Nathaniel Spencer sneaks off from dinner with his parents,their business associates Mr and Mrs Hayward, and their daughter Vivian Hayward who couldn't stop looking at him like some priceless possession displayed across the dinner table.
Not that he could blame her,the poor girl has probably fallen for what the press called "the Spencer charm".
One look at a Spencer,and any young woman becomes obsessed.
Nate was quite aware he carries triple of that charm. Too much for his own good.
Everywhere he went, women swooned,women sighed (irrespective of age). It didn't quite help that he had a multi-billion dollar fortune behind him as the only heir of his family's fortune.
The evening was fast becoming particularly boring for him. The whole day had been one meeting to another,fulfilling his obligations as a billionaire heir.
Not that he minded that honestly,but he definitely minded pointless conversations and match making dinners.
They'd be furious the moment they realized he was gone,Nate knew that. But he was beginning to feel like a crippled animal, like a trapped bird. He needed the evening breeze slapping his cheeks. He needed a ride.
Changing into a pair of jeans, a leather jacket, a pair of riding gloves and a pair of black boots. Nate took off on his bike for a no destination ride.
He could just hear his mother's skillful cursing,and see his father's silent angry face.
Not that he cared of course.
They had never really cared for him either. Not as you'd a beloved son. They had always treated him like an investment since he was a child.
Been raised by paid professionals,tutors,trainers,governesses,and butlers….
Nate felt it was too late to form any bond. And it wasn't like they were trying hard to form any either.
Few minutes into dinner and it was clear to him that this wasn't a simple family dinner but another of their match making schemes organized by his mother.
Well,he was twenty six now and he owed them no loyalty other than fulfilling his obligation to the Spencer name he bears.
Flying through the night on his power racing bike, with thoughts of his childhood on his mind, Nate saw her as clear as day.
She was breathtakingly beautiful,almost unbelievably perfect. Just like an angel.
Nate had no idea when he pulled to a stop in front of her.
She looked anxious and worried and kept looking at her watch with a slight frown on her face. There were no buses forthcoming and it was getting really late to be seen at these parts after certain hours of the day.
She was young,very young.
At first when Nate had spotted her on his bike he assumed sixteen or seventeen. But when he pulled his bike in a stop in front of her, and took his helmet from his head, he amended his guess to nineteen or twenty. And she had just enough womanly curves to prove he was right.
She was shaped like a pear.
Smaller at the top and curvier at the bottom.
She looked agile and sexy standing on a pair of six inches high heel shoes, in jeans and a bomber jacket.
All these he noted in one long glance…..Maybe two.
Then he spoke.
"Do you need a ride " Nate asked the young girl in a calm voice.
Sapphire Zimmerman stared at the stranger on a bike talking to her. She had seen him pull up in front of her and looked at her with appreciation in his eyes.
Even though she was in desperate need of a ride,she hesitated.
Nate felt his lips curved in something close to a smile when he saw her looking at him the same way he had looked at her….and he was vain enough to think she liked what she saw. If the flush on her face was any indication of interest.
Sapphire raised her head to meet his eyes again. It seems she had made up her mind.
"No thanks,I'll just wait for the bus. They should be here any minute." Sapphire said as she turned to look away from him. As if saying, 'that would be all gentleman.'
"Not from where I'm coming from. The traffic is worse tonight and they are held up out back somewhere." Nate replied in a calm voice.
He saw her falter a bit as she resumed her expression again. Nate pressed on gently.
"It's getting dark and these parts are not really safe for a young girl." He said in a reasonable tone.
Sapphire knew he was right about that. These parts are notorious for rough characters,gangs,and crackheads. But she lifted her chin in a little arrogant way as she spoke again.
"I don't even know you, and you expect me to ride with you?, for all I know you could be Ted Bundy or his grandson. Sapphire said and earned a hearty laugh from him.
"Alright Angel,my bad. Lemme introduce myself, my name is Nathaniel -Nathaniel Spencer."
When she continued to look at him with one eyebrow arched and a blank expression,Nate realized she didn't recognize him.
Many people seemed to recognize him instantly the moment they met him,as his wealthy and influential family is always on the news and he was always getting featured in famous magazines. Others needed his name to go with the face before the look of recognition filled their eyes.
But not this young lady. Nate thought.
She seemed completely unaware of who he was. Then again he thought if she did, she probably didn't care cause her experience remained indifferent.
Nate couldn't decide if that was a relieve or a disappointment.
"That tells me a lot." Sapphire replied with a sarcastic expression.
Nate decided she was either a very skillful actress or she was really unaware of him.
He found himself relaxing as he flashed her one of his most winning smiles that had the ladies melting at his feet.
Sapphire felt her lip twitched in a small smile she tried to mask with a snort. But nothing escapes Nate's knowing gaze.
Nate stepped off his bike and strolled towards her in that lazy sexy way models move when there was a camera present. But it just happened to be Nate's natural posture. One that makes him completely irresistible to a woman.
Sapphire couldn't help noticing how broad his shoulders were now she was paying attention to them.
He was about 6"2 in height. He made her think of a model or a basketball player. With her average height,he seemed so big to her. And that smile on his face,clear now,was even harder to resist.
Sapphire needed a moment to make sure she wasn't staring too much with her mouth open.
The man was beautiful,beautiful and dangerous no doubt. But that only heightened the thrill she felt by just looking at him.
"What's your name?" Nate asked, bringing her back to her senses . She realized he was standing way too close for comfort,and it made her nervous. Not uncomfortable she realized,just her nerves jumping all over the place.
Sapphire had to fight the urge to run a hand through her hair to check if it was in place, or tuck the ends behind her ear.
"Sapphire-Sapphire Zimmerman ." She said on a new shaky voice.
The longer she looked at him now under the bright,night street lights, she couldn't shake off the feeling that he looked vaguely familiar to her. But she couldn't quite place the face and gave it up as her mind playing tricks on her.