14. Mission Ice Cream

Chapter 14

Mission Ice Cream

Vanessa

T he moment I left the car, I felt a near overwhelming sadness. When he turned up at the Chinese restaurant tomorrow night, he would soon find that I no longer lived here.

I released a heavy sigh as I made my way out the door, saying goodbye to my old landlady, Mrs. Won, after first accepting the carton of some noodles and pork steamed dumplings.

She was good to me after all that had happened with my ex and when I could no longer pay my rent, giving me enough time to deal with it. And well, I did miss the discounted Chinese food. My stomach rumbled at just the thought of getting it home to eat, a thought that soured when I realized I would never see Victor again.

At first, I had given him the wrong address simply because I didn't yet trust him with knowing where I lived. But I had done so thinking I would get his number. However, the car journey had given me the clarity I had needed, despite hating the realization it had brought me to. Because we lived completely different lives, and his was one I didn't want to taint with the mess that was my broken life.

So, as I walked down the street, heading to where I actually lived, I couldn't help but think back to our conversation.

"You are no idiot, Vanessa, for giving someone the chance to change is not a failing for the hopeful, it is only foolish to those who chose not to take it. Especially given the incentive, fucking foolish indeed."

The playback of this in my mind actually brought tears to my eyes and this time, I let them fall. I hadn't lied when I told him this was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to me. Why then had I walked away without even asking for his last name? Without a number or anything? Of course, if I really did want to go on the date, then I could simply be waiting outside the restaurant at seven like he would be expecting.

I spent most of the night tossing and turning, changing my mind a hundred times at least. To the point that I was still doing so the next day, going through the motions at work, while asking myself what I would wear if I did. Even that only ended up adding to the reasons that I shouldn't go because quite honestly, I wouldn't have a single thing to wear. I didn't even own a dress.

No, the bastard had stolen most of my clothes and left me with the dregs he wouldn't have been able to sell on eBay. I had blamed it on the addiction, when the truth was that it was all about the void of where a heart should be. He had used me from the start, knowing that I was a clean slate with a good credit record. I had a little nest egg because I had saved every penny left over when I could. I'd once had a decent job, working as a manager of a stationary store and had been trusted with the keys. I had been cashing out while he waited for me to finish and lock up, then the next day I got called into work.

Of course, as soon as they told me that money had been stolen, I knew instantly who it was. That had been the start of the downfall of my life. That day had been the worst, as soon as I had gotten that call to go into work, the bastard had known. Then he had made his move.

Naturally, they had fired me, with the only silver lining being that they agreed not to get the cops involved as long as I could pay them back the money. Thankfully, they also believed me when I told them who it was because, let's just say, I was no award-winning actress and my sobs of devastation had been very, very real. But there was no getting away from the fact that I had invited the fox into the henhouse and given him the means to steal the money.

So, I had understandably lost my job.

But that was only the beginning. Because as soon as I got home, I discovered everything was gone. My nest egg of cash I'd kept hidden, my bank accounts had all been cleaned out. And anything worth selling had also been taken. Everything that I had worked hard for since I was eighteen years old, it had all been stolen. Not only that, but there were also bills left for me to find that he had told me had been paid. Bills he had left for so long I was drowning even before I knew I had stepped into the water. The same with the rent… poor Mrs. Won hadn't received anything for months, with my ex telling her not to ask me about it as my mother had just died. It had all been lies.

Just like the credit cards he had taken out in my name, along with numerous loans that I was still trying to pay off. The bastard had left me up to my eyeballs in debt to the point that most days I felt as if I was still drowning. Only Stacey knew the full extent of what he had done. And this above all else, was the reason I decided not to meet Victor outside the fake address I had given him.

I was ashamed.

Ashamed that I had fallen for it. That I hadn't seen the signs or ignored the obvious lies he told me. That I took the verbal abuse and, in the end, hadn't even been the one to leave him over it. I had spent so long being angry at myself for allowing it all to happen.

No, I was no one else's problem but my own.

So, I went home after work, feeling sorry for myself, and watched the minutes tick by until seven. In fact, it was only when I couldn't take watching the clock anymore, did I get up, grab my wallet, and decide there was only one cure…

Ice cream.

Stacey hadn't gotten home yet, so I was thankful that I could at least hide my pitiful state for a little longer. Although as soon as she did get home and see me hunched over a tub of ice cream, watching the Notebook, she would instantly know something had happened. At least it was her day off, so I had saved her my misery at work because she was still spending time with her nephews.

It also meant that given my depressing mood, only the good stuff would do, so I started walking without even thinking. I knew of a place in China Town, literally called, ‘The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory'. Which I grant you, wasn't the most exciting name but it was close enough to walk to and usually had a line out the door.

However, it was when I was on my way back that I realized how close I was to my old apartment, as if I had subconsciously taken a detour just to bring me this way. As if something was compelling me to do so.

Of course, the second I realized, I started walking quicker, only to hear my name being called down the street. I had the crazy impulse to run, but before I had chance, I felt my arm being taken as I was quickly turned around. And there he was, one of the most handsome faces I had ever seen and never thought I would see again.

"Victor, oh hey," I said in one of those super lame ways.

His eyes widened in surprise before narrowing into a questioning frown.

"Is your memory that bad that you forgot about our date?"

I looked away from him, only because the guilt at seeing the hurt on his face was clawing at me. And in doing so, I could now see the car that was parked outside the restaurant I wasn't that far away from.

"Oh, was it tonight? I thought we said tomorrow?" I asked, lying and trying to save us both the shame. Needless to say, it didn't work. Something I knew when I saw a single dark brow raise in an expression that screamed bullshit.

"No, it was tonight, just like you knew it was," he stated, folding his arms across his chest and making me want to gulp comically.

"That's a shame because I had plans for tonight," I told him, and he scanned down to my hand to see inside the plastic bag.

"With a bucket of ice cream?" he asked, making me wince.

"It's not a bucket, more like a medium tub."

"Medium?" he said in another ‘I'm calling bullshit' tone.

I looked down at it myself and then said, "Okay, sort of large-ish."

His lips twitched like he was trying not to smile as he suddenly grabbed the bag off me and took my wrist in a gentle hold with his free hand. Then he started to walk us both toward his car, or should I say, ‘march' because this was a better word to describe it. Much to my horror, he tossed the ice cream in the trash as he passed. I made a distressed, oh my god sound, trying to pull myself free, telling him,

"How could you do that!? That was The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory ice cream!"

At this he allowed himself to smirk and muttered wryly, "Catchy name, however did they come up with that one?"

"Er, I will have you know it's some of the best ice cream in New York and anyway, that's not the point," I argued, for little good it did me.

"No, the point is you were about to replace me with a dairy product," he said getting in there first, and I refrained from telling him that I would have given up chocolate if it meant I would get a one-night stand with him.

"The best dairy product and jeez, it wasn't like I was planning on sleeping with it," I said before I could filter that part out. But I was too late because he suddenly stopped, making me bounce into him a little as he had been practically dragging me alone the street.

"Umph." I made the unladylike sound, something he ignored in favor of what his brain was now hyper-focused on.

"And you were planning on sleeping with me?" he asked, making my cheeks practically melt from the bone.

"That's not what I was supposed to say," I said, shutting up before I told him, only in my dreams or with BOB in my hands .

"But you still thought about it?" he assumed, making me open my mouth and close it again when my brain came up with nothing. This unfortunately happened twice more, making me look like a fish out of water. Although the death that would have followed would have been easier to deal with right about now. Because the guy wouldn't let it go. He simply folded his arms once more and raised a sexy brow like this was enough to get me to spill all my fantasies.

In the end, I had nothing, so I turned on my heel and started walking the other way, telling him, "I have to get home."

Of course, the problem with this plan was one he was quick to remind me of.

"Then you are forgetful indeed if you have also forgotten where that home is." I stopped dead and turned to find him now looking smug.

"Er, yes… I mean, I need more ice cream, before I go home," I said, thinking my work-around was good… that was until he jerked a thumb over his shoulder and told me,

"China Town is that way, Sweetheart."

I swear I felt like growling at him, but the guy intimidated me too much to believe I could get away with it. In the end, I was forced to endure the humility and turn around to start walking the way I had come. Once more, I didn't get far because he snatched my hand in his and started to pull me toward his car, telling me,

"Here, let me drive you."

"Wait, it's okay, I can walk, and I really want some ice cream, it's… erm… very important to me," I argued pointlessly as his driver opened the back door and looked completely unphased by the fact his employer was trying to manhandle a woman into the vehicle he drove.

"Honestly, I really shouldn't…"

"Get in the car, Nessa," he told me and again, it was like a switch had been flipped, making me instantly do as I was told. I jumped when the car door slammed shut and I realized that I had just completely wasted the day by convincing myself out of this date.

A date I was now being forced to go on.

Making me ask, "Where are you taking me?"

"Where do you think?" he said, pausing long enough to have me raising my own brow in question. However, his answer was the very last one I would have expected as he told me,

"To get you some ice cream, of course."