Chapter3:Arranged date
1301 Words
Chapter 3
Arranged Date
Clara couldn't finish her food. She was downtrodden by her father's proclamation. She cried all night as she remembered what her father told her.
Early the next morning, she knocked on her parents' door, believing that she could convince her father and her mother.
“Good morning, Dad, good morning, Mom." She greeted them as she moved closer to the four-wheel chair in her parents' bedroom.
“Clara, what could the problem be? Why are you here early this morning?” her mother asked.
“Dad,...”
“I hope you're not here because of what I told you. Because if you're here for that, I'm sorry; nothing will change.” Her father reiterated with all seriousness.
“But, Dad, I have a boyfriend! You know very well how long I've been dating Banjo and our plans to get married in the near future!” Clara lamented.
“This is the wealthiest family we're talking about. What does that have to do with that poor, wretched boyfriend of yours?”
"Com'on, Gomez, take it easy on the girl. She's only trying to make an appeal,” Mrs. Dantes interfered.
“My words are final, Clara. If not for this family, your mother could have been in another world by now. So, tell me, where was the so-called Banjo when we needed money to save your mother's life?” Her father asked.
Clara couldn't hold her tears anymore as she began to sob and went back to her room.
“Don't forget, you're having a date at 4:00pm. And do well to know how you'll end things with Banjo.” Her father followed her into her room after a few minutes to remind her of the wedding plans.
“I love Banjo.” Clara gave out a loud cry.
Banjo was her first and only lover since high school. He was the perfect man of her dreams. They had planned their wedding once she turned twenty-six, which was just a year away.
At exactly 4:00pm., Clara availed herself at Crunchies Fried Chicken Ltd, which was the venue set for their date. She waited for at least an hour before the arrival of young Miller.
“This is an hour past the time I was given. Who did this boy think he was to keep me waiting?” Clara mumbled as she glanced at the time on her wristwatch.
Immediately she raised her eyes. She saw one handsome, tall, and dark man who was in his early thirties walk straight to her table.
He joined her at her table without saying a word. Clara kept staring at him without any form of greeting as well. “He met me here, so he should be the one to greet me first.” Clara thought to herself.
The two sat at the same table without saying a word to each other for about thirty minutes. Of course, Dan's pride would not let him greet Clara, because he was convinced that she was of a lower class even before they met.
Dan kept himself busy with his phone as Clara's attention was on her glass of juice that she bought while waiting for her blind date, not minding the fact that someone was sitting next to her.
“Hi, I'm sure you must be Clara Dantes.” Dan finally voiced a statement.
“Yeah, I am. And you?”
“Wow! I'm Dan Miller.”
“By the way, were you not trained with some regard at all to greet people?”
“Hahahaha!” Clara laughed sarcastically.
“You know what? At first, I thought it was a deaf and dumb man that joined me at the table. Not only that, I equally thought you were blind as well, because even a deaf and dumb person can wave his hands as a sign of greeting whenever he sees people.” Clara replied, while she continued to sip her Jews with her straw and watch some videos on her phone.
“You know what? I don't think I can do this anymore. It was pointless to fix this date. I can't handle a nonentity that can only give me trouble," said Dan.
He carried his phone off the table as he stood up to leave.
“Hiss…”
“So arrogant. It's best we don't see each other again." Clara hissed as she carried her bag and walked past him, as if she wanted to push him to the ground.
Dan kept staring at her as she left, and he followed her behind.
“What confidence! I've never seen a poor girl with such confidence. Did she even know who she was talking to? Even girls that are standard for my class have never talked to me in this way,” he thought to himself.
Immediately, he had a flash of memory of what would happen if he failed to marry her. It was then that he realized the need to drop his pride and achieve his goal first.
“Clara! Please, wait!” He shouted as he saw her heading to the park, where she'd pick up a cab for her destination.
Clara smiled and pretended as if she didn't hear a voice shouting her name. She wanted him to repeat himself before she answered, “I need him to know that, even without money, I have high self-esteem,” she thought to herself as she continued with her movement.
“Clara, please, wait. I beg you,” he shouted again, this time running to catch up with her before she finally got a cab.
She turned and stood still, waiting for him to draw closer. “Any problem? How may I help you?” Clara asked, looking straight into his eyes without any fear that she was addressing the heir to the wealthiest family.
“I'm sorry for what happened earlier. Please, let's get back inside and achieve the goal for which we are here.” Dan pleaded.
They both went back to their tables, and Dan made an order for some drinks and food for the two.
“Alright, let me formally introduce myself. I am Dan Miller, the CEO of Miller's Production Enterprise.”
After a sigh of relief, he added
“Clara, you know the reason why we're here. Our wedding is in two weeks, and you're meeting my whole family tomorrow. You need to know that if not for the stupid contract your poor, wretched father signed with my father, I don't think I'd love for our paths to cross, not to talk of marrying you!”
Clara breathed out heavily. “Is that the reason you ran out there shouting my name like a mad dog?”
Dan got provoked by her statement and raised his hands to batter her face with a slap. Clara held his hands before they could get to her face. “Don't you dare try that again, Dan. I'm neither your slave nor your wife, so you had better respect yourself and let's leave this place in peace.” Clara warned.
All eyes in the restaurant were set on them.
Some people with phones quickly made a video of the scene they were creating. In less than five minutes, different videos were all over social media with the caption ‘the unbelievable moment the arrogant son of a billionaire got overpowered by a woman’.
They both left in shame, and he forcefully dragged her into his car and headed to a supermarket, where he got her a dress.
“You are to wear this dress as you come to my house for the family dinner tomorrow. Make sure you aren't late.”
“Now
, can you get out of my car?” He added, opening the door for her.
- Writer
