Fifty-one-Fifty-two-Fifty-three-Fifty-four-

"Um ma'am? Are you even listening to me?"

My head immediately lolled over to the lady before me, looking confused at the situation we had suddenly found ourselves in. I stared at her for a moment and then straightened in the seat quickly.

"Right..." I trailed off looking over her sheet of paper again, the one with the five red Xs decorating it. An ‘X’ was for every problem I found with someone and five Xs meant she was out, a thought which made me smile at the lady before me.

"Thanks for coming, we'll get back to you," I lied for the umpteenth time, sending the thirtieth of the forty-three applicants, out the door. Charles,  obviously having been misinformed.

It was three and a half hours after we had begun and I had been massaging my temples in pain since three and a half hours prior. This was a lot harder than I had thought it would be and that was also thanks to Charles who was yet to return!

Easy he said? Not one of the girls I had interviewed so far had fit what we expected of Riddian's date. Even though Riddian's preferences list was quite short, added to Charles’ and my own thoughts these girls were just impossible candidates.

Some of the girls had rightfully could never be his date with their bad reputations, slutty personalities and dollar filled eyes, but there were some decent ones... though they too were just... No!

I glared at the door the woman had just left through. I still had thirteen more women to interview and I was not looking forward to it.

Opening the folder once more, I glanced over the page of the next lady and then looked briefly at Riddian's neatly filled out questionnaire, as I had been doing for the last few hours. Turns out that Riddian had been right in saying that I wasn't the worst assistant. As soon as I had taken a look at the form he had filled out, I had almost burst out laughing having been able to read between the lines of his responses. 

I had become pretty confident in his hidden meanings after deciphering his first two answers, so I was really a professional Rude Riddian translator now. A professional RRt if you please.

Things went a little like this:

[RIDDIAN'S LADY PREFERENCES]

Read and answer accordingly.

• Hair colour:
Really.

RRt: I don't care.

• Complexion: 
Are you serious?

RRt: It doesn't freaking matter.

• Race: 

I am guessing that this is just a really bad joke that I don't get.

RRt: Let's just ignore this.

• Possible name: 
I am pretending you didn't ask me that.

RRt: Still just going to ignore this.

• Age: 
21 to 30 and that's it.

RRt: Congratulations! The only answer you'll get from me!

• Height: 
________________________________

RRt: See! I told you!

• Career:
As long as she doesn't work in any field downgrading to her reputation.

RRt: Well you got lucky.

• Family background: 
Now I am just really annoyed.

RRt: It would do you good to imagine a deadpan on my face now honestly....

• Personality: 
Not shy, not loud. A both indoor and outdoor type of girl. Caring and fun.

RRt: I'll allow you one more response for the sole reason that I need this date.

NB. No bad reputations and no exes. (...he has exes?)

A simple list, yet it was very hard for me to find a girl who had the characteristics that he dared to list and whose eyes I wasn't tempted to scratch out on sight. I also have to admit that it was also the first time I was actually hearing Riddian's preferences in women. It was a little weird but refreshing to finally hear some of the statue's thoughts.

Looking back to the file, I called for the next woman. The one who walked in didn't look like a high up business woman or a model, thank God, but instead appeared a very nice, down to earth human.

...Great.

She wore a casual but dressy blue and white summer dress with a fluffy sea blue jacket. Her red hair was coiled at the back of her head and she wore a cute little hat up there as well. Her eyes and smile seemed welcoming enough and I was hoping she wouldn't be the one.

I smiled tightly after she said her good afternoon and took a seat on my request. "Name please?"

"Ila Cooper."

First question and I didn't hesitate to put the first 'X' down beside her picture. Her tone sounded threatening to me and who knows, she could secretly be a serial killer or something.

"Tell me where you work please?" 

"I am actually an artist, I do many paintings and own my own gallery in St. Thomas's museum not too far from here," she began and I noticed how the threatening tone had transformed into a very soothing and pleasant one.

I grimaced. One more X! She was definitely suspicious now. That new voice also, definitely a seductress!

"Where are you from?"

"Originally, Russia, but I came here five years ago to teach and become an artist since my grandmother lives here."

I narrowed my eyes curiously at her. A third X just because I didn't like where her story was going....

"And could you tell me a little about your family?"

"Well my mother... I never met her... and my father disappeared after I moved here with my grandmother. I also have a sister who lives in Russia still and she is a doctor there. My grandmother owns a fabric store and cafe in our town but other than that, I have nothing else," she frowned, looking down.

I felt a stray tear make a path down my cheek. I scowled immediately. I could see we had a fighter on our hands with her little made up, tear pulling and perfect story! Well don't worry, one more X for her lies! Just like the rest of them!

"Age?" I quipped out, and I swear my voice resembled a certain boss.  

"Twenty-two."

"And are you an indoor or outdoor type of girl?"

"I prefer both, sometimes I like to stay wrapped up in the comforts of my home and just watch a movie or read a book, but then at other times, I want to go out to a farm and ride a horse you know-"

"Yes, I actually do know!" I snapped getting frustrated with her pretty little face and answers! She shrunk away a little and I realized I had been too harsh.

"Sorry," I muttered, not even wanting to know what had gotten into me.  

She smiled a little before asking if we were done. I nodded and we stood, shaking hands.

"Thanks for coming Ms. Cooper, we'll give you call."

"I'll be waiting," she replied before leaving. I made my final x and threw her papers on the desk. I really did not like how her hands were so sweaty..

My subconscious glared at me. 

I ignored her and fell back into the seat with a sighed. I had a feeling I could stop the interviews right here because obviously this was just a waste of time! Better Riddian just took me to the ball! Even I, his annoying assistant could make a better date than... wait what was I saying!

I slapped my cheek.

"Focus!" I yelled to myself. This was totally inappropriate! There was no way I could go and it was those stupid employees who had put the idea in my head which I now couldn't get out.

I just wanted this to be over!

:*:*:*:*:*:*:

For the next hour or so I tried being open minded, but the problem was obviously not me but these women! The remaining ladies had even more problems than the first ones!

"What are your hobbies?"

"Well I have three puppies so-"

She obviously only wants his money... Next!

"Name please."

"My name is Anne-"

How can someone be so pretty?... Next!

"Tell me something about yourself. "

"Well-"

Too chatty!...Next!

"How old are you?"

"I just turned 21-"

"Family?"

"Two brothers, a sister-"

I feel like she has a boyfriend... Next!

"Dina, do you have a boyfriend?"

"No-"

Yup there we go, now she definitely has a boyfriend... Next!

After hours on end, I finally decided that this was it! It was settled. Riddian could not go to the ball with anyone! But then I found myself staring at four profiles on the desk when all consultations were done and the women had hopefully dispersed.

Now don't be fooled, I had to look pass a lot of bad to get these, but considering that Charles would probably be distraught that I hadn't found anyone, I decided to choose the least worst. I had also come to the realisation that my personal opinions had influenced my decisions a bit too much and decided to give some people a chance. I was still deciding the best best of the least worst when the door to the office opened and closed.

"Ah Katherine, I see that you managed to finish," Charles grinned coming into the room.

"Yes, I did, and that is no thanks to you." I scowled.

"No need to get so worked up. Who have you chosen?"

"Actually I haven't chosen anyone," I muttered glancing his way, and I could've sworn I saw triumph in his eyes. "I have four women that could be Riddian's date," I continued.

The triumph disappeared.

"Oh," he muttered coming over to view the files. I stared at him for a while.

"Hey Charles, if you don't want Riddian to bring a date why don't you just tell him?" I finally asked after some time.

"Huh?"

"Well you seem disappointed that I found him matches so I just assumed that that is because-"

"No, that is not why. It's about time he held someone on his arm. I was just-" whatever else he muttered did not reach my ears. 

"Sir! What do you think you're doing?" I yelled instead as the man grabbed the papers I had left and crumbled them before dropping them into Riddian's bin. Had he gone crazy?

"Do you know how long it took me to find one to find even more, five not so bad applicants?" I asked, getting up from the chair to retrieve the pictures.

Charles only pushed me back down and took a seat on the desk.

"Tell me Katherine, which of those five applicants did you like the most?"

None.

"Ila and Christina I guess."

"Why?"

"Because they were the nicest," actresses, "and even though they did small jobs, they had accomplished a lot in life. Plus, Ila and I had a few things in common so I guess that kinda helped."

"Like what?"

"Well for instance, We both prefer indoors and the outdoors because sometimes we feel to sit inside and read a book or watch a movie and then other times we just want to go outside and have fun. And we both lost family members whether they left or died. My mom died in an accident and my brother left my dad and I because they couldn't get along. It's a long story really-"

"So save me the tears and answer the question please," Charles smiled sarcastically. I could see where Riddian got his sass from.

"Well we both like having fun as well... I guess."

"Good, good," Charles muttered writing something on a piece of paper, then after a moment of silence, asked out of the blue, "Are you Christian?"

"Yes."

"Excellent! I think we found Riddian's date Katherine," Charles jumped from the desk and started packing everything up.

"What?" I asked bitterly. "Who Ila?"

"No, you," he replied patting my head.

"Oh okay," I nodded looking away for a moment. Then I froze. "Hold on a second, something is wrong with that statement..."

Charles grinned mischievously and it was not until then that was he had said registered.

"Wait! What? I thought you were questioning me so that my thoughts would help you choose, not interviewing me!" I screeched.

"Well what can I say, you need to be more careful sometimes."

"Charles, no. No, no, no, no, no! I can't be Riddian's date. I mean there is no way that can happen! Do you know how mad he's gonna be, and for one, how pissed I am!"

He rolled his eyes in response, seeming to not believe me. Did I believe myself? Check back later...

"Okay listen, apart from that, if you read Riddian's distinct had writing, he said 'NB. No bad reputations and no exes'. I have a bad reputation! I shot him on our first meeting! I cannot be his date sir!"

"No one knows about that Katherine. Our family ensured to keep it under the wraps so therefore you do not have a bad reputation. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from doing this so with that I must bid you farewell."

"Charles! Wait!"

"The day of the ball I will send over a team to get you ready. Until then, goodbye," he smirked, leaving me there....

Dumbfounded.

Author's note

So sorry about the accidental updates prior to this one. I am still trying to get used to Wattpad's newest update and so the problem was both the storage on my phone and my adjusting 😁.

Thanks latty2001 and yourself.

Until the next,

💕S4_angel