here?" Vanessa wondered as the crisp white t

h buzzed with hushed conversation and the clin

w up. Carolyn had invited her for a girl's night through a text, but the sly glint in her best frien

avering shadows across the pristine white plates. Vanessa scanned the room and disap

he balanced, materialized beside her. "Can I get you someth

ly," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "I

ssing his features before he schooled it back into professional courtesy.

ht of different scenarios that might have delayed Carolyn. She knew her f

pranks? A pang of annoyance mingled with the disappointment gnawed at Va

her wanted to call Carolyn, to demand an explanation. But another part, a curious one, fel

her eye. A man, tall and broad-shouldered, was approaching the table, a hesitant smile playing on hi

ssa straightened in her seat, a nervous flutter rising in her stomach. She doesn't wa

ached the table, the red rose he

s friend." His voice boomed, ill-suited t

awned on her. So this was the surprise Carolyn planned for her. A blind da

morphing into a low-grade irritation. Blind dates were one thing, but a bl

ul until maybe, after a few minutes. The next hour unfolded in a blur of forced conversation and

his passion for competitive pigeon racing. Who the hell is interested in a pigeon race? Vanessa ponde

ined, her polite nods less convincing. The image of Carolyn, cackling with delight at

ge by a particularly graphic descript

vening, Samuel," she said, her voice laced with

ntarily eclipsing his usual bubbles. "Oh,

g wide, colliding with a passing waiter. A yelp escaped the man's lips as his tra

njoying a quiet dinner, splattering the man's white shirt with a large stain. The

f epic proportions. A girl's dinner gone wrong by turning into a blind date, a ruined ou

really sorry," she offered a stammering apology, her voice barely audi

his shirt worse than expected. "I am so incredibly sorr

ring stare on Vanessa. With the threatening glare, Va

but before she could apologize

yes as she fixed his gaze kn Vanessa. "Easy there, don

erjected, trying t

ething more than just amusement. "Besides," he continued, leaning forward slightly, "a little exci

n as well. "This is a brand-new Armani!" she hissed, her voice laced wit

f again with a gentle, placating gesture. "It's alright, honey," he

diately", Vanessa suggested, si

oment longer than necessary. "If you insist, I won't argue with a pre

dent to the receptionist's desk. Darryl follow

id as they walked towards the elevator le

replied, leaving n

rst, taking a moment to blatantly admire the way Vanessa'

th Vanessa succumbing to his sexual advances. Oblivious of Darryl's thoughts, Vanessa too

me, shrugging off his damp shirt, revealing a toned torso he clearly took pride in maintaining. Vanessa, however, re

a life well-managed, she dialed a nu

e. Yes, there's been a s

door to confirm the number, "...412. Yes,

ly deflated ego, attempted a cocky gri

curdle milk. "Wouldn't you agree?" Her voic

ing. He hadn't anticipated this kind of woman. He was used t

termined to get Vanessa by all means, he formulated a bet