He was there, waiting. Ty Warren. His handsome body dressed in a black blazer, a white shirt. It all had it's own style to it, though, not something you'd get off the rack at any place. He had his wealth and he was going to flaunt it, knowing it would take something special to show himself off to someone like me.
"Karen, my dear, you look so... pretty in that dress."
It was an oddly immature word to use, like he was a polite relative rather than a date. And the dress wasn't typically my style by any stretch. It was a bright pink, not even a subtle one, like one shade of intensity under calling it hot. Dragging behind my feet were frills, and lots of them. They were long, some of the fabric was see through and showed off my legs. They stopped just short of dragging on the floor, making the whole get up look slightly undersized. Ty approved though.
Boy, did Ty approve. He hooked his arm into mine and took me right past the line of people waiting to get in. "Restaurant Samuel is one of the most esteemed establishments in town. Reservations are commonly booked up months in advance."
"Were you planning on taking me on a date back then?"
He walked up to the waiter, who was big enough to double as a bouncer. "Two, Timothy."
"Right away, Mr. Warren."
He led us in, and I glanced back at the line. They were furious that we were simply able to cut ahead so easily. "No, my desire to have you is much younger than that. Pull the right strings, make the right investments though, and planning is just a hurdle you can bypass."
I was led to a corner of the restaurant, near the stage. Ty pulled out the chair and offered it to me, and I gladly accepted it. I was still overwhelmed by him, the way he touched me, the way he was controlling me, guiding me through everything.
The waiter stepped up. "May I get you two some drinks?"
"Ah," Ty said, "A glass of brandy for me, and a Shirley Temple for my little girl here."
Little girl? I raised an eyebrow. Wasn't he going to ask me what I wanted?
"And what may I get for you for your meal this evening?"
"A filet mignon. medium rare, asparagus with your finest sauce. That would be just right for her."
The waiter nodded. "Yourself, sir?"
"Prime Colorado Lamb Duo Porterhouse, of course. Medium Rare as well."
"Sir," he said, scribbling it down and departing.
"Don't I--" I started to speak.
He placed a finger up on my lips. "Karen, you will enjoy the selections I have made for you. You seem offended that I did you the honors."
"I didn't even get to see a menu."
"You don't need to worry yourself with such adult manners."
"I'm eighteen-years-old. I can handle ordering off a menu. And a Shirley Temple?"
"Alcohol will spoil your youth. Never mind that you're not even legally allowed to imbibe."
"I wasn't a peasant before this. Places like this one here? They wouldn't card me if I asked for a vodka shot and told them to leave the bottle."
He laughed. "Still throwing a fit like a child. I knew you would be perfect for what I desired."
"What is this what you desire? What's going on, Ty?" I was shaking my head. "Yeah, you're attracted to me. But everything, the giant teddy bear, the dress, ordering for me just now, this isn't typical. This isn't how it goes in the movies."
"Nothing ever goes like it does in the movies. Have you ever even been on a date before, my little Karen?"
I blushed, and turned my eyes away. "Well, yeah, of course."
"It's not nice to lie to Daddy."
My eyebrow perked up again. "Daddy?"