"Well, well, well, ain't she dressed." Brooke teased Cari as she went inside Cari's room.
"You like it?" Cari asked unsure of what she's wearing.
"She looks fabulous, so what's new?" Brooke thought. Cari was wearing a white long spaghetti strap dress with a slit. "You look great."
"Your early, how was the meeting?"
"It was cancelled for next week, some complications with Gucci's directors. So where's Nick taking you?" Brooke asked.
"He didn't tell, but I already know. I asked BJ, and she told me everything. He's taking me our favorite restaurant, Bernahrd's."
"Ooohhh, Bernahrd's. Great! Does that make you like him more than the others?"
Cari stiffened, "No," she said curtly.
Brooke sighed. "Is he going to be number thirteen?"
"Yup,"
"Well, I have to go. Call me later. I want details, okay? Take care." Brooke said as she left.
Cari looked at the antique clock near her bedside, 7:50. Something was bothering her, she had this funny feeling about the number thirteen, as if it would change her life." Maybe because it was just an unlucky number, that's it, an unlucky number," But why was her hands shaking and her breathing fast?
Nick was wearing his white shirt, a silk tie and his slacks. He was even wearing his glasses which he only wore for special
occassions.
BJ turned around, her eyes wide.
Nick chuckled, "I'd take that as "Very handsome"."
"I'd hate to say it, but you really look good. But you need a jacket for Bernahrd's,"
"Yeah, it's in my room." he turned around to get it, BJ followed him to his room.
"So which car are you taking?" BJ asked.
"The corvette," he answered simply.
"Whhaaaatt? As in THE corvette? You really want to make a good impression doncha?" she said as she sat on his brother's
bed which was full of his junk. "Don't you even think of cleaning your room?" she said annoyed.
"Well it's my room. And yes, I'm taking THE corvette." He turned aroung to retrieve his navy blue jacket from
his also messy closet.
Jane came into the room carrying laundry, "My, what happened to my son, Nick?" looking around then turning to BJ, "Where's
Nick, BJ?"
"Funny mom, funny." Nick said wryly.
"Who's the lucky girl this time?" Jane asked.
"Her name's Cari Sanders', the CEO of LIMPA." BJ answered for Nick.
"You mean BJ's boss? What are you? Boosting your sister's image by dating her boss? Besides she must really be older than you."
"She's only twenty mom, five months younger than me." Nick said.
"What?"
"She's only twenty, yeah, yeah, I know she's too young to be a CEO. But she's been handling LIMPA for two years now, since
she graduated from Princeton." Nick reasoned out.
"Wow, impressive. Lucky lady, well good luck and have fun." Jane said as she walked out.
"You're nervous aren't you? I saw you wringing your hands yesterday at the Orchid Gardens." BJ asked.
"Next time I catch you spying on me, I'd be wringing your neck." he threatened.
"Then I won't let you catch me then."
Nick groaned, "So what's she like? I haven't exchange more than a few words with her..."
"She's intimidating at first, who wouldn't? I mean she's twenty years old and handles a billion-dollar company. But when you
get to talk to her for a while, she's cool. Really nice if I may add. Be yourself, you'll have her in no time," BJ paused,
"What time are you picking her up anyway?"
Nick looked at the clock on top of the TV, 7:40. "Oh shit!, I'm gonna be late!" he grabbed his jacket and sprinted downstairs.
"Bye BJ! Thanks!"
"Anytime, good luck!" BJ hollered back.
Aaron saw Nick running and said, "Where's the fire?"
Nick didn't answer him, "Nice talking to you!" Aaron yelled.
Upstairs, BJ saw his brother jump into his corvette and drive off. She sighed. She didn't have the heart to tell him about the
rumors she heard at the agency, that Cari always play with guys who ask her out and eventually will drop them like hot
potatoes. She said a little prayer for her brother and Cari. After praying she felt better, as if her prayers were already
answered.
"I'll be right there!" Cari said as she made her way downstairs.
"Hi Nick, you're late." she said smiling.
Turning a bit red, "I'm sorry, there was traffic on the way here."
"Really? Not to mention you left at 7:40? BJ called and told me that you were on the way."
"That and the traffic. Here these are for you," handing Cari a dozen red roses.
"Thanks, I love roses." Janet came in and got the roses.
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah," Cari answered.
Nick ushered Cari into his car. "Cool car."
"Thanks," he said as he started the car.
"So where are we going?" she asked.
"Bernahrd's, but I think you already know that. BJ couldn't keep her big mouth shut." he said, grinning, happy to turn the
table this time.
She blushed.
"Good evening Mr. Carter, Ms. Sanders," he greeted.
"Hello, Giovanni." Cari said.
"I believe we have a reservation." Nick said.
"Yes, would that be non-smoking or smoking?" Giovanni asked.
"Non-smoking" Nick replied.
"Table 13, non-smoking, Andrea." He signaled an usherette to usher Nick and Cari to their table.
Table 13 was a cozy spot at back of the room, giving them a romantic and mellow atmosphere. Cari stiffened when she heard the
table number, "Thirteen!" she said to herself.
When they had ordered their food, Nick turned to Cari, "How does it feel to be like, what, the youngest CEO in the country?"
"What's this an interview?" she said jokingly. "Well, tiring and sometimes I feel like I've missed a big and important part
of my life like normal years in school." "Well, you really missed a lot on your childhood because of that bastard you called
father." she thought.
"Your IQ must be over 140 for you to gradute that early..." Nick mused.
"Actually, it's 163." Cari said.
"Whoa, BJ wasn't kidding when she said she was intimidating!" he thought.
"How about you? I'm a bit curious about the guys go crazy about in concerts. What is it like?" she asked.
"Like your answer I guess, I also get homesick a lot. Sometimes, my brother, Aaron, goes on tour with us. But that's basically
it. I don't get to see my parents, and my three sisters for sometimes 10 months. BJ and I are really close."
"Must really be cool to have really nice parents." she said wistfully.
"Why? What with your parents?" he asked puzzled.
She paused, "Well, my dad's in prison for killing my mom and verbally abusing me as a kid, so I guess Janet's the only mother
and father I've known. So I poured all my strength to my work, to LIMPA. It's the only thing that's left to me, it's like the
people there are the only family I got. Brooke's my bestfriend, almost like a sister. I'm babbling now am I?" she said.
"Way to go Cari, you blew off you cover! My God! I haven't confessed this to any guy I've ever dated! Why now? Well that's
because he's so open and real, that's why," her conscience answered.
"I'm sorry, it must be really hard. I haven't really thought about why you were the one heading the company, not your dad."
An uncomfortable silence followed.
"So that's why she works almost 14 hours at LIMPA. My God, I cannot imagine my dad kill much less hit my mom! And I cannot
remember a time my dad hit me or my brother or sisters. Living alone for what? Almost, maybe a decade without a real family,
jeez, this girl is strong." he thought. Then he saw Cari looking at him amused. He must have been staring for almost three
minutes almost forgetting that he had a date. He blushed.
"I'm sorry, my thoughts ran off," he said sheepishly.
"I bet it did. I erased those thoughts a long time ago. Besides, I never thought of my father as the kind of father that teaches
you to ride a bike and such. He's just my father biologically." she said shrugging.
Their food came, "Ooohhh food!" Nick said, happily.
Cari burst laughing at Nick's reaction. People near their table stared at them. "Oooppss!" Cari said.
"Serves you right!" Nick said amused.
The two talked about everything under the sun. Cari slowly opened up, telling Nick anecdotes and stories about herself that she
hadn't told any guy she had ever dated. Nick dropped Cari off at almost two o clock in the morning.
At the Carter's...
"Hey, Beejs, how do I look?"
"Cari, Nick is already here!" Janet yelled upstairs then went back to the kitchen.
At Bernahrd's...
Bernahrd's is an exclusive Italian restaurant, until the owners approve, you cannot dine in it. Giovanni
Fautard, the maitre'd, welcomed Nick and Cari to the restaurant.
