⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Heather muttered to herself as she studied her appearance in the mirror. Currently wearing a blue, long-sleeved one-piece business dress that ended just below her knees, milky white legs slipped on her chosen thick, black leggings as her mind came back to that unnerving Tuesday morning. 

Having agreed to this farce of a date out of pity for her friend, Heather had astronomically low expectations about the outcome of her brief excursion. Maybe a dry conversation here, a sickeningly sweet compliment there, the redhead could already imagine what she could expect from the uncanny COO that was Dio Panagopolous. 

"Just this once Heather.." The impeccably dressed woman muttered to herself as she took in a deep breath, her gut instincts still screaming at her not to go. "It's not what you think it is.."

As much as she tried to deny it, her only memory of the man still consisted of her knowing for a fact that Dio had the eyes of someone that cared little about the people around him. Those deep, azure eyes never betrayed a single speck of human emotion as far as she was concerned, the sight of those calculating blue orbs taking her back to a rather tumultuous time during her college years, one when she was-

*BZZZT BZZZZT* 

The buzzing of her phone took the redhead out of her musings as she rushed to answer the vibrating phone on her bed. There were only a handful of people that knew her number, one of which was the one assuredly calling her during what was supposed to be her homeroom class.

"Littman speaking-"

"Yo, Helly," And sure enough, Alexa's filtered through her phone's speakers. Heather scowled as she recalled the way that man looked at her friend with the same lustful gaze that he showed her just seconds before. Clearly the brunette haven't noticed it happening. "you doing okay?" Or maybe she just didn't care.

"I still think this is a bad idea, Alexa." Her instincts have helped her tremendously over the years, and they were still saying that this Dio was someone inherently dangerous. Not to mention she's supposed to be in her class instead of this stupid date. "Anyway, how're the kids doing? Is anyone-"

"Don't worry your pretty little head, Ms. Littman~" Alexa's teased, her tone barely audible over what appeared to be the sounds of students playing in the background. "Your students are all present and accounted for~"

"Have they said anything about my absence?" The worried teacher asked as she went over her crimson locks. God forbid that Lina get a whiff of her unwanted plans for the evening. "Has any one of them-"

"Chill, Heather.." The brunette chuckled over the line as the redhead then checked the contents of her black handbag. "I got this. Stop worrying about your class and get ready for your date."

"How can I chill, Alexa?" This was the first date that she'd ever go to in ages, not to mention the sinking feeling still lurking deep inside her chest telling her to abort mission. "I'm not cut out for this like you are."

"Just be yourself, Helly~" Easier said than done, especially if her body reacted violently just from his sheer presence. "I'd think that Dio wouldn't ask you out if he didn't see something in you."

"That's the problem, Alexa, I can't see it."

"You're joking, right?" Huh? When did she ever joke about something as serious as this? "You're as hot as I am and you deny that one of the most powerful men in the city never saw something in you?"

"You just said it. Why not you instead of me?" 

It was this baffling thought that the redhead never really understood. While Heather knew that she was technically the first woman that really impressed on the uncanny man that day, she also observed the way the COO lustfully looked at her clingy colleague the moment she showed up during their encounter. Why subject her to the torture of humiliating herself in pretending to enjoy dates when she clearly didn't want to participate, when Alexa was most likely more than willing to reciprocate his advancements?

"Look at yourself in the mirror and tell me you're not beautiful, I dare you." Heather flinched as the brunette took an a more serious tone. /"Let me guess, you can't."/

"Same applies to you, Ms. Dabachach." The redhead retorted as stood outside her balcony, the cold monsoon air helping her relax. "Your point being?"

"Have some confidence in yourself, for once." The P.E teacher asserted as the cacophony of unruly kids continued in the background. "This is a chance that'll only happen to our lives once."

Heather felt a sigh coming as the speech reached her waiting ears. Alexa had good intentions, too bad that they mostly revolved around her own unwanted romantic life. 

"I am confident, Alexa." She asserted, glancing back at the wall clock hanging in her room. "That's why I'm not really comfortable with going on a date."

The well-dressed woman raised an eyebrow as her conversation partner suddenly cut herself off, muffled excuses and children's laughter filtering through the call in her silence. What the hell was she doing? 

A brief conversation came clear, Alexa's voice defensive implying that she was making excuses to someone out of the phone's range. The redhead chuckled to herself when she finally realized what was going on.

The short-haired teacher got caught using her phone in the middle of the class. She's probably fending off the old man. Wasn't that ironic.

"Good luck out there."

Whispering a grateful goodbye, The redhead hung up on the clearly busy woman on the other side of the line. It wasn't like Alexa didn't ask for this, but just for her sacrifice, she'll humor her friend's request just this once.

Checking the time as she closed her balcony, the date bound teacher ran over her attire and appearance one more time. Wordlessly, heterochromatic eyes gazed back to her full-length mirror, scrutinizing every inch of herself looking for any minor mishaps waiting to happen.

"Hmm.. Everything seems to be in order.." 

Tugging on the long sleeves of her navy blue business dress, Heather took her small handbag filled with her wallet, an umbrella, and her more womanly paraphernalia and slung it in on her left shoulder. Once more patting herself down making sure that she hadn't forgotten anything, the woman made her way to the apartment door, ready to make an appearance with one of the most mysterious men that she had ever met so far. 

"No turning back.." The redhead took one last glance at her apartment room, worried eyes lingering on a switchblade sitting just beside above her shoe cabinet. "Maybe..." 

Dashing back and stuffing the wooden handled switchblade down her handbag, Heather finally got out of her apartment. Her right hand gingerly held the weapon currently inside her bag. It wouldn't hurt to at least bring something to defend herself with, not with her experience regarding the city's less-traveled streets.

"Topside Bar huh.." 

As expected from someone that's basically the CEO of one of Midas's primary shipping companies in all but name. The Topside Bar sported the best view of the city skyline, all while providing some of the most luxurious drinks in the whole city. 

Or so she've heard. 

Her steps continued on their merry pace as she stopped in front of a major road, the sun setting from her right providing a golden hue to the busy roads of Nancaan. Pulling back her left sleeve to look at the time, Heather hailed the first empty taxi that went her way and began her arduous journey towards Downtown. While it was barely past 5:30, god forbid that she'd make the trip in just a miraculous 30 minutes.

Rush hour in Nancaan started from 5 PM onwards, the district's numerous factories letting out their employees all at the exact same time. This combined with the annoying lack of a good public transportation system made commuting a pain, making what's supposed to be a 30-minute journey into an hour and a half long slog through backed up traffic. 

Having stopped at another intersection, Heather thanked the gods that she was inside an air-conditioned taxi instead of a non air-conditioned bus. While a bit pricey, it was well worth the price especially if one didn't want to smell like smoke and pollution after a single commute. 

Taking another glance at her wrist, the redhead elected to simply pass the time watching the numerous factories of Nancaan pass by, other cars and buses running alongside them as she waited for her ride to reach her desired destination. Meanwhile, her mind came back to her impending date.

The bespectacled teacher consciously felt her body shudder at the mere thought of the 'd' word, Heather never really wanting close physical contact with any man.. Or woman.. Or anybody for that matter. But as Alexa has said before, this was a once in a lifetime chance. As much as she hated herself for going on this date, she might as well enjoy it. 

Maybe it'll all work out, just like what her gung ho friend kept on trying to say. Maybe she can overcome her mental barriers with this mysterious man..

No matter how much her gut feeling screamed at her to stay away from him.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

Summer is in full effect and I can't write without sweating bullets. 

Penny for your thoughts?