"Will that be for one or two?" The concierge asked barely above a whisper. The piano played softly over the speakers, covering an Adele song. One that Sebastian didn't know the title of.

He furrowed his brows at the question as if he didn't remember why he was there. "Uhhh, two," he said with a racing heart, which he desperately tried to calm as the concierge led him to a table. They walked passed the bar of elegantly dressed women and dapper men making light conversations. He felt their eyes on him in his shabby grey oversized church suit. But no one even glanced in his direction.

The concierge sat him at a table in the middle of the room. He was surrounded by who he thought was the elite of the elite. Though he didn't recognise any of their faces. Different scents wafted across the room, deep woody cologne, soft floral perfumes and a delicious steak that he hoped he could have.

He adjusted in his seat as the waiter brought over a menu. He was a handsome young man, dressed in a tailored waiter suit that was more expensive than the most expensive thing in his closet.

"Would you like a glass of wine while you wait?"

Michael cleared his throat and glanced up and down the drinks menu. Merlot, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc and several others were listed, but the prices weren't. Sebastian tittered as he contemplated how much he had left in his account. From his limited knowledge, a merlot might be the cheapest. It was at the top of the list.

"A merlot please?"

The waiter bowed. "Excellent choice sir." Sebastian bowed as well and smiled crookedly. "Thank you." The waiter's smile noticeably disappeared as he moved on to the next table.

Sebastian drummed his fingers on the white tablecloth as he waited for the girl or wine to arrive. He'd secretly hoped the wine would. The waiter had filled his goblet with chilled water. He fiddled with the white candle pushing, the tiny round thing from side to side as the flamed danced.

Every few moments, he'd glanced at the entrance, craning to see if his date had arrived. The wine came first, thankfully/ He gulped it down like a beer, forgetting to take the moment to savour it. The tables next to him stopped and stared. He laughed awkwardly, raising the empty glass at them.

He could use another. As he waited for the second glass, he checked the time. The date was supposed to start at 7:30. It was only 7:45. The next glass arrived. This time he took a nervous sip as eyes were on him. He swirled it around in his mouth before swallowing and letting out a soft ah as the smooth liquid glided down his throat and slouched into the chair.

"Excuse me," a female voice said over his shoulder as someone touched him. Sebastian jumped shaking the entire table and toppling the glass of water.

"Shit fuck, shit!" He cursed as he grabbed the glass before it crashed on the floor. He turned to see a gorgeous dark-haired and caramel-skinned woman dressed in a long skin tight black dress with a deep split over her leg.

"Are you Sebastian?" She smiled brightly. Her cherry-red lips parted displaying perfect teeth pearly teeth.

"Uh yes, I am." He stared at her as if she was his childhood celebrity crush. Her eyes darted toward her chair across from his.

"Yes, sorry." He quickly sopped up the water and pulled out her chair. She sat gently onto the cushioned seat as he readjusted her chair. He clumsily sat in his as his eyes searched the room for the waiter.

Her eyes were set on him when he looked at her. He smiled revealing a dimple on his left cheek. "Hi, I'm Sebastian." He held his hand out for a shake.

She chuckled. "Hi, Sebastian. I'm Cindy." He took his hand and shook it briefly.

"Wow soft hands," he said as the waiter approached. Cindy's eyes splayed as she stared down at the menu.

"Would you like a merlot?" Sebastian offered. "I had two glasses, this shit is pretty good."

Cindy and the waiter's eyes met and they both pursed their lips. Sebastian cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. "A glass of merlot please for the lovely lady." He said in his most assertive tone, deciding he should order for her.

The waiter nodded.

"Actually, I prefer white wine," she interjected.

"And what would you like?"

Cindy wasted time. "A 1924 Sauvignon would be lovely." The waiter nodded and made a beeline toward the bar. Sebastian's eyes followed him all the way there. When his attention returned to Cindy, her eyes were squarely on him.

Sebastian's gaze shifted to the candle between them. He didn't know where to start, he'd never been on a blind date or a proper date in years. At twenty-eight, he'd only had two girlfriends and one of them was for two weeks in high school.

"So, Sebastian. How are you?"

He looked at her and she held his gaze with her dark brown eyes. "Um, I'm good. Really good. It's to be out. You look great by the way."

"Thank you." She leaned forward, giving a better view of her cleavage. Her shoulders were glistening under the warm incandescent lights. Sebastian licked his lips.

She looked down and sat back up.

"No no, it's not that. I wasn't. This wine thing really dries your mouth up. Or maybe I'm just nervous."

Thankfully another waiter came by with a towel and cleaned up the spilt water. He refilled both their goblets and left.

"Sorry again. I don't mean to objectify women. I love women and you look great and your dress is lovely and your skin is just wow, but I didn't mean to-"

"It's ok, Sebastian. Women dress like this to be looked at."

"Right. So you don't have a problem if I stare at your, uh, your..." he held up his hands in a claw shape to his chest.

She frowned. "Well, not if you make it obvious."

Sebastian shook his head, "Yea you're right. Sorry."

The waiter arrived with her wine and the food menu. She thanked him politely and they exchanged the same glances as earlier. Almost as if they understood each other's subtle cues. Sebastian ignored them and looked over the menu. Again the cost was nowhere to be found. He glossed over the foods whose names he couldn't pronounce and his eyes landed on the Steak at the bottom of the list.

He might as well order it, no way could it cost more than $50. He thought. With his mind made up, he decided he'd try again at making conversation. She had sat quietly trying to select something but he was sure she already knew. She picked the restaurant, she must be familiar with it.

"So what made you decide to go on a blind date?"

She glanced up only momentarily before answering. "Oh, I just thought I should try new experiences."

"Oh, you've never been here before?" Sebastian sat up in his chair ready to start a meaningful conversation.

"I meant the date," she said, not bothering to smile.

"Oh right. Well, it's new to me too. The date, and the restaurant," he stated trying to keep it flowing.

"I can tell," she mumbled, but not low enough for Sebastian not to hear. The waiter returned to take their orders. Sebastian's pocket screamed after she ordered two appetizers before the main meal of Lobster Fritatta and another glass of wine. He gave in his order of a simple well-done steak. When the waiter asked if he wanted another glass of merlot, he opted to keep sipping on the one he had.

"So how do you know Henry?" Sebastian asked, trying to ignore the hole that was burning in his pocket without even seeing the bill.

"I don't."

Sebastian cocked his head in confusion. "So how did this-"

"I know his sister, Maria."

"Oh. I see." Sebastian drummed his fingers on the table. "So what do you do Cindy?"

"Didn't anyone tell you?" She wide-eyed.

"No, I mean. I asked but-"

"I'm an escort."

Sebastian tried to hide the shock. "Oh, an escort." But his voice went up an octave. He took a swig of his water.

"I'm just playing with you. I work in finance."

"Oh, like a teller?"

Cindy narrowed her eyes. "No like an Accountant."

"Oh right." Sebastian cleared his throat and looked around. "This place is really nice."

"And what do you do Sebastian?" She leaned forward again, drawing his gaze toward her chest. Sebastian kept his eyes trained on the middle of her powdered forehead.

"Oh me? I'm just a Technician."

"Like an Engineering Technician of some sort?" Her eyes lit up for the first time since she had arrived.

"No, um I'm an electrical technician."

"Oh ok." She rocked her head from side to side. "But you own your own company?"

"Well, no, not really. I mean I work with a guy but he's really the boss, I just do the technician stuff."

She leaned back in the chair as her interest faded. "So this place is kind of pricey for you huh?"

"Well, you are the accountant." He took a stab at comedy to try and save the date.

"Mmmm." She visibly rolled her eyes. Not even bothering to hide it.

"You don't have to worry. It's all good." He tried to convince her. Or maybe it was himself he was trying to convince.

When the food arrived they were already sitting in silence for fifteen minutes. She had checked her phone three times. Sebastian's fingers were starting a band on the table, to her displeasure and to the displeasure of the table next to them.

She barely took a bite of what she had ordered. The appetizers were versions of quesadillas and pieces of garlic bread he'd never seen before. She took two forkfuls of her lobster before sitting back and claiming she was full.

"But you barely-"

"I'm good." She sat back and sipped quietly on her wine. Sebastian shrugged. If he was paying, he was going to enjoy it. He sliced into the delectable steak. Steam rose from the meat as the cut deepened. He cut a mouthful and the meat was rubbery and bland. The disappointment was one he couldn't hide as he chewed. The smell was amazing, but where was the seasoning? He had better steak from a one-star restaurant.

He should've known better. He was only paying for the ambience. He understood why she only took two bites now. She watched him in disgust as he continued to chow down the tasteless food. If he was paying, he was getting his bellyful.

As he took the last bite, there was a soft touch on his shoulder. Sebastien thought it was the waiter with the bill. He couldn't have come at a better time.

"Baby? Who is this?" A vexed voice asked.

Sebastian spun around to find a drop-dead gorgeous brown-skinned woman staring down at him with angry eyes. She wore a spaghetti-strapped dress as red as her apparent rage.

"Uhhhhh, excuse me?" He asked fittingly with a mouthful of meat.

"I said who is this?" She raised her voice. Drawing the attention of the entire restaurant.

"Miss, I don't know y-"

Cindy sat wide-eyed staring at both of them.

"So you're cheating on me with this bitch?"

Sebastian dropped the fork and swallowed. He hadn't chewed it properly so it hurt on the way down.

"No, I'm not?"

"Okay, I think I'll leave," Cindy said. She grabbed her purse, pushed her chair back and got up.

"Wait, I don't know her."

"Oh so now you don't know me?" She shouted. She slapped his shoulder with his bag.

"Ouch, what the..."

"Yea, I'm going." Cindy walked out seemingly unphased by what had taken place.

"You better not think about coming home!" The woman said before storming out behind Cindy.

Sebastian blinked several times trying to figure out what had just happened. One minute he was having a terrible date, the next he was being accused of cheating, by a woman he'd never met.

He sunk into his chair trying to avoid the stares of everyone around him.

The waiter walked up to him with a slight smirk on his pretentious face. "Here's your bill sir."