Their Double Blessing

Patricia mulled it over. The luncheon was supposed to be for staff but maybe George might have some of his people there too. That way Mary would be too distracted to play matchmaker. When her sister was focused on fishing in a sugar daddy, nothing else mattered. “So if I say yes you won’t be trying to pair me up with anyone? Or dragging me across the room?”

“Trust me, I’ll be too busy finding my own new arm candy. Which I know makes you giddy so stop trying to play stoic. We might be different as night and day but we’re still sisters. So what do you say, party pooper? All this cash for one event with yours truly.” Mary waved the envelope as her eyes shone with glee.

“Deal, now hand it over.” Patricia was willing to forgo her pride for a chance to actually pay their bills on time. With Mary around everything cost more than ever. It was way past due for her sister to start paying her fair share. She just had to let go the fact that this jerk really had the nerve to hoard away so much money while eating her out of house and home.

***********

George had hoped that Patricia would have shown up by now. This was the fourth luncheon and she was a no show for the others. Perhaps he’d been too pushy with this and scared her off. He was acting like a lovesick teenager at forty. He was too surprised and ashamed to confide in anyone about his feelings. They would either pity or laugh at him; a rich man pining for a woman from the middle or working class. It was right out of a Hallmark movie which he hated most of all. They only reminded him of what he was missing in life.

There was still all the good he was doing. Reminding himself that this wasn’t about his needs soothed a wounded ego. All the guests were grateful to be there. He kept it exclusively for staff with only a few reporters mixed in. Photos were taken outside in a fervor but inside there were strict guidelines to not bother guests. A few questions were allowed throughout the event, otherwise it was a time to relax and enjoy a great meal. He was naive enough not to notice just how much of an opportunity this was for the mall staff to unwind. Most could never afford to come to an exclusive restaurant like this in their lifetime.

His publicist was excited upon hearing the news of the luncheon. Happy that a guard spoke out about inviting everyone. She saw it as a chance to show George could evolve and learn to be more like the everyday man. He let her spin that but thought it was ridiculous. A billionaire could never be an ordinary guy. Not with all the advantages money granted him. That would be like the Queen of England pretending she lived the life of one of her maids.

He went through all the usual pleasantries. Waiting for the appetizers to be brought in. Minutes before that would be when the restaurant would be closed to anymore entrants. That kept the atmosphere from being ruined by late comers. The invites given out made it clear what time those who wanted to come had to arrive by. This was still a high class place, not a fast food joint. Reservations mattered, along with respecting where they were dining.

This had to be a message from the universe for him to stop delaying the inevitable. Marrying for love was not in the cards for him. If he kept waiting then by the time he started having children his wife would look fresh and young while George got hailed as the new Hugh Hefner. He always cringed seeing barely legal women hanging off men who looked older than the crypt keeper. Sure it was ageist but that didn’t make seeing that any less troubling. There was always doubt as to the true motives of both partners. The last thing he needed.

“Hello everyone!” a new voice called out as a pair of new arrivals entered. Both were black females, one ducking down as if embarrassed to be there. The one shouting was all smiles and ready to have fun in a sparkling red dress with a high slit that left little to the imagination. He always liked those who were the life of the party. They never lost a chance to bring a sense of joy and fervor wherever their presence was known. A great way to turn a bad day into a great one. Perhaps things might be looking up.

Then the other female looked up and his heart nearly burst. Wearing a grey pant suit she looked plain but beautiful all the same. It was Patricia, finally showing up. He’d kept an eye on the list of attendees but after she still hadn’t signed up after the third event hope started to fade. This change had to be last minute since most of the other events were already full to capacity. This time slot and one other had space for more guests. Fate might actually be throwing him a bone in the romance department for once. The only question was, how would he introduce himself without looking like a creepy stalker.

When everyone was seated there was a short speech welcoming them to the luncheon. Thanking the guests for finding time to come and their great service at the mall. It went by quickly and most of the faces looked only slightly bored. They were good sports though, smiling when needed and clapping once it was over.

The appetizers came and most dived right in. He could immediately tell who had decent table manners from those who didn’t. He tried his best to ignore those who kept their elbows on the table or had no idea how to use their utensils and cloth napkins. This was a time to unwind but his upbringing was getting in the way. The last thing he needed was to look like the out-of-touch white guy who whined about his guests not having upper class manners.

He spied Patricia over at the other side. Carefully eating her meal and trying to look nothing like a caveman like barbarians around her. He appreciated that she made an effort. The woman beside her ate effortlessly. There was no question she was clued into the way of fine dining. Requesting the right things from the waiter and sticking to small portion sizes. He felt silly thinking about such things around people who had so little. You could eat daintily in public when you had a personal chef at home.

The woman in the red dress waved and he gave a smile. But it fell when he saw that look in her eye. One of a predator. This woman was nothing like Patricia, there to have a nice time. She was definitely looking for a new sugar daddy to leech off of. If there was anything that bothered him more than his dead love life it was being sought after by gold diggers.

***************

“Do you think George is gay?” Mary asked and Patricia nearly spat out the main course. “He smiled at me for a second then his face fell. It was like a bucket of cold water was thrown in his face. Maybe I had something in my teeth.” She pulled out a compact mirror and started checking her pearly whites, completely focused on finding a new man to be by her side.