The Date That Wasn't
908 Words
Jade stared at the phone in her hand, the confirmation of her agreement still ringing in her ears.
She had actually said yes.
To him.
Her fingers curled around the edges of the phone, her grip tightening. The urge to throw it against the wall was almost unbearable.
This was not how she’d envisioned spending her evening—especially not with André Young.
But the kids… the donation… She couldn’t let them down.
She let out a sharp breath, running a hand through her hair in frustration. Stay professional. This isn’t about him. It’s about the kids.
It was a simple, logical thought. But no matter how much she repeated it in her head, her stomach remained twisted in knots.
Of all the female employees in attendance, why did it have to be me?
Jade gritted her teeth. She wanted to scream. Maybe even punch something. But neither would change the fact that she had agreed.
That smug, insufferable man had somehow backed her into a corner, and now, she was stuck.
How did it come to this?
She hadn’t seen him in ages, and she would have been perfectly happy if she never saw him again.
Yet here she was.
On the brink of a date with him.
The mere thought made her skin itch.
After the charity event wrapped up at 7 p.m., she spent the next few minutes trying to shake off the sinking feeling in her stomach. When 7:30 rolled around, she stood outside the venue, waiting.
A sleek black luxury car pulled up right on time.
The window rolled down, revealing André in the driver’s seat. “Get in, Ms. Ventura.”
Jade sighed and yanked the door open, settling into the passenger seat.
“You sure you don’t want to just drop me at home and call it a night?” she muttered.
André smirked. “No. Would love to see you have a good night with me.”
She rolled her eyes. So full of himself.
He pulled away from the venue, smoothly merging onto the road. The car was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine. The city lights flickered past them, the air thick with unspoken tension.
Jade crossed her arms. “So? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
She scowled. “I hate surprises.”
André chuckled. “Exactly why I’m not telling you.”
Jade rolled her eyes and leaned back against the seat, staring out the window.
A few minutes passed in silence. She refused to admit that, despite herself, she was a little curious.
Just as she was about to ask again, his phone rang.
Jade glanced at him as he reached for it, his easygoing demeanor shifting.
His jaw tensed as he looked at the screen.
Without a word, he answered.
“What?” His tone was sharp.
A pause.
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
“…Now?”
Jade frowned.
His reaction was subtle, but something about it felt off.
André exhaled through his nose. His grip on the wheel relaxed, but his posture remained stiff.
“Fine. I’m on my way.”
He ended the call and pressed his lips together, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Jade raised an eyebrow. “Bakit? (Why?)”
André didn’t look at her. “Change of plans.”
Jade tilted her head. “Meaning?”
“I have to go.”
Jade blinked. “Go where?”
“I’ll just take you home,” he said, his tone surprisingly soft.
Jade shook her head. “No need. We’re not far from the venue, and my car is still there. Just drop me off, and I’ll drive myself home.”
He studied her for a second as if considering whether to argue, but then he nodded. “Alright.”
He smoothly made a U-turn, heading back the way they came.
Jade straightened in her seat. “So, my date is ditching me?”
André finally glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “It’s an emergency.”
That was it. Just an emergency. No details. No explanations.
Jade stared at him.
She should be irritated. Should demand more information.
But all she felt was relief.
She was the happiest girl ever to be ditched by her date.
The date wasn’t happening.
Thank God.
She schooled her expression into something neutral. “You know, if you wanted to cancel, you didn’t have to make up an excuse.”
André let out a short laugh. “You really think I’d do that?”
Jade gave him a pointed look. “Yes.”
He shook his head but didn’t argue.
The rest of the drive was quiet, save for the occasional buzz of his phone. He didn’t pick up.
In less than ten minutes, they were back near the charity venue.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, then hesitated.
She glanced at him. His expression was calm, but there was something underneath it. Something she couldn’t quite place.
For some reason, that nagged at her.
Jade shook off the thought. Not my problem.
Without another word, she stepped out of the car and shut the door behind her.
As she walked toward the entrance, she resisted the urge to turn around.
André Young was a lot of things—arrogant, insufferable, annoying as hell.
But tonight, something about him had felt different.
And she wasn’t sure she liked it.
- Writer
