“Are you okay?”
Bruno’s voice cuts into her thoughts.
She looked up and met his gaze; he looked genuinely worried about her.
Maybe she is just overthinking all this; all this kindness is just more than she hoped for.
Why will he be so kind to her?
Is he this kind to everyone else?
“Beauty…?”
Beauty’s heart leaped, and she blinked back to reality.
“Yes… yes sir… I… am okay… thanks for the raincoat.”
Beauty replied nervously.
“You don’t have to thank me for it.”
Bruno replied softly.
Beauty nodded, holding her breath. It wasn’t intentional; it was a reflex action to hand over her arm, holding her close to him like a gentleman.
She so much wished it to be her waist instead, but that may likely be possible in another life.
Together, they walked towards the parking lot in silence.
Beauty wondered if she should ask him for a ride.
But it’s probably a bad idea; her parents will have questions, thousands and thousands of questions.
Also, the possibility that he would say no is much higher; he will reject her request.
“Sorry, I don’t carry big whales in my car, you are too fat and ugly.”
She shook her head vigorously.
“That doesn’t sound like him, however, I shouldn’t dream too big.”
The rain continued to pour heavily, but the umbrella kept them both dry—well, mostly Beauty… Bruno was soaked wet, even his hair.
When they reached the parking lot.
Mr. Bruno turned around this time; the umbrella was only covering Beauty, while he was outside the shade like some servant holding out the umbrella for his mistress.
What the hell is he doing?
Before she could tell him about their awkward position.
Bruno spoke first, staring down at her.
“Can I give you a ride home? The rain looks like it’s not stopping any time soon.”
He hoped that she would accept it. She doesn’t look very comfortable like most girls when interacting with him.
So it worries him if she would accept or reject the offer.
Beauty’s eyes widened after his question.
“A car date!
We will be in the same car?
This is terrifying, what am I supposed to do?
Scream out in excitement?
Hold the urge to touch him for a long drive home?
I never had a man drive me back home before.
What will my parents say?
This is not happening!”
She tried to hide her excitement and nervousness. I dream far too big.
“Beauty…?”
His calm voice came again, always doing something to her body.
“I… I… I guess that… would be nice… Thank you.”
She replied with her face red and her eyes down in shyness.
Bruno closed his eyes in relief, then smiled at her.
“My pleasure.”
He opened the car door for her.
Beauty nodded and pulled off the wet, dripping raincoat, still under the umbrella’s shade.
Afterwards, she entered the car. That will be the first time in Sir Bruno’s car!
“What is happening right now!
I better behave myself and control my emotions,” she thought.
The interior of the car was filled with the scent of rain and the faint trace of Bruno’s cologne, a mix of sandalwood and fresh citrus.
Beauty could barely keep her heart from racing, a combination of the cold and the excitement that her boss and crush will be sitting so close to her in the car, alone!
However, her clothes were still wet and she continued to shiver and cough.
Bruno noticed as soon as he joined her inside the car.
“You are cold.”
He said gently.
“It’s just my wet clothes, I will be fine… once I get home.”
She replied and coughed.
Bruno stared at her for some time; Beauty could feel his intense eyes even without looking at his face.
“He really likes staring at people, doesn’t he know when to stop! For an introvert who hates attention, he seems to know nothing about other people’s personal space… Staring at anyone that long is creepy but since he is Bruno… it’s just…”
Bruno cuts into her thoughts again.
“I have a spare hoodie and sweatpants, it’s nearly washed and laced with perfume, would you mind?”
He asked.
His clothes!
Beauty’s heart was pounding.
She froze instantly processing those words.
After he had no response from her, Bruno reached into the back seat and retrieved a spare hoodie and sweatpants, offering them to her.
“Here, you can change into these. It’s unisex and will be comfortable… I will step outside so you could change.”