Chapter 2 "He has no heart"

"She needs to try extremely harder" Travis replied, his tone was neither harsh nor calm. In a swift, he turned off the phone's power button. Lila was bewildered at her son's behavior for some seconds. Her son isn't a gay or is he?

"Travis?" She called, angrily.

"The truth is bitter Mom. She need to try extremely harder and besides, she's not my type of girl, she look like those hopeless Indian women. You know my taste, Mom" Travis winked and at that point, Mrs Lila's words were superfluous. Some seconds passed before she finally found her voice. "What's you type of girl then?" She asked, feeling a little hopeful that her son is not gay.

Travis let out a smirk that covers a lot of emotions. If he wasn't Mrs Lila's son, she would have said her son looks like a deadly devil when he made that smirks.

"My type of girl......" Travis let out a playboy smile, at least he noticed his mother wasn't happy with his expression earlier.

"My type of girl lives in another nation called IMAGINATION" he replied.

Lila would say something but he quickly cuts in. "Mother, why are we having this conversation? You invited me over to dinner, we should be having dinner and not discussing about this right now" he raised a brow.

Lila was disappointed, she would say something to him but the maid interrupted.

"Dinner is set, Sir" the maid was so fluent, and at the same time sending seductive looks towards Travis. One look from Mrs Lila sent the maid away.

All through the dinner time with Travis, Lila wasn't happy. She felt helpless and extremely worried. She hoped one day, her son will have a perfect woman in his life.

*********************************************

"Uncle Damian, I promise my brother took the rent money. He left with the rent money to pay you! Why would I lie to you, we've never been late with the rent money" Annie said gently to the landlord who was knocking on their apartment. She looks so tired from yesterday's work. She did an extra shift for Hannah in the restaurant where she worked.

"It's warm now, should I get you some tea?" She asked.

"What tea?? I'm here for my rent money and you're talking about tea. Just because we are family doesn't mean...." The landlord was saying when Annie suddenly cuts in. "Are you making me to feel guilty now? I told you I'm sorry...my brother will...."

"Sorry?"

"Where does sorry gets me?" The landlord blew hot and cold that Anna jerked back in fear.

"Sorry?? Can I buy some bread with that? Didn't your brother tell you I've been calling about the rent everyday? Then I have to listen to excuse after excuses and you are ungrateful for the special rate I give you. It would be better if you moved!" The landlord threatened.

Annie went numb from the fear of being thrown out. "Hey, you will be blamed if my grandma die from her diabetes and if I break out from head to toe from this stress!" Annie shouted at the retreating figure of the landlord. She was close to tears..

She and her brother hasn't been able to raise the rest money for four months now.

"You're wasting my time, pack your things and get out now" her heart shivered at the last threat Damian gave her.

She wiped her face and rushed in to meet her grandma who was just recovering.

"Annie, my dear who was that?" Her grandma asked.

"Nothing...it's really nothing. I will get your food mother before I go to work" Annie rushed words.

"Our rent is due again?" Her grandma sighed.

"Simeon will sort it out granny." Annie hoped. She rushed into her room and quickly packed her bag for work. Her eyes trailed her almost empty make up kit. She was sad she might not be able to upload any video on her you tube channel till next week because of her inability to get some certain makeup.

Hmmm.

"Even if any money gets into my hand, I would use it to sort out rent" she sighed. She went to the kitchen and served her granny's food before leaving for the restaurant where she works.

*********

"Annie, where have you been? Everyone's been asking me where you are?" Hannah, her college at work and best friend asked.

"I have a problem. My brother hasn't paid rent in four months. I think we are being thrown out. I had to beg on hands and knees" Annie explained. She dropped her bag in the changing room.

"He hasn't paid the rent? You have to move out!" Hannah laments.

"I have to go, as will chat later" Annie sighed and when to the counter so she can start taking orders of the customers.

Someone tapped her shoulders and sge swiveled her head. It was Hannah again.

"Annie, did you see who's here?" Hannah asked.

"Hunh" Annie scoffed before looking.

"Oh no, why are you telling me now? Do I look away?" Annie blurts out.

"He must be the most perfect man in this planet" Hannah said with pride.

"He can't be perfect. He probably has an awful personality" Annie argued.

"I don't think so. He is so good looking not to have a nice personality Annie" Hannah smiled, admiring the gorgeous smile of the handsome young man.

Annie scoffed. There is absolutely nothing gorgeous about that man.

"You have a boring life Annie" Hannah stuttered.

"I love my boring life" Annie smiled happily and walked away with the menu.

Hannah scoffed.

********************

"Hi, dad" Travis beamed lowly and stood from the sweiveing chair he sat on in his exquisitely furnished office. His father's face wasn't smiling at all and he knows what it is all about again.

It's about him getting a "wife"

"Your dad is worried about you dear Travis. I have an important matter to discuss. Do you remember your date with a certain lady?" Lila questioned.

"Yes, I remember" Travis replied.

"She's exactly your type" Lila said.

"I will have to see for myself, mother" Travis said lowly. If his father wasn't there, he won't have this conversation with his mother.

"Believe me, she is lovely, tall, slender, well known, studied in Italy, well groomed, lovely personality. Everything"Lila described.

"I will decided for myself" Travis bite his lower lip.

"Listen Travis, if it were up to you, you would never get married. You know it's because I care right? If everything goes well...you will get married in three months time"

"Whattttt!!!! Come on, I haven't even met anyone yet" Travis laments.

"You are meeting someone today. I think you are going to like her. I've arranged for you to meet someone every week but no one is ever good enough for you" Lila blew hot and cold.

******************

"How embarrassing I would have to eavesdrop on my son. I feel like I'm spying" Lila felt uneasy. She had forgotten to the restaurant she made reservations for Travis and Bridget to meet.

"Hello, what can I get you?" She heard an angelic voice bring back her mind. 

"Anything....just ....a....salad or something.." Mrs Lila looked up. She was shocked to see the same lady she loves her YouTube channel is much.

She has to be sure but then it's really her.

"Allah be praised" Lila marvelled at Annie's beauty. Her long midnight black hair was pulled in a weave to the back, her edges were so curly and her brows were nearly shaped to feet her oval face. Her eyes were like the skies. Talking about her shape, she has gotten the best shape no man can refuse.

"Ahh calm down, just relax" Lila said to herself, her eyes trailed the tag on Annie's chest and it was really her. ANNIE.

Annie who didn't understand a thing just looked on.

"Okay ma'am, I will bring your order" Annie walked away when the looks the woman was giving her was getting too awkward for her liking.

Annie got back to the counter and still met Hannah smiling towards that mystery man direction.

"Mr Travis Santiago reservations was booked here. No mistake should be made. Etna,make sure everything is in order while Annie should take care of his order" the manager gave orders and left.

"Wowwwww. Mr Travis will be here. Girl you're so lucky to take his order. Awwwwnn" Hannah blushed towards Annie who didn't even see anything special in that.

"Here is he, ohh God!" Hannah melted, her looks were directed towards the entrance.

Annie didn't want to look, but then she has to see for herself who this Travis Santiago is. He's so popular, yet she has never cared to hear gists about him.

Annie looked, she didn't want to accept he is the most handsome man she have ever seen. His curly hair was packed to the back, his eyes were pure gold,his appearances and his face was everything. But not to her, maybe to people like Hannah who would fantasies about everything.

Well fantasies are for idiots and commoners like her have no place with the royals.

"You're lucky!! That's the almighty Travis Santiago" Hannah still whispered and Annie moved her eyes in one roll.

*************

Travis didn't like this at all, but then he had to come even though he is still going to reject the lady.

"Hi, Travis" the lady stood to greet him, she stretched out her hand for a handshake which he rejected.

He sat down. Bridget dropped her hands, embarrassed but she smiled and sat back. Being the most richest and handsome man will come with a lot of things so she has expected Travis to be arrogant.

"My name is Bridget" she started..

"Ohh you're that model that appeared with her ex in daily times magazine" Travis replied and Bridget narrowed her eyes, wondering how he knew about it.

"Listen, I don't know where to start but let me try. I don't think we are on the same page. Looks aren't that important to me. How many people that are following you online doesn't impress me. I want someone to come back home to at night. A real person" Travis uttered.

"But we can try at least. Maybe we will surprise each other, who knows" Bridget says.

"Hold on. Look Bridget, your clothes. Tell me you are someone who is ready to get married. It almost seems as if you are here for a job interview. It's unnatural, like a business transaction. Do you really think I'm buying this? Do I look stupid to you?" Travis asked Bridget who went mute. What he said was true. His mother, Lila is behind all this. She had paid her a huge amount just to impress her son.

"Hello, can I bring you the menu?" The sight of the very beautiful waitress irritates her.

-get away, you are disturbing us" Bridget sheathed.

Travis looked up, his eyes locked with Annie's own and then an idea popped into his head. He already saw her name in the tag.

He stood up and grabbed Annie's arm tenderly

"Annie honey, I didn't know you were working today" Travis said.

"What!! What is going on?" Bridget asked.

"It's not what it looks like, it's just business honestly" Travis pretended Annie was his girlfriend. Annie looked totally confused as Travis continue dragging her outside.

"What's happening?" Mrs Lila muttered from where she sat.

"Travis!!!" Bridget shouted in tears.

"What's happening? Why are you pretending we are couples. This is a filthy trick" Annie blurted out.

Mrs Lila was surprised. Her son has a girlfriend all this while and was hiding her. She thought.

"Travis!!" Bridget shouted, going after Travis who was dragging Annie and in other to make Bridget stop coming, Travis slammed his lips on Annie's lip.

Annie was shocked, a total stranger just stole her first kiss.