A few days after the event, Emily found herself staring at the card Margaret handed her. The elegant script bore only a name and contact number, with no hint of who she truly was. She'd felt an unusual warmth during their conversation, but now away from the event's magic, the invitation felt almost unreal.
After an inner debate, she finally dialled the number. The call connected almost instantly. "Hello" Margaret familiar voice answered. "Hi, this is Emily. We met at the foundation event," she began, her voice shaky with uncertainty. "I've been thinking about what you said— and i'm willing— to meet your friend".
Margaret's tone lit up."oh, Emily, that's womderful, you don't how happy i'm right now, ok, let's arrange something soon, i promise you won't regret this". They ended the call, and as Emily put the phone down, a strange feeling settled over her.
She just met this woman for the first time, she is arranging for her to meet a man. And she doesn't know who the man she is meeting is before. What if they're human traffickers? She tried shaking off that feeling. She kept thinking to herself.
—-----
Its a friday, the day of the arranged date. Emily had been uneasy since morning. As she moved through her workday, she felt a strange anticipation fluttering in her stomach, a mixture of excitement and doubt that she couldn't shake.
Jane had told her earlier that she should be positive about the meeting, for she is now a grown lady, but if anything goes wrong she should endeavour to give her a call.
At different intervals in her office, she stops to think of how the blind date was going to go and who the person might be. For she has always dreamed of a relationship where the guy is handsome and charming, and the relationship filled with love. "Will i end up loving this person?, is he my mr right?" She kept asking herself.
By lunch time, her mind was already drifting to the evening already, more often, she became even more anxious as she remembered Margaret's words. "He could use someone like you to help him remember".
She'd never been on a blind date before, but has been told lots of stories about blind dates by Jane. The thought of sitting across from a stranger in a city where she isn't used to very well was overwhelming.
As evening approached, Emily stood in fromt of her mirror, trying on different dresses, feeling confused, and discarding each one. She had put calls over to Jane, who told her she won't be coming early today because of the lots of work to do.
After thirty minutes of selecting, and wondering what will suit her blind date, she settled on a simple navy-blue dress, the fabric soft and understated, yet it felt just right.
Emily stood still looking at her reflection in the mirror, taking a steadying breath. "What am i doing?", she asks herself, "should i call Margaret and make an excuse?". "I don't even know if he will like me", she continued again. But her mind kept swaying back to the older woman's confidence and warmth, and how she felt a rare sense of belonging in her presence.
Emily finally decided within herself to give it a try, for there's nothing she would lose. She adjusted her necklace, brushing back her curls and feeling a faint blush creep across her cheeks. A part of her felt ridiculous for feeling this nervous, yet her heart raced, her pulse fluttering with each thought of the unknown man she was about to meet.
Across the town, Roberto, moved through his evening routine with far less interest. He had spent the day thinking of the inevitable 'set-up' his grandmother had dragged him into. Each time he looked at his wristwatch, he felt a pang of reluctance.
He'd spent years dodging these social entanglement, and for good reasons— he wasn't looking for romance or distraction. He was always occupied, and his only focus was on business and the plans he'd meticulously crafted for Harrington Corp.
To him, relationships are only distractions to derail his ambitions. Yet here he was, reluctantly straightening his tie in front of his mirror, preparing for what he has already believed would be another wasted evening. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his jaw clenched with thinly veiled impatience. I'm only doing this for you, grandma, he thought, within himself, knowing he'd rather be finishing his work than entertaining someone who probably only cared about his name and wealth.
He adjusted his cufflinks, glancing at his reflection with a sharp, critical eyes. As much as he'd rather avoid the evening, he knew Margaret wouldn't push him unless she felt this woman was worth his time.
And he trusted his grandmother's instinct more than he cared to admit. With a final sigh, he headed out, hoping to get through the evening with minimal small talks, and perhaps a glass of wine to dull the boredom, even though he wasn't the drinking type.
The restaurant Margaret has booked for them is multifunctional, its also owned by Harrington Corp, its has a hotel, clubbing house, and bar. The restaurant was intimate and warm, its candlelit amosphere softened by music that created an air of quiet elegance.
Emily arrived first, stepping inside with a heart that beat faster with each step. She was led to a small table near the window, her seat offering a view of the city lights beyond. Her fingers felt cold as she clasped her hands in her laps, trying to calm herself.
As she looked around, taking in the couples and the quiet conversations around her, a wave of nervousness crept over her. "What am i to do now?, why is he not here yet?", she said to herself, her mind racing. But the thought of Margaret's encouragement gave her strength. She couldn't shake the sense that this evening held some unseen significance.
She turned towards the window, the city's lights blurred in her reflection as she adjusted her hair. Every few seconds, she glanced towards the door, each time her stomach tightening as she wondered if her date had arrived. I bet he's dreading this as much as i'm, she thought with a small nervous smile.
Roberto arrived shortly after, the air of confidence surrounding him masking the reluntance he still felt. He entered the restaurant, quickly scanning the room, he gaze stopping when he noticed a familiar figure seated by the window.
"Emily", recognition hit him, as he paused, a mix of surprise and intrigue flashing in his eyes. The young woman he remembered, the one who'd stepped into the chaos to save him that night, and his current secretary, looked different here.
She was elegant, her expression softened in the candlelight, her nerves evident in the way she fidgeted with her hands. But it was unmistakably her. He walked towards her table with a smile on his face to see her reaction. At this point Emily hasn't notice him.
As Emily looked again around the restaurant, she saw a tall figure walking towards her. Her heart stopped, Roberto Harrington, her arrogant, sharp-tongued CEO, was the blind date…oh no… she quickly stood up to take her leave.
But Harrington who was looking through his phone, raised up his eyes… and quickly said, "i'm here now, you don't need to leave… just have your seat. Well, well, this is unexpected". Emily hesitated, her face looking pale as she murmured while taking her seat. " You think? If i had any idea it was you, i won't be here".
He gestured to the seat across from him, his tone as smooth as ever. "And yet, here we are, sit, let's get this over with".
Emily bristled at his bluntness, but complied. She wasn't about to let him intimidate her— at least not tonight.
The first half of the evening was tense. Roberto, guarded as always, asked curt, calculated questions about her background. Emily, trying to maintain her composure, responded with careful honesty, refusing to let his aloof demeanor unnerve her.
But as the drinks flowed, the mood began to shift. Roberto's questions turned more personal, less pointed. Emily, despite herself, found her answers becoming freer, her nerves loosening with each sip of wine.
"So, why did you come to the city?" Roberto asked, his tone softer than before.
Emily glanced at her glass, swirling the remaining liquid. "To chase something better, I guess. Opportunities I didn't have back home."
He studied her, his gaze lingering. "And do you regret it?"
"No." She met his eyes, surprising herself with her honesty. "Even when it's hard, I don't regret trying."
Something in her words seemed to resonate with him. His usual sharpness softened into something almost vulnerable. "I know the feeling."
"You?" she teased lightly. "The billionaire CEO knows hardship?"
Roberto chuckled, the sound low and unexpected. "Not in the way you do, I'm sure. But there's always a cost when you're trying to prove yourself."
"What happened to the jan pendant i left at the alley?, did you sell it"?. Asked Roberto with keen interest. "No, i kept it", if you need it i can go get it". Emily replied.
"No…., i was only kidding, you can keep it, its good to hear that you kept it and not sell it, for it cost a fortune you know".
For the first time, Emily saw a crack in his armor—a hint of the man beneath the polished exterior. The realization caught her off guard.
---
By the time dessert arrived, the tension between them had shifted entirely. They laughed more easily, their words flowing with an unexpected intimacy. The conversation turned lighter, and Emily found herself teasing him in a way she never would've dared at work.
"You're different outside the office," she said, leaning back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips.
"And you're bolder than I expected," he countered, his eyes gleaming.
She shrugged. "Maybe you bring it out in me."
Roberto tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Maybe I like it."
The air between them grew charged, a quiet intensity simmering beneath their playful banter. Neither seemed willing to acknowledge it outright, but it lingered in every glance, every accidental brush of fingers as the waiter cleared their plates.
---
When the check arrived, Roberto insisted on paying, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You can argue with me in the office. Not here."
Emily rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine. One point for you."
"Just one?" he asked, smirking.
Outside the restaurant, the cool night air did little to quell the warmth in Emily's cheeks. Roberto walked beside her, his usual commanding presence softened by the evening's events.
"I'll call a car for you," he offered, reaching for his phone.
"I can handle it," she replied, pulling her own phone from her clutch.
Their hands brushed briefly, and she froze. He did too, their eyes meeting in the dim glow of the streetlights. The tension that had been building all night seemed to crest in that moment, an unspoken question hanging between them.
"Emily…" His voice was quieter now, tinged with something she couldn't quite place.
She swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. Before she could overthink it, Roberto stepped closer, his gaze dropping to her lips. Her breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest as he leaned in.
The kiss was tentative at first, almost testing the waters. But when Emily didn't pull away, it deepened, his hands settling gently on her waist as she melted into him.
---
They barely spoke as they stumbled into her apartment, the door closing softly behind them. The electricity between them was undeniable now, a magnetic pull neither could resist.
"Are you sure about this?" Roberto asked, his voice low and rough, his forehead resting against hers.
Emily nodded, her hands tangling in his shirt. "Yes."
What followed was a blur of heated kisses and whispered words, a night that neither of them had planned but neither seemed willing to stop. In his arms, Emily felt like she was caught in a storm, her senses overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of it all. And yet, there was a tenderness in the way he held her, as if he were afraid she might break.