PRINCE CHARMING.

CHAPTER 34: PRINCE CHARMING.

Samantha got into an Uber cab and was headed to a restaurant to meet up with a good looking young man she had met at mall the previous day, when she went out shopping with friends.

She had dolled herself up nicely, with moderate makeup, wearing a pink skin-tight dress which brought out her bodily features. She was dressed to kill. 

As she commuted to the location, she reminisced on the events that led up to that moment. 

It was around 5 pm the previous day that Samantha, and two of her friends namely, Emma and Bella, arrived the mall. They went about picking stuff in accordance to the cash they came with, loading them into their cart. They were having the time of their lives. 

"Girls, I don't know about you, but shopping for me is therapeutic," Emma said, giggling.

"What girl doesn't find it therapeutic, duh?" Samantha rolled her eyes.

"There's this cousin I have, gosh, she's so lame. She says my shopping is an expression of lack of discipline. And I was like, that's why my father works his ass off to give me the life I deserve," Bella said, flipping her hair behind.

"I totally agree. But not my dad," Samantha said, seemingly upset. 

"Aww. Don't feel sad baby girl. That's why you have us," Bella said. 

"Yeah girl, that's why we're here to help you make the right choices, like when you left Justin's broke ass on his knees, begging you. OMG! That was epic. Oscar deserving," Emma laughed.

"And now you're with someone else who can take care of you, the way you ought to be treated," Bella added. 

"Yeah. He's sure taking care of me," Samantha forced a smile, but deep down, she knew she hated Joey's guts.

"Let's go over here," Emma said, as the bunch went in the suggested direction, picking out things they really didn't need. They just wanted it, not for anything really important.

They had bought to their fill for that evening, having spent close to an hour and half, making videos for their social media, and taking pictures. Indeed, they were having the time of their lives.

"I guess that about does it," Samantha declared. 

"Hell no. We're forgetting one important thing," Bella said. 

"And what is it?" Emma asked. 

"Chocolate!"

Samantha and Bella gasped, widening their eyes. 

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. That would have been a disaster. Let's go get it," Bella said as the rushed over to where they kept their favorite Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolate bar. 

"Where is it? It's not here," Bella said, turning sad. "I can't find it." 

"Me neither," Emma responded, searching through the host of chocolate bars placed in the store. They all desperately searched thoroughly but weren't finding it.

As Samantha walked backwards, she mistakenly hit the back of her foot, and fell backwards. Fear gripped her as she knew for certain she was going to hit the floor. 

But surprisingly, someone held, preventing her from falling. The person lifted her up and she turned to see who it was. Her mouth gaped when she saw the person. 

"Are you okay?" the young man asked, but Samantha was dazed by how good looking he was. 

It was as though she had met her prince charming, her knight in shining armor.

"Are you okay?" he asked again.

"Yeah. Yeah, I am. Thank," Samantha replied, snapping out of her daze. 

"You should be more careful how you walk around here," he suggested courteously.

"Sure, I am. I mean, I will be," Samantha closed her eyes in shame, seeing how disoriented she was as a result of his good looks. He was 6 feet tall and muscular. His hair was properly done also.

"Seeing you were at the chocolate section, I guess that's what you were looking for?" he asked. 

"Yeah. But I wasn't finding the brand I love." 

"I see. But have you tried this? " he selected one for her. "I bet you'll no cause to regret eating this one.

"Thank you. I'll give it a try," Samantha appreciated, receiving it. 

"Well then, see you around," he said, casually walking with his cart away from Samantha.

Samantha watched him walk away, looking at him with dreamy eyes. Bella and Emma walked over to her, as Bella whistled in admiration.

"Who is that?" Emma asked, as they all thirsted over him.

"I don't know," Samantha replied. "And he's such a gentleman."

"I highly doubt he is so in the bedroom," Bella said biting her lower lip. 

"Go ask him for his number," Emma pushed Samantha.

"No. Have you forgotten that am with Joey?" 

"So what? He's not here, is he?" Emma said rolling her eyes. 

Samantha just walked away quietly, heading to the counter, since they were done shopping.

When she got to the cashier, she placed all her items and the total was calculated. 

"You have a total of $234.95," the cashier declared. 

She reached into her purse to pull out her card when she heard a familiar voice speaking to the cashier.

"Let me pay for it."

Samantha looked sideways and saw that it was her prince charming. He handed the cashier his credit card. 

"I can pa-"

"I know you can. But let me," he insisted. Samantha pursed her lips and nodded in affirmation, trying real hard not to smile widely.

"Here you go," the cashier returned his card after the payment was accepted.

"Do take care," he said, grabbing his grocery and walking out. 

Samantha contemplated doing what her friends suggested. But then she pushed herself and ran after him, meeting him as he was about to get into his car. 

"Hey," she called out, causing him to stop.

"Hey," he replied, looking at her.

"I uh- I just wanted to thank you, once again, for what you did," Samantha said.

"Anytime," he replied. "How about we meet, for lunch tomorrow? Dinner would have been most preferable, but I'm meeting with family. So, lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure! Lunch will be perfect," Samantha agreed. 

"Excellent. Let's meet at Duncan's, 2:30 pm."

"Okay," she replied. "Am Samantha, by the way."

"Brad." 

He smiled and got into his car, and drove off.

Samantha smiled as she recalled all that happened. She couldn't get him off of her mind. She truly anticipated having a great time with Brad, no matter how brief it would be.

She got to the restaurant and headed in. She looked round and found him seated alone, waving at her. Seeing him, her heart was elated, and she walked over to him.

"Hello, Samantha," Brad stood up to welcome her courteously, and she sat down.

"I'm glad you could make it," he said. "And by the way, you look dashing."

"Thank you," Samantha blushed.

"So, shall we order?" Brad asked. 

"Of course." 

As Samantha picked up the menu and went through the collection of delicacies available, her phone buzzed repeatedly. She knew that was a call, so she reached into her purse and brought out her phone to see who the caller was.

Immediately, her demeanor changed. It was Joey who was calling her.

"Anything the matter?" Brad asked. 

"No. Not at all," she faked a smile, placing the phone back in her purse, ignoring the incessant calls Joey made.