1

Julian slowly opened his eyes, squinting as the bright light of the morning sun seeped through the half-open blinds. He let out a groan as he stretched his limbs, feeling his muscles ache from last night's intense workout at the gym.

While he rubbed his eyes, he could hear the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. He smiled, knowing that the woman he had spent the night with was still in there.

Smiling, he got out of bed and stood at the doorway of the bedroom, gazing at the bathroom curtains which were slightly ajar. Through the curtains, he could see the silhouette of the woman's figure as she moved around in the shower.

He watched for a few moments, admiring the curve of her back and the way the water cascaded over her skin.

Suddenly, the sound of the shower stopped, and Julian heard the woman's voice call out to him.

"Hey, sleepyhead, you wanna join me in here?"

Julian chuckled and shook his head.

"Nah, I'll save that for tonight."

She giggled at his response.

Julian made his way into the kitchen, his feet padding softly on the tiled floor. He opened the fridge, scanning its contents for something to quench his thirst. His eyes landed on a bottle of water and he reached in to grab it. He twisted the cap open and brought the bottle to his lips, gulping down the cool liquid.

As he drank, he couldn't help but feel refreshed. He let out a sigh of relief, closing his eyes for a moment to savor the sensation. Droplets of water dribbled down the side of the bottle and onto his shirt.

Feeling a sudden urge, Julian tilted his head back and poured some water over his head. The liquid cascaded over his hair, soaking it through. The sensation was electrifying, the water feeling like a jolt of energy. He shook his head, sending droplets flying in all directions.

He set the bottle down on the kitchen counter and made his way back to the living room. Droplets of water fell from his hair and onto his shirt, creating small damp patches.

The coolness of the water still lingered on his skin, sending shivers down his spine. He leaned back on the couch, his eyes flickering to the ceiling.

As Julian sat on the couch, he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. A news channel popped up, and the newscaster's voice boomed through the speakers.

"...nd gentlemen. Today, we have some exciting news to share with you all. Fiona Vanderbilt, one of the most successful entrepreneurs and directors in the industry, has just been awarded the Best Female Director and Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year awards at the Annual Awards Ceremony. Vanderbilt's latest film, 'The Glass Ceiling', has been a box office hit, and her business ventures have been nothing short of extraordinary."

As the newscaster spoke, a picture of Fiona Vanderbilt appeared on the screen.

"Vanderbilt's contributions to the industry have been immense, and she has set the bar high for female entrepreneurs and directors everywhere. Her success serves as an inspiration to young women everywhere, showing them that with hard work and dedication, anything is…"

Uninterestedly, Julian turned off the TV with a flick of the remote.

He stood up from the couch and stretched his arms, feeling a bit restless. He walked towards the front door, grabbing his keys from the key bowl on the side table.

"Going out for a walk. Be back soon," he yelled out to the woman in the room.

"Alright," she yelled back from the bathroom.

Julian opened the door and stepped outside, feeling the cool breeze on his face. He closed the door behind him and started walking down the street. The sound of the cars passing by and the chatter of people walking on the sidewalks filled the air.

*****

"Why are we here?" Fiona asked, looking up from the tablet she's been scrolling through as soon as she noticed Mary pulling the car over in front of a restaurant.

Fiona raises an eyebrow in confusion and asked again,

"Weren't we supposed to go to the site?"

Mary smiled.

"Wait, don't tell me you set ended up setting up on that blind date…”

Mary's Smile widened.

Fiona's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What?! You set me up on a blind date? Mary, you know I hate these things!"

Mary chuckled and replied, "I know, but I promise you, this guy is different. Just give him a chance."

"Come on, Fiona. You've been buried in work for too long. You need to take a break and enjoy life."

Fiona let out a deep sigh and said, "Fine. I'll go on this date, but if it's a disaster, I'm leaving."

Mary grinned and said, "Deal. I'll wait for you in the car."

Fiona reluctantly got out of the car and Mary added jokingly,

"Please try your best for this servant of yours."

Fiona rolled her eyes at Mary's comment and stepped out of the car, her black stilettos clicking on the pavement as she walked towards the restaurant. She adjusted the strap of her designer handbag and straightened out her skirt before walking through the door.

As she entered, she looked around the dimly lit interior of the restaurant, taking in the decor and the ambiance. The scent of various foods wafted through the air, and she felt her stomach rumble in response.

She looked around, scanning the room for any sign of her date.

"You must be Fiona," she suddenly heard a tall, well-built man, with a warm smile on his face say, extending his hand.

Fiona shook his hand, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Yes, that's me. And you are?" she asks, trying to hide her skepticism.

The man laughed. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? My name is David. I've read so much about you in articles and magazines. It's such an honor to finally meet you in person."

Fiona smiled politely, still feeling unsure about this whole blind date thing.

"Thank you, that's very kind of you to say."

David pulled out a chair for her and she sat down, smoothing out her dress.

"You know, Fiona, I have to say, you're even more beautiful in person than in the photos I've seen," David said, flashing a charming smile.

Fiona blushed a bit, feeling a strange mix of flattery and unease.

"Thank you, that's very kind of you to say," she replied, trying to keep the conversation light.

A waiter approached their table with a bottle of wine in hand, setting it down gently on the table. Fiona looked at the bottle and nodded her head, indicating that it was the correct bottle.

The waiter smiled and proceeded to open the bottle, carefully cutting the foil and uncorking the wine with a practiced hand. Fiona watched him as he worked, admiring his expertise.

The waiter poured a small amount of wine into a glass and handed it to Fiona for her to taste. She swirled the wine around in the glass, taking a small sip and savouring its flavour. She nodded her approval, and the waiter proceeded to fill both glasses with the rich, ruby-coloured wine.

"Thank you," said Fiona, smiling at the waiter.

"You're welcome, madam," replied the waiter, bowing slightly before leaving them to enjoy their wine.

David raised his glass in a toast, saying, "To a wonderful evening with a beautiful lady."

Fiona blushed, feeling a little embarrassed by his compliment. "Thank you," she said, taking a small sip of her wine.

"So, Fiona, what's your taste in men?" he asked with a sly grin.

Fiona recoiled slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable with the question.

"Um, I don't really have a type. I guess I just look for someone who's kind and understanding," she replied hesitantly.

As they sipped on the wine, the man cleared his throat and tried to impress Fiona with some pick-up lines.

"You must be a magician, because every time I look at you, everyone else disappears," he said with a smirk.

Fiona nearly choked on her wine at the sudden gesture.

Then raised an eyebrow, making sure to look as unimpressed as possible.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not really into magic tricks."

Undeterred, David tried again.

"Are you an angel? Because you have a halo around your head," he said, gesturing towards the light above their table.

Fiona sighed exhaustedly.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to make you laugh. You seemed so serious…."

David proceeded to laugh nervously, "I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not very good at this. Let me try another one."

While David continued to struggle with his attempts at pick-up lines, Fiona’s phone began to ring, interrupting him mid-sentence.

He looked slightly taken aback as she reached for her phone, her eyes darting to the unknown number displayed on the screen.

"Sorry, I have to take this," she said, standing up from the table.

"Of course," he replied, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

As Fiona walked out of the restaurant, she couldn't help but feel relieved that the phone call came in.

"Thank God for unknown numbers," she muttered to herself.

Fiona walked a few steps away from the entrance of the restaurant and cut the call.

"You're ridiculous, Fiona."

Fiona took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She didn't want to go back to the restaurant and sit through another awkward conversation.

She decided to call Mary and ask her to pick her up.

As she dialed Mary's number, Fiona noticed a man on a bike speeding towards her. Before she could react, she felt a strong grip on jer wrist, pulling her away from the path. The biker merely brushed past her and hit her handbag.

“Are you okay?” She heard his voice.