The Grand Mistress

Simione slid herself to the dress Hawk gave her. It was a casual dress and surprisingly the right size. She finally had it on but was unable to zip its back. 

"Let me," Hawk noticed her struggling with the zipper so he volunteered to do it for her. 

"No it's fine, I got it," Simione refused but it was already too late. Hawk had his hands on the zipper already and locked it for her. With that, she had no choice but to say her thank you's.

The car finally moved and yet both Hawk and Simione awkwardly sat at the back unable to say anything. Hawk had taken glances at Simione who seemed to be drowned in her train of thoughts. He wanted to have small conversations with her but his raging desire was still filling him and he was then trying  to put off the fiery passion that Simione aroused on him earlier.

Simione was also lost. She wanted to finish what she started but for some reason her conscience wasn't letting her do anything. She had never once imagined that she'll fear her encounters with Hawk Monsanto just like how she was then. She thought that, no matter what, she'll never have any reservations seducing him to ruin Feather but some unexpected things came on the way. She was feeling all different with Hawk, as if no matter how much Lucy described that he was nothing but another foolish businessman, she felt like he was more than that.

"Hungry?" Finally Hawk uttered something.

"A little," She replied. "Miss Dimitri had something for me earlier so I'm not really in famished,"

"You too are close?" Hawk inquired, wondering if she had some real connections with the singer. Hawk had someone look for Simione and investigate her but they couldn't find anything. He was hoping Lucilla Dimitri could probably aid in his venture of knowing the woman before him.

"Not really," Simione lied. She knew for a fact that he was damn too curious about who she was but she couldn't let him. He must not know or all her plans will just fall apart. "It just so happened she wanted a dancer and I needed a good pay. She pays generously"

"So you are a dancer?" Hawk dug more.

His question for some reasons made Simione sigh, "I'm not a professional if that is what you are asking"

"Really? You dance pretty well," It was a compliment but Simione seemed to have not liked it. An odd expression registered on her face that Hawk instantly regretted his words. However, before their conversation got pretty bad the car came to a halt.

"Were here," Hawk announced, relieved. He certainly wasn't good at keeping conversations with her, especially that she seemed occupied with something else. He stepped out of the car first, then opened up the car's door on her side.Hopefully at dinner they can talk about something better, something that can make the girl smile probably.

When she stepped out, Simione realized Hawk brough her to a fancy restaurant. Without much protest, she took the arms he offered and went to dine with him. Hawk chose a good table for them, something that gave them much of the outside view. It was past nine in the evening and the view comprised nothing but the lights of the city surrounding them.

"Is there something you'd like to eat?" Hawk asked her, trying to consider her likes.

Simione on the other hand didn't care much about the food. So simply told  him she'd have the things he liked. So Hawk ordered a few good dishes and soon the table was filled with the best things in the house.

"I like the food here," Hawk tried to start another round of a good conversation. He seemed to have her attention and so he thought it was a good start. 

"It does taste good," Simione replied after a few good bites. Hawk noticed she had good table manners and realized that she must be from the upper class or probably just smart enough to learn all the ways of the upper class. He became a bit confused then. 

Earlier, he was convinced she didn't belong in the upper class because no woman of good family would be willing to be hired as a sexy dancer. She too mentioned she needed a good pay and so this implies her lack of resources. Obviously her needs were pretty tight because such a woman like her, as Hawk supposed, wouldn't be willing to dance like a stripper if she wasn't desperate. With all this, Hawk thought Simione was someone not in their circle. Besides if she was, then he had probably figured out which family she belongs by then.

However, seeing how she was so natural with table etiquettes, Hawk was having a second thought. Perhaps his first theories about her were right and she had just learned table manners by constantly engaging herself with rich clients. Wasn't she a private dancer? She must have been doing such a sideline regularly and had wealthy clients who constantly brought her to dinner. 

Just thinking about her many wealthy clients made Hawk want to hunt them all. However, as he didn't want to scare the girl like he had previously, he chose to hide his anger over it.

"By the way, I really want to know your name," Hawk gave it a shot. The last time he asked her she refused to give it him, "I mean...I need something to call—"

"You can call me Cat," For some reason, she smiled and Hawk felt overly victorious at that. Ever since their hot exchanges in the car earlier, the girl's became indifferent and he had a hard time reaching out to her.

Simione however had finally got over the strange feelings and fear that overtook her earlier. Also, she found Hawk Monsanto trying too hard to make up a conversation and she found it so cute that she can't help but chuckle. Imagine the great Hawk Monsanto trying so hard for a woman?

Right then, she was reminded of someone. A weird arrogant boy from her past who doesn't know how to apologize. She kept smiling at the memory of him.

"That's what few good people call me," This time she looked at him now willing to cooperate with his attempts. Hawk Monsanto was genuine with his attempts and Simione didn't want to make it too hard for him, especially because he bought her company for twenty million tonight.

"Cat," The name struck at Hawk's throat. Wasn't it a coincidence? His Feather insistently wanted to be named Cat when they were young and this time around, the woman whom he was overly attached with also wanted to be named Cat. What's with the name Cat that all the women in his life were obsessed with it?

"Is there a problem with the name?" Simione raised a brow as she was intrigued by the sudden indifference that flashed on Hawk's face. 

"Oh no nothing," Hawk lied. It wouldn't be good if she'll tell him about how Feather also liked that name previously. Surely their dinner date would be ruined before  he knows it. "I am very sure Cat is not your real name. But may I ask why you like such a nickname?"

"It reminds me of something," She replied and Hawk was very glad how their conversation was going smoothly. Ever since he met her, he had always imagined a time like this with her. Sitting down, having dinner with many stories to tell. Now, it's finally happening and he was just glad she seemed comfortable with it.

"A pet perhaps?" He took a guess. He knew well of why Feather wanted to be called a cat when they were young, and it was because of her favorite animal. He wondered by then what's the story of his mysterious woman's nickname.

"How did you know?" She seemed amused that his guess was right.

"Was it really because of a pet?" Hawk certainly didn't expect that. 

"You are good at guessing!" Simione complimented and they laughed about it for a while. 

"I didn't see that coming," Hawk settled after such a fascinating topic. He shook his head terribly about it because unknown to Simione, he was cursing inside knowing how identical Feather and the woman in front of her were. Not the new Feather he knew now but the old one. 

"Amusing" Simione thought it was all a coincidence and Hawk just had a wild guess. She took another bite of her food and decided she was already full. So she positioned her utensils in a way that was rather saying she was done with her dinner.

"You didn't like the food?" Hawk noticed how she only took a few bites on her plate and now she was finished.

"Oh the food is great really," She tried to console him as he seemed overly worried the food he ordered didn't give her much delight, "It's just that. I'm craving something else,"

"Something else?" Hawk got intrigued. "You can take another look of the menu and order another dish,"

"No really I'm okay," Simione declined. She should have just told him she was full instead of saying she had other cravings. However it was too late for that then.