Chapter 4 First Date with My Love

At twenty-one years, Lia had still never met the man of her dreams. She had been asked out on dates and had gotten a couple of men to accompany her to parties, but she did not feel much for them.

She had started to question if she had a problem. Her mother had asked her about her love life severally and her dad had hinted arranging a marriage between her and some of the sons of his friends or business partners.

"I'm not desperate." she had confided in her two friends once. "If love exists I'll surely find it." Lia continued hopeful.

Lia knew she had found it when she met Franco at that shopping mall. She had fallen heads over heels for him and he was all she thought about these days.

However, it had been two weeks past now and she had not heard from Franco. He only had her name and had not even asked for her number or address. Sometimes she wondered why she was so sure that he would come looking for her. Probably she had read too many romantic novels in the past.

"So has Franco showed up yet?" Serena asked one sunny afternoon while the three friends walked from one end to the other of the beach.

"No." Lia replied sadly. "I'm getting sick thinking about him." Lia carried on.

"He probably has a girlfriend." Sofia said tactfully trying not to discourage her friend but at the same time wanting to prepare her for the worst just in case Franco never showed up.

"If he does, she's lucky." Serena said "He's so tall and handsome.

"Yes he is." Lia admitted. He hadn't asked her out after all.

Two weeks after their beach outing, to her utmost surprise she received a bouquet of flowers at her doorstep. The small card attached to the bouquet read 'Thank you for your help the other day. My mother loved the dress. Can I take you out for dinner?' Signed Franco (4627664562)"

Lia could not believe what was happening. She ran to her bedroom to call Sofia and Serena to tell them what just happened.

She put a call to Sofia first. It was sometimes difficult getting through to Serena on phone because she was always on her phone.

"Wow! Lia I'm so happy to hear that. I'm so happy for you also. So, when is this date?" Sofia said genuinely excited for her friend. She had watched her friend these past few weeks, suffer in silence.

"I don't know Sofia. I'm yet to even call him to thank him for the flowers."

"What! Do that immediately before he changes his mind" Sofia jested. "Call me back and give me the details."

"Yes ma'am!" Lia said following in her friend's lead.

She dialed the number Franco had provided on the card. It rang and he had instantly picked up at the second ring.

Had he been expecting her call as she had been expecting him to reach out all these while? Lia wondered.

She heard his baritone voice at the other end and she felt she was going to pass out. This was too good to be true.

"Hello." He had repeated

"Hi! It's me Lia. I got your message and the flowers. Thanks. They were lovely" Lia said when she finally found her voice.

"I'm glad you liked them."

There was a lingering silence.

"I would like to take you out for dinner sometime. Hope you are available?" Franco asked

"Yes.. Yes!" Lia was beginning to find it difficult calming her nerves. She hated to sound desperate but this was the day she had looked forward to for a very long time.

"Noon then. I'll be at your place to pick you up if that is okay by you?" Franco asked.

Noon! So soon? Lia thought. She needed time to calm down. She needed time to also get ready and buy a new dress but he wasn't giving her that. She'll just have to look through her closet for her best gown.

All those shopping she did with Sofia and Serena had not been in vain.

"No, I'll prefer to meet you at... Clara paused. He hadn't mentioned where they would be having dinner.

"Ristorante di Marco." He quickly said.

"Okay. See you then. Bye" She replied

"Bye." Franco said hesitating before cutting off their call.

Lia tried reaching out to Serena and was not surprised that she was unable to reach her. Very typical of Serena she thought to herself.

Still sitting on her bed she put her phone down on her lap and picked it up again and started dialing a number. "I have a date to prepare for" She muttered to herself.

"Hello. Vero salon." A voice said from the other end of the phone.

"Hello. Please I would like a booking with your best Beautician." Lia said.

"I'm sorry we are fully booked for today." The lady at the other end said.

"I'm willing to pay double your charges." Lia pressed on.

The lady at the other end hesitated for what seemed like a second and then said. "It's already ten in the morning what time should we be expecting you?"

"I'm on my way." Lia said picking up her bag and rising from the bed at the same time.

She smiled. This was not the first time she would be pulling that kind of stunt on service providers. They needed money. Everybody needed money. Her family had that money and she had learnt to make things work for her only when it was necessary. Like now.

As she stepped out of the door of the massive building, one of Papa's boys walked towards her.

He would be her escort today to the beautician's place. His name was Baggio. He was new but looked really good in his black suit and dark sunglasses. She could see his shoulder holster where he keeps his gun. He still had much to learn. Lia thought to herself. She had heard the rules been read out a couple of times to some of the security personnel in the past and that was one of them. No one is to know you carry a gun at first sight.

Probably, he would also be following her later also for the dinner date with Franco. The thought of that suddenly irritated her. Times like this was when she really needed to be alone. Away from the prying eyes of everyone.

She needed to do something about it soon. She thought to herself.