~Hottie~

"Weldone Shira, you managed to drench yet another customer." 

Shira stared at Damien at loss for words. At this point she was exasperated.

"I told you, someone bumped into me" She said cupping her face in her hands and resting her elbows on the bar counter. 

"People are always bumping into you," He said, shaking his head. He playfully slaps Shira's arms off the counter and wipes it down with a damp napkin.

It was nearly 6:00 am and the club was relatively empty except for a handful of people. 

"Just be careful, I don't want a repeat of last night. You could have gotten hurt. But thank God Mr hot ass billionaire was there. But hold up, darling, there's something you're not telling me." He fakes a thinking face. "When did you start hanging out with hot CEOs?"

"Very funny, I don't know him." She brushed it off but her stomach began to tingle again. All through the night she didn't even think much about the Russian but was fascinated with the hottie. She fantasized about him all through the shift seeing him as her knight in shining armor although she was careful not to be too far away and cause another scene. 

Hottie and Shira... 

Such a wonderful combo. She smiled stupidly then she stopped and realized what Damien had said

 "Hold up! He's a CEO?!" 

"Yup! Billionaire CEO of Stuart Tech , Rich, handsome, the cousin of our boss, Mr Smith and possibly the next in line for the chairmanship of Stuart group of companies. How exciting is that?"

"How do you know so much about him?"

"Well, My lady, I do get around." He said with a fake Southern American accent, taking off an imaginary fedora and bowing to her.

Shira rolled her eyes. He was done cleaning and went to get his jacket.

A CEO?! Who would have thought? But what did a CEO want from her to go to the extent of defending her?

***

"I should put you in charge of that club since you spend more time there that that lazy cousin of yours." Grandpa Stuart said.

The old man with white blond hair had come to say hello to his grandson. He was seated across from Cole who had a stack of files in front of him. The office was spacious and bereft of colour. Everything was either black or white aside from an abstract painting on the wall behind Cole.

"Grandpa, I only go there as a paying customer, nothing more" Cole said coolly without looking up from the bunch of documents he was signing. 

"Come on son, I've come all the way from Stuart Records to say hi and you won't even give me some attention?"

"We can catch up at home, Grandpa, the workplace is for work and work only," He looked up briefly and pointed the fancy pen at his old man. "You taught me that, sir"

"Come on loosen up. All work and no play makes Cole a dull boy and besides, when was the last time you paid me a visit at home?" The old man said, relaxing on the leather seat.

"Firstly, Cole enjoys being a dull boy and I was at your house for Thanksgiving dinner"

"That was two months ago"

"So...?"

"You don't visit me anymore Coley, you used to beg your parents as a child to come to my house every weekend."

"Awwn Grandpa," He said with sarcastic affection. "You should have told me you missed me that bad. Fine, I'll come say hi during the weekend. Now can I go back to work?"

Grandpa Stuart rolled his eyes.

"I actually wanted to discuss something important with you."

Cole reluctantly left his work as his Grandfather and switched to his stern, business voice.

"Yes, Sir?"

"Don't you think it's high time you got married? You're not getting any younger and you know the company policy. The chairman position must be taken up by someone who is married."

Cole groaned, "This again? I don't care about the stupid chairmanship position and I will never get married."

Clicking his tongue disapprovingly, "Be careful what you wish for son. You and I know that you do want to be chairman. And so do your cousins who are happily married. What happened with those blind dates you went on?"

"I was busy," Cole said, rubbing his temple as though he had a headache.

"So you stood them up." Cole gives him a blunt stare. Son, Son, Son you shouldn't do that to pretty women." He said standing. "And getting a bride shouldn't be hard for you, you're a good-looking man, just choose somebody from a good background." 

"Right," Cole said sarcastically. The two men shook hands, "Thanks for stopping by Grandpa." He said with an eye roll.

"Anytime." He said enthusiastically. "Now tell me son what is this I hear about you fighting a hundred grown men for a beautiful girl at the club."

Cole groaned. "But who knows son, she might be the one"

"Goodbye Grandpa" 

He said and the old man left with a chuckle.

Just what he to be reminded of. He had been trying as much as possible not to think of that incident. He still couldn't explain the force that pushed him to stand up to the guy. On a normal day he would have just watched to see how the issue would be resolved.

And now everyone was talking about it apparently. The speed at which gossip spread in the group of companies was so alarming.

Cole tried to continue working but couldn't help but reflect on what Grandpa Stuart had said to him. The old man meant well for him, he knew that. He was even sure that the old man wanted him to be his successor but he could not fathom having someone who wasn't her... 

His first and only love.

But he had no choice at this point. He would just do as Grandpa said. Just choose anyone. He didn't even have to love the person.

He picked up his telephone.

"John, set up another blind date."