Chapter 32: The Date
Alex didn't wait for the clock to strike six before he stepped out of his office and headed to the restaurant his sister had booked for his date with Vanessa.
He needed to be in control, so he arrived early to survey the place. Alex wasn't the least bit surprised when he arrived at 5:47 p.m. to see Vanessa seated gracefully across their table.
Vanessa saw him approaching, and a smile graced her face. She was glad Claire had given her the opportunity to choose a restaurant.
The restaurant was a carefully chosen stage, elegant but not ostentatious, the kind of place Vanessa believed would not only impress Alex but would be suitable for the plan she had in mind.
She had been planning and anticipating this evening for weeks, rehearsing every detail, every anecdote, every carefully calculated pause so she could show him that she wasn't someone he could just look down on.
"Hello, Vanessa," Alex greeted when he got to the table, and she smiled at him.
"You look handsome as ever," she said and Alex gave her a nod.
Seeing this, Vanessa wanted nothing but to snap at him and ask why he didn't compliment her back, but she knew she couldn't do that.
It would spoil her plan, and she didn't want that. Instead, she cleared her throat. "You arrived early," she said, and Alex shrugged.