I've eaten, I've dressed modestly and brought my cell phone. I stood awkwardly in the lobby of a five-star hotel in this city. Amaris Hotel. I know that Brad is the owner of this hotel, and when I arrived at the front…and is greeted by a security guard, I said Brad Hollow's name and explained the appointment in the lobby, in the end I was invited in and sat waiting in front of the reception desk. Some of the women in charge of receiving guests and offering room rental services glanced at me. Disliked glances from all the make-up-polished faces.
Indeed, I only wore black jeans and a matching blouse, but I wore a long beige coat…an expensive coat that Ammy bought as a birthday present. At least I'm wearing expensive clothes... right? why are they still looking down on me?
I waited for ten minutes, then the monster-faced man in my dream came. He put on his work suit and walked with a straight face toward me.
"Come on." He said coldly, he walked first. I had to follow him... right? I looked at my phone, it is ten minutes past ten. At least for lunch at eleven…then? Agh…let's hope it's just lunch, so in an hour or two I'll be free.
We got into the car, and the guy is still focused on his laptop, typing something. And here I am, sitting awkwardly looking out the car window dreamily. Why is my life so complicated and boring? If this is a date with Leo, there wouldn't be an awkward moment like this... we'd definitely have a chat and he'd be sure to tell me stories of his trips to exotic places.
The car stopped at a small house, located on the edge of a forest. Whose house is this?? Could it be that he wants to kill me here? I messaged Ammy.
"I was taken to a little house on the edge of the woods by Brad. If I don't call you in two hours, look for my body in that house…and Brad is the culprit. He must be punished and I want to be buried next to Charlie." I typed the send button the same second Brad opened the car door for me.
"Down." He said coldly.
"Where is this?" I asked scared, did he know I am so scared?
"My house. Come on down… I don't have much time."
I muttered indignantly, and finally went downstairs…following his footsteps towards the small house. When the door opened and made a loud ding, I immediately got goosebumps. Will this be the last worldview I will see? A small wooden house in the forest?
I love you Charlie…forever… maybe this is God's way to unite us…in the hands of the same killer?
In front of me is a wooden table with various foods on it. Brad sat in one of the chairs and held the cutlery. I am silent…processing everything.
So this is just a regular lunch? Not a bloody sadistic murder? Agh…sometimes I get carried away by wild imaginations because I often read Sherlock Holmes murder novels.
"Eat!"
I sat down and held the fork. Took the spaghetti served in front of me. Actually I want to ask and tell you the terms of this date. I want this date to end in no less than two hours. But he ruled over me like I am his pet dog.
When the food in front of me went down… I looked at him. Turns out he's been watching me.
"Is it done? Can I go home?" I asked.
"Who says?"
"You just won a date from me… so I guess that's enough…?" I said in an unsure tone.
"I want a whole day… not just this. I paid dearly for you…"
"Yeah… a normal date is one to two hours." I said again, I tried to calm down, and control my fear. I have to give him logic…reasonable reasons… so that I don't lose. After all he is much stronger than me, physically and in position.
"I paid One million dollars!"
"Yes. You're kind enough to DONATE the money to cancer survivors." My reply clarified the word donate.
"I paid you… for a day of dating… and the notion of dating in my head isn't just an hour's lunch."
"Then? Reading books? Shopping? Tracking?" I'm talking nonsense, to be honest I'm already very nervous right now.
"You know what I do… I am a grown man, and you are also a woman. We've both been married and failed… although for different reasons. You've been widowed for years…and so am I, I guess we know very well what a couple like us would do for a date?"
I shook my head quickly. No... of course not?! Has he gone mad?!
"Um… sorry Lord Brad…"
"Brad… just call me Brad."
"Ah... okay, Brad. I'm not that kind of woman, no matter how low you look at me… with my status, with my economic situation, I'm not that kind of woman… I guess you misjudged." I tried to stay calm and control the situation, I purposely spoke formally to him... so he wouldn't be rude to me.
"I know very well who you are… may be deeper than you think." He said again looking straight without blinking.
Calm….
Calm…
Diandra… calm down, you are a strong woman. You will be able to face all these problems. You're strong.
I kept chanting the mind-boosting spell…trying to calm down and control the situation.
"Can you explain, what you want? As long as it doesn't violate NORMS, and I can afford it, I'll agree to it… because I don't have time today either."
"You're not busy… and I know that…. You're not an office worker…"
"I'm not a busy person and an office person... but that doesn't mean I don't have work. So I'm asking you... Lord Brad Hollow...say what you want...and hurry up."
"I want you… I want YOU, naked on this dining table….satisfying all my wildest fantasies." He said with a straight face.
"Sorry… I'm a good girl, not a prostitute!" I replied curtly.
Since then, we have been fighting fiercely. He had a stiff face and a smirk.
I with bulging eyes that I hope make him flinch, even though in my heart…all the endurance cells in my body have already waved the white flag, surrendering. I sat up with the last of my courage.
"You're not a whore… I know that well… and I'm not paying you as a whore. I'm just asking for my rights for paying you on the show."
"You're paying… for a date. It's not an illicit relationship."
"It's absolutely not forbidden, and all the nobles in this city are completely free to do so."
"Sorry… I'm not a noble… and I'm not that kind of human." I snapped again.
So it seemed he called someone, asking about the status of the date?
The guy on the line answered Brad's questions clearly and loudly. "Of course not my Lord… you are free to determine the time and limits." He then ended the call.
"Diandra Roberts … you are my date as long as I want, without any restrictions…" he came closer and pulled my hand.
"You are my one million dollars date for eternity!" He whispered in my ear.