Y/N took a deep breath, standing outside the upscale restaurant with Calie by her side, doing her best to look reassuring.
"Come on, Y/N, it'll be fun," Calie nudged her, ignoring the sceptical glare she got in return. "It's just one date. Besides, you deserve a little break from work."
"If this ends horribly, you know it's on you," Y/N replied, her tone sharp but playfully threatening. Calie just laughed, brushing off her friend's warning as Y/N exhaled and finally stepped inside, casting one last glare Calie's way.
A waiter greeted her almost immediately and guided her to the table. Y/N was ten minutes early, just as Calie had insisted. As she sat down, she ordered a glass of expensive wine, one of her favorites from the menu. She could afford it, after all; everyone in town knew her as the powerful businesswoman who ran a law firm and an impressive chain of luxury hotels. Being early was the only chance she'd have to sit and prepare herself for whatever awaited her with this blind date.
She glanced at her watch, watching the minutes tick by. Five minutes late. She raised an eyebrow but kept her irritation in check. Just as she was about to take another sip, she heard a voice beside her.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for being late," the woman said, a little out of breath.
Y/N looked up and raised her eyebrows, taking in the sight of the woman before her. She looked vaguely familiar, though Y/N couldn't quite place her. Standing, Y/N extended her hand and gave her a polite nod.
"No harm done. I'm Y/N," she said, waiting for her date to introduce herself in return.
"Fletcher," the woman replied, shaking Y/N's hand with a warm smile. The name finally clicked, and Y/N nodded, vaguely remembering the name from somewhere.
She pulled out the chair for Fletcher, waiting until she was seated before taking her own seat again. She hadn't ordered any food yet, and as she settled back in, she could feel Fletcher's gaze fixed on her, slightly intense, slightly curious. Y/N raised her head, catching the woman's eyes.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head just slightly.
"No, not at all," Fletcher replied, a little flustered. "I'm just... surprised you didn't recognize me."
Y/N furrowed her brows, confused. "Do you mean because you're a singer?" she guessed, earning a surprised nod from Fletcher.
"Yes, that's exactly it. People usually... well, they tend to get nervous, or at least react more," Fletcher admitted with a small laugh.
Y/N smiled slightly. "I'm not much for celebrities or the like, honestly. I don't really keep up with them, so I don't bother myself with it."
Fletcher seemed both amused and intrigued by this, her smile lingering. "I guess I can respect that. It's refreshing, actually. So... who's responsible for setting you up on this date?"
Y/N smirked, rolling her eyes. "My very persistent friend Calie," she muttered.
"Calie Smith?" Fletcher's eyes lit up, laughing at the realization. "She's the sister of my best friend. Small world, huh?"
"Apparently," Y/N chuckled, genuinely amused now. "I should've known. Calie has this way of meddling with the best intentions, even if it's the last thing you want."
They both shared a laugh, and the initial tension between them began to dissipate. Fletcher leaned forward, resting her arms on the table, her gaze curious.
"So, Calie said you're a lawyer?" she asked, eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Among other things," Y/N replied with a slight smile. "I have a law firm, but I also own a chain of hotels. I guess you could say I'm pretty busy."
