Chapter 12

I grabbed Arthur’s arm. I had to wait a moment until some of the catering staff went back to the kitchen. My palm tingled with how good it felt, resting on top of the soft material of Arthur’s expensive suit jacket.

When there was no staff close by, I said. “I don’t get it. How did you manage that so smoothly?”

“I’m great with people. I have amazing acting skills,” Arthur said.

“Oh?”

Arthur continued solemnly. “You know what Shakespeare said, ‘All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players’.”

I looked at him quizzically.

“Life is like a play,” Arthur continued. “It all depends on acting skills.”

“So you’re just pretending?” I was stunned. There had to be more to it than that. There just had to be.

“Of course.” Arthur said and nodded, “I am just a stripper after all.”

“...!”

“Oh my God, your acting skills are unbelievable! You must be the best stripper in the world!”

I couldn’t help giving Arthur a thumbs up. “You know, you would make a great movie star!”

“Why?”

“Because you’re very handsome. Very,” I blurted out. I felt a little embarrassed at speaking so frankly, and my face flushed.

Of course, it was more than just his good looks. His magnetism went far beyond his handsome features.

This was a man who was appealing inside and out.

“I mean it, Arthur. You’re incredibly attractive. Very," I said.

Arthur smiled at my compliment, and my heart pounded. He gave me that smile, that combination of boyish imp and confident man.

When he gave me that particular smile, all thoughts flew out of my head for a second. When I could think again, I knew I had to thank him for coming.

“Thank you, Arthur,” I said. “Thank you for showing up.”

I slid my hands from his resting on the sides of his arms to the back of his neck. “I know you didn’t want to come, but I’m so glad you did. You're a life-saver."

I kissed his strong jaw. “Today, you’re my hero. Thank you for attending.”

As my hands caressed the back of his neck, a shiver ran through me, electrifying my senses.

His enticing and mysterious smile ignited a flame of need within me that I was unable to suppress.

It was too bad that he said he could only stay at the wedding for a short time. I was actually enjoying it with all the positive attention we were getting.

“This meant a lot to me. It means a lot to me that it's you." I paused to take a sip of champagne. Then I looked Arthur right in his gorgeous eyes, which today looked more gray than blue.

“It’s more than just doing me a favor, Arthur,” I said.

I looked down at my shoes, shy again. "Since I found Bob cheating, it's felt like the most emotional roller coaster days in my whole life."

I took a deep breath and looked Arthur right in the eyes without any defenses. I let him see all my vulnerabilities, so he would know how sincere I was. “I don’t know what I would have done in this tumultuous time without you.”

Arthur’s gaze locked with mine. For a minute, the entire room melted away. It was only us.

"Doris," he murmured, his voice laden with seductive undertones, "I’m glad I could be your rock through this.”

A delicious shudder coursed through my body, our connection intensifying.

At that moment, among all the people, lights, and noises of the band tuning up, time stood still.

The whole world narrowed to just Arthur and me and the strong magnetic pull between us.

Arthur's voice took on a decidedly provocative tone. "You already know acting isn't the only skill I've got in my arsenal."

I laughed. “That’s true.”

His smile got even bigger. “I mean, I can also make you…dance.”

The way he said the last word sounded like he really meant to say orgasm instead, but kept it PG to tease me. I loved it.

“Multiple times,” he purred.

His words sent a titillating shiver down my spine.

I was hungry for Arthur. I was hungry for the weight of his gaze and how he looked at me like I was the only woman in the world.

“With you, everything feels okay,” I said.

"Why do you think that is, Doris? We barely know each other. You showed me off based on a web of falsehoods. Yet we seem to be…."

“What?” I asked, thinking and hoping he was going to say ‘meant to be together’ or something like that. But he noticed someone he knew standing near us, and that was that. Arthur stopped mid-sentence.

THIRD PERSON PERSPECTIVE

Nathan, Arthur’s assistant, was about to walk up to Doris and Arthur when he heard Arthur say, "I'm just a stripper, after all." And then Nathan heard Doris say, “Oh my God, your acting skills are unbelievable! You must be the best stripper in the world!”

This stopped Nathan in his tracks. He tactfully did not step forward, but chose to watch this show silently. He was extremely curious about what was going on.

Why in the world would Arthur say something like that, and why would Doris seem to believe it?

Then Nathan remembered Arthur said he met Doris at a club called “The Strip.” She somehow must have gotten confused and thought Arthur was a stripper.

Nathan put his hand on his chin for a second, thinking. Hhhhm, I guess it could be possible.

Despite all the articles written about how Arthur was such a financial genius and New York's youngest billionaire, because Arthur didn't usually get his picture taken, only top businesspeople recognized him.

But why would Arthur encourage the misconception? Talk about miscommunication.

However, Nathan had never known his boss to do anything that didn’t turn to gold in the end. Arthur wasn’t stupid. If he was letting Doris think he was a stripper, he had his reasons.

Nathan watched them for a second, entranced. Somehow, they looked good together. Nathan especially appreciated how happy Arthur looked when he was focused on Doris.

To Nathan, it seemed that the chemistry between them crackled in the air.

Arthur was just about to kiss Doris when he saw his assistant and a clever idea formed in Arthur's sharp mind.

“Nathan,” Arthur said, calling Nathan over. Nathan closed the gap, walking over to the couple in a few quick steps.

“Doris, this is my colleague, Nathan. Nathan, this is Doris.”

They greeted each other.

“Excuse me one second, beautiful,” Arthur said and pulled Nathan a few feet away. He whispered something in Nathan’s ear. Nathan nodded.

Doris and Arthur watched Nathan stride away purposefully, but then they were lost in each other.

Arthur gently cupped Doris’ cheek in his big palm. He looked down, staring at Doris’ lips.

She licked her lips quickly and smiled warmly.

Her smile always touched his heart.

Three minutes later, Nathan came back, and when Arthur looked at his trusted assistant, Nathan nodded to indicate that the matter was done.

Then the wedding band, which had been singing upbeat wedding blessing songs, suddenly stopped. The wedding singer made a big show of coughing into the microphone. He looked out over the audience with a hopeless, ‘What can you do?’ expression.

“It seems like our wedding singer has lost his voice for some unknown reason,” the guitarist announced. “We’re not sure what to do now unless someone can help us out.”

Everyone started looking around and mumbling to themselves.

“I can’t believe this,” Andrea hissed. “This is a disaster.”

“Can’t they just play instrumental songs?” Anna asked loudly.

“It won’t be the same,” Peter said. “And isn’t it bad luck to have a wedding without a singer?”

"This seems as good of a time as any for us to leave, I guess," Doris said. "Thank you for coming."

“You’re just going to leave everybody in the lurch like this at the moment you’re needed most?”

“What?”

“I heard you sing that first night I met you, Doris.”

She covered her face in her hands for a second, remembering how brazen she must have seemed dancing on the bar.

“You’re an amazing singer. This is your chance to save the day. Not that they deserve it, but show them you’re better than they are.”

Arthur firmly put his hand on Doris' lower back, and he guided Doris from the back of the room through the crowd.

Andrea unleashed her fiery disapproval at the singer and everyone in the band. This was unacceptable! The bride waved her arms around angrily while expressing her dissatisfaction.

"You can't do this to me," Andrea said too loudly. "This ruins the atmosphere. I shouldn't have to point out the importance of a singer for creating a memorable wedding experience. My wedding should be wonderful, truly unforgettable. Do something, you imbeciles!"

Other guests looked away from Andrea, embarrassed by her tirade.

“Do you want to try it?” Arthur asked Doris softly. “Get up and sing? Be the hero and save the day?”

“What? Are you talking about me?” Doris chuckled in a humble and self-deprecating way. She pointed at herself with a look of surprise.

“Certainly. As I said, you’re one hell of a singer.”

"I-I-I don't know. Singing one rock tune at night in a club when everyone is drunk is one thing. Singing at a wedding in front of a bunch of important people, including my ex- and my boss, is another."

Arthur stared at her with nothing but assurance in his deep blue-gray eyes, “Doris, you can do this.”

“I... I’m afraid.”

“Can you sing me a song? As a reward for today.” Arthur put his mouth to the shell of her ear. “I deserve a reward, don’t I?”

Doris was so entranced by the feel of Arthur’s lips it was hard to concentrate on the words.

"Pretend you are singing just for me. Get up there and sing to me, and I'll give you a thousand dollars."

“My song isn’t worth a thousand dollars.”

“You’re worth it.”

Doris felt her eyes get wet because no one had ever said “you’re worth it” to her.

“Thank you, Arthur.”

Doris' steps were slow and hesitant as she made her way to the side of the stage.

Doris was afraid of the limelight. She was afraid of making a fool of herself, especially in front of her boss and colleagues.

But she had to do this.

She drank a cocktail from the waiter's tray next to her and jumped on stage to offer her blessings to Andrea and Bob.

The spotlight focused on Doris, and the crowd hushed.