The following chapters are something to look forward to..
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"Okay, I'm done." I say checking myself in the mirror. The white cocktail dress from Prada was just the right choice. Along with the black Louboutin shoes, I look appropriate for the event. My hair is up rather messy up-do. My diamond earrings are sparkling in the light of the sun which shines into the bedroom. I take one last breath before I walk out of the bedroom and into the living room.

He is sitting on the couch, watching the waves crashing against each other through the window.

"Come on, we have to get going." I say and his head turn around.

He smiles softly before he gets up, "You're not done yet."

"What? Should I change? It's the dress isn't it? I should have picked out another color! Or cut. It's the cut, isn't it? Way too sexy for such an event, isn't it? Or is it the earrings? Maybe I should-" his index finger stops me from continuing.

"What you need is a hat."

"A hat?" I ask him confused. Why would I need a hat? It's hot outside!

"Yes. Women wear hats to these events. That's the most important part of your outfit." He explains and turn me around. "Pick one." He says as I notice the collection of hats lying on the kitchen table.

I walk over to them and look at each hat very closely. " Do I have to pick one?!"

"Yes."

"But they are all ugly!" I protest.

He laughs softly before he gets up, "It's a dress code, Maine. Now, pick one. We don't want to be late."

I sigh as I pick up a black crinoline fascinator with feathers, "Fine.Let's go."

"It's ugly."

"It's not ugly. Not when you wear it, Maine." He says to me before he takes my hand and leads me out of the suite.

"I can't believe you talked me into wearing rhis stupid hat. I can't eveb see through this black crinoline!" I say as we both get out the limousine.

"They are all wearing such hats." He says, taking my heaf and walking with me over to the turf accountant. I notice that all eyes ate on him as we lowly walk through the swathed meadow. Then I notice that they are not only staring at him- they are staring at me as well, since all eyes seem to move to him, then to our laced fingers and up to me.

He was right. All women are wearing those stupid and ugly hats. Lots of them are even bigger than mine is. I have absolutely no idea how they can bare having so much weight on their heads! And some are even uglier than mine is. Which I didn't think was possible to be honest.

"I can't believe this is your world." I whisper to him as we pass a couple of tables.

"Why? Because there are only couples around?"

"No. Because all women are wearing thise ugly hats." I say as we reach a wooden door. A waiter stands in front of it and smiles as he sees us, "Mr. Faulkerson, how nice to have you here again." He says and helds the door open for us.

"Nice to be here again, Tony."

"The usual, sir?" He asks him.

Richard nodds before we walk into the cabin with enormous window, which offer the perfect view of the racetrack.

I sit down on a chair, my eyes focused on the racetrack. It kind of is amazing, yeah. "Is this your private cabin?"

"Do I really have to answer this question?"

No, I guess. "Which two horses are your's?" I ask him  as I see the horses walking to the racetrack.

"The black one--Abbey--and the bright brown one--Randy." he explains pointing on the window to show me exactly which one he mean. Number one and two.

I nodd, "They seem like they fit."

"I have special trainers who keep them fit. It's their job." He says to me before tbe door opens again.

Tony, the waiter, walks in, holding a bottle of campaign. He fills up two glasses with the sparkling liquid.

I look up at Tony, "Uhm, is it possible to get me a glass of water?"

"Of course, Miss." Tony says to me before leaving.

"This is an excellent champaign."

"I'm sure it is, Mr. Faulkerson. I just rather skip the alcohol." I say to him and smile politely.

"Has that something to do with your stay at the hospital?"

I bite my lip, "Yes. Actually it does. No alcohol, today."

"Okay....." He says sounding worried.

Tony walks in again and places the glass water on the table, before he leaves again.

Before I can say another word a loud appears and the horses start running downthe racing track. At first a white horse with the numbet 24 on the side leads. The other horse with the number 24 on the side leads. The other horses seem to be far behind the white beauty. I feel my pulse rising. This is pure adrenaline. Pure insecurity. These feelings are amazing. It's the perfect mixture.

Suddenly number two starts to run faster, being the leader now. Even number one passes the white beauty, making it now a race between colleagues. After about 30 seconds the race is over, number two won.

"Yes!" I say like someone who just won in the lottery.

Richard smiles satisfied.

"We won!" I say hugging him. I feel his tensed body around my arms for a second before I release my arms from his body. It took him by surprise.

"Indeed. We just won about 200."

"200 $!" I ask him shocked. Just like that?!"

He smiles softly and places his hands around my cheeks, "No 200 thousand dollar, Maine."

my chin falls down, "What?!"

"This is a horserace. A horserace of the upper class. 200 thousand dollar are like twenty dollars. It doesn't really matter who wins or who loses."

"But we won."

"Yes Maine, we won." he says before kissing me softly.

I return his kiss but let go as soon as the very same sound appears. My head turns to the race track again and I see that number one is racing again.

"It's such a beautiful horse...." I say  amazed by the beauty of this horse as it start racing against eight other horses. It leads the race by far, leaving the other horses meters away. I feel the same mixture of feelings as before. Pure adrenaline. Pure insecurity. And then I feel something like warmth, as I feel his strong chest against my back and his arms around my waist. "It's your beautiful horse." he whispers into my ear and I look up into his eyes.

"What?"

"I brought this horse for you."

I shake my head, "Oh no, you didn't just-"

"Yes, I did. It's yours. This horse is yours."

"Richard, with all due respect, you can't give me a horse as a present. I can't take that from-" his index finger stops me from talking once more.

"You can't give it back. It's a present from me to you."

"But I--"

"No buts, Maine." he say and smile lightly at me.

I sigh, you can't say anything against this smile. "Thank you."

"That's what I wanted to hear. It's hard to get thank you out of your mouth, you know."

I laugh softly, "I can't refuse you anything."

He fondles my cheek and locks eyes with me. Such a beautiful color.

"But I can't even ride a horse." I confess, still staring in his eyes.

He kisses me softly before he takes my hand.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going to show you how to ride a horse."

"Now?!" I ask him suprised. The sound appears again, "But the race isn't over yet!"

"It is for us." he says as we leave the cabin.

"What about the after-party?"

He laughs. " You have no idea what to wear to a horse race, but you know that there's an after-party?"

"Well, there's always an after-party. It's a logical conclusion."

He nods, "Well we either attend the after-party or go horse riding. Your choice."

"My choice?"

"Yes. I am going to do what you want, Miss Mendoza."

Tough choice. Stay here with all these crazy people and ugly hats or go away with him and ride amazing horses. "Let's go." I say to him smiling.

hmmmm.. what would Maine choose?????... stay tune..
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