Aurora
True to his words, a limo pulled up in front of my building at eight o'clock sharp. At first, I was skeptical about getting on board, but the voice in my head said to me:
You had sex with him last night.
If he wanted to harm you, he would've done it when you were most vulnerable.
I put my doubts behind me and ducked into the limo as the driver closed the door behind me. I felt like the main character of a TV show. My jaw dropped when I entered the restaurant; it was incredibly beautiful, and everything about it also screamed expensive. I never thought I would ever visit a place like this; my life was like a dream right now.
I walked in hesitantly; almost all the tables were occupied and the people seated did not appear ordinary. I could tell at first glance their clothes cost thousands of dollars. I feasted my eyes gloriously; none of them was bad to look at, unlike me who looked tacky. I held onto my leather purse defensively as I made my way through the tables trying to regain a sense of familiarity.
I felt somebody snake their hand around my waist from behind and straighten me up. I turned and threw a jab but he caught my elbow.
"It's nice to see you again," he said with that beautiful smile that made my heart pound. Nervously I coughed.
"Come on let's get you something to drink." He walked me to an empty table.
Like a gentleman, he pulled the chair out for me and I sat down. Then he poured a glass of water and handed it to me watching like a hawk as I gulped it down in one go. Only when I was done did he take a seat, I marveled I don't remember him being this polite last night. He was quite the opposite in the sheets actually, Don't get me wrong that's a good thing, moving on.
"You look beautiful." He said.
Again, I coughed.
You must be joking.
Compared to all the women present here I looked like a fish and no, I'm not even exaggerating. At first glance, you'd know my dress is cheap. He is covered in expensive designers from head to toe; his watch alone looks like it would pay off my student loan and the change left would still feed me for five years straight. Surely, there's no way he can't tell.
I chugged down another glass of water to catch my breath. The second I was done the waiter arrived. He handed the menu to my date, and he passed it to me. I, of course, respectfully declined before it even got to where I was, my eyes having scanned the contents already. I did not know a single thing on that list; the price tag was not helping matters either.
They had a short conversation after which he handed the menu back to the waiter, and he walked off.
"Out of curiosity," I leaned forward to whisper in his ear. It's been bugging me ever since, "You're not going to make me pay for my share of the meal, right? We currently live in a feminist society, and while I don't object, I'm broke and can't afford anything off that menu."
He laughed bulging his Adam's apple, "Of course not, you're not going to be paying for anything tonight."
"I noticed you haven't been comfortable ever since you walked in…"
"Tell me, is this too much for you?" He asked in a loving tone.
"Yes," I spoke the words before my brain could even register. "Can we leave?" I restlessly tapped my feet on the floor, anxiety washing me over like a dirt rag.
That was all he needed to bail me out of the diner like a prince rescuing his damsel in distress. I was hit in the face by a cold wind the second we got out, Slowly I released my breath into the night, finally feeling alive again. Turning to the man standing next to me I caught him staring.
"You know you're something different." He blinked, obviously smitten. I wonder what part of me captivated me.
"Thank you." I looked down shyly.
There was a way he stared that made me want to bury myself in a mound of clothes.
He ran his hand through his messy blond hair; he gave an apologetic look, "I planned all this without consulting you first, I just wanted for us to have a good time together. I'm sorry if it went wrong."
He looked so innocent.
Now I feel bad.
"Why don't you show me what else is written in your notebook?"
That seemed to do the trick, as he was soon smiling like a child.
"How about you come to my house, and I cook for you?"
I didn't expect it, but I accepted.
"Okay."
He took my hand, and we pulled a taxi down the sidewalk. He thought I would be uncomfortable and left the limousine behind, how sweet! I loved the limo ride though.
His house was something out of a magazine, just like that restaurant but even better. I pursed my lips and tried not to show any discomfort, I was not about to ruin our second date like I did the first one because of my insecurities.
He punched in a few digits, and soon the door fell open. With our fingers intertwined, we walked in.
I was shocked to the bone by the scene that greeted me upon entering his house. Both hands shot up my mouth to prevent me from screaming out.
Half of the room was floating with balloons; a red banner reading "I missed you" was tied from one end to another, and finally on the couch was a woman in nothing but red lingerie with an unlit cigarette stuck in between her lips.
"Surprise!"