The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, spilling golden warmth across Elias's bed. For once, he hadn't woken up with a frown. Instead, he blinked at the ceiling, his stomach fluttering with a mix of nerves and… anticipation?
Catrina barged into the room before he could even stretch.
"Rise and shine, loverboy," she said with a teasing grin. "Today's the big day."
Elias groaned. "Why do you sound more excited than I am?"
"Because I'm not the one going on a date with the elusive Damien blackthorne. Now get up, shower, and don't even think about choosing your own outfit. I've already laid it out."
Elias sat up, rubbing his face. "You're treating this like a royal wedding."
"Because for our father, it might as well be. Don't mess this up. And please, smile. You're supposed to be charming today."
An hour later, Elias stood in front of the mirror in a perfectly-fitted, casual-chic outfit that made him look expensive without trying. His hair was styled just the right amount of messy, and a faint hint of cologne lingered in the air.
Catrina walked in with two mugs of coffee, handing one to him. "You look… shockingly decent."
Elias sipped his coffee, trying to settle his nerves. "So… what do I even talk about? What if he's boring? What if I'm boring?"
"Then fake it," Catrina said bluntly. "Smile, nod, and don't mention your ex. This isn't therapy, it's a date."
Elias gave her a deadpan look. "Noted."
"You'll be fine," she said, nudging him toward the door. "Now go. Be charming. Try not to fall in love unless he's worth it."
Elias paused at the front door, turning to look at Catrina one last time. "I shouldn't be excited… but I am. I don't know why."
Catrina folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe, watching him with a half-smile. "It happens. Don't overthink it. Just go. But whatever you do—don't mention the three-year divorce plan today. What if he backs out and drags Dad's business down with him?"
Elias let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Yeah. Got it."
"Good," she said. "Now go be pretty and mysterious or whatever."
He smirked, grabbing his phone "Wish me luck."
"You'll need it," Catrina called after him.
Elias stepped outside and slid into the back seat of the waiting car. As the engine started and the city blurred by his window, he tried to calm the flurry of emotions bubbling in his chest. He didn't love Damien. He didn't even know him. But for some reason, his pulse quickened with every block they passed.
Today wasn't about love. It was business. A show.
But part of him still hoped—maybe, just maybe—it wouldn't be a disaster.
He stared down at the address in his hand, heart pounding. Let's get this over with.
Elias stepped out of the car, nerves tingling beneath his skin. The restaurant's sleek facade towered before him, intimidating and elegant. A waiter greeted him at the door with a polite smile.
"Do you have a reservation, sir?"
He gave a stiff nod. "Under the name Damien Blackthorne."
The waiter checked the list, then motioned for Elias to follow. "Right this way."
They weaved through the softly lit interior to a private table near the window. "Would you like anything to drink?" the waiter asked.
"Just a glass of water for now."
The waiter brought the water promptly and disappeared, leaving Elias alone with the rising tension in his chest.
He sat quietly, clasping his hands together on the table. What am I even supposed to say when he gets here? Should I just smile and follow Catrina's instructions? Talk about safe things? Compliment his shoes or something?
He glanced at the door. No sign of Damien.
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty.
By the time thirty had ticked by, Elias gave in and pulled out his phone. Notifications flooded his screen like a digital tidal wave. Curious, he tapped into his social media app.
Thousands of likes.
The pictures Catrina had taken yesterday had gone viral—at least among his old college circles. One post had been reshared dozens of times, and comments were pouring in:
> "Why haven't we seen this side of you, Elias!?"
"Did you and Alex break up? Because you're glowing, bestie."
"My future wife, I'm calling it now."
The attention was dizzying, flattering even—but one comment stopped him cold:
> "I see I meant nothing to you then."
He didn't need a name to know who it was from. His chest tightened, the flush of satisfaction draining from his face. The rush of compliments meant nothing now. He turned off his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
Just then, the waiter returned, looking slightly hesitant.
"Um… sir? You've been waiting for forty minutes. Would you like to order something?"
Elias blinked. Forty minutes?
Rage, embarrassment, and disappointment swirled in his gut like poison. "No," he said sharply as he stood. "No, I won't be ordering. I think… I think I've been stood up."
The waiter's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm really sorry to hear that."
"It's not your fault." Elias grabbed his phone and fixed his coat. "I'm sorry I wasted your time."
He left a tip on the table and walked out, head held high despite the storm behind his eyes.
Elias stepped through the front door, kicking it shut behind him harder than necessary. The echo rang through the house, followed by silence. He was still in the same outfit Catrina had picked—stylish, sharp, flawless. But inside, he felt like a cracked mirror.
Catrina appeared in the hallway, holding a steaming mug of tea. "So? How'd it go?"
Elias didn't answer.
Her smile faded as he walked past her without a word, heading straight to the living room. He dropped onto the couch, threw his phone aside, and muttered, "He didn't show up."
Catrina's eyes widened. "Wait—what?"
Elias let out a bitter laugh, resting his head on the back of the couch. "Forty minutes. I sat there like a goddamn idiot, sipping water, checking the door every five seconds. And nothing. Not even a text."
Catrina set the mug down and slowly sat beside him. "Are you sure something didn't happen? Maybe he—"
"No. If something came up, he would've said something." Elias turned his head to look at her. "He stood me up on a date he didn't even ask for. Dad did. How little must he think of me?"
Catrina reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "He's an idiot then. That's on him, not you."
"Why do I feel like it is on me?" Elias whispered, his voice tight. "Like I'm always the punchline in someone else's story."
Catrina sighed and leaned back. "You want to cry or curse him out? I'll do both with you."
"No," Elias said, sitting up straighter. "No, I'm not crying over another man. Not again."
A fire sparked behind his eyes. "You know what I'm gonna do? I'm going to make myself so untouchable he'll regret ever standing me up. I'll make the whole goddamn country regret it."
Catrina smirked. "That's the Elias I raised."
Elias reached for his phone and opened his gallery. "Let's post one of those unused pics. I want to remind the internet what he just threw away."
"Oh," Catrina said with a grin. "You mean the one where you're leaning on the balcony like you're about to steal someone's husband?"
Elias gave her a wicked smile. "Exactly that one."
Just as Elias was about to upload the photo, his phone buzzed with an incoming call.
Dad.
He hesitated before picking up. "Hello?"
"Elias," his father's voice came through, brisk and unapologetic. "Damien couldn't make it. He was sent on an urgent business trip this morning—last minute. Don't take it personally."
Before Elias could even process it, the line went dead.
He stared at the screen, dumbfounded. "That's it? That's the excuse? A business trip?"
Catrina, who had been scrolling on her phone beside him, looked over. "He couldn't even message you himself?"
Elias shook his head slowly. "No apology. No explanation. Just a 'don't take it personally.'"
The sting of rejection burned hotter than ever—but this time, it didn't bring tears. It brought fury.
"I got dressed up, showed up, sat through forty minutes of silence and stares—for this?"
Catrina leaned back. "If this is how it starts, how do you think it'll end?"
Elias opened his gallery, selected the best photo from earlier—jaw sharp, gaze intense, aura untouchable. He typed the caption:
"You missed your chance. Hope your business trip was worth it."
And hit post.
Just then, a message popped up on his screen. From an unknown number.
"You looked good tonight. Too good to be stood up."
Elias stared. Before he could reply, another message appeared.
"If I were him, I wouldn't have kept you waiting."
And just as Elias's thumb hovered over the screen…
his phone started ringing.
Damien was calling.