational wind and guided her to board the aircraft.

Sam was enthralled with the entire ride. She pointed out familiar structures as they flew over. Big Ben still covered for restoration. The London Eye as it slowly took lovers up for a birds eye view of the river and city. The Shard where their office was sitting dark and quiet waiting for them to return Monday morning. Steven enjoyed watching the excitement on her face as she tried to communicate with him over the noise of the rotors. The noise attenuating aviation headsets helped but not entirely.

After the ride, standing on the front lawn leading to the castle entrance, Steven smirked as he saw Sam’s hair. Her perfectly quaffed bun was now barely hanging on to the back of her head. He walked up and asked her to turn around. Removing the once strategically placed bobby pins her hair fell around her shoulders. “I hope you don’t mind,” he said, “but your beautiful hair didn’t survive the ride as well as you’d probably like. I’m going to take these little metal sticks out of your hair so you don’t have to face a room full of strangers looking like you wrestled a bear.”

He came back around to face Sam. “There, much better,” he said. She took off his jacket holding it open for him to slide into.

“I guess if you help style my hair the least I can do is help you redress.” They laughed. Steven held up his bent arm and Sam slid her hands around his solid bicep. Walking toward the castle Sam couldn’t help herself, “the last time we were at a castle you almost got us arrested maybe let’s make it less thrilling tonight, shall we?” She looked in his soft blue eyes and gave him a half smile.

“No promises.”

Entering the castle felt like a fairytale. The soft glowing chandeliers accentuated to the ambiance. Steven watched as Sam tried to take it all in. He ushered her into the ballroom and over to the birthday boy who was really a man. Introducing Sam to Garth they reminisced over boyhood mischief they never got caught for, and some they did. Sam smiled seeing Steven so relaxed. She’d never seen him teasing someone before. He’s always so serious and professional. He really has an amazing sense of humor.

Steven held up his bent arm again once the conversation died down. “Would you like to dance?”

“I would love to,” taking his arm as he led her to the center of the floor surrounded by hundreds of party strangers. Coming face-to-face, Steven took Sam's left hand wrapping his right hand around to the small of her back and instantly stiffened. Flesh, all he felt was velvety flesh. He removed his hand and went up to the top of her back, still flesh. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable he kept searching for fabric to rest his hand on. He lowered his hand to her butt. Fumbling through his memory he couldn’t recall ever seeing the dress was backless.

Recognizing his growing tension Sam reached for his hand and placed it back on the small of her back. “It’s okay right here.” Half way through the song Steven loosened up and swayed naturally to the slow rhythm. He looked down at the distance between them and with the next few steps pulled her closer and closer till their bodies were an inch apart and moving as one. Her skin was so soft in his hand. He moved his fingers back and forth to feel the smoothness again. Sam arched her back pressing into Steven. She let out a subtle moan and he tensed up again. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m just a little ticklish.”

No more surprises the rest of the evening he hoped. Wrapping his head around her outfit he was able to relax and dance the rest of the evening without any other awkward moments. Hitting the Cinderella hour, they headed back to the helicopter. The ride back was less site seeing and more chatting and laughing.

Being a gentleman, he walked around the chopper, opened her door, took her hand and helped her step onto the landing pad. He didn’t let go of her hand until they reached Sam’s tiny car. She removed his jacket from her shoulders again and handed it back. “Thank you,” she said. “That would’ve been freezing without your chivalry. As you probably know since you weren’t prepared with a jacket for yourself.” She gave him another one of her half smiles. They both stood looking into each other’s eyes before Sam broke the silence.

“I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

“I was surprised you broke your "no dating coworker" rule”. He made air quotes as he said the words.

“About that, there’s something I need to tell you before we go.” She looked down at her feet and took an almost imperceptible step backward. “I was contacted by my former boss a couple weeks ago. He asked if I was ready to come back.”

“To New York?” Steven’s brows furrowed. “What did you say?”

"I said yes,” she continued to look down. Silence. She could sense he was processing this recent turn of events. “I will have my resignation on your desk Monday morning.” She turned and fumbled in her purse for her keys. Before the keys found the keyhole Steven reached down and grabbed her hand. She looked up into his beautiful eyes as he pulled her to him. Wrapping one arm around her back, he placed his hand on the small of her back again, intentionally he rubbed his fingers up her spin causing her to arch her back into his heaving chest. With his other hand he ran his fingers along her jaw line up into her hair. Looking down her face he guided her lips to his. Pulling away he looked into her chocolate eyes.

“What,” she whispered breathlessly. “What was that for?”

“You just told me I’m no longer your boss.”

“I should,” still whispering, “I should go.” She turned toward her car fumbling with the keys. Missing the keyhole three times before sliding turning the key and opening the door. Sam stopped and looked at Steven before getting in. “Goodbye Steven St. George”.