Cold Millionaire CEO Agreed to One Last Blind Date—The Girl Who Showed Up Changed His Life Forever…

Two Worlds and a Single Bus

She wore a simple beige dress that tied at the waist the kind of casual outfit that would seem out of place in this formal restaurant. She wore it with such natural grace that somehow it worked.

Her light brown hair was pulled back loosely a few strands falling around her face. She carried a worn leather bag over her shoulder and looked around the restaurant with wide eyes.

It was as if she’d stepped into a world she’d only seen in magazines. She was younger than him probably in her late 20s.

There was something about her face that was different from the carefully madeup faces of the women he usually encountered in his social circle. She was pretty certainly.

It was the kind of beauty that came from within rather than from expensive cosmetics and personal stylists. Her eyes were bright and honest.

When she spotted him and started walking toward his table he noticed she moved with a slight hesitation as if she wasn’t entirely sure she belonged here.

Jonathan stood as she approached his business training taking over even as his mind was still trying to process what he was seeing. This couldn’t be his blind date.

Patricia had always matched him with women from similar backgrounds women who moved in the same social circles who understood the demands of his lifestyle.

“jonathan Pierce,” the woman asked when she reached his table her voice soft but clear. “yes,” he said gesturing to the chair across from him “please sit down.”

She did setting her bag carefully on the floor beside her chair. Up close he could see that her eyes were hazel shifting between green and brown depending on how the light caught them.

She looked nervous and there was a slight flush in her cheeks. “i’m sorry I’m late,” she said “the bus took longer than I expected and then I got a bit turned around.”

She mentioned finding this place was quite impressive. “the bus,” Jonathan repeated before he could stop himself.

She smiled and it was the first genuine smile he’d seen in this restaurant in longer than he could remember. “yes the bus i don’t have a car in the city.”

She explained it’s expensive to park and honestly she likes people watching on public transportation because you see interesting things. Jonathan realized he was staring and quickly collected himself.

“of course i’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.” “oh” she laughed a light sound that seemed to brighten the formal atmosphere around them.

“i’m sorry i should have started with that i’m Lily lily Anderson.” She held out her hand and Jonathan shook it.

Her grip was warm and firm her hand smaller than his but strong. When she pulled away he found himself missing the contact.

“it’s nice to meet you Lily,” he said surprised to find he meant it. A waiter appeared beside their table offering menus bound in leather.

Lily took hers with a thank you that seemed to genuinely acknowledge the waiter as a person rather than just staff. Jonathan noticed the waiter’s expression soften in response.

As Lily opened her menu Jonathan watched her eyes widened slightly at the prices. She didn’t say anything but he saw her swallow and run her finger down the page.

She seemed to be trying to find the least expensive options. “please order whatever you’d like,” Jonathan said gently “this is my treat.”

Lily looked up at him and there was something in her expression that he couldn’t quite read. “that’s very kind of you,” she said “but I should probably be honest right from the start.”

“i’m not sure I belong here in this restaurant on this date in this whole situation.” Jonathan leaned back slightly intrigued despite himself and asked what she meant.

Lily set down her menu and folded her hands on the table. “patricia your assistant is my neighbor she lives in the apartment next to mine we’ve become friends over the past year.”

She explained Patricia knows she’s been struggling lately and thought this might help. “but now that I’m here I realize this was probably a mistake.”

“why” jonathan asked and he was genuinely curious. “because we’re from completely different worlds” Lily said simply.

“you’re a CEO who wears suits that probably cost more than my monthly rent i’m a kindergarten teacher who takes the bus.”

She considers having dinner at a nice restaurant a once a year treat. “patricia meant well but I think she was trying to solve too different problems and hoping they’d solve each other.”