4 - An Awkward Meeting

Sapphire stepped out of the car, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. The driver, Bill, who had been sent by Fabio to pick her up, drove away after informing her that Fabio was waiting inside.

Taking a moment to compose herself, Sapphire surveyed her surroundings. The place reeked of luxury and extravagance, but she had grown accustomed to such environments. However, after her experiences in college and meeting people from different backgrounds, she had developed a preference for simpler things.

A waiter approached her with a welcoming smile. "Welcome, Madam," he greeted. "Your date has requested that we escort you to the VIP lounge. Please follow me."

Sapphire resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the mention of a VIP lounge. She politely followed the waiter, taking in the opulent decor and romantic lighting that only managed to make her feel nauseous and irritated.

As she was led through the nearly empty establishment, Sapphire couldn't help but notice the lack of customers. It felt as if the entire place was devoid of life, except for the few waiters she encountered.

"We have arrived, Madam," the waiter announced, gesturing towards a door. Sapphire realized that she had reached the VIP lounge and that behind that door awaited her soon-to-be husband.

"I will take my leave now, Madam. If you or Mr. Rodriguez need anything, please do not hesitate to ask my colleagues. Enjoy your evening," the waiter said with a bow before excusing herself. Sapphire stood in front of the door, contemplating whether to enter or bail out and head home.

She took a deep breath, making up her mind to proceed with the date. Knocking gently on the door, she heard Fabio's familiar voice invite her in. Sapphire turned the doorknob and entered the room with as much confidence as she could muster.

Sapphire's eyes met Fabio's as she walked in and, for a moment, she froze. He rose from his seat upon her entrance, and she couldn't deny his breathtaking appearance. Despite her reservations about him, she found him attractive.

"Good evening, Sapphire," Fabio greeted her, his use of her name sending a shiver down her spine.

"Good evening, Fabio," Sapphire replied with a small smile. He assisted her in pulling out her seat before taking his own.

"Thank you," she muttered, settling into her seat.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Sapphire. I appreciate it, and once again, I apologize for what happened yesterday," he said.

Sapphire dismissed his apology, realizing that was the last thing she wanted from him.

"Not knowing your preferences, I refrained from ordering for you. Feel free to choose whatever you'd like. I have already placed my order," Fabio informed her, gesturing towards the menu. Nervously, Sapphire picked it up, scanning for something light and easy to eat.

The awkwardness between them made it difficult to imagine consuming a heavy meal.

As she deliberated over her choices, Sapphire couldn't help but feel suffocated by the awkward dynamic between them. It felt as if she were dining with her boss rather than her prospective husband.

"Have you decided?" Fabio’s somewhat impatient tone broke the silence. She couldn't decipher whether he was truly hungry or simply running out of patience. Given his demeanor, impatience seemed fitting.

"Yes, I have," Sapphire replied, and Fabio promptly signaled for the waiter to take her order. Once the waiter left, they found themselves alone again.

The silence stretched on, making Sapphire increasingly uncomfortable. She busied herself by looking anywhere but at Fabio, though she could feel his gaze upon her.

Why did she ever think going on a date with him would help her get to know him? She regretted not staying home and refusing to participate in this charade.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Fabio suddenly asked, forcing Sapphire to meet his gaze. She couldn't bring herself to deny her discomfort, so she nodded in response.

"I would apologize, but I don't think starting our agreement with nothing but apologies is the right approach. Listen, Sapphire, this situation is just as awkward for me. Although I checked into your background, it doesn't ease the discomfort. Instead of letting this evening go horribly wrong, how about we reintroduce ourselves properly and take small steps towards forming a cordial relationship?" Fabio suggested, his words a departure from his usual robotic tone.

Sapphire appreciated his suggestion, though she couldn't help but feel uneasy about his admission of checking into her background. However, she decided to play along, not wanting to seem foolish for not knowing the details of their arrangement.

"What do you suggest?" Sapphire inquired.

"I'll start," Fabio replied.

Sapphire listened as Fabio introduced himself, sharing basic information about his age, 31, height, 6'2, and even down to his natural hair color. She almost laughed at his random tidbits of information, though his impassive expression made it difficult to discern any humor.

"It's nice to meet you, Fabio. My name is Sapphire Katherine Matthews. I'm 26 years old, and I work as a critical care nurse. I'm 5'6 with black hair and a blood type of O. While I do enjoy spicy food, I have my limits. Also, I happen to be allergic to roses," Sapphire responded.

Fabio seemed to chuckle, though his face remained stoic.

"I appreciate your willingness to participate in this, Sapphire. I understand that the concept of this marriage may still be unclear to you, which is why I postponed the wedding by a week. I wanted to give you time to process everything and come to terms with it. Being in my presence can be uncomfortable, I know. I'm not the most approachable person. However, I hope you'll eventually adapt to the awkwardness," Fabio explained.

Sapphire seized the opportunity to ask the question that had led her to accept the dinner invitation.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness in postponing the wedding, but could you please explain why we are getting married in the first place? You don’t strike me as someone who would marry just anyone," Sapphire inquired cautiously, pretending to be unaware of the details her father had provided.

"Didn't your father inform you?" Fabio asked.

"He did, but I prefer to hear it from you," Sapphire responded, concealing her lack of knowledge about the situation.

"It's merely a business arrangement that involves collateral, Sapphire," Fabio replied, leaving Sapphire puzzled. "I'm sure whatever your father said must have been accurate. This marriage must take place, and unfortunately, you have no say in the matter. However, rest assured that it won't be a lifelong commitment, unless your family fails to meet their end of the deal," he added, further confusing Sapphire.

With the revelation that she had no choice but to marry him, Sapphire felt a wave of fear wash over her, and the mention of her family's end of the deal only added to her confusion.

"Now that we've clarified that, how about we establish some rules to maintain a peaceful coexistence in the near future?" Fabio proposed, his icy demeanor suggesting that whatever he was about to suggest wouldn't sit well with her.