Diana and Patrick

She said she didn't love him, but, she went out with him a lot, to watch movie, to visit the beach or to go shopping. He came to the mansion several times just to hang out with her and to have dinner with Nana.

He clearly knew who she was and James was only hoping that he wouldn't tell a soul about his princess or took advantage of her status or he would do something about it.

But James wanted to forget what happened between them because today was his day. Diana had asked him to go out on a date with her. Funny, she remembered this particular promise but not the rest, not even the time when she punched Wilson.

James noticed that she made an effort for this plan. She looked stunning, with a new a dress that he had never seen before, she had secretly bought it specially for this occasion.

She braided her long hair loosely, creating some sexy strands covering her long neck. A small hair piece held the side of her hair matched her diamond necklace. She looked sweet and vulnerable.

He checked on her from the corner of his eye. She sat on the passenger seat neatly, her lips smiling and she moved slightly following the rhythm of the song from the radio.

"Where are you taking me?" she sounded excited.

"Somewhere nice and quiet."

"Quiet eh?"

"Yes Miss Ana, quiet so we can talk."

"Talk? What do you want to talk about?"

He was thinking to tell her the truth about Nicholas but he wasn't entirely sure that she would take it easy. She wasn't ready and he wasn't ready to be rejected by her.

He wanted to charm her, to make her open her heart to him before he told her the truth so he shook his head. "Anything." He finally replied.

She laughed, "Like what we talked about at home? Some nonsenses?"

"Yes, exactly that." He laughed with her. Some nonsenses... The only conversation that wouldn't end up with them arguing like five-year-olds.

He had been behaving oddly for weeks already Diana thought. He didn't piss her off at all which was weird. He'd been nice and helpful. No mocking, no rolling eyes, no tortures... Well, he was still torturing her in the gym, but he stopped yelling at her. He encouraged her instead. He was sweet and caring. Diana loved the change but she was too scared to trust him.

She didn't want to be disappointed if he decided to go back to his normal self. It would be hurtful.

She raised her hand and touched his forehead.

"What are you doing?" he asked. His eyes didn't leave the road and his hands were still on the steering wheels.

"I am checking if you're okay." She said, her big brown eyes stared at him intently.

"Why?"

"Because you've changed."

"Changed?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. You are nicer."

"Can't I be nice?" he turned his head slightly to look at her face.

"Of course you can, but I don't trust you."

"What do you mean?"

"I think you're up to something."

He looked hurt. "No I am not."

"Promise?"

"Promise." He laughed softly. Diana could be so damn cute sometimes.

He stopped the car in front of a small Italian restaurant that she never knew existed and as always he opened the door for her and took her hand when she got off the passenger seat.

She followed him to the parking meter and saw him pushing a few coins inside.

"How do you know so much about my city? You are not even from here." Diana asked curiously.

"Let's say I google a lot." He laughed. "Let's go." Surprisingly he extended his hand to Diana and when she took it, he wrapped his large palm around hers and squished it gently, a genuine happy smile crossed his lips. He guided her carefully crossing the pedestrian path and opened the restaurant door for her.

The waitress greeted them and took them to the corner table, just next to a giant glass window that got a great view of the city. She gave them the menu, smile flirtingly at James before leaving them alone.

"She likes you... " Diana whispered.

James looked lost. "What? Who?"

"That girl. I think you should ask her number."

"Miss Ana, you're my date tonight, I will not ask another girl her number. Now let's check the menu. I am starving." He dismissed her suggestion.

"Please order for me." She closed her menu and smiled at him. Her memory went back to the time when they went into the French restaurant and had their first banter.

"Okay. I'll order you chicken."

"No, I want fish." She said.

"I thought you like chicken?"

"But I want fish tonight." She insisted and James shook his head hiding his smile, understood what she meant.

"Wine?" he offered.

"Yes please." She nodded and fixed her posture. She remembered how James always complained about the way she sat and now what she wanted was to make him happy, to let him know that she listened to his lesson.

"So, tell me about yourself." she opened a conversation.

"Me?"

"Yes you. I've known you for months but I don't know anything about you, not even your last name."

"It's not important." James sipped his wine, trying to avoid the question.

"It is important to me, come on tell me."

He hid a sigh and pushed his brain to work harder to answer the questions, "My last name is Watkinson." He replied, mentioning his mother's last name.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty three."

"Star sign?"

He laughed, "What?"

"I want to know your zodiac."

"Why?"

"So I know why you're so damn irritating sometimes." She bit her lips, hiding her laughter.

"Isn't it a nice statement to start a date?" he cornered her.

"I can be sarcastic too if I wanted." She grinned.

"My turn." James changed the topic.

"Your turn for what?"

"Asking you question."

"You know everything about me already." She protested.

"No I haven't."

"Fine, ask away."

"What is your favourite dessert?" he started.

"Ice cream."

"Really? I thought you love lollies."

"I love lollies but if I had my last meal, then it will be ice cream."

"Why?"

"I guess it was the last thing I had with my mom before she died."

"I am sorry... " He reached out for her hand and forgot to let go.

"No, it's okay. It is a happy memory. In fact, there's an ice cream shop just around the corner. We should go there after." She smiled.

"Okay." James nodded.

"So, what's next question?"

"Where's your favourite place?"

"Huh? What kind of question is that?"

"You know, when you're happy or sad or want to be alone."

"Uh, okay... " she stopped for a while to think of an answer and she finally said, "I only have one place to go when I want to think. It's the fountain in the park. I liked the statues and the sound of water, it soothes me." Her eyes were dreamy.

James nodded. He knew what she meant, he loved it too, the sound of running water from a fountain. It was romantic and calming. "Any specific fountains?"

"As long as it got statues." She laughed at his too detailed question.

"Mmmm... " Diana crooked her head slightly, staring at him for few minutes, thinking, "I have another question for you."

"What is it?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?" she surprised him.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because I finally figured it out."

"About what?"

"You are in love aren't you?!?!" she whispered, her eyes twinkled.

"What?! No."

"Yes you do. Look at you... You're blushing."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do! Tell me about her, come on tell me!"

"Miss Ana, I am not in love."

"Yes you are. I can see clearly now, you are! You are nice to me because you're happy, because you're in love!"

James shook his head repeatedly, amazed by how random she was, "Miss Ana, I am not in love."

"Don't you miss her James? Is she in London? Or is she here?"

"Miss Ana, I am here to serve you right now. I can't divide my attention to another girl." His eyes lingered at her and she felt her cheeks warmer.

"James, that's so sweet." She squeezed his hand, "but I want you to be happy too."

"I am happy here with you Miss Ana... " he answered her honestly. He was truly happy, he was content to be by her side even if she dated Patrick, even he couldn't tell her how he felt about her or touched her or kissed her but he was okay. Seeing her happy made him happy.

"I am happy that you're here too James. You've help me a lot since day one. I don't know if I could go this far without you." She said softly, her eyes stared at him warmly and her thumb rubbed the back of his hand. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

"I will never give up on you Miss Ana."

He felt a jolt of love for a bit there when she touched him and he was hoping that she felt the same about his touch. Now he just needed to figure out how to tell her the truth about Nicholas without making her furious.

"How is Lisa and friends?" James quickly asked another question before their interaction became awkward.

"Lisa? Oh she's fine! See this place that Pat..... uh..... There's a rich guy who had donated a hostel to the foundations and Lisa now works and stays there."

Diana knew James didn't like Patrick so she tried her best not to ruin their date by mentioning his name.

"Oh yeah?" James pretended to look impressed by this good news. He was the rich guy that she talked about, if only she knew.....

"You must be very happy Miss Ana, you no longer have to worry about Lisa too much."

"Yes, I am very happy. I wish I could thank this guy personally. Lisa, Leyla and some other kids are happy too. Only one thing though... "

"What is it?" James saw her mood slightly shifting, became more serious.

"Leyla... " she started. "Leyla isn't doing very well. I sent her to rehab but it doesn't seem to work."

James took a deep breath. It was true. According to his private investigator, Leyla had difficulty to adjust to her new life and she suffered depression too which was a dangerous combination with drugs.

"Give her some times... " he suggested.

"Yes I guess nothing we can do about it. I can only be there for her.

Diana clung on James' strong arm, when he took her for a walk to go to the ice cream shop two blocks away from the restaurant. They took a seat inside and shared a big bowl of ice cream.

"James... " she called him.

"Yes?" he placed his spoon down and looked up at her.

"We should do this more often."

"This? Ice cream? Sure if you want to double the gym time." He laughed.

"No, not ice cream you silly. This, this date thing."

"Oh?" now he gave her his full attention. He wanted to know where this conversation would go.

"We need to go out more, just you and me." She dug a full spoon of the ice cream from the giant bowl and shoved it into her mouth greedily. "I just regret why we didn't do this sooner."

James stared at her, his face unreadable. He knew that long ago, he didn't want to take her out. He avoided her to be exact. Diana had always tried to make him talk and open up to her, to befriend him, to make him feel comfortable in his new job but he refused all her kind gestures.

He didn't want to be close to her and he regretted it as well. If only he had put the gun down and made a peace talk, he would probably have successfully charmed her by now and not going around pretending to be a supportive butler that had no right to kiss her or call her his girlfriend. And the fact that she dated Patrick made him regretted it more.

The date went well, too well for his liking. They were talking and laughing. Diana was more fun than he could anticipate and when it was time to go home, he walked her right in front of her room.

"Here we go." He grinned at her when they arrived at her door.

"Thank you. I had a really nice evening James." She leaned on the door frame and run her finger along his chest. Gazing into his blue eyes she asked, "Will you take me out again next time?" she was hoping.

"I will Miss Ana." He took her cheek in his large palm, lowered his face and planted a long kiss on her forehead. He wanted so much to kiss her lips and pulled her into his arms but he had to know his boundaries. He wasn't a free man, he was her butler. He was supposed to serve her, respect her, and protect her, no more than that. He wouldn't violate his role.

"Good night Miss Ana." He smiled and waited till she closed the door before walking back into his own room.

***