Chapter 2
1349 Words
He walked down the street to the other café just ahead. He’d mistaken the place, after all, and now it was obvious why. His phone buzzed with a notification—his date was waiting for him. Nathan picked up his pace. He didn’t like running late, even for something as unpredictable as a blind date.
The embarrassment from his run-in with the princess still lingered, but hopefully, that was the last time he’d ever see her. It’s not like they’d known each other before today. She’d probably tell all her friends about the young man “thirsting after her,” while he’d shove this memory down into the deepest pit of his stomach and pretend it never happened.
Nathan double-checked his phone as he stepped into the second café, determined not to repeat his earlier mistake. His date, Emma, was sitting at table six, just as the app said. She was wearing a white sundress that dulled the brightness of her face. Her short, jet-black hair trimmed neatly at her face and shoulders.
As he walked toward her, he already knew—they weren’t going to be a match.
She turned towards him, a sour expression on her face. “You’re late,” she said sharply, skipping past introductions. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been sitting here?”
“I’m sorry, I mistook the—”
“Can you not just give me excuses right now?” She interrupted sharply. “Not only were you late, but I just found out that you’re a gynecologist. A gynecologist!”
Oh, right. Another nip at his job. “I mentioned that already when we were talking,” he informed her.
“You told me that you were in the military. That was what we spoke about.”
“No. We’ve been speaking for two weeks and I clearly said that I am no longer in the military. I did say that. You just did not pay attention.”
Scowling, she grabbed her purse and stood up. “Nobody is going to date someone who helps women give birth and wipe babies’ butt.”
“I don’t—” He then stopped, deciding that it was stupid to explain the nature of his job to her.
Nathan felt a rising anger accompanied by a second round of embarrassment, but he chalked it down. He convinced himself that this too, will be the last day that he saw this woman. If his mother hadn’t set him up with her, he wouldn’t even be here in the first place. His family were so bent on him finding a partner because they thought it would curb his growing loneliness. Right now, he didn’t think he was very much inclined into curbing his loneliness.
When she saw that he wasn’t going to say anything else, she scoffed and grabbed her glass of sparkling water, pouring directly at him. The splash took Nathan by surprise. He jerked back, but his shirt was already drenched by the water.
“That’s payment for being such a jerk,” she hissed at him and then walked out of the café.
Nathan stood there for a moment. The waiter came to him and told him that he would have to pay for the water. Sighing, he slid his card on their machine and left the place in shame.
Outside, the hot afternoon air hit him, irritating him even further. But as he made his way down the street in hope of a cab, a sharp, panicked voice cut through the air.
“Let me go!”
Nathan’s steps slowed, his eyes scanning for the source. Just ahead, the woman he had met at the other cafe was dragging her purse with two thugs. They had a pretty firm hold on it, but she was unwilling to let go.
“Someone help!” She yelled out.
The street was scanty and the people watching were obviously scared of the thugs. They dared not go closer. Nathan approached them, his earlier irritation replaced by a focused calm.
“Hey! Leave her alone.”
The thugs turned, sizing him up. One of them, taller and bulkier than the other, smirked. “This ain’t your business, man. Get out of here.”
“It is now,” Nathan said, raising his phone in the air. “I have called the police and they will be here any second.” They stared at him, unmoving. “Don’t believe me? Fine. Let’s wait for a few more seconds.”
The shorter thug shoved him, testing his resolve. “Walk away, boy. Don’t make this worse for yourself.”
Nathan’s lips twitched at the nickname. The waterlogged shirt hadn’t done much for his confidence today, but this? This was familiar ground. He’d been in worse situations during his time in the military.
Seeing as he refused to budge, the taller man lunged first, a wild swing that Nathan sidestepped easily. Nathan delivered a hit of his own that landed directly on the thug’s chin. The shorter one hesitated for a moment, and then began to run.
It was over in seconds. The taller one staggered after the other, glaring at Nathan “You’ll regret this!”
Nathan turned to the woman, slightly annoyed that he was seeing her for the second time that day. “You okay?”
She nodded, her voice steady but grateful. “Yes, thank you.”
Nathan took a step back, giving her space. “You didn’t need to fight over a purse when your life was clearly at stake.”
“I thought someone would help.”
“Nobody did, did they?”
She arched her brows at him. “You did. You helped me.”
“Barely.”
“Did you call the police? I need to report the crime.”
“That was a lie to get them off you. I didn’t call the police and if you want to report it, you better head to the station.”
She was rummaging about her purse, but now she paused and stared at him once more. “You said you were a nurse, yes?”
Nathan didn’t know what his occupation had to do with this conversation, but he relented. “Yes.”
“Yes, I remember,” she said, mistaking his confusion for surprise that she remembered him. “You said your name was Nathan and that you’re a nurse. I’m grateful that you helped me out here, Nathan. This purse is worth over three million.”
Nathan chuckled in disbelief. “Ah, so three million is worth your life.”
Her smile was humorless. “Haha, funny. Nathan, how about I offer you a job at a better and bigger company? I mean, just in case you’re looking for a new job…?”
He scoffed. Of course, there it was—the inflection of the rich. She just couldn’t help but reveal herself. If he had ignored it before, it was hard to overlook now.
“I like my job, princess, but thanks for the offer.”
The woman squared her shoulder, a frown settling on her face. “I told you that my name is Rosianna.”
“I couldn’t care less.” He stepped around her, his tone sharp and dismissive. As he moved, a car rolled smoothly into the street, its polished exterior and deliberate pace making it clear—it was here for her.
“I’m just trying to pay you back!” She called after him.
“No need,” he yelled back, then disappeared into the street. He just wanted to forget today and get it over with.
It wasn’t until he got home that the evening’s events caught up with him fully. Kicking off his shoes, he sank onto the couch, letting out a long breath. He hadn’t even taken a breath before a knock came at his door. Mildly annoyed, he rushed to open the door. It was the least person he expected.
His blind date.
Nathan blinked, caught between disbelief and exhaustion. What was she doing here?
- Writer
