Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Swipe right?

“You do know that you are bound to get weirdos, right?” Jane asked.

“Oh, why are you being so negative? Like Beyonce said, ‘Success is most often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable.’ So you could end up meeting a super-rich man or a prince who is looking for an equally successful woman!” Kim interjected.

Ivy laughed softly. Her sister liked quotes and did a great job of misquoting people.

“No, kiddo. Coco Chanel said that!” Ivy pointed out.

“Nope! Coco Channel is a bag. Bags don’t talk! It was Beyonce who said that I am sure!” Kim argued.

Ivy shook her head and decided not to argue. Her profile was set up and the three of them were in her bedroom deciding on what she should wear for her first date.

Her bedroom was huge and grand in splendor and décor.

They all ended up settling for a short black cocktail dress.

Her date was a man who said he worked as an engineer. From his pictures he looked well-built and clean. The magic word being ‘clean!’

“Hair up or down?” Ivy asked as she stood in front of the mirror making faces at her reflection.

“Down...!” “Up...!” Jane and Kim shouted simultaneously.

Ivy peered at both women through their reflections in the mirror, seating on her bed watching her.

“Half up and half down, it is!” Ivy said not wanting to start another debate. She had only thirty minutes left before her driver was to go drop her off at Ricardos where she was to meet her date for dinner.

She didn’t want any of her dates coming to pick her up from her house and knowing where she stayed. Ivy had watched too many documentaries about stalkers and mistakes that could lead to getting one.

After putting some finishing touches to her hair and make-up, Ivy ran her palms over her dress, ironing out imaginary wrinkles.

“Okay, wish me luck!” she said, before getting hugs from her sister and best friend.

****

Ivy dropped off a little distance from the restaurant. She wanted to walk the rest of the way and take advantage of the night air to calm her nerves before her dinner date. It had been a while since Ivy had been in the dating game.

Ivy found herself hoping that dating was just like a riding a bike and hence she still had necessary know-hows on what to do and not to do during her dinner date. She wasn’t sure about her latter wishful thinking and just silently prayed the date would go on without a hitch.

Steam rose out of manhole covers that dotted the road. Ivy came out at an intersection where the air was filled with the melody of car horns, voices and footsteps. Ricardos was already in her sight.

Ivy walked into the restaurant. It was dimly lit and the atmosphere screamed sophisticated and luxurious.

She was well aware of the fact that it was quite difficult to get a reservation at Ricardos on short notice and wondered how her date had managed to get it. This was a positive point in his direction.

Ricardos was famous for their very addicting garlic knots. It was impossible to just eat one, everyone who had tried them had warned her. She could not wait to sink her teeth into one or two.

“Table for two? What name are you booked under?” the hostess asked Ivy.

“I am Mr. Lopez’s plus one,” Ivy replied as she handed the hostess her coat. “I can’t wait to taste Ricardos famous garlic knots. They are the buzz around town!”

The hostess gave her a charming smile and led her to a table where a tall, muscular man was already seating, munching on some bread sticks. As she approached he stood up to greet her. He didn’t bother coming around to pull out a chair for her and Ivy silently deducted a point for that.

“Ivy, I am Simon,” he said as he extended his hand towards her for a handshake.

This almost felt like one of her business meetings but Ivy quickly pushed back that analysis and decided to just let go off her high expectations. He was probably just as nervous as she was.

“Nice to meet you, Simon,” Ivy answered and proceeded to pull out her chair to sit.

“When I saw the picture on your profile, I must say I thought you would be too good for me. I am glad to see that you have flaws!” Simon stated, letting out a huge belly chuckle.

Ivy shook her head feeling like some wires in her head had just had an unintentional shot. Had this guy just insulted her in such a subtle way?

“Ummm…thank you?” Ivy answered unsure what her response to that was supposed to be.

“Your eyes are set too close together. Your skin looks like you need a little bit of sun, you look as white as Casper. Johannesburg is such a sunny city, how are you so pale? Your smile is also a bit too wide for your face. There is something just not right about the proportions!” the guy went on.

Ivy leaned back in her chair and wondered if she was hearing the guy correctly. Did he think her face was one of his engineering projects! Telling her about proportions.

She looked around the beautiful restaurant with its romantic ambiance and grimaced. Ivy knew she would unfortunately not be staying to taste those garlic knots. If she stayed here any longer she would end up on the cover of the morning newspaper.

“Billionaire Ivy Benson pours candle wax in the face of her dinner date!” She could already see the title. Andrew Logan would surely have a blast as she would have undoubtedly handed him ammunition against her on a silver platter.

“Shall we order?” Simon said as he signaled for a waitress.

Ivy ignored his question. When the waitress arrived, Simon ordered their house special, steak garnished with truffle sauce and Spanish Figs. Ivy looked at her menu and realized the dish he had just ordered, was the cost of someone’s monthly salary.

Simon must have some money, coming to this restaurant and ordering such a dish.

“What will you be having, Ivy? Maybe I can order on your behalf? Oh, I will also be having a pizza slice, add extra edible gold leaves, I need a bright picture for my Instagram. Also get us a bottle of the best wine you have! Make sure it is no younger than you sweetheart,” Simon said and winked at the waitress who took down his order and nodded her head.

“Excellent choice, sir. And what will you be having ma’am?” The waitress turned to Ivy.

“Oh, by the way Ivy, may you please pay for the meal. I will pay next time. For now, I haven’t received my pay check!” Simon added before Ivy could speak.

Ivy couldn’t believe the nerve of this guy. The food he had already ordered was probably more than his pay check. Had he brought her here just to insult and exploit her?

“I will be having my coat please!” Ivy told the waitress as she got up and walked towards the exit without a second glance behind her.

comment 3 comment

Vote

SEND GIFT

Load failed, please RETRY