The last thing I expected when I came to this blind date was being involved with two men who are offering to marry me within the short period grandma gave me. What's more, they're both brothers from a billionaire family. I should be happily kicking my feet and asking them questions to determine which one is better than the other, but I've seen enough of both to know they're assholes.
There's Calvin and his stone age mentality and an IQ that's probably lower than that of a constipated worm. Then there's Desmond.
God, Desmond.
I hate him. This betrayer.
He ditched me, left right after I got close enough to think we were going to be the best of friends. He left without saying goodbye, not even a message through Manon. Not even Chester. Just...left. As if we weren't close. As if he wasn't the one who got me accustomed to him bothering me until I had no choice but to let him. I was stupid. I allowed myself to be fooled by his nudges to the point where I thought I couldn't live without him.
And that's when it started. My first crush. I tried forcing it down. I'd experienced enough of humanity back then to know they can't be trusted. But Desmond was different. He bothered me on bad days when I didn't feel like talking until I did. He bothered me every time I felt like crying until I did—then he'd wipe my tears and say he was sorry. It was nice. So nice I let myself get carried by the wind and fall for his game. So nice that I let him in and grew warm towards him.
And when I was finally able to hug him without thinking he was like the rest of the cruel people in this world, when I was finally able to laugh my heart out with someone other than Manon what did he do? He left. Ghosted me and left me to experience the reality of life all over again.
That was my first ever bitter experience with men.
Now eight years later after I just broke up with yet another asshole who brought me to my knees what does life decide to do? Shove Desmond up my business again. Have him show up and get me all hot and bothered as if he hadn't left all those years back then.
And you know what's worse? My heart forgot we just got through a breakup last week and it's making my body burn hot since he's so close. I'm so close to heading over to a doctor and getting tested to see if I'm bipolar.
Then again what can I do when he's offering the one thing I've been praying for when I came here—a fake marriage that guarantees my freedom and peace. I can't let him slip by because I know it'll be hard to find someone like him anywhere in New York, especially with the time limit my grandma placed on me.
So I've decided to manage him later. For now, I have to handle this egg head who thinks I'm so stupid I'd fall for his empty words over Desmond's promising vow. He'll offer me his shares he says. Ha! We both come from billionaire families, and my grandma's business is ranked four if not five places above his grandma's. He should be licking my feet right now not acting like the cocky bastard he is as if I'm some damsel in distress needing a knight in shining armor.
"I'll give you the independence you want so badly. You can even fuck someone else in my presence, or we can have a threesome...if you know what I mean," Calvin adds wriggling his brows.
"You—" Desmond stops himself before he finishes what he wants to say, jaw clenched as if what Calvin just said affects him not me. "Sorry, you may continue," he adds looking away.
Somebody slap me because why does my heart flutter at the gesture?
I clear my throat and turn to face Calvin, doing my best to avoid staring at Desmond's ripped hand. Gym freak. I can tell at a glance. That means getting married to him would mean having a gym in the house. Bonus points to him if he can cook.
"Unfortunately, I'm not into threesomes," I turn to Calvin. "And I think I found someone who'll offer me the ultimate freedom before you did. As for your shares, I'd recommend you keep them. I'm pretty sure my grandma is more loaded than yours so save the money, egghead. Who knows, granny might make you her main go-to grandson when you bank her money and it develops interest later on."
Desmond snaps his head to look at me, relief masking his face in an instant.
"D-does that mean you're marrying me?" He stutters.
"Hell yeah! Where else can I find a man who offers me independence in a fake marriage in an instant? Besides, I believe you owe me," I add just so he knows he's not forgiven.
I'm so not done with him, but I'm not letting him into my heart again. Not after he left me. Not after the breakup I suffered from. I've had enough of men to know they can't be trusted. That's why my new goal is to be like grandma—a boss lady with a harem of hot men.
Yeah...that's the life.
"So you're a bitch after all," Calvin snaps at me but before he can finish speaking Desmond stands and leans closer to him, grabbing his shirt by the collar.
"You call her that again and I'll make sure even your face goes bald," he hisses referring to his brother's beard.
Calvin swats his hand away and stands, pushing the chair he was sitting on so hard it rasps on the ceramic. "A bitch and a dog. I've never seen such a better pair," he spits the words out with so much hate I'm taken aback.
I look around us, face now hot from embarrassment. The entire restaurant is now looking at us. Some even have their cameras in the show. Figures. After all, the Lawrence family and mine are quite popular.
"You want a fight this afternoon huh?" Desmond snaps at his brother who should've left us by now but hasn't, probably because he wants to trigger his little brother.
I know about their strained relationship. Desmond told me about it back in college but I never got a chance to meet Calvin. Now that I've witnessed Calvin speaking, there's no doubt in my mind who the problem between the two is.
"Can you even take me on?" Calvin barks back just when whispers start circulating in the restaurant.
This is getting out of hand.
A waiter comes our way but it's a lady and when she tries asking what's going on Calvin snaps at her:
"You stay out of this!"
Yeah. Very original, Baldy.
Now I'm sure Desmond saved me from the most toxic asshole ever. I stand when he looks as though he's about to charge in Calvin's direction, grabbing his shirt and drawing his attention before shaking my head and nodding at the cameras.
"Let the waiters handle him. They're professionals," I whisper in Desmond's ear, and as if I used magic, two men dressed in black uniforms make their way in our direction.
"Leilani Mayfield here. Please take him away. He's disturbing our date," I tell the staff, locking my hand into Desmond's arm as their faces light up the moment they recognize my name. Desmond gives me a look that makes my belly jiggle as if it's on drugs but I force the sensation back down my gut.
Just what the fuck is wrong with me today?