It’s my world

Chapter 2 : The New Game

I stepped out of Emily's spa feeling like a new woman. My hair was styled in loose waves, my skin glowed, and my nails shone with a bold red polish. But more importantly, I felt empowered and ready to be in charge of my dating life going forward.

As I walked into the bustling streets, I noticed the admiring glances from passersby. I smiled to myself, walking with my head high as the cool breeze moved through my hair, knowing that I was no longer the same heartbroken girl from yesterday, this new me felt like a breath of fresh air.

I pulled out my phone and opened one of the dating apps I’ve downloaded over the years of my dating trials, this time with a different perspective. I wasn't searching for love or validation, I was on the hunt for a distraction, a game to play.

I changed my previous profile pictures on my dating sites, with the new hot photos I took a day after my spa and beauty transformation, after which I swipe through profiles and bios on the dating site, stopping at a chiselled face with piercing blue eyes. His name was Max, and his bio read "Entrepreneur by day, adventurer by night."

I grinned mischievously. This seems like a good catch.

I swiped right, and within minutes, he had matched with me sending me a message. We texted back and forth for some time, the banter was effortless, I wasn’t doing too much this time, I was the catch remember.

"Want to grab drinks tonight?" Max asked, his message popping up on my screen.

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Then I typed out a response. "Bills on you?"

He replied with a laughing emoji “Of course bills on me, ma’am. I wasn’t expecting to split bills with a beautiful damsel like you”

I rolled my eyes, a smile spreading across my face “That’s what they always do to catch my heart and attention before crashing it all, but not this time”

We picked a date at Winnie’s bar for Friday, I was nervous, I didn’t know what to expect, I wanted to remain the catch and be in control, it was hard to concentrate at work that week as this was my first time doing this.

Friday came so fast, Max’s call woke me up, I didn’t check the caller ID, assuming it was work work-related call, but as I picked up my phone I heard a deep voice, and my eyes opened wide almost immediately.

“Hello, I don’t know if you remember me, this is Max from FindmeMine” I could barely speak up as his deep voice ignited something in me, I have a thing for deep voices.

“Oh yeah, hello Max” I tried to compose myself and not sound too excited but my voice betrayed me

“How are you beautiful, Just calling to remind you of our date today, hope you haven’t forgotten or have a change in plans for today”

I grabbed my pillow tight, feeling a flutter in my chest. “Oh yeah! let me check my schedule….. uh… yeah I think I can make it, is 5 pm good?” I smiled mischievously under my duvet.

He chuckled “Yes, that’s perfect” he replied.

We ended the conversation. This seems fun I thought to myself, as I jumped out of bed to rummage through my closet for a sexy outfit.

Later that evening as I finished getting ready, I glanced at myself in the mirror, I looked beautifully in my snatched black dress, feeling confident and in control. I grabbed my purse and headed out the door, locking it behind me.

Just as I stepped into the elevator, my phone buzzed with a text from Max "Hey, beautiful. I am in front of your apartment “

The elevator doors closed, and I could almost hear the sound of my heartbeat, my palms got sweaty, and the sound of the elevator going down became a distraction as I was almost having a nervous breakdown, it stopped, the elevator door opened, I took a deep breath, pulled myself together and stepped out.

Walking out of my condominium, I scanned through the cars parked hoping to see a familiar face, just when reached out for my phone to give Max a text, I heard someone calling out my name.

“Hey, Clarion!”. It was Max, And as our eyes met, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Little did I know this was the beginning of a night that would change everything.