She's My Sleeping Pill

After shift, Cayenne stayed back inside the employee's lounge to wait for Stefan's message. She was worried with her looks because she was so plain and simple; and she was going to have a dinner with him plus, she will be introduced to someone. It was bothering her so much.

'Ding!' her phone sounded which indicates a message.

Stefan was already waiting for him at the basement of the hotel. He couldn't pick her up in front of the building because many people will see her. Unlike the basement, there were few people and less exposure.

She picked up her bad and walked out of the room, walked to the elevator area to go to the basement. Her heart was beating so fast from nervousness. She will certainly become an embarrassment tonight and Stefan might fire her. Her mind was a complete mess and she didn't know what she can do.

She found his car and got inside as soon as she can. Stefan was sitting at the backseat with a smile on his face. "Why are you so happy?"

"Because you look so troubled." Stefan answered simply with a grin on his face.

Cayenne's mouth twitched and her hands were itching to hit him on his handsome face. As they continued to spend time together, she found out that her boss was really shameless. He was a wolf in a sheep's clothing. At the same time, he didn't really do anything against her principles so, she didn't mind his shamelessness.

"I'm troubled because I will be an embarrassment tonight and I might ruin your reputation and the reputation of your hotel."

Stefan just looked at her without saying anything. "Let's go." He told Chris and ignored Cayenne beside him. Looking at her made him felt restless and his eyes would always wander down to her hand. Cayenne had no issues with being ignored though.

After few minutes, Stefan moved closer to her and whispered, "Ayen, can I hold your hand?"

"Why? We are not sleeping yet."

Stefan averted his eyes from her and looked outside the window beside her. "Uhm. Uh. I just want to assure myself that you are here."

"You are acting weird. Are you okay?" Cayenne whispered back to him. She even placed her hand on his forehead to feel his temperature. "You don't have a fever. So, what's pushing you to make this request?"

"Nothing. It's fine if you don't want to." Stefan mumbled and moved a little farther away from her.

Cayenne looked away from him and raised her hand in front of him. Stefan turned his head to see her but she kept looking on the other side, avoiding the deep gaze he was giving her. Stefan smiled and placed his hand on hers and linked them together. He likes the feeling of her rough hand with his. It was something that tells him that she's real and imperfect like him.

While they were holding hands, he was looking outside the window and Cayenne was doing the same thing. Their cute reactions and expressions were all seen by Chris. A smile on his face couldn't be wiped away. He was happy with the positive changes that Cayenne brings to their boss.

He no longer played with women and he would always come home to see Cayenne. They might not be in relationship but their understanding and connection with each other was more than the people who have been in relationship for years.

Cayenne thought that they're going to the restaurant right after picking her up. However, they stopped in front of a clothing boutique. "What are we going to do here?"

"Dressing you up."

"Do I have to? Can't I go with these normal clothes. Is it wrong if I want to be real in front of the people?"

Stefan squeezed her hand and gave her a faint smile. "This is not about being real or not. I want you to dress up because I don't want anyone to bully you. Only I can bully you and no one else. Everyone should respect you and dressing up is another way to do that. Besides, we're not really meeting a lot of people. I will only introduce you to someone I really look up to. Someone I respect and grateful for."

"Is he a family?" Cayenne asked him while Stefan was looking for a baseball cap to hide her face. Ever since he decided to become friends with her, he kept a box of baseball caps and placed it inside the dashboard box. He wanted to make sure that she's safe from the prying eyes of the citizens.

Stefan found a white cap and helped her wear it. "He is not someone with blood relations to me but he is someone who was acting like a family. At first, we are not really close. He was my classmate back in college and we often compete in class. When I needed help the most, he was the only one who came to help me. This man is really kind just like his wife."

"I didn't expect for you to have some decent and kind friend." Cayenne commented.

"Are you being sarcastic?"

"No, I'm not." Cayenne shook her head while blinking her eyes rapidly. "I have this thought that cold and shameless people will have cold and shameless friends. I didn't know you have a kind friend in your friend's list." She stated frantically while shaking her head.

Stefan looked at her and his wolfish smile appeared on his lips once again. "I think I heard something I wasn't supposed to hear."

"Ha? Did I say something wrong?"

"Nope. I just never realized that I am cold and shameless in your eyes."

"Ah? Oh." Cayenne blushed after realizing her mistake. "It's not what I mean."

"No?"

"I..uh..well, sometimes you are shameless and cold. I guess." Cayenne averted her eyes from looking at him. "But you've been very kind and considerate of me recently. I don't know why you're doing this but it made me happy."

Stefan felt the light tug of his heartstrings and he felt warm. "Let's just get inside the store." He changed their topic and walked towards the store, still holding her hand with his.

People knew of him and when they arrived, most of the sales ladies looked at them. They looked at him for a few seconds and shifted their eyes to Cayenne. Their stares stayed on her.

"It's rude to look at my partner for a very long time." Stefan commented and pulled Cayenne closer to him. "I need a VIP room for her."

"Yes, sir. Let me assist you with it." One of the sales ladies responded and led them to the innermost room of the boutique.

The other attendants who were left outside gossiped after they disappeared. 

"Wow! For the first time, he's bringing someone to a VIP room and he didn't even show her face to us. Is she the rumored lady recently?"

"Probably. She has the same body building with the woman in the photos."

"Right. Is he keeping her for real? He seems protective of her and no one from the media companies make news or gossips about them."

"At least, no more playing with women's hearts. He should stop breaking their hearts."

"No, you're wrong. He didn't break their hearts. He just broke their bodies and cores. They were never in love. Women got involved with him for money not for any emotional values."

"I guess you have a point."

The gossiping between employees continued while Stefan looked for dressed that Cayenne can wear. He had so many choices but most of the clothes were revealing and exposes a lot of skin. He didn't like them.

"Can you look for something with long sleeves and a knee-length skirts? I want something a little conservative yet elegant. I don't want these things that reveals too much of her body parts."

Cayenne remained standing beside him while he picked clothes after clothes to see if they look good on her. "Thanks for being considerate."

"Hmp! I just don't want you to think that I'm cold and shameless."

Cayenne bit her lower lip to stop herself from chuckling. She didn't expect to see this childish side of him. He was even sulking just because of that little slip up.

"Alright. I'm sorry for what I have said but I was just being honest to you. That was really my impression at first."

"Fine. I'll forgive you if you promise to do something for me."

"Sure. But, I won't be stripping naked in front of you. I won't shower with you and no kissing."

"Never mind."

"Hey! Were you planning to do one of those?" Cayenne asked with obvious shock on her face. "You can't be real!"

"I was thinking of getting a kiss from you."

"Which part?"

"On my face."

Cayenne contemplated for a moment. "No. I refused. You can ask me something else."

Stefan thought for another request from her. "Then, let's go and have a date next time."

"Deal."

"A date like a real couple. Remember that."