DANTE

Leaving the elevator with a few of her workmates she stopped in her tracks seeing him standing at the entrance in a suite that was tailored to perfection just for him.
"Sweetie you never told me you had a thing for chocolate, specifically caramel," Persia, her desk mate purred looking at Dante.
"What? I don't even know why he is here. I only met the man today."
"The way he is looking at you says otherwise sweetie. Enjoy," she said with a wink as she rushed after the others leaving her at the entrance.

"Belle," he said holding out his hand for her.
"Mr Prince," she breathed as he handed her a rose. "What are you doing here?"
"Why to take you home of course, why else?" He said as their door was opened.
"Good evening Dillon," she greeted him as he held the door open for her.
"Good evening ma'am," he said politely.
This time he sat beside her in the Rolls Royce forcing her to feel his warmth.

"How was your day?" He asked as she looked ahead confused.
"It was...good," she said softly turning to face him with a small smile. "Yours?"
"Mine is perfect now," he said reaching out to push a stray strand of hair back looking into her dark eyes as his finger trailed down her cheek before he pulled away. They sat in silence for a few more minutes.

"Belle," he said bringing her out of her thoughts. "Please join me for dinner this evening," he said.
"Why?"
"Because I enjoy your presence," he said with a pleading look.
"How can you enjoy my presence when we have only known each other for what, a few hours?"
"Then please do me the honor of prolonging that time," he said with a charming smile.
"I will need to talk with my mother first." At the mention of my mother I saw anger flare in his eyes but he quickly shielded it with a smile taking my hand in his. I don't know why I even let him take my hand, he was invading my personal space with a great force I could not withstand. The next thing I knew he was rubbing soothing circles, it was as though he knew the dread I was feeling of speaking with mother about my plans this evening.

Leaning back into the seat I prayed all would go well and my mother would not cause any problems. Being a product of my fathers affair I knew why she hated me so much, even my other siblings didn't like me, saying I was the reason behind our fathers death. But he had died from the stress they had caused him. He always took care of me, and for twenty four years he was my only family, well besides my grandfather who rarely visited since his death. Mother had poisoned everyone else against me.

Pulling up to the house the doors swung open once the gateman saw me. Leading the way up the front steps the door swung open revealing my mother in all her glamour as she smiled at me, most likely because of the man beside me.
"Mrs Waters," he said in a deep voice, giving her a slight bow not taking her outstretched hand.
"Good day young man," she said with a smile ushering them in as Dillon followed closely behind.

---------

As Dante took a seat Vivian said, "Get us some tea Belle," as she took her seat.
"Please excuse me," she said running out the room.
Returning with a tray, she looked at him seeing he had an unreadable expression as his eyes followed her every movement. About to leave once more he stopped her indicating she take a seat next to him. Sitting down beside him, she reached out to serve them the tea handing a cup to her mother then him.
Taking a sip his eyes never left her before he gave her an appreciative smile for the beverage making her blush. He then turned to her mother.
"Mrs Waters, I would like your daughter to accompany me to dinner this evening."
"Which of my daughters," she beamed.
"Belle," he simply stated seeing her smile fall.
"Oh, of course," she said throwing daggers in her direction.

"Shall we?" He said rising to his feet holding out his hand.
Taking his hand she said, "I need to freshen up and change."
With a slight nod of his head he allowed her to go freshen up as he sat down once more. Beth the youngest daughter walked in and he soon regretted sitting down once more as she openly threw herself at him. Politely turning her down she left the room fuming. He was relieved when Belle returned sooner than expected wearing a simple floral dress her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail.

Walking up to her he pulled of her hairband letting her hair cascade down her back freely. Pushing a few strands behind her ear he smiled revealing a white rose in his hand before he tucked it behind her ear. "Beautiful," he whispered taking her hand in his leaving her mother standing, looking beyond angry.
"You will stay with me tonight, so your mother cools off," he said once they were in the car.
She didn't object knowing once she returned she would be in trouble with Vivian.

"I thought we were going for dinner," she asked him as they stopped in front of a clothing store.
"Yes we are," he said stepping out of the car holding out his hand for her and never letting it go.
Walking into the store they found several woman looking over clothing items.
Looking over the dresses together he couldn't help but smile as she frowned upon the price tags.
"Which one is less expensive?" She said ever so softly looking at the beautiful dresses such that only he heard.
Turning to a group of ladies close to them he did the unexpected.

"Ladies may you please assist us, my wife and I would like your opinion on which dress would suite her," he said taking her hand into his.
She looked at him shocked as the woman moved forward to look at their choices. He left her in their hands going over to the shoes section and the gentlemen's section.
"You are so lucky. I wish my husband would accompany me shopping one of these days. He must really love you, knowing how shopping with a woman can be," one of them said as the others agreed. Handing her several dresses to try on they sent her on her way. She stepped out of the changing room searching for Dante spotting him as he was talking with the ladies about which shoes would go with either one of the dresses they had selected.

Looking in her direction he stopped talking as he looked at her, his expression unreadable as he walked towards her before emotion flickered across his face once he was in front of her.
"Is this one okay?"
"Perfect," he said pulling her into a seat before going down on his knees as he gently lifted her foot resting it on his knee to slip the black heel on the sole of her foot, paying the same attention to the other foot.
She heard a sigh come from the woman who had helped her as they looked on. Looking at him he seemed to not even have noticed this, too engrossed on the task at hand. His warm hand took her other foot as he slipped the heel on before helping her up in the dark blue gown.

"Give me a minute," he said as Dillon walked into the store with a bag.
The way he was looking at her brought color to her cheeks as she looked away from him embarrassed as they had an audience.
"Please look at me Belle," he whispered standing in front of her. "Tonight is all about you. Whatever you want will be yours just don't look away from me," he said looking into her black orbs.

Walking around her, she felt something cold settle on her neck only to gasp seeing the large diamond resting on her neck.
"Dante," she said as tears welled up in her eyes. "Why are doing this?"
He simply looked at her, focusing on placing the earnings on her earlobes. Fastening a bracelet on her wrist she heard it click before he said, "You can never remove this even if you wanted to."
Looking at the diamond studded bracelet she looked worried. He left her for a few minutes heading to the gentleman's section of the store returning in a tux.

Forgetting about her work and home troubles she slowly loosened up always remaining at his side once they arrived at their dinner venue.
"Why are people staring at us?"
"They are looking at you beautiful," he whispered into her ear making her blush. The twinkle in his eyes was back once more as he led her to their table.
"You finally approached her," they heard someone say.
Turning to look at who had said that, Belle stood rooted in place looking at another Dante.

"You were right brother, she really is beyond beauty," he said making her blush.
"Draco," I heard Dante growl making me giggle at the fact that he was embarrassed.
"Enjoy the evening sis. Now I know why you asked uncle Oliver to throw this dinner," he said the last part to Dante walking away.
"You really need to loosen up Mr Prince," she said.
"Only when you call me by my name."
"Very well Dante," she said as their food arrived.

Everyone took their seats on the round tables and she realized that they were alone on their table as he sat beside her. Food was brought to them in an instant. He picked out the delicate meats placing them on her plate for her to sample seeing to her needs first.
"This is very delectable," she murmured before sipping her glass of grape juice refusing wine since she had to go to work the following day.
"So why are you taking a simple girl like myself out for a dinner party when there are surely many women competing for your attention," she said scanning the room to see several women staring in their direction.
"I don't want those plastic dolls," he chuckled.
"Oh my goodness did Mr grumpy just laugh," she gasped seeing his lips twitch as he held himself from laughing some more. He really needed to loosen up.

"Mr grumpy?"
"You should have seen yourself, even my mother a woman who is always talking looked lost trying to look for a topic to discuss with you when I left you."
"I didn't even want to talk with her, but you just had to leave me with her," he grumbled.
She mimicked him as he burst into laughter.
"I do not sound like that," he guffawed.
Signaling Dillon over she asked him, "Please help me with something Dillon. And don't even look at your boss."
Mimicking him once more she said, "True or false he sound exactly like that."

Dillon looked nervous nodding his head yes when Dante wasn't looking before nodding no when he turned to him quickly leaving their table with a smile.
"See," he said. "I am not grumpy."
"That's just because he works for you," she said seeing him smile.
Reaching for her glass she found it empty only for him to signal over a waiter.
"The next time her glass is empty you will answer to me," he growled scaring the waiter away.
The look he saw on Belle's face told him he had just made a mistake as she stood up leaving him. Standing up quickly he followed after her as she stepped out on the balcony.

"Forgive me Belle," he said once he reached her.
The surprise on Dillon's face clearly told her he had never apologized to anyone before.
"Please take me home," she said shivering. The way he had spoken to that young waiter clearly reminded her of the way her mother spoke to her whenever they had guests. She had to help the staff whilst her siblings enjoyed themselves, her life was a Cinderella type of situation.
"Belle," he said taking a step closer to her as tears slowly ran down her cheeks.
"Mr Prince please just take me home," she whispered no longer trusting her voice. Using a back entrance they left the function in silence. He looked troubled as she stepped out of the car, refusing any help from him.

Pulling out of the driveway he turned to look back seeing her disappear into the old victorian house.
Dillon remained silent giving his boss some time to think over his actions. He liked the young miss, she was the only woman he had seen make her boss smile, which was very rare since he only laughed with his brother and mother only.