Chapter 5 The date

"Crystalline, there is a new complication which developed in Freddy's heart. Three of his heart valves are blocked now because of the postponement of the surgery. He needs a bypass in less than a month. Otherwise, the doctor said he cannot guarantee for Freddy's life." Josselyn sobbed softly on the phone.

Crystalline was dumbstruck at her reply. For a few moments, her mind felt blank. "Mom, last time when you called, you said that we could arrange funds for Dad's surgery within a month. It is hardly a week that passed and I'm sending you the two million dollars immediately by a wireless transfer."

Josselyn did not like the way Crystal spoke to her. She saw her words as an accusation. "His bypass surgery now requires 5 million dollars." She spoke sternly.

"Five million dollars?" Crystalline repeated her mom's reply in shock, as if somebody hit her with a bulldozer.

"Do you think I'm speaking lies to you? I am only saying what the doctor told me. I am not the superpower to rebuild your dad's life." Before Crystal could speak any further the line went dead.

She walked out from the backstage absentmindedly when she heard a male voice. "Ma'am?"

Crystal raised her head to brace the person who was seeking her attention. He is the same man who spoke to the conductor of the fashion show earlier. The guy came to her and handed her a shopping bag. "Good evening ma'am. Your dinner with Mr. Rochester is arranged on the rooftop of one of the five-star hotels he owns. A driver with vehicle number ***** is waiting for you outside. You can check in the executive suite room number 305 and get ready to meet him within an hour from now." He checked the time on his watch and informed her.

Crystal only nodded, feeling drained with the news she received from her stepmother. She took the shopping bag and hopped into the car that was waiting for her.

After a shower, when she opened the sealed cover her orbs were on stalks. It was a flattering, formal cherry red dress with a glamorous neckline revealing a teeny bit of her cleavage in a rocker style, best suitable for petite girls like her.

The deep neckline made her slightly uncomfortable but Crystal loved the dress. She felt like it was tailor-made for her hugging her curves at the right places. Her hand absentmindedly reached the price tag attached to the bottom of the gown and the balls in her eyes bulged out. She had never owned or worn such a premium-quality dress earlier.

Crystal hadn't had the time to shop or spend for herself. She had always used the clothes worn by Stephanie which were old, loose, and even faded in some areas.

She applied a little bit of mascara to enhance the beauty of her chocolate brown eyes and red lipstick to match the color of her dress.

The atmosphere felt pleasant when she arrived at the rooftop. A fireplace was made on a corner and beside it was a table arranged for dinner.

Crystal walked to the place and she could have the picturesque view of the city in colorful lights. A waiter immediately came to her and pulled the chair behind her to sit. "Good Evening ma'am, Sir will arrive shortly. Would you want me to serve you some champagne in the meantime?"

Crystal was not used to drinking. She hadn't ever touched alcohol. But meeting the person who could shell away five million dollars just for a date made her very anxious. For a moment she thought if she could try the drink and numb her worry but again thought otherwise. The man whom she was going to meet is not an ordinary person but the richest billionaire of the country whom people could see only in talk shows and weekly magazines.

She rubbed her hands to one another in order to generate heat and opened her mobile. Crystal typed the name 'Abraham Rochester' to find the man she was shortly going to date. And she was appalled by the number of pages that scroll up on the internet just by mentioning his name.

Abraham Rochester, the CEO of Rochester Group of Industries is the richest man in the country who owns a variety of clubs, and casinos in New York City apart from being an electrical and electronic tycoon.

He built up his dad's five million-worth firm to a hundred million turnover today by spreading its wings to other fields. Today Rochester Group is a world-famous brand when you talk about kitchen appliances or pharmaceuticals.

In his twenty-six years of life, Abraham had dated many girls but the one who is going to capture his heart is yet to arrive in his life.

Crystalline had seen a few pictures of him and in every photo, he was with a new girl. She huffed out rolling her eyes and walked to the parapet wall to look at the beautiful illuminating city.

After ten minutes the world around her fell into pin-drop silence. And suddenly she could smell a mesmerizing male scent of ocean and hue.

'What was that?'

Crystal turned around from the holistic view in front of her and her breath stopped mid-way to brace the presence of the handsome man who gave her the gift cheque a few hours ago. Abraham Rochester.

He wasn't a male model but he should have been having an attractive Mohican cut and scythe-shaped eyebrows.

Abraham snickered. He knew what was going on in her mind. His eyes darted constantly at her in a gleam of amusement and a vigor of self-appease.

Her heart skipped a beat as he got closer. People parted like the Red Sea wishing him but he only nodded. His gaze was constant and unwavering upon her.

Crystal felt weak on her knees by his hypnotizing peer. He was reaching her in a leopard-like glide with an athletic grace. The swirl of his loamy cologne had her swooning in the aisles. Handsome in an understated way, his basalt jaw and Spartan shoulders spoke at length of his strength and manliness.

"Please take a seat, Ms Collins. We are not here for an interview but a date." He spoke in a deep masculine voice with a glint of mirth.

"Thank you." Her legs shivered, almost giving away. But he was on time to pull the chair behind for her to sit in the most gentlemanly way.

Abraham took his seat after assuring she was comfortably seated and spoke. "Since we are on a date rather than a business meeting, I would like to address you on a first-name basis. Crystalline, isn't it?"

His bass voice hit her in the nub for the way her name rolled out of him. Crystal gulped heavily by the intimidating persona he carried around him. He possessed a latent leonine power in his tone and spoke words only that had purpose filled with authority. "Yes...yes sir." She said in a voice which hardly reached her ears.

But thankfully he could hear her. "Call me Abraham. As I told you earlier, we are on a date, not discussing trade and transfers here." His eyes captured hers in an impetus. Everyone commented on his vivacious character and his gentle nature when she saw him reaching the stage to give away the gift cheque. However, what she observed is that his voice was foghorn loud when his presence was on an objective but it is normally mellifluous.

"Have you gone on a date with anyone before? I think you should already have a boyfriend for the beauty and poise you carry with you." He said gazing back at her with a gentle smile.

'Did he just compliment her?' Holy cow! She just received approbation from the world's most sought-after bachelor and successful entrepreneur of the decade. "I...I do not have a boyfriend, and have never gone on a date before." She stuttered.

He watched her for a few seconds. No words. Was he examining her if she was speaking the truth? And then he looked back at someone behind her. His eyes were generally soft swimming sea blues of brightness but at times they could transform ruley radiating with authority. The waiter almost ran to their table to pour champagne into each of their glasses.

"I know you blot your lips twice before you throw your tissue away. Your voice drops an octave when you get upset. You chew your lower lip when you are doing something you don't wanna do. And I know you are scared right now. But you don't have to be. You can trust me."

Crystalline was flabbergasted at his revelation. Just how much did he observe her in the five minutes of conversation they had? She thought he did not even see her properly.

He took a sip from his glass. "Would you like to have Mojito or Blackberry? I see you haven't touched your drink. You can have anything of your choice."

Now his words were no more a shock to her. He looked astigmatic but he observed everything. Placing the glass back on the table he looked at her. "Tell me about yourself."

"I like champagne." Crystal managed her best not to stammer this time. She did not want to reveal to him that she hadn't ever tasted alcohol before and she came from a middle-class family who couldn't afford a three-course meal, drinks were a far-lost option. Tonight she wants to set her problems aside and have a good time with this handsome knight.

She took a sip of champagne and resisted the urge to puke. The subsequent sips turned manageable and slowly she began to like the flavor. "One more drink please." She called the waiter, tipping up her finger.

She swayed her head to the soft tune playing behind and felt light. Gone was the fear of drinking or talking to him. "You ask me about my date, why didn't you get married till now? It is not like you are ugly struggling to make ends meet." She joked which was her reality.

In a heartwarming chuckle, his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jaw. Crystal loved the sound of his laughter. "I have not found the right girl as yet and these dates are my quest to meet that fairy."

Flamboyant of character, the place filled with his sonorous, rumbling voice. He was also quick to crack a joke or fire off a humorous retort. "You are joking." Her voice slurred, going a little tipsy.

She flicked out her tongue and wet her lips. Her libido awakened by the sensuality, he oozed, and she felt hot. Before she could reel herself in, Christy flung her body towards him. Their lips collided in a shocking endeavor, and she threw her hands up over his head. Her palms cupped his cheeks while her lips were massaging his, and for just a moment, she got a taste of the warmth his body could provide.

His tongue swiped against her lips before she pulled away, and he felt the warmth of her trickle down his neck and heat his shoulders. She pulled away before he had the sense to settle his arms around her body, and all he could do was stare at her. "Shut up," she said to herself breathlessly in her mind. Her conscience intervened, 'Crystal this is only a date of once in a lifetime. For a middle class girl like you a handsome billionaire like Abraham Rochester is only a dream. Stop gawking at him like an eye candy. You both are worlds apart and you will never see him again.

She is like an open book to him for his experience in studying the business tactics. "Sex is delicious if you're curious enough to find out." He invited her with a naughty chuckle.