Chapter 1

You can find a lot of scary things in the world if you go out looking for them, or you can stay home and let them come to you.

I didn't stay home of course, I went out there and it wasn't a lovely trip. Let me start from the beginning.

***

I walked in the restaurant; I've arrived 15 minutes earlier than my date. If a guy shows up to a date after the girl, he's not really a gentleman. A waiter led me to the table that I've reserved and I started to look around at the place. Modern with a sense of vintage, the black detailing with the wood looked cozy yet classy.

My date arrived and she was beautiful by every definition. As the date continued I was not having fun at all, I was becoming more and more uncomfortable with the situation.

"What exactly do you do for a living?" I asked.

"Living? You must be joking!" She started laughing like I said something hilarious.

"Yes, a living. Is something wrong?"

"Of course there's something wrong! I don't work. Work is for poor people."

"Poor people?"

"Yes, people work to get money, and I have daddy for that."

After that the conversation just died for me, she kept talking about her father's massive wealth and how he lets her buy anything she wants.

"So, tell me more about you?" I asked and looked away from her and leaned back on my chair, not really bothered to fake care, I was just trying to get her to change the subject.

"Nothing's more to say, parties and getting wild. That's what all my life is about, what..."

She didn't complete her sentence as her phone beeped to a new notification. She called the person who messaged her and started to flirt with him in front of me! I've never been more humiliated in my life; this is literally the worst date I've ever been to! I didn't know what to do, should I just go or listen to her talking about meeting him after our so called date.

I got up and went to pay for dinner; I can't believe I lasted a full meal with her.

On my drive home I called Ben.

"What the hell, Ben? How come you know this girl and even thought of setting me up with her?" I asked with a little bit of annoyance.

"What do you mean? She's hot. What else do you want?" Ben seemed confused.

"Ummm I don't know, to like her? Have a decent conversation with her? She flirted with the waiter for god's sake!" At this point I was full on screaming, it was good that I got to my house and was parking the car, no need to drive while I am this angry. "This is the fifth date you have set me up in this month, can't we stop? I don't want this anymore. "

"Dave, listen to me. You need to get back out there; you can't just be sitting around waiting for something to come back when it won't. Where are you now?" While he was talking I heard him shuffling around papers and the sound of the stapler.

"You are still at work? It's 9! That's too much work. I am home now" I juggled the keys in the door and was now heading to my bedroom. I didn't reply to what he said before, this was a topic that I certainly didn't want to discuss right now.

"Of course I am at work, this company is not going to run itself, and don't you want to come visit me tomorrow? It's been a long time since you have came to the company, you should be working here you know, after all it's our company."

"It's yours and dads, not mine. And I don't know if I am free tomorrow or not, I will call you in the morning"

"Are you kidding me, Dave? Your life is very free, you are the ultimate free person in life, drop the act and I will be waiting for you in the morning" Ben said while laughing. Is it a crime if I faked my schedule busyness?

"Fine, you are really annoying by the the way" I said laughing back. "I am going to hang around my house, bye"

Ben said goodbye and hung up.

***

On my drive to Ben's office, I was listening to some old country music, already forgotten about the horrible night I've spent. When I was about to park the car, another driver was trying to park there as well. The driver sped up the car and hastily stole the parking from me! Not that it was mine, but it was obvious that I was about to park.

The driver got off the car and happened to be a girl, a really attractive girl. Yet she feels familiar and I can't remember where I have seen her. She gave me a grin and walked inside the building. I parked elsewhere and got inside as well.

I knocked on my brother's door before entering and then opened the door, he didn't look up.

"You must be busy bro, what's up?" I said while walking in and taking a seat opposite him.

"Yes yes very." Ben replied without much of focus as he was calculating something.

"Why am I here if you are busy? I could have met you later after you finish or something." I asked and waited for his answer but he didn't say a thing, he just gave a little smirk and continued his work.

Something's wrong.

"Am I here to get set up on a date?" I asked.

"Ding ding ding, we have a winner!"

Ben said happily and took the phone and dialed a number. "Helen, come in my office"

Before I even got to talk to him and show him how unbelievable he was, Helen walked in.

"Yes, sir."

I looked up and she was the girl that stole my parking, I started laughing right away.

"No way, Ben. Not in a million years." I said.

"What's wrong, sir?" Helen asked and seemed a little bit bewildered.

She took a glance and me then her eyes again found their way into mine. She seems so familiar it's just a little bit terrifying, I know this girl.

"Get me last meeting's pointers please, i want to go over them again and get them ready for the next meeting. Thanks Gomez" Ben said and I am sure he already knows the pointers.

Wait, Gomez? Helen Gomez? Brown hair?

Before she stepped out of the office I quickly asked.

"Helen Gomez as in Rafaela's little sister?"

She stopped her steps and turned to me.

"You know Raf? I knew you looked familiar!" She asked while looking deep in my eyes and trying to remember where she know me from. "OMG you're David, right?"

"Yes, I am" I said while getting up and giving her a hug. Her height made her face lay in my chest, just like her sister.

"Uhm, can someone tell me what's going on? You already know each other?" Ben wondered.

I turned to him. "Yes of course, her sister was my best friend in high school but we lost contact during college, Helen is younger than me so you probably don't recognize her, when I was in my sophomore year you were already off to college."

I didn't wait for Ben to comment or register what I just said. I turned to Helen and I asked her.

"How's Rafaela and where is she now? It's been so long."

"She works in the law firm down the street, she's very good, we meet often on the lunch break or after we finish our work."

"Where do you guys meet? I would love to go and surprise her there."

"The pizza place right around the corner. You know it?"

"Yeah yeah, thank you pumpkin"

"Omg, not that nickname again! I was a kid then." Helen said while laughing at the memories.

I chuckled and then we made a little bit of small talk, after that she went to continue her work and I just hung around with Ben. Having the company as your family's sure has its privileges.