Chapter 3 The Blind Date

RAYMOND'S POV

I watched my reflection in the mirror as I arranged my black tuxedo and tried to lay back my dark, slightly messy hair, which refused to budge as always. I exhaled deeply as I gave myself one last look at the mirror, the thought of going on a blind date with some lady weighs down on my shoulder like a rock. On a usual day, I would never be caught having a ridiculous date with just anyone or accepting my mother's offer to find me a wife. But here I was, all thanks to my Late Grandfather.

Last week, Grandfather's long awaited Will finally arrived and the lawyer had revealed the most ridiculous idea ever. The Will had stated that he would only hand the family's company to any of his grandchildren who gets married and conceives a child first. Automatically instigating a silly competition between my cousin -Mark, and I, since we were the only grandchildren that he has. I was slightly enraged that after all the years of hard work I had put into helping my family grow the company, while my slob of a cousin travelled around the world, meeting all sorts of women and drowning himself in alcohol, I still had to compete with him for what should be rightfully mine.

But then again, I did not allow my rage to gain control of me. I would not sit back and watch a business my grandfather worked so hard to build go down the drain just like that all because of someone who did not care the least about the company except to extort all of the funds and run the family dry.

A gentle knock came up on my door and I turned my head to see my mother push the door open and walked in, her high heels echoing against the wooden floor as she advanced towards me. As always, she looked gorgeous and intimidating, and I couldn't help but admit that she deserved to be called The Queen

"Getting ready, are we?" She reached for my bow tie and tugged at it gently.

"Yes, mother." I responded and exhaled deeply.

"Do not be sceptical about this." She kept her eyes locked to mine and planted a small reassuring smile on her face. "I can bet on all that I have that this would be the most unforgettable night of your life."

I chuckled sarcastically at her exaggerated promises. "Your confidence is quite suspicious, mother. Is there something else you have planned out that I do not know about?"

"Perhaps." She shrugged and brought her hand to my hair this time, trying unsuccessfully to lie my hair flat over my head. "Like I said, she is a sweet, interesting girl, you will definitely like her"

"Okay." I let her have her way without an argument this time. "I should get going already."

"Alright." She took a step away from me again and watched me with pure adoration in her eyes. I knew fully well that she was about to repeat one of her cliche lines about how much I looked like my father. A man who had died when I was just a baby and whose face I would never have remembered were it not for the aid of old pictures of him and my mother.

"If Peter was still alive, I am sure he would have been proud of the kind of man you have grown up to become."

"Right." I shifted quite uncomfortably on my feet, knowing that in a few seconds, my mother was going to have one of her usual emotional sprees like she always did whenever she recalled memories of my father.

Fortunately, my prediction was wrong this time and instead of a teary episode, she maintained her fierce, confident composure.

"That is why I am not going to sit back and watch your useless cousin and his mother try to rob us of our inheritance. I will not let the hard work of your father go in vain."

I lifted my lips in a small reassuring smile and closed the distance between us, planting a soft peck on her forehead.

"Me neither. I will do all I can to return glory to our family. I'll give you my word."

...................

POLLEN'S POV

After the cab I had boarded stopped to drop me at the address I had given him before driving away, I stood in front of the exquisite A-class hotel where I was dropped at and my eyes looked from the address in my phone's GPS tracker and back to the glass restaurant building again. My eyes took in the name of the restaurant that was crafted bold and had neon lights beautifying and dancing all around it.

Blu Restaurant.

Confirming that I was at the right address, I took in a deep long breath and gave my evening dress a final glance. I was wearing a red knee length flared dress that had a small slit opening and a long v-neck that did its best not to expose too much of my cleavage. Overall, it was pretty decent for a first and hopefully late date night.

Summoning all the confidence in me, I walked into the restaurant and headed to the table that had been reserved for my date with the stranger. When I arrived at the table, I observed that it was empty and my supposed date was yet to arrive. In my head, I thanked the heavens for giving me the chance to collect myself again and settle my racing thoughts before meeting up with a total stranger.

As I sat down at the table waiting, I tapped my fingers a little nervously against the surface of the table. A waitress approached me, holding a small tray that had a bottle of water and an empty glass cup.

"Water?" She asked me, a small friendly smile playing across her lips.

"Yes, please." I reciprocated her smile and the lady served the bottle of water and poured a few into the glass cup before taking the now empty tray and walking away again.

God. How did she know this was what I needed right now? A glass of water to calm my nerves down was the perfect menu right now.

I retrieved the glass of water from the table with a rather shaky hand and I almost jumped out of my own skin as the glass emptied half of its content over my body, soiling my dress wet.

"Fuck." I cursed at myself for my clumsiness and returned the glass of water back to the table before tending to my wet dress.

This was why I never went on dates or tried to date anyone. I knew how much of a mess I was, even to myself. Expecting someone else to be able to manage me was only a pie in the sky dream.

I tried to brush the wetness off, but it was a feeble effort and while I was at it, concentrating on trying to squeeze the wet part of my dress dry, a deep masculine voice called gently in front of me.

"Uh...hi?"

I froze instantly and my eyes snapped open at the sound of the masculine voice.

Oh, my God! Do not let it be my date. Do not let it be my date, please!

Slowly and visibly embarrassed, I raised my head and my body froze for a second round, at the sight of the most gorgeous, sexiest man I had ever come across in my entire life.

"Sorry I took a bit of your time. I was stuck in traffic." He apologiszed to me and drew a seat from underneath the table, joining me. I remained frozen and only gaped, completely smitten by his sight.

Holy cow. This man was my blind date!