What the actual fuck?

Xavier Rodriguez. One of the richest men in America wants to go on a date with a girl like me. No. No. That is not possible. I am just dreaming and when I wake up, I will get out of this beautiful dream of the Rodriguez family.

This is not possible.

I gulped and pinched myself. I closed my eyes when nothing happened, and pinched myself again. This is not really happening. This is just a dream. It is not possible he likes me.

I opened my eyes and saw Xavier smiling sweetly at me like nothing is happening. As if, he is confident that I will go out with him. Well, it's true that Mr. Rodriguez likes me, but I'm not going out with Xavier. No.

I don't... I can't go on a date with him. What if he leaves me and goes out with Sarina? No, I won't be able to handle that again. I can't. I don't want to get hurt again. I've been hurt enough.

I gulped and stared at Xavier. It's not possible for a man like him to like a woman like me. It's just not possible. There was absolutely no hint of playfulness around in his eyes and that's what scared me the most.

"No. I can't go on a date with you." I blurted bluntly.

His smile fell and I stared at my hands in my lap. I didn't mean it in an insulting way. I just won't be able to handle another heartbreak again.

"W-what do you mean you can't go on a date with me?" he looked sad.

"Sorry Xavier. I can't. I don't think I'll be able to handle something like this again." I said. "And I barely even know you. I don't know anything about you."

"B-but we can get to know each other, right?" he said hopefully. "Then I can take you on a date, right?"

"You don't get it, Xavier. We can't date! Why don't you get it? Look at me and look at you. We have a huge gap in personality, looks, and living conditions. We can't date." I rooted. "Ever."

---

I stared at the ceiling. I just couldn't sleep. The event of today's evening was rumbling in my head like a tornado. I somehow felt bad doing that to Xavier.

His eyes held so much hope and I just ruined everything, but then again, what if everything was a joke? Did he mean it? Is he serious? What would have happened if I said yes? Would I be with him forever or would he turn like Aidan, leave me, and go with Sarina?

All these questions are occupying my whole brain right now. I can't think straight. The curiosity of what would have happened if I said yes was eating me alive.

My head started hurting and my eyes started feeling heavy. The moment I closed my eyes, I was dazed into the darkness of my dreams.

---

"Hadley, there is someone at the door for you!" Sarina yelled from downstairs.

I sighed and walked to the door. I saw John standing at the door, smiling warmly at me.

"Good evening, ma'am— I mean Hadley." he grinned.

"Hello John. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" I asked.

He smiled and handed me a bouquet of red roses. "This is for you. I'll be by the car." he said, confusing me.

I took the roses along with the card. I was sure that Sarina was watching me curiously right now and it felt so good.

Dear Hadley,

I know that what happened yesterday was a bit too much for so fast. Therefore, I wanted to apologize for everything yesterday that offended you in any way. The only thing I want to ask you is, to at least be my friend. I know that you don't want to date or anything like that, so I promise not to do anything that you won't like. I just want to be your friend. If you don't have any problem with that, please enter the car with John and he will drive you to my house. If you don't want to, I will consider you my best friend in my imagination and die alone.

-Xavier-

I smiled at the note. He really is something. I have a feeling that this guy won't give up. I placed the roses in a vase in my room and the note on my desk. I walked to John and entered the SUV.

"He told you everything, didn't he?" I asked John. He smiled knowingly.

"Let's just say, we're really close." he said. I nodded.

I smiled and looked out of the window. I can't believe that this guy did all this. I seriously have no problem in dating, but the one thing I'm scared of is that he'll leave me and go with Sarina. It has already happened three times, and I don't want anything to repeat again. I know what I'm doing may be the right thing to do, but it just feels so wrong.

That day when I found Aidan and Sarina together was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever experienced. Because I didn't expect such a low thing from the person, I started falling for.

Even my parents didn't react negatively when they saw Sarina making out with Aidan after our breakup. She would always do something like touching him in front of me, just to make me feel like crap.

"We're here ma—Hadley." John said and I smiled.

We got out of the car and entered the house. Xavier came along and he led me to his room. Awkward, I know.

"Where is Mr. Rodriguez?" I asked.

"He'll be here in an hour or two." Xavier said.

I nodded and looked around his room. It looked good, actually. His room contained a king-sized bed, flat-screen, a walk in closet and many more things I don't know how to mention. A typical billionaire's room. I nodded in surprise and sat on one of the couches in his room. It's that big.

"Thanks." Xavier whispered.

"Thank you for what?" I asked confused.

"Thanks for not hating me. Did you forgive me?" he asked hopefully and I smiled.

"Yes."

He grinned cheekily and plopped down on his bed. I smiled and looked around once again. I don't know why I was feeling nervous when I'm alone with him. It felt... Weird.

I never felt so nervous around a guy before and that is creeping me out. What if he's a murderer? Or a ra-

"Can I be your best friend then?" he squinted his eyes at me.

Be his best friend? Did he just friend-zone himself?

Should I take a chance and trust him? On the other hand, will he turn out just like April? What if I'm not worth it?

Suddenly my phone started ringing and I fished it out of my pocket. I frowned at the caller ID. My mother never calls me. Why is she calling me now all of a sudden?

I picked up and held the phone onto my ear.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Where are you?" my mother asked.

"I'm at the Rodriguez's?" I said making it sound like a question.

"Can you come home? I have to talk about something to you." she sounded nervous.

I agreed and made my way home after saying goodbye to Xavier. I opened the front door and closed it behind me. As I walked further into the house, I realized that it was very silent and I didn't know whether I should be scared or not.

I walked into the living room and saw Sarina sitting on the couch with a scowl on her red face and her arms crossed over her chest. Moreover, the fact that my mother was sitting next to my father with her hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder surprised me even more.

My mother smiled when she saw me. She gestured towards the couch, telling me to take a seat. I did as told and sat down.

Sarina shouted in anger and she stormed out of the room. What is happening to these people!? Everything is just starting to get so weird.

"Hadley," my father called my name.

I frowned at him. Okay. Why is my father talking so sweetly to me after one whole month? Am I the only one who thinks all of this is getting creepy?

My father never talked to me. It even surprises me that he tends to remember my name. From the moment I was born, this is the first time my father is talking to me like this.

This is nearly unbelievable. I uncomfortably squint a little on the sofa and chuck a strand of hair behind my ear. This was starting to get really weird and awkward.

"Is there something you need?" I asked.

If it were that, then that would explain why he's talking to me right now. There can't be any other alternative. What if they just want to talk to me? My inner voice asked, but sadly, that can't be it. They can't just call me and tell me to sit down and talk to me after ignoring me for twenty-one years! That's just not fair. It's not easy.

"If you put it like that, then yes, there is something we want and if you do it for us, we are willing to give you anything you want." my mother grinned.

"Is it something good?" I asked.

"Well, that lies in your hands. It can be a good thing if you want it to. However, if you still won't agree on doing it, I'm afraid that you have no choice. So you better say yes willingly, or you handle the consequences." my father said in a calm creepy voice.

Great. Just great. My parents are going to tell me- no demand me something that I easily won't want to do, and now they're telling me that I have no other choice!?

"What if I say no?" I asked.

My father took a sip of his coffee and looked at me. "As I told you, you have no other choice. You will have to do it, or else."

"And if I don't?" I dared crossing my arms over my chest.

"We sell you." my mother shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"Sell me?" I frowned.

"Yes. To some old drunkard who your father knows for a few years." mother smirked.

I gasped. How could they do this to me? I thought that they would at least care about me, even if they don't like me. I'm an adult, they can't do this, but then again, I can't even move out because they won't let me.

  "You can't do that. I'm an adult. You can get arrested." I said confidently.  

My mother laughed as if she was thinking that I'm mental. "We'll get arrested when the police finds out. And as far as you being an adult, name one time your father and I cared." she shot me a blunt look.

I swallowed harshly and looked at my trembling fingers that were in my lap. I have a choice. Either I do what they say or they sell me to a stranger who can do anything to me.

"What do you want?" I asked, scared of what they were going to say.

"Marry Xavier."