In Love With My Billionaire Blind Date

My sad reflection through the mirror was what informed me of my gloomy state as I stared emptily at myself, my entire being repulsed with what I'm about to do, but knowing I have to, having no other choice-not if I envision living another day with the woman I have come to live with since the very day I lost my parents in a ghastly motor accident a year ago.

I can't still believe grandma Nora would make me do this. According to her, it's either I try and win the heart of this man I would meet this night on some stupid prearranged date, or she would disown me and throw me away into the street.

I know better than to try and disagree with her. While I may not be able to seduce a man simply because I want his monetary favors for my poverty-stricken family which I didn't tell her of course, I had to honor her by going on the date.

I don't know how I'm going to carry this mission out but I pray if eventually, this date doesn't work out--as my heart tells me, that she doesn't toss me out of her house, because she is the only one I've got as a family. Yes, she can be wicked and highly inconsiderate, still, somewhere deep inside me, I still nurse a certain kind of fondness for her. After all, she was my mother's mother.

I don't know how she secured this connection. We are very poor people, like, as poor as a church rat. We hardly fed here. My parents had been the breadwinners when they were alive. I had everything I wanted without having to work for it and so did grandma, all she needed was to ask my mother and her request would be granted. This is why to date I'm still confused about how she changed overnight and became this cruel and horrible person.

A shuffling sound down the creaky floorboard of our corridor informed me that she was coming and I quickly went back to gathering my hair in a smooth ponytail at the top of my hair.

The door to my dingy room made a rustling ear-piercing noise as it flung open and there she stood on her slight swagger, her scary hawk eyes glaring at me intently.

"What are you still doing, girl? Hurry up before the man they are sending to get you gets here! "Her mouth folded in a snarl, and I know she is struggling to score one at me.

I bobbed my head, gathered the last courage I have, and faced her one last time. "Granny, can't we___"

"Shut your gutter mouth from whatever silly remark you are about to make and hasten up! I don't have time to listen to your useless protest. Don't forget you have to seduce that man! He is the most influential man in this country and we are most favored to have this privilege. The sooner you have his ring on your finger, the better for us. I have so many debts I have to settle and I don't care if you have to open those useless legs of yours for him to make him marry you!"

I stifled back the tears that threatened to escape my eyes at her cruel words. I can't believe my grandmother would want me to go to that length just to make the so-called wealthy man marry me.

She hissed. "You pretend as though you are happy with our present predicament. I have done everything for you since your parents died and now this little thing I ask of you, what do you do? You can't even happily do it! Such a loser!" She cussed in her smooth Caribbean language.

"I'm trying to do it, grandmother," I whined, hiding my face as a tear slid down.

"Then try harder! Make him marry you or I swear Camila, I will disown you. I mean every word I say this time around."

Despite her saying it before, it didn't stop her words from searing hot into my heart like a sharp knife.

"You haven't been able to achieve anything good with your life! No job, no proper education, no man! What use are you to me? Now as usual I have worked hard to create this chance for you and you want to ruin it?"

"Grandma__"

"Shuuu!" She waved me away in dismissal and slowly turned around to leave and then as if recollecting something else to rile me up with, she twisted back. "Wipe those fake tears and clean up good, I don't want them to think I haven't been treating you well. I told them you are beautiful which is why I went to the extent of buying all these..." She indicated my dress and accessories, "...just to make you into one, despite you reek of ugliness." She tsked. "I just hope this works. Such a waste of creation."

With that she banged the door after her, leaving me shaking on my feet, the inferiority complex I always fought against, coming back in full blast. I know I'm not a great beauty, it wasn't new knowledge to me, yet, it doesn't stop it from aching each time someone throws it on my face.

I plopped down on the chair in front of my miniature wall mirror, picked up a baby wipe on the table, and dabbed slowly so as not to spoil my makeup.

No sooner had I thrown the stained wipes into the trash can than I heard a horn honk outside our house and stood abruptly on wobbly feet.

I gave myself another look in the mirror, to admire my red body-con velvet gown and tried on a slightly forced smile to motivate myself. It's just a date, it's not like he was going to ravish me. I hope he is not one of those violent men who took girls against their will, then I will be good.

I was so immersed in my head not to have heard my grandma approach until she stood at the door, her face etched in irritation. "Hurry up, you vile girl! Do you want them to think you tardy?"

With a last single glance in the mirror, I walked past her and made for our makeshift living room. I pushed through the discolored white curtain that age had turned brown and went out until I was standing by the door.

Grandma's hand clasped around my upper arm. "Make sure you smile sweetly like this..." She gave me a phony smile, displaying her tobacco discolored teeth which irrespective of how irked I feel at her attitude right now, made me want to laugh. "you hear?"

I gave her a stiff nod and tugged at my hand for her to let go but she held me tighter, bringing my attention back to her.

"And make sure to make him write you a cheque at the end of the night..." Then she hesitated as if contemplating telling me something she knows I won't approve of... "Ahem... if he also wants you to, you know... sleepover, don't hesitate to agree." I narrowed my eyes at her, earning an insensitive glow.

Without waiting for her I yanked my hand off, already feeling irritated when I haven't even gone for the date. With the way I'm feeling right now, if the damned man tries anything of that nature, I will be forced to try out my taekwondo skills on him. Thanks to my Dad who made sure that me and my brother God rest his soul, got basic defense education.

I miss them so much especially on nights like this when grandma Nora turned me indirectly into an object of aggrandizement, merely for her personal gain. I swallowed aloud the sob that pitched in my chest.

"Good evening, sire." I greeted the chauffeur who only gave me a single nod, opened the door for me to go in, and shut it after me.

The car moved and I spared a glance at our rundown apartment that we managed in this part of slum town. I wish I had been able to finish my education before the bad omen that brought to stagnation everything that concerned my life. I have been trying to recover since then and haven't thought of going back to school. If not, I would have gotten a good job to take care of us, and then grandma wouldn't have to literally turn me into a call girl.

My head swarmed with several thoughts that even with my eyes pinned to the passing landscape, I didn't see anything until the car came to a stop in front of a... I sat up from the soft leather couch and peeked outside. A tall skyscraper. What the hell are we doing in Las Vegas hotel?

I sat back to ask the chauffeur, and at the same time, his door opened and he climbed out followed by opening my door.

"What are we doing here? I thought we were going to a restaurant?" I asked frantically, my eyes rounding on the tall bulky chauffeur. If I said anything, he didn't show any indication of hearing me. He only shut the door and walked ahead as if I were a ghost! What rubbish.

I stood there watching after him as he walked forth, wishing I could call everyone's bluff and find my way home, but then, grandma Nora's threat rang in my heart, and without another thought, I ran after the arrogant clod.

The place was like heaven on earth. Everything was finished in plain milky white colors and sublime ash. It had floras of diverse colors and backgrounds lining the ground,; and at the top were creative artworks most of which were of water origin.

The owner of the place must like water a lot was my first impression.

I clutched at my purse tightly, reaching with my left hand to drag down my gown which kept riding up my thighs. Granny had insisted I picked this gown when we went to the store to purchase my accessories and it was one of the most expensive which gave me the idea that this date must mean a lot to her. Though, I can't get it off my mind how she could afford it in the first place.

We stopped at a booth where another tall hunky man stood on a suit that was lifted by the side to show a black rifle, causing my mouth to go dry. Who is this man inside that demands this kind of security? Is he as important as granny made him out to be?

The man at the door tilted his head to the side, his black shade-clad eyes taking us in.

"She's here for the master." The chauffeur informed him and he hummed something, opened the door, and went in, later returning to wave us in.

However, this time, the chauffeur didn't go in with me. He stepped aside for me to pass and with a solitary glint at him, I strutted in, adjusting my eyes to the room harboring only a single florescent light thereby giving it a solemn atmosphere. My eyes instantly fell on a man reclining on a couch in the corner, big marijuana nestled between his hand at his mouth which he retrieved and let out a smoky puff in the air.

God.

Then my eyes followed his eye to halt at the podium where a stripper was dancing on a pole, her unclad body, twisted in a seductive mangle as she worked to keep his attention.

Is this the extent granny wants me to go to get this same man to give me the ring and secure the bag? God knows I will rather stay broke than relent to this.

I was about to turn and run away when the music suddenly stopped and a rumble went off.

"I don't like my time being wasted, Ms. Berkely. " The words were calmly spoken, yet filled with heavy steel.

Have I just walked into the lion's den with my two feet?