Their first meeting
1488 Words
Chapter 1
Madison adjusted the short empire waist skirt she wore as she crossed her legs with an irritated look on her face while darting her eyes around the restaurant she was in.
The waiter had gone to process her orders but the person she was here for was yet to come and it always infuriated her when people fail to keep to time.
Looking down on her wristwatch, she checked time and let out a small sigh as she flipped her hair, almost tired of waiting.
She had taken a day off for this blind date and never would she forgive Mr Robert and his wife, should the darn man end up not coming.
Just then, a tall ivory skinned man dressed in a faded shirt and ripped, dirty looking jeans walked towards her table with a small smile gracing his face.
Madison turned behind to know if there was someone else for she knew not why a man dressed in that manner and a silly smile playing on his lips like there was something funny, was walking towards her direction.
She looked away, waiting for the waiter to serve her what she had ordered. Once she's done eating, she'd would leave and never attend a blind date again.
To her utmost surprise, the man literally dressed in clean rags had taken a seat on the chair opposite hers, flashing her a bright smile.
"Can I help you ?" She asked, looking around and wondering within her if the security men had actually let him into the restaurant.
"Steve Armani is the name. Your date today and hopefully, your future husband." The man responded, the smile long gone from his face.
Madison nearly scoffed.
She was perplexed and didn't know if she would start with scolding him for having kept her waiting or simply tell him off.
Rumors had it that he was an idler and also, an illegitimate son of a rich man who abandoned him. But she never knew that his condition was this critical.
"I must have kept you waiting, I apologize." Steve added, as though he read her mind.
"I hate when people don't keep to time and then I have to wait for their 'grand arrival' ". Madison went on to say, emphasizing on the last words.
The waiter came just then with a golden electroplated tray and served her the Chinese rice and fruit wine she had ordered.
"Do you want to order anything, Sir?" The waiter tilted his head towards Steve, asking him.
He quickly went through the menu and looked up. "Spicy spaghetti and milk drink."
It was one of the cheapest on the menu.
The waiter took down Steve's order on a notepad and left to process his order.
"You know," Steve began while staring at Madison. "I've usually don't eat at restaurants 'cause they mostly sell food at a ridiculously high price."
As he spoke, Madison noted how handsome this man was. He's face was well sculpted and his green eyes were alluring. Not to talk of his lips, her eyes always fell on from time to time.
She nodded at him, not knowing what to say. She didn't want to pay much attention to what he was saying cause she'd only end up getting annoyed.
"I'm a fashion designer at Vitton Studio. Not sure if you've heard of it. But what do you do for a living?" She finally asked after many seconds of silence.
She needed to be sure of what she heard about him. If it was true or false. And she really hoped within her, that it was just a rumor.
Not that it would make her change her mind about him. She just didn't want to hate him more than she already did.
Steve chuckled shortly before retorting.
"Nothing."
Madison un-crossed her legs. She must have heard wrongly, she thought to herself.
"Huh?"
"Strange right? I don't really like utilizing my strength where it wouldn't be fully appreciated. "I couldn't stay more than three months the last place I got a job."
"Why did you quit?" She c****d him a brow.
Steve shrugged. "No fun in using all your efforts to get rewarded with something merger."
Madison scoffed in unbelief. This had to be the most silly person she ever met and she couldn't believe this was the person her adoptive parents had pushed on her to marry.
Plus, ill mindedness was one of the deepest shades of red flag in her choice of men.
"So you work for fun not money? You gain real bliss when you idle around and dress like a tramp to blind dates." She asked with sarcasm laced in her voice.
"If it would please you, I could try getting a decent job. But that wouldn't be easy."
"You're ridiculous, Steve."
"And you're incredulously pretty, dear Madison." He retorted, with a smile that could melt any woman's heart. But not Madison's.
The waiter had long served him what he ordered and they ate silently.
Madison was in no way happy. She had no single feelings for this man and she didn't find his attitude, appealing. Though she agreed within her that he looked good and had a great body.
Fuck, she even scrutinized him.
Madison rolled her eyes. She already knew within herself what her answer to him would be.
She was definitely going to marry him. Not because she wanted to. But because that was what she had to do to save Ms Hannah- the kind caregiver who was diagnosed few days ago with an acute kidney failure.
She earned a decent amount of money at the fashion designing studio where she works at. But the money needed to take special care of the sick woman and have an operation performed on her, was too much.
That was when her adoptive parents came to a compromise that they'd foot Ms Hannah's medical bills if only she gets married to Steve, in place of Felicia.
That darn b***h that slept with Amos- her boyfriend who she eventually broke up with.
She could vividly remember that evening and how everything played out.
It was just few days ago when she had returned from the hospital where had she gone to, after receiving a call that Ms Hannah was rushed there earlier that day.
She got home so tired and had already planned out how she'd take her night shower and have some good sleep. But as she ascended the lilac spiral stairs and cornered off to the hallway, she heard some weird sounds that made her pause briefly.
Furrowing her brows, she walked on and stopped right in front of the partly opened door where the sound came from.
There she caught Felicia riding Amos- her boyfriend while talking trash about her.
She was so disgusted that she barged in with fury and didn't hesitate of strike Amos' cheeks when he jumped off the bed and ran to her.
Meanwhile Felicia felt no remorse as she had done that to get to her. But Madison acted unaffected so as not to give the wench the satisfaction she wanted.
Due to the high pitch of their voices that night, Mr Lawrence and Fiona Roberts- her adoptive parents had gone to know what was going on.
Her adoptive father was greatly embarrassed and rebuked Felicia, for she was sleeping around when she was to marry Steve.
Felicia then lied to her parents that she was pregnant for Amos and therefore couldn't marry the idler- Steve.
Madison knew it was all a lie. But Mrs Lawrence had sided with her daughter and then asked if she would marry Steve in Felicia's stead since the latter was pregnant.
Of course, Madison was greatly offended and chided her adoptive parents. But they knew her weaknesses was Ms Hannah- the kind caregiver and had used it against her.
In place of Felicia- the first daughter who Steve had specifically asked of, she would get married to him and then they'd take care of Ms Hannah's medical bills starting from the next day.
Though she felt used and knew that what she was about doing was a great deception to Steve who she knew not what deal an idler like him could strike with the Roberts; she prioritized Ms Hannah above all things so she accepted the offer.
Right then and there she broke up with Amos and she got to her room where she took off the facade and wept like a child. For she had truly liked Amos and never imagined to spend the rest of her life with someone she had no feelings for.
"Uh, Miss Robert."
Steve called her once more, getting her out of her memory lane.
She stared at him, waiting for him to speak as she had nothing to tell him.
"Let's talk about our forthcoming, wedding." He stated with a bright smile that didn't reach his eyes.
- Writer
