Chapter 5

I sketched a rough image of Sterling Vanderbilt, pulling my memories from our brief encounters and his picture on his I*******m profile.

I wondered if he was cool with this marriage arrangement. 

Besides, I was still curious about the lady that was with him when I first met him. They looked close. I had concluded they were in a relationship. 

Sighing, I dropped my journal and ate my food which was by then as cold as a bone. 

I knew it was useless to go to the local restaurant where I worked as a part-time waitress. 

Feeling bored, I stared at the blank wall opposite my bed. 

A spark of inspiration hit me and I couldn't resist the urge to let it out and damn the consequences. I mean, what else did I have to lose, right? I would soon be gone from this house after all. 

I moved the box leaning at a corner of the wall and used my smoothener to ensure that the surface was smooth enough for my project. 

My doodle was a large jumbled mix of different drawings, the central one being my Mom's eyes. Under it, I wrote boldly: Art is life. 

As a finishing touch, I took out my spray can and filled the drawings with a blend of unique colors. 

When I was done, I looked like I had collided with a tank filled with rainbow colors. 

I wiped my hands on my jeans and picked up my phone to take a picture of my masterpiece. 

I chuckled within myself when I imagined the horror on my father's face when he eventually saw this. 

After taking three shots, I sat cross-legged on my bed and sent the picture to Dianne to get her view on it. 

My thoughts wandered to Dad's mention of a date night with Sterling. I was so not ready. I made sure to update Dianne on the latest developments and ask for her advice. 

What would I wear? How should I behave? I didn't even know how to use a cutlery set properly. 

Dianne got tired of my tirade of questions and just told me to be myself, and that everything would work out fine. 

Feeling tired, I dozed off on my bed. 

An angry shake on my shoulders woke me up. It was Georgia. 

Geez, this woman had no respect for my personal space. I was grateful at that moment that I would soon be free of her domineering spirit. 

"Wake up, sleepy head! It's already past 4 pm. Your entourage is waiting outside for you," my stepmother barked. 

Entourage? What gibberish was this woman saying? 

I must have been so exhausted from sleeping so little yesterday night that my alarm didn't wake me. But sleeping for 4 hours straight in the daytime? That was new. 

Before I could comprehend what was happening, Erica bolted into my room, a bundle of pure excitement. 

"They're here! They're really here! Oh, my gosh! Calliope, you've got to see this." 

She pulled me past her annoyed mother and pulled me downstairs. There in the living room was a company of professional-looking people moving about and setting up gadgets and lots of fancy equipment. 

The place looked like a movie location set. A huge guy was stationed at the door; he wore dark glasses and he looked like he could conveniently snap off a person's neck if provoked. 

I was lost. What was going on? A chic-looking woman in a blue suit smiled when she saw me and came over, introducing herself as Lydia, the head stylist in charge of my makeover for tonight's date. 

Wow! I was so stunned, I didn't know what to say. 

Out of curiosity, I asked about the intimidating man at the door and she said he was Harry, my newly assigned bodyguard. What? 

She smiled when I protested that I didn't need a bodyguard and said I would get used to the new system.

In a few moments, I relaxed. The woman was nice. After I took a thorough bath, she took me through the time-consuming process of makeup. 

I wore an expensive purple gown. I saw the price tag of $20,570. I almost fainted. How much would the total makeover session cost?

When I was done getting dressed, I came out and did a small catwalk for my little audience. 

"My world!" Erica gasped, "You look stunning. Your fiance will have a heart attack once he sees you!"

Dad, who was now lounging with a book in the cramped living room, simply smiled when he sighted me. 

I wondered if that smile would remain when he saw what I had done to my room walls. I remembered that I had taken a picture of it. Maybe I should send it to him. 

It was time to go. 8:00 p.m. came faster than I had imagined. 

My jaw dropped when my bodyguard escort led me out and my eyes landed on the white limousine parked in front of the house. It was exquisite. 

That exterior was nothing compared to the luxury inside the limousine. There was classical music being played—my favorite genre! 

The seats were like a slice of heaven that I wanted to drown in forever. I felt drowsy but I fought the urge to close my eyes. 

Soon, we arrived at our destination. 

It was a beautiful mansion-like building with well-trimmed flowers decorating the expansive landscape.  

"Welcome to the home of Mr Sterling Vanderbilt," Harry announced. 

I panicked. When Dad said 'date', I had assumed the setting would be a fancy restaurant. At least, things would not be too awkward because there would be other people around. 

But a date in his house? Oh, dear!

My palms felt sweaty and my armpits itched as I walked up the steps that led to the entrance and knocked on the door, holding my breath. 

Sterling was typing on his iPad as he opened the door. When he looked up, his eyes widened slightly and his mouth parted. 

I felt my face flush with heat. He was the epitome of perfection. 

Tonight was going to be something else.