NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: Can't Wait to See You
The days went by like normal at work. Katherine and Damien remained professional whenever they're doing business. Since there were only a few days left until the opening, they were both pretty much busy but Damien didn't shy away from taking care of her after work hours.
After last Monday's kiss on the forehead, he did not do anything else except held her hands. He kept his promise to himself that he wasn't going to do anything more than that without her permission. He wanted to make sure that she wasn't feeling pressured so he held himself back.
May 18th, Friday
The day of the new resort's opening came and apart from the ribbon cutting in the morning, there will be a formal event in the evening.
Damien and Katherine were still in the city as they had a prior meeting scheduled in the afternoon. And as soon as it ended, the two of them returned to the Crown Hotel.
"We still have three hours to prepare. Go back to your place and get changed. I will pick you up later," Damien told Katherine when the car came to a stop by the entrance.
Nodding, Katherine got out of the car and headed towards the penthouse. She was feeling sticky from moving about the whole day and felt a bit tired so she decided to pamper herself and soaked in the bath for twenty minutes.
After her bath, she dried her hair and went to pick out an outfit from her closet. There really wasn't much for her to choose from but there were still a few dresses Damien gave her that she would normally wear in the office. She regretted not buying a dress for herself for the occasion but it wasn't like she was a guest there — she will still be Damien's secretary so there was no reason for her to wear a formal one, right?
Just as she was in a dilemma, the doorbell rang. Confused, she looked at the time and saw that there were still two hours before Damien was supposed to arrive. Securely covering herself with a bathrobe, she went to the main door and pressed a button on a device. "Who is it?" she asked.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Miller. There's a delivery for you from the President," A male's voice said.
"A delivery?" Confused, she opened the door and found the General Manager carrying a garment bag in his hand. "Mr. Chu?"
"Hello, Ms. Miller. Here, this is for you." Mr. Chu handed the garment bag to her and Katherine absentmindedly received it. "Have a good evening," he said before leaving.
Katherine closed the door and curiously looked at the bag before she unzipped it. As soon as the color of the dress revealed, her mouth formed into an O and her heart pounded. "Oh my…"
The blue evening dress that she had tried on a few days ago with Damien was right in front of her. Just then, her phone beeped and she immediately read the text message from him.
[King Damien: I forgot how perfect you look in that dress. Remind me again and wear it tonight. Can't wait to see you later.]
A bashful grin formed on her lips upon reading his text. She decided not to reply so she closed her phone and brought the dress to her bedroom.
Opening a drawer, Katherine took out a small box and held it in her hand. She opened it and touched the black textured bowtie sitting prettily in it. Because of what she did to his tie the last time, she figured that she should buy him a new one to replace it. After contemplating, she decided to get him a bowtie for that night's event instead.
Almost two hours later, the doorbell rang again and Katherine was all groomed and ready to face Damien.
She opened the door and slowly looked up to see a striking Damien Park standing in front of her looking ever so debonair in his tuxedo — she almost forgot to breathe.
"Hey…" he said first.
The corner of her lips curled up as she replied, "Hi…"
"You look beautiful, Ms. Miller."
"Thank you," she replied. "And you look as dashing as ever, President Park."
Her gaze landed on the color of the handkerchief that was neatly folded in style in his front pocket. She looked down at her dress and back to it, realizing that they matched. Her cheeks blushed and she clutched the small box in her hand.
"What's that in your hand?" he asked.
"Oh, this..." Katherine hid the box behind her. "It's nothing…"
'He already looks perfect. He wouldn't need it anymore,' she told herself.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" he probed.
"Of course, please come in, Boss," just as she turned to the side, Damien snatched the small box in her hand and opened it. "Wait– Ah…" She curled her hand away and lowered it.
"Is this for me?"
"Yeah, I just… thought that I should…"
Before she could finish explaining, Damien had already untied his black bowtie and kept it in his pocket before he turned to face her. "I'd like to wear it."
"But–"
"I didn't like my tie. I like this one better," he said, referring to the bowtie that Katherine bought for him.
Nodding, Katherine fixed the bowtie on him, tying it perfectly in place and patting it after. "Boss…" she muttered and looked up at him.
"Hmmm?"
"Can we talk after the party tonight? I want to tell you something," she bravely said and Damien understood what she meant.
Straightening up, he formed a charming smile on his lips and held his arm out for her. "We need to leave now. Shall we go, Ms. Miller?"
With a bright smile on her face, she nodded. Katherine hooked her arms with his and the two of them headed towards the resort's evening party.