The knocking grew louder as she listened to Chris on the phone. “Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you, I promise.”
She hung up at the first moment. Closing her eyes, she tried to compose herself.
“Are you there, Rachel?” Richard asked, calling through the door.
Unlocking the door, she saw her date was stood, dressed in a suit and holding a single red rose dressed in a suit.
“Richard,” she said, forcing a smile to her face.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. You look very handsome.”
“You’re just saying that to be nice.” He handed her the rose.
“Erm, thank you. Let me put this in a pot.”
She left the door open, wishing Richard stayed outside. Filling a little pot, she placed the rose inside the water and headed back. She didn’t want to be on this date. The thought of being with Richard for the rest of the evening didn’t leave her thrilled.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked. She saw he was stood outside still.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded and headed out with him. She wasn’t surprised when he took her to a Chinese restaurant as she’d not been very forthcoming with her ideal place. Telling a prospective date that she liked eating with Chris didn’t sound great to her.
She glanced down at her cell phone as they were seated. When she reached for the menu with the prices on, Richard took it instead. All too soon she was being ordered something she didn’t actually like and was having to listen to him talk about work.
Nodding, mumbling and pushing her food around her plate, Rachel was bored. She couldn’t stop looking at the clock, wondering when she’d be able to call it a night.
Richard leaned back after he finished his meal. “I’ve got something to tell you,” he said.
Looking up, she waited for him to speak.
He reached into his jacket pocket and produced an envelope. She took it from him. Opening the envelope she saw it was a lot of money. “What is all this?”
“It’s a bet.”
“A bet?” She closed the envelope, looking at him.
“Yes.”
“Okay, Richard, you’re going to have to bring me up to speed because at the moment, I’m not really sure what you’re trying to say to me.”
“You were part of a bet.”
She stared at him, wondering if this was some kind of joke. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“No one could get in your pants. You’re not dating anyone, and so a bet was set up. The first man to get you on a date and fuck you, got the money,” Richard said.
Rachel felt sick.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I got the winnings, but there’s another pot for getting you into bed.”
Glancing around her, she felt the tears fill her eyes. She hated the feeling of being alone. “You only asked me on a date for money?”
“It was nothing personal.”
Standing up, she left him alone.
“Rachel? Rachel? Stop, please,” Richard asked.
She kept walking, hating the fact they were drawing attention.
“Please, stop walking away from me.”
Stopping where she was, she faced him. “What? Do you need money? With your winnings you can pay for my dinner.” She stared at his face and knew she’d brought this date on herself. Hating Chris for his knowledge of the situation, she raised her palm and slapped Richard.
“Don’t ever speak to me again.”
Without waiting for a response she ran out of the restaurant, wanting to put as much distance as she could between them both.
She didn’t answer her cell phone as it rang.
Getting a taxi, she gave the man Chris’s address and sat back down, waiting to get to his place. The guard on the door smiled at her and then frowned when he saw her tears.
Rachel gave him a wave and headed toward the stairs.
****
Chris listened to the guard’s explanation as his door was being banged on. Her key was still on the kitchen counter where he’d left it. Going to the door, he saw her waiting for him, crying.
“Did you know?” she asked.
“Did I know what?” He was stalling for time.
“About the bet, did you know? You know everything else, so why not know about this?” She raised her arms in the air.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her into his apartment.
“Yes, I knew about the bet, and yes, I told Richard to tell you the truth,” he said.
“Why? It was an innocent date. Why did you have to spoil it?” Her voice grew louder with every word she said.
“Did you want to have a date with a guy who couldn’t be bothered to care about you?” he asked, getting annoyed.
“You don’t get it. This was the first date I’ve had in over a year. I just wanted to have some fun.”