Her Only Choice

Chapter Four- Misplaced feelings and Whiskey

She looked at herself in the large vanity mirror as she admired her slim but curvy figure in the dark green satin dress. It made her eyes pop out more.

“Hey, baby” she felt a small hand on her shoulder. She looked in the mirror to see Zoe, her mother, staring back at her with watery eyes and a tight smile.

“Mama” she removed her mother's hands from hers and held them in hers, turning back to look at her.

“You look so beautiful. He's a lucky bastard” This time her mother's smile seemed more genuine.

“He's a lucky bastard” Chloe agreed as she chuckled softly amused by the use of her word.

“Are you okay?” Zoe asked

“Now that you're here, I feel better” Chloe reassured her.

Getting out of the expensive car, Chloe looked up at the building in front of her.

She tightened her hands around her clutch and walked inside the building. After being directed, she sat down in front of the guy that she believed to be her date.

He looked up from the menu that he was reading. His eyes were so blue she doubted it was real.

“Hi,” he stood up to take her hands.

She had imagined the so-called Chad Smith to be obnoxious just like his father but looking at the man in front of her, she doubted he was anything like his father even in appearance.

“Nice to meet you. I'm Chloe Elliot” she found herself smiling.

“I know, Chad told me”

“Chad? Are you not Chad?”

“No, I'm his best friend. Unfortunately, Chad couldn't make it so I was sent here to represent him. I'm sorry about that. I'm Brian, by the way”

“If he couldn't make it, the date could have been postponed. So, I'm supposed to sit here with you and pretend that you're Chad, the guy I'm expected to get married to?” she felt herself getting irritated.

“No, you don't have to pretend I'm Chad,” Brian said his eyes staring intensely at hers. She was extremely gorgeous, and he couldn't understand how his best friend would want to pass on this opportunity of having to spend time with her.

“What do you even mean by that?” She asked.

“It's obvious I'm not Chad and I'm not trying to be. Let's just act like I wasn't sent here by Chad himself and try to be friends. You could also ask me a few things about Chad and I'll do my best to answer them to your satisfaction”

“Okay,” She said.

“You're very beautiful” She hadn't expected him to compliment her like that. She couldn't control the redness that masked her cheek.

“So, you're like his best friend?” Chloe continues to converse with him after their meal.

“Yes, we grew up together. My father worked for Chad as his manager for so long, so I spent most of my time with Chad. We're like brothers” Brian said as he took a sip of the red wine. Chloe watched as he gulped the drink, his Adam's apple moving slightly. When he put the wine down, she noticed how his lips had gone red and plump from the wine. She shifted in her seat in discomfort.

“Tell me about Chad. What's he like? Is he currently in a relationship?” She tried to shift the topic away from him.

“Hmm…he's hardworking and lovely,” Brian said as he cleared his throat.

Chloe figured he was lying from the look on his face.

“Don't worry, you can tell me” She tried to reassure him.

“Um, I don't know if I should be telling you though”

“I don't kiss and tell” Chloe assured again. His eyes dilated at her choice of words.

“Well, he's currently in a relationship and not a committed type, if I may add. But that doesn't mean he isn't responsible. He'll be good to you”

“What does that even mean?” Chloe asked confused, not getting the ‘’not committed' and ‘’responsible” part.

“Just know he might be difficult sometimes but definitely a lovable person”

“Hmmm”

Three days after the date, the wedding date was set. Chloe didn't know how to feel as she sat in her living room watching the event planner's mouth move. It was late in the evening and she wondered what the lady was still talking about.

“How do you want the theme of your wedding to be?” The lady asked. She still hadn't seen her husband. If someone had told her she would be getting married to a man she had never met or spoken to two weeks ago, she would have laughed hard at their face.

“Any theme is okay” Chloe absentmindedly.

“So, you wouldn't mind a coquette theme”

“Coquette is fine”

“Alright, ma'am. Have you seen a dress you like, or would you like another series of designs brought to you” the event planner asked not seeming to notice Chloe's discomfort or maybe she just decided to ignore it.

“I'll take #192” Chloe finally focused on the catalog in front of her. She pointed to the dress at the far end of the book. She liked the way it hugged the model's hip. “That's all for today, Sabrina-”

“It's Samantha” the event planner corrected with a smile on her face.

“I'm sorry, Samantha. I have somewhere to be. We'll continue with this tomorrow or just do whatever you feel I'll like. I'm okay with anything” Chloe forced a smile on her face.

Walking into the bar, she watched as people danced to the beat of the music. She sat down at the bar and ordered whisky.

She downed the drink, chasing it down with lime. Her eyes roamed all over the place. She heard people talking above her. She looked up to see a group of men clad in suits.

Then suddenly, another one joined their gathering, holding a lady's hand in his right hand. He sat down on the cushion, the lady sitting on his lap.

She noticed he looked familiar but couldn't remember where she had met him.

Just as she was about to return her attention to the dance floor, he looked at her. Her eyes widened for a few seconds before masking it with indifference.

She remembered where she had met him. He was the same guy that had been so arrogant to her on the plane. Just as if he could read what was going on in her mind, he smirked and then kissed the lady on his lap, but his eyes still trained intensely on Chloe's.