Two Dates

Riley looked at the man in front of her and smiled warmly. She was going to ruin the date like always. She would make sure she ate to her satisfaction before she ended up ruining the date.

"You're very beautiful, Miss Riley," the man complimented her.

"You don't look bad yourself," Riley smiled graciously and began to eat elegantly.

"So, you graduated from Jasmine College in the Netherlands?" The man began to pick his teeth.

"Yes," Riley answered and paused to look at him. She was already beginning to feel irritated, but the man could wait. Her food couldn't!

Her friends were busy enjoying their day with their partners, while she was trying hard to keep up with the bad etiquette of a stranger who had thoughts of becoming her future partner. She was sure Jessica was over the moon, while Abi was trying hard to please her husband or avoid him. Jessica had told her about Abi's predicament the previous night. Riley had laughed a lot and teased Abi over the phone. Out of embarrassment, Abi had left their group call and put her phone on flight mode. But Riley didn't stop there. She sent tons of messages to her. She was sure Abi would have read them by the time she picked up her phone to text her.

"How do you feel working at a restaurant when you're an heiress?" the man asked.

"What do you mean?" Riley furrowed her brows. Was she there for an interview? What's with the stupid questions he had been asking her since she sat down?

"I heard you don't work in your father's company. Do you really work at Rhyte Taste Restaurant?" he asked.

"Look here, mister—"

"Silas," the man introduced himself.

"Silas?" Riley laughed. She knew what was going on now.

"Paul sent you," she blurted out.

"Paul...now Silas," Silas looked at her like she was speaking in a foreign language.

"Don't look at me like that. Let's tell our parents that things didn't go well for both of us on this date," Riley told him.

"I don't lie. Why would I lie to my parents?" he asked her with a frown.

"You have to do it, or things won't go well for you from now on," Riley spoke harshly.

"Did you just curse me?" Silas' gaze darkened.

"Was that a curse?" Riley asked back.

"Your tongue is too sharp, Miss Riley. You're a woman; you should learn how to speak like one," Silas corrected her.

"And you're a man, Silas. You should learn not to talk too much. You don't talk while eating. Now, silence; let me eat. Since you're not eating, please proceed to the counter to pay, because I'm a broke bitch," Riley said honestly.

Silas looked at her and smirked. He had never met anyone like her before in his entire life. Who did she think she was?

He raised his hand, and the waiter walked up to him. He asked for the price and smirked. Riley frowned when she saw him looking at her. She also saw that he didn't pay; he just called the waiter to ask for the price of the food and ordered him to return.

"Why didn't you pay?" Riley asked him with a frown. She began to panic.

"Ah," Silas laughed. "I just remembered that I don't have my wallet with me."

"Then go and take it from your car!" Riley yelled at him. 

She wanted him to lose interest in her so badly. She knew he was interested in her. She knew boys, and she wasn't happy that her plan was failing so much. She didn't know why he hadn't lost interest in her since she started behaving like a crazy bitch.

First, she ordered the most expensive meal and wine in the restaurant. What girl does that on a first date? That's a turn-off for a first meeting. Many boys don't like girls who spend too much. But Riley was always happy when she went on dates because of the food. 

She would prepare herself so much that she wouldn't eat the previous day. She would fast so that the next day, her stomach would be empty enough to take whatever she was hungry for.

That's what was happening that day. She had eaten like a pig. She was the one eating almost everything on the plate. Silas was busy passing her the foods she wanted in plates while she was the one swallowing them.

"I don't like food to waste, so I take the rest in takeaways when I'm full," Riley told him and patted her brown hair.

"That's good," Silas remarked and nodded at her.

Riley furrowed her brows when she realized he was still sitting. What the hell was he still sitting for? He ought to stand up and go to the counter to pay, or rather, raise his hand for an attendant to come to him.

"Won't you stand up to go and pay for the food?" Riley asked. She was irritated by his behavior. He's a gentleman; he has shown that from the very beginning, so he should carry that till the end.

"I didn't bring my car here, unfortunately," he replied nonchalantly.

"What do you mean?" Riley was interested in him immediately he said that.

"My driver drove me here and was instructed to pick me up, but he sent me a message some minutes ago to say that he crashed the car," he added.

"So?" Riley was furious.

"You'll have to pay for this meal, Miss Riley," Silas' gaze pierced into her soul.

"Well, I don't have any money on me, so get ready to wash some plates," Riley burst out. She paused to have a thought, and her eyes lit up in realization.

"Your phone," she shrieked out. "You have online banking, right?"

"My phone is not here. I left it in my car. You have no choice but to pay for this meal, Miss Riley," Silas observed her reaction as he spoke softly.

Riley sighed and looked at the man who had no other plan than to ruin her beautiful day. She had already started the day by eating to her satisfaction. She had also drunk the most expensive wine and eaten everything that screamed deliciousness and quality. Had she known, she would have chosen the cheapest foods in the restaurant. He was dressed like a rich man and looked like someone ready to spend, no matter the price. In short, he looked serious to her. But she didn't know that something was waiting for her that day.

She would have even eaten breakfast at home to avoid what she was seeing in the restaurant. What embarrassment had he caused her? Riley narrowed her eyes when her classmates entered the restaurant with a loud uproar. She began to hide her face with her bag.

Silas looked at the woman with amusement. It was when he looked at the direction she was focused on that he knew why she was hiding.

"Oh my gosh! Is that you, Riley?" her mates ran to her table to have a closer look at her. "Is this your boyfriend?"

"You look familiar," one of the girls looked at Silas.

"We're leaving now," Riley grabbed her purse from the table. She was not in the mood to talk to them. After all, they were the ones who badmouthed her at Rhyte Taste Restaurant.

"Why are you leaving, Riley? You think we'll steal your source of income from you," the girls laughed.

Silas furrowed his brow when he heard that. He cleared his throat and looked at the girls.

"Gabriella gave birth to her second child yesterday, and she's comfortable with her husband. You're now twenty-eight years old, and you haven't even gotten yourself a boyfriend, Riley," they mocked her and laughed.

"How dare you talk to my fiancée like that?!" Silas roared and banged the table harshly.

The girls were taken aback at the attack from the man and scoffed. "Fiancé?"

"Is that true, Riley?" they asked her.

"Aren't your ears functioning anymore?" Riley scorned.

The women furrowed their brows and looked at the man who announced their relationship. They didn't want to believe him for any reason. To them, he was lying.

"Don't you dare talk to her like that? You all lack discipline and respect. I won't be surprised if you're all single till now," Silas insulted them and stood up from his seat.

"And how is it your business that we're single? It's our choice," they cried out.

"Yes," Silas supported. "And it's our decision as men to keep away from ugly wenches like you lot."

Riley was shocked to hear that from Silas. He was looking so innocent after saying that. He took her hand and walked to the counter. The women stared at them with their mouths hanging.

They were speechless. Silas took out his card from his wallet and gave it to the waiter when he got to the counter. He ignored Riley, who stared at him. He knew she was angry; so was he.

He removed his hand from hers when they got out of the restaurant.

"Why did you lie to me?" Riley asked him with a frown.

"Wrong words," Silas smirked. "You should be saying something like 'thank you' to me."

"I didn't tell you to pay," Riley hissed.

"Why? You wanted to wash plates for the rest of the week," he laughed.

"I saved you from your friends too," he added.

Riley was furious. "You have no right to interfere in my life!"

Silas handed her his business card. "Call me," he said. "We can go on more dates from now on."

Riley read the words written on his card and was astonished. He was a big shot! Why was he with her? She's also a rich girl, but....

"Are you that surprised?" Silas asked.

Riley nodded, still in shock.

"Don't ask me any questions," Silas said. "Just know this, Riley. I'm very interested in you, and I'd like us to start dating. You're the woman for me."

"It's Miss Riley!" Riley corrected him with a glare.

"Yes, fiancée," Silas added.

"I'm not your—"

Riley's eyes widened in shock as Silas pecked her lips suddenly.

Riley had smoke coming from her ears. She stared at his retreating figure with pure anger and frustration.

"I don't want to meet you again in my life!!" she yelled as he walked away.

She threw his card away and walked to her car.

Meanwhile, Jessica took out her little mirror and touched up her makeup again to look more beautiful. She smiled and began to walk to the man reading a magazine in the corner.

"I hope you didn't wait for long, Junho," Jessica said and sat down at the table.

"No," Junho smiled at her. "Great. I was worried that you'd be caught up in the traffic jam."

"That's bad," Junho chuckled.

"So, what do you want to eat? It's been so long since I've laid my eyes on you. You look good," he told her, and she blushed.

'Does he mean that I'm prettier?', she thought with a blush on both cheeks.

She was wearing a black shirt dress and her heels with multiple rings on her finger. He was wearing a sky-blue shirt and black trousers. He still looked hot despite his simple attire.

Their table was the center of attraction because he was Park Junho.

"So, how was Israel?" Jessica asked with interest.

"Israel is nice," Junho began. "There were many things to see, many foods to try, and many places to go. Besides, they have pretty girls over there."

Jessica nodded and looked at him. Since when has he been interested in girls?! He had changed a lot. Even though he had girlfriends, he never discussed them with her because she used to think he was shy about his love life.

"So, you're dating a girl from Israel now?" Jessica asked.

"Don't be ridiculous, Jes," he laughed. "The girls from Israel may look pretty, but I'll say they love money a lot."

"You can't blame them for that. What girl doesn't like money?" she inquired with a laugh.

"How's your job? Your father told me you're working towards taking over his company," he looked at her with a smirk.

"What's that look for?" Jessica rolled her eyes. She knew he was making a joke of her. When they were little, Jessica had boasted that she could never work or hold a broom to sweep because of her father's wealth.

But she was now working to take over her father's company. She would work till night and be busy all her life. Junho had laughed hard when he heard that.

"What look?" he queried.

"I know that look. You're gloating that I'll now work to make ends meet," she hissed.

"I'm just happy to hear that, that's all," he added, and she nodded.

"So, when will you be leaving?" Jessica asked and watched the waiters serve their food. Her mouth watered when she saw the food Junho had ordered.

"Why so much? Flaunting your wealth, huh?" Jessica teased.

"Maybe," he replied. "I just wanted to buy you a good brunch. It's been so long since we ate together like this."

"True," Jessica replied, and she smiled when she realized he had ordered everything she liked.

"How do you still remember what I like?" Jessica asked.

"I ordered all that because it was what I was craving when I got here. I don't want you to get the wrong idea of my actions if that's what you're thinking," Jessica bit her lips and got embarrassed.

 Why would she think of something else? Of course, her favorite food could be what he was craving so... "Don't mind me," she bowed her head. "I was too excited about this meeting."

"It's okay," Junho said and continued eating his food. "How's that cute friend of yours?"

Jessica heard him ask after a while of silence.

"She's fine," she replied without lifting her head up.

Junho furrowed his brows and dropped his fork. He cleared his throat and continued, "Do you know who I'm talking about?"

"Of course. It's Abigail Marshall, right?" She looked him in the eye.

"Ah, you're still friends with her," he concluded and stared at her.

"She's my best friend. The girls in Israel have stolen your memories," Jessica hissed, and he laughed.

"What time will you be going to the reunion?" Junho asked her.

Jessica stopped eating and looked at him. She was searching for a funny reaction on his face, but she couldn't find any.

"Don't you know about it? What's with that expression on your pretty face?" he asked her, and she blushed for a few seconds after hearing him call her pretty.

"What do you mean by reunion? I don't know about any reunion," Jessica answered and ate her soft potatoes to satisfaction.

"Our high school is having a reunion in two days. I'm also in the country for that. I haven't been going to reunions for some time," Junho responded.

"Oh! How come no one told me about that?" Jessica asked and answered the question herself. None of her friends talk to her anymore, so how could they have told her about any upcoming reunion? When was the last time she was even invited to a reunion? She couldn't remember.

"I'm not going to the reunion," Jessica declared with a clear voice.

"Why? Because no one told you about it?" Junho asked her.

"I don't go to places I'm not invited to," she added.

"But I just invited you to the place," Junho responded.

"Did you?" Jessica raised her brow.

"It's too late for that. I don't have clothes to wear, and I don't have money to go there," Jessica made sure she came up with excuses to avoid going to the reunion. 

She didn't want to go at all. She was sure that she would have to make friends with many fake people because that's what always happened. They all wanted to be her friend because she's a rich girl and her father is a rich man. 

They wanted to also be known as a friend of a very rich girl, so that if something happened in the future, she would be there to carry their problems on her head. That's because, after all, she's a rich motherfucker... Well, never mind.

"I've already bought you a gown," he declared and drank his water.