CHAPTER 5
1064 Words
Aaron
One month later
Taking a sip of my beer, I look around the bar.
It was ten past seven p.m and just like any other Saturday evening in New York, the bar was buzzing with people chatting over drinks and the dimmed lights create an intimate ambiance, with colourful spotlights highlighting the space.
I look down at my watch. Ethan is ten minutes late.
Since it was weekend, we got off work early and we'd agreed to meet up this evening.
I became the CEO of 4U Luxe at twenty-six. I took over when the company was practically in ruins because of mismanagement of company funds and poor governance.
In the office, only Mitchelle and Ethan spoke to me casually. I've known Ethan since college and we met Mitchelle a little later.
Since I took over, we have been amongst the top luxury clothing companies.
It started as a clothing brand and then grew and now also makes shoes, bags, and perfumes.
Ethan and I met in college and were roommates. We both studied business administration and graduated with an MBA.
He’s more of a cheerful, charming, and talkative guy than me.He cracks silly jokes all the time and enjoys socialising. Everyone seems to like him. I, on the other hand, could not find it in myself to engage in unnecessary discussions or feign interest in others.
I refuse to admit it —maybe because of my stupid ego, but deep down, I know he’s the closest person to a friend I have ever had. Some might even say he’s my best friend. He knew this too.
At thirty-five, he’s a year older than me and is engaged.
I glance up to see a blonde smiling at me from one of the tables further away, twirling her hair around her finger and making gooey eyes at me. A good part of her cleavage was on display in a short skin- tight red dress.
I look away. Maybe it would have tempted me another day, but not today. I just was not in the mood.
On my second glass, I look up and there he is, making his way to me.
Six feet two, brown hair, hazel eyes, and a strikingly handsome face, many heads whip in his direction to catch a glimpse of him.
“If this is not our very own single and ready mingle guy." He chuckles, slapping me on my back as he reaches me.
“Shut up.” I greet him back. He sits on the free bar stool next to me and orders the same drink as me.
He laughs. "Remind me again. How many dates have you been on in the last three months?" He turns to me.
I sigh. "More than I'd ever been and more than I ever want to."
"So you've finally decided to commit to a relationship. Are your playboy days truly over huh?" He arches a brow.
"I am doing this because my mom's been pressuring me. She never fails to remind me that I am not getting any younger and I should settle down." I take a sip from my beer.
"And what about you? Don't you desire that? You can't tell me it's solely for your mom's sake."
I shrug. "I have never really thought of myself as a family man. Plus I am already busy enough with work."
"Excuses Aaron. Just excuses" He takes a swing of his own beer. "So… how about your new assistant?" He takes a swing of his own beer.
"What about her?"
"She's a very attractive woman don't you agree?" He nudges me at the side.
I roll my eyes "Ethan, Miss Hathaway is a beautiful woman and yes, she is attractive. But she's just my assistant and I don't screw employees ok?"
"Hmm we'll see about that." He has a mischievous grin.
I sigh again. "Enough of me, how is Leah? How are the wedding plans going?"
Edward and Leah have been engaged for a year.
"She's good, we'll have the wedding probably in December. She wants it to be around Christmas period so that it's a double celebration."
"Ahh ok, that's a good idea." I say "I have a blind date tomorrow evening. It's my first and last blind date. If it doesn't go well, I give up on this dating spree of mine."
He burst into laughter "Ahh I can't wait to hear all about it."
***
Sunday 7:30 p.m.
"It'll have to do." I looked down at my dark grey suit.
Wearing a suit to a dinner might seem too formal. Most would say I am overdressed.
But not dressing up for every occasion gave me a sense of calm and control.
I take one last look at myself at the mirror, spray my favourite Zara perfume— Night Pour Homme and head out.
I gave Oliver the weekend off and would be driving myself.
I shut down the engine after parking in the driveway in front of Maison de Delice,
a French restaurant. It was an only-reservation restaurant and it was also my first time here.
"Good evening sir, please do you have a reservation?" The lady asks me as I reach the entrance.
"Yes, I do."
She lifts up her tablet. "Your name please,"
She sorts out the reservation and shows me to our table at the far corner of the room, beside one of the windows overlooking the property and surrounding buildings..
I call a server and ask for a bottle of Chateau Rouge while waiting for my date.
I look down at my watch, 8:10 p.m. My date was ten minutes late.
As I sip on my wine waiting, I begin to wonder if I really should've gone through with it.
On my second glass, I glance up and see the lady at the entrance accompanied by another lady—whom I suppose was my date, heading in my direction.
I couldn't see her face clearly from here with the dim lights. As they stop on our table, I see her face clearly.
"This is the table ma'am, enjoy—" The lady was saying.
I could barely make out her words as I focused on the face in front of me, staring into those brown eyes I've seen almost every day for the past month.
My assistant, Miss Mia Hathaway, was my blind date.
- Writer
