Chapter 3: Blind Date

Mateo Anderson, a twenty-eight-year-old CEO of Triple A Entertainment, elegantly entered the five-star fine dining restaurant located in the heart of the city. He was wearing a cocktail slim fit dark suit paired with polished black shoes.

Despite his objection, his mom started arranging for him to go on a blind date, telling him that it's time to move on and forget his girlfriend, who died three years ago due to illness. Because since then, he never dated anyone, and he wasn't planning to date anyone either. He made himself busy, spending those three lonely years working and growing their business, making it to the top of the Entertainment Industry. However, his mom was determined, arranging blind dates for him every two weeks. So far, he could no longer count how many blind dates he had attended.

"Mateo," A melodious voice of a woman snapped him out of his trance. He tilted his head and saw a beautiful woman in a low-cut dress, showing off a whole lot of her skin. She was raising her hand graciously at him.

He narrowed his eyes to slits. 'She should no longer wear a dress.' He thought, disgusted. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

However, he knitted his brows when he noticed how other women present in the restaurant turned their heads and how their admiring gazes followed him. Nevertheless, he ignored all of them and walked straight in the direction of the woman.

As soon as he reached her, the woman stood up from her seat while the other women seemed jealous, thinking that his date was so lucky.

"I'm sorry, I'm late." He apologized and sat down.

The woman sat down as well, swaying her hand. "No, no. It's okay. I just arrived."

"What's your name again?" He asked, but his face was lacking interest.

"I'm Bethany Lopez, but you can call me Betty. You know, to sound dear and sweet. Anyway, I'm so glad to finally meet you." The woman introduced herself with a flirtatious smile.

He took a deep breath before replying, "So? How are you, Bethany?"

"I'm fine, especially now that you're here. And you?" She responded, staring at him seductively.

"Not great." Averting his gaze, he uttered coldly.

Bethany moved her face closer. "Pardon?" 

"Never mind. So, what are you busy with?" 

"Well, aside from attending left and right parties, I spend most of my time in the gym to be in better shape, especially when your mom told me that you agreed to date me. You know, I prepared a lot for this. And guess what?" She asked with sparkling eyes.

His forehead creased. "What?"

"I lost five pounds! I think I'll be more inspired these coming days." She announced excitedly. "I need to be health conscious so that I can bear a healthy baby. What do you think?"

Mateo suddenly choked, not able to withstand what Bethany had said. He couldn't believe that this woman was so confident, looking forward to their future.

'Oh, God. Where did my mom meet this woman? Is she that desperate?' He asked in his mind.

Bethany's smile faded. "Are you sick?" She asked worriedly.

"No, but what you just said made me sick." He responded bluntly. Then, he quickly stood up, excusing himself. "I think I need to go to the restroom." 

And just like his previous blind dates, he immediately made his way out. He hurriedly left the restaurant through the fire exit. Good thing, he's always the one choosing the venue. Well, it was his only condition before he agreed to his mom, that the venue should be his favorite restaurant located adjacent to Skyline Tower Residences, his younger sister's condo unit.

Right. It was always his backup plan to leave in case his date didn't turn out well. 

Little did he know that Bethany had bodyguards with her, watching his every move. Hence, she learned that he escaped in no time. She was really prepared for this blind date. Knowing that he used to escape his previous dates, she made her investigation about him.

Mateo found out that Bethany was following him when he was entering the lift going to the 18th floor, seeing them running after him.

"Mateo!" He heard that Bethany called him before the elevator closed.

"I can't believe that woman! I shouldn't have come." He muttered fretfully, regretting that he agreed to this blind date. He didn't expect that he would encounter a tenacious woman this time. Previously, he would only learn from his mom that his date cried after he left or would call his mom complaining.

After some time, he reached the 18th floor. He took out the duplicate key from his pocket and quickly walked to his sister's unit. Shortly after, he entered the room, but to his surprise, he saw in the corner of his eyes a woman that he thought was his sister.

"I'm sorry, Kitty. I need a place to hide." He mumbled after he locked the door.

Turning around, he was astounded to see an unfamiliar woman with only a towel wrapped around her delicate body. Her hair was still dripping wet from the shower. He gazed at her beautiful bare face who seemed shocked, gawking at him. Her innocent hazel eyes were so charming.

It was the first time in more than three years that he was attracted to a woman this way.

"W-Who are you?" He heard her asking while hugging her body tight. Still in shock, he didn't manage to respond until the woman shouted.

"Help! Someone broke into my room!" Breaking his trance enough, he swiftly ran in her direction when he noticed that she would shout again.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the people following him already heard the shout. They slammed the door open.

Determined to chase away Bethany, he didn't hesitate to kiss the woman that he just met. But he didn't expect that he would love her soft lips, causing him to close his eyes.

Her sweet fragrance sent his heart into a flurry of wild beats.

Holding her tighter as she fought, he relished the moment that even Bethany had left already, he didn't withdraw his lips from hers. Tasting her honey sweet lips, he didn't want the kiss to be over!

However, he didn't expect that the woman would push him away and slap him on his face.

"How dare you!" She screamed furiously, glaring at him.

He was surprised by the woman's reaction. Never in his entire life, not even once, did he encounter a woman looking at him without a trace of fascination. And this woman was staring at him fiercely. He gazed deeply at her crimson face, finding her attractive and interesting. He couldn't believe that there's still a woman who would resist his charm.

Nevertheless, he didn't entertain the idea. He wanted to ask her many questions, but he thought to ask his sister instead. Thus, he quickly left after he gave his business card to her.

However, as he was about to leave, the woman yelled. "Wait! You didn't mean to? Huh! I'll sue you for trespassing and sexual assault!"

He curled his lips into a half-smile upon hearing the woman's warning.

"Do as you please, but dress yourself first before you go to the police station." He said, not able to look at the woman anymore, feeling the inner heat growing in his body. 

Then, the woman slammed the door. He shook his head as he walked away, chuckling inwardly.

After a few minutes, he was at the parking area already, starting his car and ready to leave. However, the delicate face of the woman had glued in his mind, especially the thrilling kiss that they shared.

Letting out a deep sigh, he took his phone. He couldn't wait any longer. He wanted to know who that woman was. He switched off the car engine and called his younger sister, Catherine.

"Kitty, who's the woman staying in your condo unit?" He asked as soon as his sister answered the call.

Catherine patiently answered his questions one by one. So, he learned everything that her sister knew about the woman.

After the call, Mateo sat still inside his car. Leaning his back at his seat, it seemed that he had no intention to leave.

"Kimberly," He mumbled. Then, a peculiar smile worked its way across his face.

Shortly after, he decided to go back to the 18th floor to talk again to the woman. However, when he was about to knock, he hesitated. He was standing in front of the door, thinking deeply, when the door suddenly opened. He was shocked, not because he was caught, but because the almost naked woman earlier transformed into a gorgeous one even in her simple outfit.

"W-Why are you still here?" The woman asked.