Their Double Blessing

Chapter 4

It was a month later before Patricia decided it was time take up George’s offer for a date. They’d met up several more times just to talk. Being around him was a breath of fresh air but deep down she knew a decision had to be made. Stringing along a guy who wanted more was never a good thing. Thankfully she started feeling evidence of a spark. One that could do with further exploring. The thought of sending him away made her queasy which was a good sign. She was still unsure if they were in it for the long haul but she wanted to try and that meant everything.

George was elated when she brought it up. This time she let him pick the place as a sign of trust. If they were going to start dating both had to believe neither was a potential basket case or kidnapper. She was taking a big step in this next level between them. If things went south it was highly likely neither could face each other in the future. Exes, even when amicable, usually went their separate ways. But she felt the risk was worth finding out if George might be her soulmate.

Romance was finally in the air and she was nervous but excited. If George was truly the man for her then there was no loss going forward. He was a kind, loving and open person. The money wasn’t what mattered to her. Finding a man who wasn’t intimidated by her independence mattered as well. So far George was just glad they were together. A feeling she could agree was shared in equal measure.

The idea of finding love in her thirties was suddenly appealing. Women were made to feel as if they needed to get married right away. That every year after hitting adulthood meant you were closer to being a lonely spinster or cat lady. It was a terrible stereotype that society allowed to run rampant. Men were allowed to play the field and be known as studs. Females who tried the same were tramps and wh*res.

Telling Mary was the scariest part. She wanted to ensure a level of certainty before involving her sister. So far their relationship had stayed quiet. The locations chosen were perfect for not attracting the attention of the paparazzi. But in irony it was her friends who were starting to notice. Regulars who recognized their friend or favorite security guard couldn’t miss the fact that she was meeting with a person who stayed hidden. They asked questions varying from if the mystery person was a boyfriend, a weird friend or even someone from witness protection. Sooner or later someone was going to try to intervene only to get tackled by his security. It made her laugh but George was actually a bit worried about that.

Mary squealed and congratulated Patricia upon getting the news. Her sister then took complete credit for the union, stating that keeping the hope alive allowed the mopey security guard a chance to find love. Presuming George had been standoffish at the luncheon because he was trying to get Patricia’s attention. She then milked her big sister on every detail, only slightly annoyed about not being informed from the onset, and grudgingly accepting the excuse that the pair wanted to be sure before sharing the news with others.

Patricia had to beg Mary not to tell anyone else. She still wanted to maintain a level of privacy. Things between her and George were going well. The last thing they needed was the relationship splashed across the front pages of magazines and websites. That would bring in the hounds, turning their lives upside down. George was used to that as a billionaire but she wasn’t. Some people might be willing to throw away their privacy for fame but not her. The quiet life was something she cherished and giving that up had to be worth it.

George wanted to make their first date a surprise; only telling her to wear a little black dress if she had one or something navy blue. Not used to being told how to dress, she decided to go with it this once. He hadn’t ordered her, it was more of a polite suggestion. All she knew was that it would be at a restaurant out of town. She’d started her time off recently and had the night free. A strange occurrence after years of employment. She decided to go with the flow and see where this new path would take her.

Patricia went about getting herself ready by going to a hair stylist for a fashion forward updo. Anyone who recognized her on the way home was shocked. She hadn’t gotten herself this dolled up in years. It made her both thrilled and self-conscious. Back at her apartment there was a package waiting. Taking it upstairs she was surprised to see three beautiful dresses. Two little black dresses and one ankle length blue number. She tried them on and only the blue dress didn’t fit. Checking she noticed the size was better suited for Mary. With a grin she left it on the sofa for Mary to find. She didn’t keep up with brands but was sure her sister would flip. There were also two pairs of shoes, one nude and the other black. Both low heeled. She was glad George was smart enough not to send her neck-breaking high heels.

Patricia was ready by the time the limo came to pick her up. She blushed when the bodyguard in the back whistled upon seeing her. Heads had turned the second she left the apartment. Hopefully was a good sign for the evening to come.

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George had paid the restaurant to release everyone after cooking the main courses. It was nothing for him to buy out an establishment for the night. The real work was getting the owners to agree to remove all staff and replace it with his own cooking staff and security. Businesses had to be careful about who they allowed to do this. No one wanted to be held liable in case things went sideways. Which was understandable. But he wanted to keep his relationship with Patricia private. She wasn’t used to the public life like he was. Plus, it was nice keeping their circle of confidantes small. Gave them the ability to get closer naturally.

He was shocked to have found another chance at love. The plan to go through with an arranged marriage seemed like a dream. There was always the chance Patricia ended up not feeling the same. She wasn’t wowed by his money or willing to put her happiness aside. But that was what he loved about her: A woman with a fire of her own, ready to take on the world. As a businessman he understood the importance of having goals and the drive to achieve them. Patricia was determined to live her best life with or without a man.

As a romantic he couldn’t completely divorce himself from the idea of love. But after such a devastating loss in his twenties the hope of finding a new love died with each failure in the relationship department. For him, Patricia was a miracle he didn’t see coming. Her willingness to get to know him proved she was a wonderful person. Opening her heart to him was proof that the universe was giving George another chance. He just had to take the leap after losing out on love before. There was no way this billionaire was going to let it pass him by.

Everything had to be perfect. Patricia wanted a night out but he wanted it to be magical. A mall security guard could only enjoy so much luxury. But he knew she was a prideful woman used to taking care of herself. Tonight he wanted to wow her the best way possible. She came from nothing compared to his life but he knew better than to let that be his jumping point. Making her happy was one thing, having her think he was showing off was another.