The Bet
1158 Words
"Come on, you guys," said Fernando, disguising his lack of confidence as bravado. “Show me this 'out of my league' woman you planned for.”
Miguel and Liam shared a furtive look.
"Patience, my dear friend,” chuckled Liam maliciously. “The night is still young."
Fernando wanted to resist.
He wanted some answers.
But there was an odd foreboding in him:
Maybe, just maybe, this wager will be more than just a flimsy act. Maybe it would be something he had never expected. Or maybe, it would be an escape from the boring drudgery of his billionaire life.
He let out a resigned sigh and slouched back into the leather chair. He was doing all his best not to listen to the nagging curiosity cringing inside of him.
"Alright! Alright!" Liam laughed. "We know you’re so eager, but good things come to those who wait, don’t they?"
Fernando rolled his eyes.
"Please spare me the fortune cookies already; just spit it out."
Miguel bent forward, a mischievous look dancing in his eyes; a devilishly playful smile on his lips.
“Ok fine, Fernando, what’s your type?”
Fernando jeered at him before taking a look around the bar.
“What’s my type? I don’t have any type. A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman…” Then he paused just as his attention went towards the other section of the bar.
There she was, sitting on the bar stool, with her back towards them. The way the red gown wrapped around her hips, and the soft silk under the dim lighting, gave her away. And as if that wasn’t enough to capture all their attention, she had a husky laugh that floated across the room.
Suddenly, Miguel’s statement about being out of one’s league took on another level altogether. This woman was like nothing Fernando would have ever gone for in his life. His taste? Well, he was used to dating polished blonds who are high maintenance and seemed aloof. But this woman was sensually raw and uninhibitedly confident. Something he found himself both drawn to and scared by her.
Liam drooled lazily from behind him, letting off a low whistle. “Doesn’t this mean anything to you, Fernando?”
Fernando was mute. His eyes remained fixed on the girl in the red dress. She seemed unaware of anyone else as she laughed again, full-bodied and contagious in conversation with another man at the other end of the bar.
“Get it now?” Miguel prodded him playfully. “Out of your league?”
Fernando gulped; his throat became dry. “She is,” he hesitated for a moment as he fumbled for the right term, “she's different.”
“Exactly,” added Liam. “So do you accept the challenge, Don Yuan?”
Fernando was in conflict with himself. This woman had all the attributes that usually put him off, with her flaming hair and charming laughter. However, the competitive spirit within him took over, underlying quietly under his calm exterior. He wasn’t going to back down from any dare, especially among his silly friends.
He hissed through his gritted teeth, “Fine! But just pray she doesn’t have an issue with men like me.”
Miguel and Liam burst out laughing, loud enough to be heard even in this hazy den. They just couldn't help it. Miguel wiped away tears from his eyes as he replied to Fernando, “You are finished, man.”
Liam gave Fernando a friendly slap on the back while still laughing.
“My friend, don't stress yourself out too much.”
Pointing at the lady in red, he continued, “That woman is trouble, I can smell it. But I swear she’s exactly what you need.”
Maybe Liam was right. Or maybe not. Whichever, Fernando didn’t know for sure. Well, she seemed like a fireball waiting to explode, no doubt. And he sure wasn't ready to be burned. At least, not today.
“Okay Romeo,” Miguel exclaimed, clapping his hands. “Let the show begin. But first, gather round, let's strategize.”
Fernando was silent, apprehension tightening into knots in his stomach.
He had closed multiple multi-million dollar deals with just the click of a button, yet somehow he was nervous about approaching this strange woman.
“All right Fern,” Liam finally announced. “It’s time. Operation Red and Hot is a go.”
Fernando took in a deep breath as he rose from his chair, loosening his tie slightly more as a habit than anything else. The air inside the bar was thick and suffocating.
“Just be yourself Fernando,” Miguel encouraged, with a little bit of worry in his voice. “Or at least, just be more human than your normal self.”
Fernando glared at him. “Believe me Miguel, I can't be myself now, even if my life depended on it.”
With that forced smile on his face, Fernando walked closer to the red-haired woman. Deep down, he felt his stomach spin out of control due to excitement and fear. This bet wasn’t all those other business deals he had easily won. At the end of the night, winning this stupid bet wasn’t really all there was to this game after all.
He confidently weaved his way through the crowded bar, recovering momentarily from his sense of inadequacy. Getting closer, he noticed that the woman's posture had changed. The glowing light that seemed to be emanating from her a few moments ago had dimmed.
She was done talking with the guy and sitting alone now, her back straight but shoulders drooping down.
Her fingers moved in circles on the counter of the bar while she kept watching the amber liquid swirling around in her glass. That warm laughter which had been there earlier had disappeared. And its place, taken by a sorrowful mask.
Fernando felt empathetic.
She now looked heartbroken, yet appealing. In place of a carefree lady Fernando anticipated finding, there sat a beauty drowning herself in a glass, lost in her sad thoughts.
For a moment, he hesitated; his well-thought-out plan collapsing under her sudden sadness. Was this even the right time? Was he intruding into a private despair?
He remembered Liam’s voice echoing in his head “just be yourself.”
Taking a deep breath, he decided against a grand entrance. Instead, he opted for a more genuine approach. He cleared his throat gently, not wanting to startle her.
"Excuse me," he began, his voice surprisingly soft. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Nisha's head snapped up, surprise momentarily replacing the sadness in her eyes. She took in his full appearance — the tailored gray suit, the expensive watch, gray eyes, and chiseled jawline.
He was a uniform of success.
A flicker of recognition crossed her face, amusement playing on her lips. He was the same handsome dude she'd seen walking in barely a minutes ago.
- Writer
