I slowly pull the ribbon apart and lift open the lid to the box. It's a pair of teardrop shaped emerald earrings; they're incredibly dainty and yet they look so gorgeous. I audibly gasp as soon as I lay eyes on them, they are just amazing.

"They call Seattle 'The Emerald City', not because they get emeralds there but because it's green all year round. I just thought I would get you something to let you know I was thinking about you" The last part of his statement makes my heart melt, a face splitting grin spreads across my face and I can't help it. He could have gotten me a bobble head and it probably would have gotten the same reaction from me just as long as he said that along with it.

"Wow that's um, that's so sweet of you thank you Mr Whitlock. I really love them" I suddenly feel like an asshole, here I am with all this money in my bank account thanks to him when he's thinking about me while away on business. Maybe I've made a rush judgement about him.

"You know love, you don't have to call me Mr Whitlock" he tells me after I close the box and carefully place it into my bag. "You can call me Rhodes, but I love it when you call me sir" My stomach flips as every syllable of his statement flirts. I blush at his words, but at least I don't have to be so formal with him.

"Okay, thank you Rhodes" I definitely could have called him sir instead of Rhodes, but I feel the small urge to be cheeky. He doesn't seem to mind as we pull up into a parking lot outside a bank of restaurants by the river Thames. He pushes the button in the centre console that turns the car off and climbs out of his seat. I'm about to follow suit when I try my handle but it won't budge. Rhodes is around my side of the car two seconds later and effortlessly swings open my door and extends his hand for me to help me climb out. Did he seriously have a child lock on my side of the car?

I'm surprised when not only does he not release my hand as we walk towards the bank of fancy looking restaurants, but he intertwines our fingers together so we are interlocked. I am reminded of the rule in the contract, all PDA will be initiated by him, and my comment about how I have to comply with his actions. And of course I do, holding his hand and walking beside him as he approaches one of the restaurants with several tables outside overlooking the river.

Our hands are broken apart once a neatly dressed waitress leads us to a table outside and we sit down opposite one another. She hands us our menus and makes herself scarce, hurrying off to another table nearby. I take the menu and examine it closely, perhaps he will let me order for myself this time, even though it wasn't terrible the last time he did it.

For a moment we are silent, and it's a comfortable silence I would like to sit in forever. Here I am, out for a nice lunch with a handsome guy on a beautiful afternoon in London  . There are no contracts, no NDA's, just two people out on a date. I shake myself out of those thoughts as I place my menu down and look out to the view of the river to my right. Remember the things he said in his contract, remember what you signed up for. Your on show right now, he's parading you in public. Don't fall for his games.

"Decided love?" His voice breaks my thoughts and I nod my head, looking up to see the waitress approaching our table. I wait for Rhodes to order first in case he orders for me, when he doesn't I order myself one of their gourmet salads and a Diet Coke.

"I haven't checked through the list of foods I'm allowed to eat yet, so I'm not sure if everything on that list is okay. I apologise" the remark is crude and I can't help but make it, the feelings of bitter and resentment boiling to the surface. He seems taken aback by my harsh tone, taking off his sunglasses and placing them next to his phone on the table.

"You're not happy about that part?" He asks me in a monotone voice, it doesn't indicate one of anger or annoyance, but it isn't kind and empathetic either.

"It will just take some getting used to" I can't tell if I'm lying or telling the truth. I suppose it's in a middle grey area; it will take some getting used to but I'm not happy about it. He sighs gently.

"I'm not trying to be unkind, it's more of a health kind of thing. I want you to be healthy" part of me believes him while the other part thinks he's full of shit, the latter part being that he really just wants to exert control and power over people, mainly me.

I nod my head and thank the waitress as she places down an ice cold Diet Coke in front of me before taking an eager sip. I'm desperate to leave this conversation behind but it appears Rhodes doesn't want to do the same.

"I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do. The rules are in place to help guide us towards a relationship that we are both comfortable with. You have to be honest with me about how you feel or else this whole thing falls apart" he sounds slightly exasperated, if only he knew just how honest I want to be. I'd love to tell him where he can shove his rules, but I need this money. I nod.

"I get it, I'm sorry for being snide sir. This is just all very new to me, I'll get used to it" My apology appears to amuse him somewhat. He looks like he's about to say something else when the waitress places our food down in front of us both, I thank her before she moves away from the table.