Chapter one
LEAH'S POV
As I stood in front of the mirror, applying my makeup and questioning myself, I admired myself. I was indeed beautiful and I wonder if the black leather dress I had on was too short. Was I overdressed? I asked myself while putting on my earrings, the earrings I got from Amelia.
‘I am going on a date! A big date’ I thought. Was I supposed to be excited?
“Don't overthink Leah,” I said to myself.
It was a date and I was meant to give a good impression. The first expression of everything tells how things are going to go, so dressing like a model going to a runway show wasn't so bad after all was it? My ash eye makeup complimented my eyes and I was looking good, am I not? Styling my ear all down was okay, wasn't it? Was I looking good!? Too many questions I threw at myself knowing I would most likely have to provide answers.
Amelia said not to dress basic, she literally said “Dress like it was your last day on earth to slay”
I wasn't the type who goes out much but I was willing to do this. I needed it.
I have known Amelia forever, she has always been there. We grew up together and attended the same schools till high school. She was in college and I was… I was here. She was my favorite person in the world and she was responsible for my dressing up.
Amelia was the social one, she took me to the club for the first time, she hooked me up with my first boyfriend which was a disaster, and now, she was the reason I was going on a date. I wish she were here, it would have been easier. But I couldn't even FaceTime her because she was in class. I wished I had the opportunity to go to college but as a poor girl from a small town called Cold Spring in Newyork, I could only dream.
I came from a poor family in a busy city like Newyork. People always see New Yorkers as rich, stable, and balanced citizens but Newyork was a very hard place to live in. It was even harder for my family and me because we came from Cold Spring, a very small town with limited opportunities. The income my dad was bringing could only put food on our table and with my mum being sick; I had to help my dad immediately after I graduated from high school. I work two jobs and between serving coffee and working at a bookstore, my pay is barely enough to make a difference.
We lived in an old bungalow with cheap furniture. I had three siblings and our apartment was too small for a family of six. I never had my own room, I shared rooms with my brothers, and the air mattress we had could not contain us so I had to sleep on the floor, and sometimes, I slept on the couch. We were so poor, we couldn't afford to pay rent.
My landlord was a calm man but after omitting three months of rent, his calmness disappeared as he was on us about his money. Not only were we poor but we were on the edge of almost being homeless.
With everything going on in my life, a date was supposed to be the least of my problems but I was looking forward to being there. Amelia signed me up on a dating site where people meet their soulmates. I didn't need a soulmate, I didn't even need to be on a date but I was willing to find a soulmate who was a billionaire and the money could do plenty in my life right? When I say money, I mean the money I would be getting from the man I was matched with after agreeing to get married. I was willing to meet a stranger and get married just because of money. Amelia said the men on the site were billionaires who desperately needed a partner and I desperately needed a wealthy guy to pave the way to my financial freedom so I was intrigued when she told me about it.
I was cut off from my thoughts when my little brother came running in.
“Leah Leah” he yelled.
“Whattttt” I replied crying out.
He came to me panting “The landlord”
“Yes, what happened to him,” I let out and rolled my eyes.
“He is here again, he is angrier,” he said pointing outside.
‘Oh my goodness, not today’ I thought as I ran outside. Why today of all days? Why can't I just have this day? I asked myself. I was so frustrated but I had no choice but to deal with it.
“I gave you notice two weeks ago but still, no payment was made.” “This is your last chance,” the landlord said shouting at my dad as I ran to the front door.
He was furious, just as always.
Dad was begging but the landlord's mind seemed made up and I knew I had to step in. I wish he would pick another day but he is here and I have to face it.
I swear there's always some bad things around here.
“We promise to pay by month's end, we won't disappoint you this time,” “I have a job interview to attend during the week and it is a very good-paying job so I'll be able to settle our rent sir,” I said pleading and panting because I was out of breath from the rush.
“That is what you said the last time and I already told your dad that if I didn't get my money by the end of the month then there is nothing I can do for y'all,” he said and took off.
This was it, we would be evicted if we didn’t come up with the rent money by the end of the month. ‘How are we supposed to pay?’ I thought. It was too much for me to bear; I needed a break from the world. What are we going to do?
“We are going to be fine Leah,” my dad said reassuring me but I knew he was also scared but he was trying to hide it. We could be homeless at the end of the month and there is nothing he could do about it.
“I have a plan, Dad. I don't want you to worry about any of this. We will be fine I promise you” I told him and hugged him.
I am my father’s daughter because I also did a good job at hiding the weariness I felt and I wore that big smile and reassured them even though I had a lot of reason to be scared.
“I have to be somewhere else right now, I will be home late. I might not make it to dinner, Kiss Mum goodbye for me” I said as I left home waving to my brothers who were focused on the TV set.
As I got on the bus heading to the restaurant to meet the stranger I hoped would give me a solution to my financial problems, I thought about how this was my only hope. I prayed silently that my plan would work. My options were limited and I need money to help my family. Mom’s medicine needs to be bought if the dose she's taking finishes and the house rent. Things are not looking good for me right now.
…
‘Fancy’ I thought to myself when I stepped into the restaurant, I was glad I was on time, I got dressed early because I knew I was going to take the bus and walk the remaining distance. The restaurant was in the city and I didn't have enough money to take a Taxi so I took the bus. Walking with heels was not easy. I was trying so hard not to miss my steps.
I hung my coat and walked into the restaurant building turning my head left and right and observing the whole room. It was aesthetically pleasing and had matching decorations and furniture.
“The bill here will be a lot,” I said to myself as I glanced around. At least I knew I wasn't the one settling the bill. I wouldn't be able to afford it anyway.
I spotted my name on an indicator that was placed on a table and as I walked towards it, the usher asked me my name to be sure I was on the list for a reservation, and after that…
Oh, f**k me.
He was not here yet. I looked disturbed as I sat down, with hopes that I hadn't wasted my effort and time to come down here and the privileged asshole wouldn't show up.
Amelia said she read all the reviews on the site and they were all good so she was sure my date was going to go well. It didn't feel like it right now and the whole thing was starting to suck. I drank the water the waiter brought to me earlier as I tried to calm myself.
My phone started ringing and I reached into my bag to get it, I knew it was Amelia, she was probably calling to check in and I was happy she called because Amelia always knew what to say every time.
“I think I am being stood up,” I blurted out as I picked up her call.
“Calm down, those privy guys never keep to time,” she replied and blew a loud bubble gum.
“I know,” I said and sighed while Amelia talked my ear off about something that happened to her. I didn't complain because it was helping me stay distracted.
We conversed for about fifteen minutes when I spotted a guy walking over to my table.
“I think he is here Amey,” I told her and cleared my throat.
“I have to go, bye.”
He was tall and he had a Greek statue physique with toned arms. It was obvious he put a lot of time into the gym. He had short husky hair and he probably needs a haircut. He was wearing pants with a T-shirt and a shirt that he didn't button up. ‘Not so formal’ I thought. How can a billionaire dress like that to date? Was he not wealthy? I asked myself.
I hope I was not getting catfished.
His expression was not exciting, he looked like he would be anywhere but here. I wasn't concerned about his looks but he was handsome, and his eyes were dark and pretty. As he sat down, opposite me the sun from the window reflected on his face and his dark eyes which were on me looked somehow brown.
“Hello,” “Good day, I am Leah,” I tell him.
“Jay,” “I am Jay,” he said, staring at me.
This is awkward, I thought. What am I supposed to say, I surely can't sit here quietly and can he stop looking at me? I should ask about his life, just something to create a conversation. I may find out why he dressed like he was going to get groceries on our date.
“So do you live in the city?” I asked him
“Yeah, the busy city,” he replied, sounding uninterested.
Wasn't he going to ask me also, isn't that how conversations are started, I thought. He just sat there.
“So Leah, what is your story?” he finally said.
“What is my story?” I said out loud.
What type of question was that? This is going to be so bad.
After waiting for him to say something this is what he says? Asking me about my story was something I found funny. I didn't even know how to respond to his question.
“Well for starters, I am from Cold Spring,” I said.
“I am twenty…
“I need to take this,” he said cutting me off
He picked up his phone and as he answered the person, his facial expression became fierce. I stared at him trying to search for his feelings. He barely said anything apart from yes or no to the person. I knew whatever the person was saying wasn't something Jay wanted to hear because he looked like he just wanted to scream out loud.
His call took about twenty minutes and when he finally dropped his phone, he ran his hand through his head like he was frustrated. I wonder what was going on and what the person told him.
“Marry me,” he said, looking at me with no expression on his face.
“Excuse me, what do you mean by marrying you,” I asked confused.
“I am asking you to marry me,” he replied, scrutinizing me like I were deaf.
Where was this coming from? How can he go from saying so little to asking me to marry him? What was happening? This is so strange, I thought to myself. I know I came to this date with the purpose of meeting a man I'll possibly marry, meet a billionaire I will marry but I wasn't even sure if Jay was a billionaire and he was asking me to marry him. What am I supposed to say to him?
“What do you say, Leah?” he inquired, speaking like he just asked me to pick a food choice and not about a sudden betrothal.
“I will need time to think about it and I will let you know my answer,” I said, stuttering as I tried to find my words.
I need to talk to Amelia about all this, I can't think well right now and she will definitely know what to say.
“It is a serious thing you asked me,” I told him, and cleared my throat.
“I know it is serious but I need you to answer me now. If I leave, I am leaving with the proposal,” his voice was adamant as he spoke.
“So will you marry me?” “I need your answer now,” he let out.
