Date 2

Nora sat in the living room, absorbed in her task of applying makeup in front of a mirror. She was carefully brushing her eyelashes when the creaking of the front door drew her attention.

Alexander walked in, looking worn out and disheveled. He paused for a moment, his eyes catching sight of Nora in her polished appearance. A hint of confusion passed over his face before his gaze swept across the living room, taking in the scattered makeup kits and brushes that littered the space.

Tension pulled at his shoulders, yet the fatigue that had held him in its grip moments ago kept his reaction muted. He managed to keep his tone even, "Going somewhere?"

"Oh," Nora replied, her voice taking on a cheerful, chipper tone. "I'm going out for dinner with this guy who bought my paintings at the market." A bright smile graced her lips as she explained the reason for her immaculate presentation.

However, her smile dimmed at the sight of Alexander's expression. The fatigue that had been prominent in his features gave way to a sudden flash of annoyance. His jaw clenched, his gaze darting between her and the discarded cosmetics around the room.

"I... see," he muttered.

Alexander's voice remained steady, but his brow furrowed, displaying his growing agitation. "And what if I had brought a guest with me tonight, and he had to walk through all this mess?" he asked, gesturing to the disarrayed makeup products.

Nora's smile faded as she realized the implications of her actions. She instinctively moved to tidy up the scattered brushes, but Alexander stopped her with a shake of his head. "Don't bother," he said curtly.

The air between them suddenly felt heavy, both aware of the tension rising between them.

The taut silence stretched between them for a moment, the atmosphere growing thicker by the second.

Alexander let out a small sigh, his gaze meeting Nora's directly. His voice was calm but serious as he said, "Look, if you're going to pretend to have a boyfriend to keep your mother off your back, why not just ask this guy you're seeing tonight to play the part? I'm sure he'll be happy to help out."

Nora's face flushed with the slightest tinge of embarrassment. "But...I barely even know this guy!" she protested. "I don't think it's a good idea to ask him to pretend to be my boyfriend. He could think I'm crazy."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "So, going out on a date with someone you barely know is totally reasonable, but asking him to pretend to be your boyfriend for a little while is crazy?" he countered.

Nora opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.Her face hardened, her shoulders squaring as she drew herself up. "Excuse me? What business is it of yours who I go out with?" she snapped.

Alexander met her gaze, his own expression unchanging. "I didn't say it was any of my business," he replied coolly. "But as the owner of this apartment ,I do expect you to respect the common areas of this house and not leave them looking like a war zone."

Alexander ran a hand through his hair, the weariness in his face becoming more pronounced. "You know what? I'm too tired for this shit," he said wearily, his shoulders slumping. "Just do whatever the fuck you want and clean up when you get back."

Nora watched as he turned and trudged up the stairs, his footsteps sounding heavy on the stairs. The door to his room closed with a soft click, leaving her alone in the living room. She sank back onto the couch, her earlier excitement for the evening now drained away.

Time was ticking away, and Nora could feel the pressure of the night's agenda pressing against her. She gathered her belongings in a flurry of activity, double checking her appearance in the mirror one last time before glancing at the time again.

"I'm running late," she muttered to herself as she rushed to the stairs and bounded up them two at a time. She stopped in front of Alexander's bedroom door, knocking lightly. "Alex? I'm leaving now," she called out, but there was no response.

With no answer from Alexander, Nora hesitated for a moment, her hand still resting on the doorknob. The quiet of the room seemed to amplify her nervousness, her heart beating just a bit faster as she weighed her options.

Finally, she made her decision, her hand dropping from the doorknob. She couldn't afford to be late.

********

Twenty minutes later, Nora found herself standing in front of a trendy Italian restaurant. The warm glow of the lights beckoned her in, a welcome change from the chill of the evening air.

As she stepped through the door, her eyes quickly scanned the room, until they settled on a familiar face sitting at a corner table. Damian, her date, was already seated, his sharp features illuminated by the soft candlelight.

He stood as she approached, his eyes taking in her appearance with a glint of appreciation. "Nora, you look stunning," he said, his tone smooth and warm.

Damian extended a hand, his smile widening as Nora slipped her own into his. "I'm so glad you could make it," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

Nora slid into the booth, aware of his gaze lingering on her a moment longer than necessary. His attention was flattering, but a small part of her couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable. It had been so long since she'd been on a date that she'd almost forgotten the feeling of being watched, appraised, desired.

As they began to talk, Damian's charm seemed to cast its spell on Nora, and she found herself relaxing into the conversation. He was witty, intelligent, and interested in what she had to say everything a girl could ask for in a date.

But as they continued to chat, Nora noticed a certain intensity in his gaze that made her heart skip a beat. It was the same intensity she'd seen in the eyes of other men, men who'd wanted to take from her without giving anything in return. She shook off the thought, chiding herself for being so wary.

Their conversation eventually meandered back to the subject of the paintings. "I must thank you again for purchasing my work," Nora said, her cheeks flushing slightly at the praise. "It really meant a lot to me that you liked them."

"It was my pleasure," Damian replied, reaching for his glass of wine. "They're truly stunning, Nora.

Damian took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving Nora's face. "It's not often you meet someone who can create such beauty," he said, setting his glass down and leaning in closer. "It really is a gift."

Nora felt her heart quicken at the proximity of his body, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. She tried to smile, to make a joke or deflect the attention, but the words stuck in her throat.

Damian's eyes seemed to bore into Nora's, as if he could see straight into her soul. "It's also rare to find someone who can appreciate beauty," he said, his voice low and husky. "Someone who can truly see the value of things, of people."

The air between them seemed to thicken, the noises of the restaurant fading away.