He handed me the large bear. It was softer than anything I had felt before. It was also heavy, so much so I had to plant it on the floor inside the house after holding it up for a short time.
The courier who delivered the bear stayed standing tall at the door. "That was a gift, courtesy of Mr. Warren. Ms. Van Hansen, you are cordially invited to dinner with him. He wishes to spend more time in getting to know you."
I swallowed. "He's asking me out on a date?"
"That would be the vernacular summarization of his request, yes. He requests an immediate response, as the event is scheduled for tonight."
I turned around and glanced back into the house. This was the man who was benefiting off of my father's misfortune. Would I be betraying Father by accepting this?
Because I wanted to go. Ty Warren had an interest in me and I had one hell of an interest in him.
The gigantic silk teddy bear certainly helped things too.
I made a quick glance around the mansion. No one was around. My answer would remain private, and no one would know that I agreed to all of this. I took a deep breath, and turned to the courier. "I'll go. Yes. I'll go, where, when does he want me?"
"He will send a car for you at seven o'clock tonight to take you to restaurant of his choosing. Also, he has requested you wear this," he stopped, and darted back to the black car that he had shown up in. Opening the door, he pulled out a dress. He brought it back to me, and presented it to me. I accepted it.
"I have to wear this?"
"Those are the terms of the engagement as he relegated them to me."
The dress was ridiculously ornate and worth far more than anything else in my collection. It was pink and frilly. "What if it doesn't fit?"
"It will fit."
"How do you know?"
"Mr. Warren gained access to your father's accounts as part of paying for his debt. This includes receipts with tailors used by your family over the past year. He had it sculpted to your exact measurements. It will fit."
So much for privacy. "I guess that's how he figured out my collecting of stuffed animals too."
"Yes, the receipts for your purchases. He knows everything about you and likes what he sees."
"I guess I'll be ready at 7," I said, looking at the dress. It really didn't look like it would fit me, and it looked like it was designed for someone half my own age, but somehow still having my ample bosom. It was a really strange collision of design.
"Perfect. Mr. Warren will be qui
te pleased."
"Do I need to tip you or something?" I was still looking over the gown.
"I am compensated more than well enough. Mr. Warren is a fine boss. Good Day, Ma'am." The courier turned and walked away from me.
It was weird as hell. I had this new dress, I had this stupidly expensive new stuffie, and I had a date with someone it seemed I was willing to betray my own father for.
I had a date with Ty Warren.
As the weirdness of my encounter with the courier faded, that fact became more and more prevalent.
I had a date with Ty Warren. My first date.
God, I hoped that I didn't screw this up.
I was no stranger to having a personal driver. I was a stranger to riding with a dress so short that it would immediately show off my panties if I didn't sit in a certain way.
The courier was right though. The dress fit. All too well, really. Were the eyes of Ty Warren on me longer than I really knew? The car pulled up to the restaurant, and the driver was quick to play classy chauffeur and grab the door for me, quicker than I could get settled and do it myself.
Restaurant Samuel. I didn't know who this Samuel was but the way everyone was dressed told me that this was definitely the furthest thing from McDonalds that one could possibly imagine. The difference being while they wore black, white, brown, with the occasional red and blue, I was stepping out in something entirely different.