One

Sienna's POV

"It was beyond epic, it was just like in the movies, you know that big plot twist and all," Lila, my all-time best friend, ranted on. Her voice blared through my AirPods, her excitement quite contagious.

"I am sure your client can't even believe you figured it out, playing victim when he was the culprit all along, quite bold and sinister if you ask me," I said.

"Old man probably thought I was horrible at my job and thought he would easily take himself off the suspect list since he had hired me himself, little did he know that my loyalty only lies with me. All I had to do was dig into some files and documents, then make a few calls, and boom, I got the contract for the company, like it didn't mean anything," She chuckled.

"Little did he know, he hired the best PR agent anyone could ask for," I replied with a bright smile on my face at how excited she was.

"Oh, please, don't flatter me, I just try my best." She blushed, making me roll my eyes. We both knew she was damn good at what she does but she just loves to hear it every single time.

"I will not be fuelling your already oversized ego this afternoon, I have work to get back to, maybe we could meet up later for celebratory drinks," I suggested, my eyes immediately falling to my phone on my desk, as it lit up, signalling a notification had just come in.

"Sounds like a solid plan," She chuckled.

"Fuck this, Not again" I cursed out as I opened the message I had received.

"What's wrong?" Lila asked all traces of excitement leaving her voice as she suddenly sounded serious.

"My Mother is really trying to kill me," I complained as I read through the details she had sent.

"Let me guess, another one of her famous blind dates?" Lila said, her voice calmer now.

"The fucking third one this week, even if I was some stripper looking for a good lay" I groaned'

Lila bursted out in a fit of laughter at my description before replying, "Come on, it is not that bad," She said amidst laughter.

"Easy for you to say, your Mum isn't trying to hook you up with every Bachelor in town," I shot.

"Well, it really sounds good, at least you don't have to do it yourself, right?" She joked, earning a loud sigh from me.

"This is not funny, so stop laughing, this is too much."

"I know, but she means well, it is obvious she is doing a terrible job at showing that, but she is really about this shell you have crawled into, and if I didn't know you so well I would say you are starting to act like some depressed old woman" She replied.

"Fuck you" I cursed out as she laughed loudly.

"You could try talking to her, though, you both may come to an agreement that suits you both," She advised.

"You know what, I would do just that."

"Exactly, I have to go now, but don't forget drinks later, date or no date," She added a little warning in her voice, making me smile.

"I won't forget," I chuckled.

"Great, later girl," She said softly before ending the call, and without hesitation, I dialed Mum's number immediately.

"No, Mum, not this again," I grumbled once she picked up on the first ring like she knew I was going to call.

"Well, hello to you too, my princess," Mum replied calmly, a hidden laughter in her voice.

"Sorry Mum, how are you?" I asked, putting my current anger at bay, if I was going to talk myself out of this, then I needed to be as calm as I could be so I could reason this with her.

"Much better, I am good, my child, and you?" She asked.

"I am okay, just trying to finish up all I have left for the day," I answered.

"Beautiful, you should be there by 7pm sharp, wouldn't want to keep the young gentleman waiting now, would you?" She said in a singsong voice, I can literally make out the little gestures she would be making with her hand right now, and the smirk on her face.

"Mum, I am going nowhere," I said adamantly, stating the exact reason I had called.

"Why not?"She asked, sounding shocked, making me chuckle a little. She has got to be kidding me.

"Really, Mum, this is the third blind date you have arranged for me this week, and it's Friday," I replied, stating the obvious.

"And? I don't understand, "she said, actually sounding confused.

"Mum, it is not working out, give up already, please," I pleaded, rolling my eyes as a flashback of how the past month has been. From one date to another and all of them and I mean every single one of them always found a way to get on my fucking nerves just few minutes into the night. The last guy literally brought out a pack of condoms from his back pocket with a bright smile on his face when I asked if he was interested in dessert. On the first freaking date, maybe it was supposed to be funny or sexy, I don't know but I walked out right after so I guess I will never know.

"That's because you wouldn't give any of them any chance to even introduce themselves properly, and then you are off to that apartment of yours where no one can access you," Mum replied.

"You really can't blame me, Mum, I don't know where you get these men from, but they are not for me, they are not even close to it," I shot, it doesn't seem to me like I am getting anywhere with her right now.

"We both know I don't agree with you, maybe when you stay for a whole night without taking off after a few minutes then I may just consider listening but till then I still have a long list of fine gentlemen quite excitement to date you and trust me you don't want to even imagine" She said her voice firm and adamant, her way of telling me she was being serious.

"Mum," I tried, knowing fully my chances of getting out of this are pretty slim.

"This is not up for discussion, my child. Sienna Elise Blake, you need to put yourself out there again, you can't keep hiding in that apartment of yours, you can't heal if you don't push yourself out of your comfort zone" Mum said her voice firm, she used my full name, that's enough to know there is no way out of this. These exact same words have been her mantra for the past month since the incident, since the day everything fell apart, happened exactly like Mum and Lila always said it was going to happen, if only I had listened to them.

"If I stay for the complete dinner without leaving, you would stop with the dates, right?" I asked.

"I would give you a month break from them but if you don't come out from the hole you are slowing getting yourself trapped in then I would pick off from where I left of and there would be no backing out" She said and I knew she meant every word, this is my chance to get her off my back even if it is just for a month, it is just one night right, what's the worst that can happen?