Chapter 2

“He isn’t famous?” I raised my brow as I browsed the internet looking for the guy that Roselia mentioned. 

Roselia has been with us since I was a kid. She’s ten years older than me and even though I hate her at times, we’ve been very close since I grew up with her. She’s like my older sister who taught me a lot of things especially during those times where my parents are away from home. 

I dropped my phone for a while to get the second cup of coffee from the maker before looking at the screen of my phone again. Roselia leaned on me and also looked at the screen.

“Did you spell it right?”

“Seby La Cour. How do you spell that?” I thought. “Should it be a V or a B?” 

“Try it all,” she suggested. 

“That’s weird,” I said. “I couldn’t find any information about him.” I clicked my tongue. “Mother usually sets me up with the famous son of her billionaire friends. What about now? Where did he get the guy?”

Roselia shrugged. “Your mother only told me the names and our organizer was the one who set everything. Isn’t La Cour a high-profile name?” She confirmed.

“Yes. It is. But, I couldn’t find his name here. I mean, are you sure it’s the right name? Like, you’re not kidding me?” I glared at Roselia and she lifted her right hand to affirm.

“I swear. It’s the only thing I know and does it matter?” She lifted her brows as she put strawberries on my pancake. “Now, it’s really a blind date.”

She has a point because I used to search the names of the guys my mother set me up with so I would know about them and wouldn’t expect much. It was also the reason why I no longer had interest in them when I met them because I already got their information on the internet. My mother must have known that, now, I couldn’t search for the guy. I don’t know what to expect, making it hard for me to think how to fail in front of him.

“Oh, well, then, you really have to meet him.”

“I need a plan.” I bit my lower lip and hissed. “But, I don’t know anything about him so how could I fail this date?”

“Maybe it’s already time you make this date work.” Roselia told me. “Why not make it work? There’s a lot of boys lining up for your attention.”

“My mother should also set you up for a date. You are already old,” I told her although she doesn’t look like it. She maintained her body figure well as she also trained herself most of the time.

“I promised your mother that I will only retire from my post if you already find someone that will take care of you, protect you, and do things that I do for you.” Roselia held my shoulder. “You deserve that and you know I will not always be here for you.”

“You can retire already and marry,” I urged her. “I can handle myself and--”

“I am still looking for a replacement that will take care of you.”

“Psh!” I complained. “Whatever! It’s your choice. Wait another decade because I don’t find guys interesting.”

“Should I get you girls?” She joked. 

“Plus, I am broken.” I honestly said. “Remember the guy I’ve been telling you.”

“Of course, there’s only one guy you’ve talked about. Did you already find him?”

“Yeah. But, he’s already married and staying in another country.”

“Oh…” She reacted. “That’s the sign, then.”

“What sign?” I rolled my eyes. “I am still sad, like...I don’t know…” I pouted. “I need another cup of coffee.”

“Ooops. Stop!” She pulled the cup away from me. “We need to get ready for your date. Go and prepare.”

I lazily walked out of the kitchen. I was already halfway when Roselia said, “It’s destiny telling you to open your heart to someone who actually knows you exist.”

I could only hope that it’s so easy to do that. 

“Why are we so early? Is it a lunch date?” I curiously asked Roselia after blowing my hair and getting dressed. I picked up my small bag while checking my silver watch that says it’s past ten in the morning.

“It’s a dinner date,” she replied as she checked the whole unit, making sure we didn’t leave anything that will cause any damage to the place while we are gone. She’s really keen on everything she does so I let her do it as I wait for her at the door. She followed me out of my unit after making sure everything was fine and we hopped inside the elevator.

“Then, you should have let me finish my paperworks,” I scolded her. “I still need to make an exam for my students.”

“I followed orders from your mother, lady,” she firmly said. “Your mother wanted me to make sure you’ll finish your contract at the university.”

“Yeah.” I leaned on the wall as the elevator went down from the 28th floor where I am currently staying. “We already talked about it.”

“Good. I hate explaining to her about that.”

“Then, don’t explain. Just let her say anything,” I hissed upon remembering my mother. Although, I already missed her. It’s been years since I last saw her and I don’t want to go back to Spain for a vacation because I know I won’t be able to go back home if she insists on me staying there.

I am still enjoying myself since my mother is giving me a responsibility. I guess that is also the reason why she’s setting me up with the son of a businessman so I would have someone who will help me manage our business considering I don’t have a business degree. Ugh! That’s right! She wants me to get a business degree. I might check that some other time. 

“You haven’t answered me yet,” I remembered. “Why are we so early and where’s the venue?”

“Your mother wanted you to go to your company’s branch office and check some designs for her.”

“Can we skip that?” I boredly said. “C’mon.”

“Sorry, lady. We can’t.” Roselia smiled a bit as she opened the door of the car for me before sitting on the passenger seat and gesturing to our driver to go to our branch office while I laid my head on the door peeping through the window. 

“What is it, lady?” Roselia asked as she heard me sigh a lot of times while we were on our way. 

“I am thinking of a plan that will work, but, ugh! Why is he so mysterious?” I started searching about him again and even sent his name to my elite friends to check about him. I doubt if it’s his real name because even my friends aren’t aware of his existence.

Should I be myself in front of him? Should I be the simple one or the sophisticated one? Ugh! Which one will he not like? Knowing he is the son of my mother’s friend, he’s an elite and elite boys love elite girls. That is just a guess and I am still not sure. Damn! I hate it when I’m thinking about things like this. Why did my mother set me up with this guy? Who the hell is he?

“Ughhh!” I brushed my hair in frustration. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I told you to just be yourself,” Roselia asked. “If it works, it will work.”

“This should fail, okay?” I eyed Roselia. “I need this to fail.”

“Why would you want this to fail?” 

“Honestly, I hate it when my mother sets me up. I mean, I want to love, find love, like in the movies or in the books. You know that? I may be a hopeless romantic, but I really want to experience something that’s…” I paused and didn’t continue what I said because I would just get frustrated. 

“Haven’t found him yet?” 

I shook my head. “Got tired of finding him. By the way, where’s the venue? Who sets the venue?” I asked because that would be the basis of how I am going to act in front of him. 

“Don’t stress yourself, lady. Let’s just pick something nice for tonight before the copter picks us.”

“What?” I moved from my seat and looked at Roselia who’s comfortably sitting in the passenger seat after we’ve spent hours at our branch office and now we are heading to the boutique to pick up some clothes and fix myself for the date later. 

“Who owns the copter?” 

“Your date.”

“Woahh…” I was stunned for a moment. “Is he trying to impress me?”

“Are you impressed, lady?”

I crossed my arms and looked the other way. “I decided not to dress and put on make-up.”

“What?” She glanced at me. “Your mother would kill me--”

“You know, I realized, I should be myself if I want to attract love. Okay?” I explained to her. “And, being myself does not include make-up. He should like me as I am,” I added. Although, the goal is not actually to like me. If he’s that billionaire, perhaps, he would also like a billionaire lady to be his girlfriend.

I am not a billionaire. It’s my parent’s money, so he should be aware of that. Plus, I don’t want to put an effort into something that isn’t worth my time. 

“So, what are you going to wear?” Roselia asked.

“I will be wearing what I am wearing right now.”

“You still look great in that,” she commented as she stared at me from head to toe. 

“Ugh. What can I do? I still look great even if I wear trash.” I laughed a little. “Although, I think I need to do something about my hair.” I looked at the mirror and fixed it, thinking of what to do with it.

“Nevermind. I’ll let it go.” 

After an hour, we arrived at the hotel where the copter will pick us and fly us to a private island that this guy my mother set me up owns. He’s impressive so let me give him that which made me curious about him. My friends really don’t know about his whereabouts and I hate this feeling of being surprised. I should limit my expectations because I might get hurt. Whatever happens, happens.

“Seriously?” I shook my head. “What’s up with a handkerchief? Do you need to blindfold me?”

“Yes, lady. It’s the protocol.”

I rolled my eyes although it excited me a little. This might be a blind date but I felt like I am writing a story of my own. We have different stories, after all. I shouldn’t be comparing my stories with the other ones, so this must be it. I just hope I won’t be disappointed by him. For starters, he already caught me with this copter and private island date he had in mind. Or is it my mother? Nevertheless, it’s the first time my mother set me up for a date like this. Usually, we just meet at the restaurant and now...I can’t believe my mother leveled it up. She might have realized that this is the last time and wanted it to work.

I just hope, too. So, at least, I would be able to forget Gray. I also want to find someone and not be stuck with a guy I’ve never known. 

“Are you ready?” Roselia whispered to me as she helped me go down the copter. 

I was so thankful that I wore my sneakers tonight so I wouldn’t have to balance my weight with heels. Like I said, I didn’t bother wearing any fancy clothes for today’s date. I wore my usual outfit which included a black top and a white trousers paired with a white sneakers. I don’t really like spending much on clothes or everything, especially that our billions is not my money to spend. It’s my parents' money. 

“Uh. I should have worn slippers and a beach outfit,” I complained as I felt the sand covering my shoes and trying to bring me down. I felt like I wanted to swim as I heard the waves.

Roselia laughed a little. “Don’t worry, lady. We’ll get there soon…”

I counted a hundred steps before we reached the ground. Roselia, without removing my blindfold, helped me clean myself from the sand as she guided me to the place where I will be meeting the guy. 

It took another hundred steps before we stopped. 

“Is this it?” I curiously said as I attempted to remove my blindfold but a rough palm touched my wrists stopping me from doing it.

“Roselia?” I confirmed as I pulled my wrist away. “Wait, what are you doing? Are you trying to kidnap--”

He chuckled and that’s when I realized he must be the guy my mother set up for me. “Don’t worry, I don’t have any plans to kidnap you.”

“Then, why aren’t you stopping me from removing my blindfold?” I panicked and tried to remove it but this time it was Roselia’s hands that stopped me. “Don’t leave, Roselia. I don’t know this guy and…”

“Your mother told me that it’s a blind date.” Roselia confirmed. “A literal blind date.”

“Are you kidding me? But, he can see me! That’s unfair!” I protested, but Roselie is much stronger than me so she was able to guide me to sit on a chair. I touched the table, felt and picked up the bread knife, and raised it.

“If you do something, I swear!”

I heard the guy laugh and I would admit I find his voice damn sexy! It’s a bit low and rough in an attractive way and I could imagine him singing. Okay, what is this feeling? Why am I having butterflies in my stomach just hearing his voice? 

“I will not do something,” he stated.

Roselia whispered. “I’ll be around the place and just shout if you need me. Enjoy the evening, Lady Daianara.”

“Wait…” I waved in the air trying to catch Roselie but I guess she was already gone. 

“Don’t!” He stopped me when he saw that I was about to remove it. “Don’t cheat, okay?”

“Is this your plan?” I asked him. “Are you ugly? Is that the reason why you don’t want me to see you? How am I gonna eat?”

“Your mother told me that all the dates she arranged for you actually failed because you did something to turn them off.”

“Agreed. So, how can I make you turn off me? Should I make a scene here?”

He chuckled and it was so damn sexy again. If his voice is so sexy, I am expecting his features are too because that would just be unfit of his character. Although, I could imagine that he’s someone a girl would love to spend a night with.

“I am a very private person, so I don’t usually show pictures publicly.” He explained. “Did you try looking for me on the internet? Sorry, you will not find anything about me.”

“You are so mysterious.” I sighed. “I mean, how do you spell your name? Is Seby even your real name?”

“Who knows?” He laughed a little. “I requested your mother to blindfold you, so if this won’t work, then, you still wouldn’t know anything about me.”

“Do you think that’s a bit unfair on my part because you know me?” I raised my eyebrow though my eyes were blinded by the handkerchief. 

“Don’t worry. I could only see a bit of your forehead and your lips.” 

I bit my lower lip when he said that and eventually smiled.

“I am not allowed to remove my fold?” I confirmed. “Until we’re done, right? Does it mean that I am not going to see you, too?”

“Actually…” I couldn’t see him though I felt like he had a wide smile on his face. “It’s up to you.”

“What do you mean?” I tilted my head. I really couldn’t see him because of the thickness and the black color of the fold.

“If after having spent an hour with me, I was able to impress you, you are free to remove your blindfold and we’ll make this work.”

I chuckled and moved my head sideways.

“I can’t believe my mother thought about this.” I whispered enough for him to hear.

“Lady,” he mimicked Roselia’s endearment for me. “It wasn’t your mother who planned all of this.”

I was tempted to remove my blindfold to see the whole place but I decided that I would play with his game. Of course, he really needs to prove that he is worthy of my time for me to remove my blindfold.

“I planned everything.” He answered. 

“What if you’re the one that is not impressed with me? How would I know that?”

“You wouldn’t be sitting in front of me now if you failed to impress me, lady!”

I hate to admit it, but I wouldn’t be laughing right now if he also failed to impress me.