Downgrading Miss CEO

Chapter 7

I drove my car back to my apartment building and parked it in the garage. Not feeling like sitting home the rest of the night, I walked to the bar around the corner of the street. The bar was kind of modern, more like a lounge. It gave an incredibly relaxed vibe and once I stepped in, I felt some kind of weight fall of my shoulders. I sat down by the bar and patiently waited for the bartender to notice me and finish helping another customer.

When the bartender finally did notice me, my already bad mood got worse by the second our eyes locked. He came over to me and casually leaned against the counter behind there. "I'm sorry Princess, but I don't have any coffee to spill, and neither do I have anything worth above the fifty dollar mark. Are you sure you're in the right place?"

What was it with this guy, always meeting me after an encounter with my father. No wonder he thought I was some kind of spoiled brat. However, not in the mood to do anything to change his view of me I just went and placed my order. "Can you just give me something to drink, anything with alcohol will do. And if you feel the need to overprice for this special occasion just because you assume I come from money, be my guest but just leave me alone after, okay?"

The guy behind the bar let out a humourless laugh. "Now, now, Princess. Don't go thinking that because you're the daughter of a big CEO of some kind of big shot company and everyone attends all your needs all the time, that you can walk into in my bar and call the shots. I'm sure daddy has an incredible liquor storage for you to help yourself on."

Sick and tired of his constant talking back, she again grabbed her bag in her hand and stood up from her seat. "As it appears, you are not interested in serving a paying customer. So I will just get out of your hair and spend all those precious dollars you assume I have at your biggest competitor next door."

From behind me, I could hear a deep sigh and a glass being placed on the bar. "Just sit down and enjoy your drink." Too frustrated with life in general, I didn't bother to comment on his customer service and turned on my heels, taking a seat by the bar. I looked over to the drink placed in front of me, genuinely happy about the fact no one, but two shots of tequila were waiting for me to be slammed down my throat. And that's exactly what I was doing.

I took my wallet from my bag, taking out a one-hundred-dollar bill and slamming it on the counter. "Keep them coming, please."

Luckily, the guy from behind the bar complied to my request, without any questions or comments. An hour, and plenty of shots of tequila later, the bar was empty except for me and the bartender. I stood up from my barstool or at least attempted to it as I immediately fell to the ground. The entire bar was spinning and suddenly everything around me went black.

-

I was woken up by a splash of water hitting my face. "Wake up, sunshine!" a voice boomed from above me. I slowly opened my eyes and I felt extremely disorientated and intoxicated. "I don't know, nor do I care, what your problem is, but you sure can't stay here. So take a cab home or call your daddy to pick you up, but you need to leave, now."

"What a sourpuss!" I thought to myself but got up from the floor anyways. I took my purse and stumbled to the door. "Like hell, I will call that ass of a man. I will walk home!" I said before I walked out and slammed the door closed.

-

The next morning I woke up with a giant headache. Thank the Lord that today was a Sunday and I didn't have to go to the office. I squinted my eyes to block out the sun while reaching out for my phone to look at my notifications. I wasn't surprised to see six missed calls from my mom and a couple from Ava. They must have been worried sick about me after my heated argument with my dad. Remembering what happened last night, I reached my hand to lightly touch my cheek. It sure felt sore and a little swollen, but that was all.

I finally got out of bed and took a nice and long shower. After that, I got out of my apartment and got some breakfast at the IHOP around the corner. I was waiting for my order when I pulled out my phone to call Allison. She answered her phone on the third ring and immediately knew something was up. "What happened? You want me to come over?"

"No, it's okay. We'll talk about it tomorrow when we're in the office. Right now, I just want to have some breakfast and get rid of this killing hangover. However, if you do decide you're up for some pancakes, I am waiting for you for twenty minutes before I place my order." I heard some noises on the phone followed by a loud bang. "Ali, are you okay?"

Then I heard the slamming of the door. "I am on my way, sister! IHOP around the corner of your building? See you in five!" Allison exclaimed before the line went dead. I love the girl, but I wonder how Brandon manages to keep up with her. The more I thought about Allison and Brandon, the lonelier I felt. I, too, wanted someone I can share every aspect of my life with. To find that one person who doesn't care if my hair and make-up is done, about the clothes I wear, what I do for a living, and, more importantly, someone who doesn't care about the amount of money in my account and how being in a relationship with me could benefit them.

I was taken out of my head when Allison touched my shoulder. "Daydreaming about the guy your mom set you up with? Was family dinner that successful?" she asked as she sat down across from me and opened the menu to decide on what she would have for breakfast.

"Last night was perfect. Andrew, I must admit a decent and good-looking guy, hit it off with Ava, and my father and I got into a fight. I fled the house before dinner was served, and got wasted at a bar." I then looked Allison straight in the eye. "I can't do this Ali, I can't just go out with a random guy and marry him. No normal guy would marry in one-hundred days, and those who will are only interested in my money and what a relationship with me can do to their reputation."

Allison thought about this for a while, or at least, I thought that was what she was doing. Suddenly her facial expression changed in that particular face she makes when she had an idea. Her eyes lit up, and a smile plastered on her face. "I have the perfect solution. We set you up with an online dating profile." I was about to interrupt her but she held up her finger. "Just let me finish before you react, deal?"

I just nodded my head. I may be her boss, but Allison can be pretty intimidating when she needs to be. She anticipated me talking back, like normally would be the case, but once she was sure I would remain silent, she continued. "We'll set you up with an online dating profile, where we change your name and occupation into mine. We'll use one of your own pictures, but one of those where you're not directly recognizable. The site's algorithm will set you up with a suitable match and from there you'll chat, see if things click. You'll meet up, and then you can choose if you want to come clean. It's a perfect way because it will show you as the person you are. Not your job, your name, your reputation or your bank account."

I considered her words carefully and thought about it all. I had ninety-eight more days to get myself engaged, or I would lose everything I worked so hard for, I gave up my dreams for. That was not going to happen, not unless I have tried absolutely all that I could.

"Sure, why not. But please do it now before I change my mind."

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