“Well, how much is it?” Talia asked, turning the bottle in circles as she searched for a price tag.
“Oh, just go to the customer service counter. Tell them Benjamin sent you,” he smiled, hoping the kind gesture would go over well with Katherine. Unfortunately, she didn’t reward him with a smile, choosing instead to watch her friend Talia with amusement dancing on her pink lips.
Talia went on and on about what types of wine she prefers and explaining the sales that Hendrick’s usually has. Ben was more focused on memorizing every detail of her face, like the small brown mole just above her left eyebrow.
She was stunning, and Ben was happy to have the attention off of him so he could stare without apology. When Talia finally paused for a breath, Katherine turned to face him, and Ben felt the wind leave his lungs. It was a vulnerability he had never experienced before, and all from looking into her eyes.
“It was nice to meet you, Katherine,” he extended his hand again, eager to feel the softness of her hand.
“Same to you,” she offered a small smile this time, her voice still weak and unsure.
“And you as well, Talia,” he turned his attention to the rambunctious redhead.
“Thanks, Ben! Come by the bakery for another variety dozen,” she winked. He had wondered if the woman recognized him, and he was happy to learn that she had. Katherine was beginning to make him believe women didn’t notice him anymore.
Walking away, he heard the giggles behind him and thought there might be a chance for him to salvage something with Katherine. While he was certain he had put his foot in his mouth, he knew there was still a chance to get her attention, in a good way.
Careful not to be spotted, Ben watched Talia and Katherine from a distance as they went about their shopping before heading towards the checkout. He watched them complete their transaction before continuing to do the small shopping he came in for.
While he might have been strolling through the pasta aisle, his mind was anywhere but on dinner. Rachel, his oldest friend and assistant, had gotten into his head with her accusations. All he could think was that he had in fact become too committed to work, leaving little to no time for anything else, and that maybe he had become the ‘boring tycoon’ she had alluded to.
Success had never scared Benjamin, and everyone around him was fast to remark about how it had not changed him. Ben liked to think he was still in touch with normal society, despite the exceptional privileges his wealth afforded him.
For the first time in his life, he felt different. When he was around Katherine, he felt like there was something wrong with him. Much more than nerves, he found it nearly impossible to spark a conversation with her, stumbling over words and embarrassing himself like never before.
After deciding on a meal, Benjamin made his way to the checkout before heading home. He still had plans for work, which now made him feel guiltier. The more he thought of it, the more he had to admit that he never truly left the office, always bringing work home with him.
Driving through the city, he began to wonder what a different life would look like. It had been so long since he shared his life with anyone, he questioned if he could even be a good boyfriend now. Pulling down his street, he had to laugh at the outrageous thoughts rushing through his mind.
The way he had gone from finding a way to talk to a mysterious girl, to wondering about their compatibility was more than desperate. He was getting way ahead of himself, especially considering that Katherine had done everything she could to make it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.
For now, he figured his best plan was to apologize formally. He would need to make a grand gesture if he had any chance to make things right with her and finally get the date he had been trying for. Somehow, he had to show her that he was just a normal guy worthy of her time. There was no way he could back down without a fight.
Katherine had no idea who she was dealing with. The benefit to working so much was that Benjamin was an extremely good negotiator and masterful at cleaning up messes. All he had to do was apply the same skills that made him so successful in the board room, only this time it would be for Katherine. It was all for Katherine.
Chapter Nine
Katherine
“THAT WAS DELICIOUS, Talia!” Katherine exclaimed after finishing her last bite.
“Pesto is the easiest dish ever! I’ll write the recipe out for you,” Talia smiled, beaming with pride.
The two women had shared a chicken pesto pasta, with salad and breadsticks. After unpacking the box marked with ‘kitchen’ in bold black marker, Talia began cooking while Katherine continued to unpack, organizing the cabinets with glasses and dinnerware.
Katherine was finally feeling like her old self again, thanks in some ways to the wine. She had unwound a bit, pouring one glass after another until they had gone through two bottles of the expensive wine Ben recommended.
“How about you just come over and make it whenever I order?” Katherine teased, laughing at her own joke as Talia joined in.
“This is such a cute place, Katherine,” Talia admired, glancing around the small apartment.
“Thanks. It’ll feel more like home once I get everything unpacked,” she giggled, before taking the last sip of her wine.
“Yes, it’s time to get back on the job,” Talia decided, as she carefully placed their dirty dishes in the sink. Having taken a break for dinner, they had gotten pretty far behind on the unpacking.
“How long have you worked at A Slice of Sicily?” Katherine asked. It was a basic question she’d wondered since her first day at the bakery, but for some reason had never asked.
Being on the run, Katherine was always very secretive, unsure of who to trust. Her own secrecy had made her believe others wanted the same privacy. Luckily for her, Talia was an open book and appeared to have no problem with her prying.