THE BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET

Chapter 5

Charlie

Saint had vetoed all my dresses. So much for “gay people know nothing about women’s fashions”. Saint had argued and defended that everybody knew a thing or two of the difference between slutty sexy and classic sexy. But at the end of it all, they had both been satisfied by the dark red knee length dress with thin straps, a sweetheart neckline, and a drooping back. I paired it with tiger print four-inch stilettos. I drew up my hair into a chignon, slipped on mascara, face powder and lipstick, clicked in diamond stud earrings, and left.

I felt giddy at the idea of a date with Mr. Cas- Erick. He was Erick now. I’d ignored Saint’s teasing of “you are not to be used as dessert. Demand real dessert “he had said “and don’t eat only salad for God’s sake. Pisses me off when I’m willing to pay for your dinner and you are ordering a barely there salad.”

“Have you ever been on a date with a girl?”

Saint looked at me like I was stupid “yes. Some of them are so persistent.”

“Even though you don’t swing that way?”

He had screwed up his face in disgust. “They had tried to suggest that I was probably bisexual.”

“Face it saint. You are too hot for your own good “I had used his words back at him.

The waitress sat me down at a side table Erick had booked. I had raised a well plucked eyebrow at Erick’s absence. But then I was five minutes early anyway. I grinned at the thought of throwing his words back at him “you are so minutes and seconds late. Such incompetence. I hope you aren’t as boring a dinner companion as you are late."

Fifteen minutes later and I ordered a glass of wine. By forty-three minutes past eight, I ordered another glass.

I had to face it; Erick had stood me up. After settling my bill, I left. I was angry, embarrassed, and disappointed. Instead of heading home , I decided that the best cure for whatever sense of rejection I felt right now was a few drinks at the bar and a man to spend the night with.

The bar was crowded but I managed to secure a just vacated stool and plopped down on it.

“Hey, Charlie." Christian from the other side of the bar slid over to me “what’s up? Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes."

“Hey Chris” I sighed “a margarita please.”

He slid away. He returned a moment later with a chilled salty glass.

“You look beat.”

“I just got stood up. I’m trying to drown my sorrows away with alcohol and sex.”

“You got stood up? You?!”

“I’m losing it. Old age and saggy boobs”

Christian laughed “I’m a red-blooded male here and from where I am you look amazing. No saggy boobs in sight “

“You are my friend. You have a partiality to me”

“It’s cool you got stood up you know”

I raised dagger like eyes at him.

He raised his hands in a no threat gesture “I’m just saying . You’ve been living in demi goddess level. It’s cool that suddenly regular people things are happening to you.”

I groaned “don’t you have a bar to tend?”

“The new worker is pumped full of energy. Jesus! He never stops.”

I grinned at him “he’s probably a virgin”

He grinned back. “My shift just ended. Need a walk home?”

“Sure. I doubt I’m gonna get laid any way. Lost all my mojo anyway."

“You are such a drama queen, Charlie." He laughed.

Christian was one of the few people I actually felt safe around. He was like my ‘gay best friend’ that wasn’t gay and was two years my junior. After years of coming to this bar and ordering the same drink, we had struck up a sort of friendship.

"So, who’s this guy that stood you up? You do know his name will be in the book of legends years from now."

I told him all about Erick.

“He digs you." He said after I was done talking.

“What is it with you guys and dig This isn’t a black American movie “I said. "And also, if he dug me at all, I wouldn't be here with you. I'd be getting some much-needed horizontal work out right now." I waggled my brows at Christian.

“You are so old. You don’t know modern trends” he laughed.

I was about to give a smart ass reply when I saw the man at the end of the street. I stilled.

“Charlie, are you okay?” Christian's voice seemed to be coming from a million miles away.

Erick was walking towards us, a gorgeous, dark haired woman in tow. I looked from him to his lady friend, my blood boiling. So he had stood me up to take some other woman out? What, had he double booked or what? He was such an asshole and I was so mad at myself for not seeing it from the onset. Who the hell did he even think he was to play games with me? Erick was officially dead to me. I was blocking his number as soon as I got home and putting this whole episode out of my mind.

“That’s him Chris. That's Erick, can we just take a cab or something, please.”

So, by the time Erick reached where we had been on the side walk, our cab was already pulling away from the curb.

“How was your date sister?” Saint asked from the couch as I walked into the apartment, my shoes dangling from my fingers. “Did he refuse to have s*x on the first date or did you two split the bill?” He chuckled. He turned at me when I didn’t reply.

“What happened?"

“He stood me up." I said from the door of my bedroom then shut the door.

Moments later, Saint knocked on my door and poked his head in. “I just ordered chicken wings. Throw on your jammies. I have your favorite show on tv, and that tub of ice cream is pretty idle."

I laughed then stood up and hugged my brother.

Who needed Erick anyway? This was a much better end to the day.