EXCAPING CUPID The Billionaire's Triplets

The Daniels sisters, Emma and Eva were the poster kids of the super-rich and spoilt brats. Their lives are characterized by huge bodyguards, private jets, designer wardrobes, exotic and exclusive vacations, opulent mansions, shopping sprees, and luxury with no holdbacks.

Daughters of California's wealthiest billionaire, they never had to hear the word, 'no'.

On a fateful day in May, they decided to go do lunch downtown for a change. Because all the exotic and exquisite restaurants in California are nothing new, they just wanted a different experience. The scent of fresh bread blended with the gossip of ordinary people-a stark contrast to their usual world.

Halfway into the lunch, Eva said to Emma, "I believe it's my turn to dare!"

"Yeah yeah, knock yourself out," Emma responded briskly.

And with a mischievous smile, she said, "I dare you... to choose a random person from this café, and let's play a game." Stressing the word random as though it added an extra layer to the 'danger.'

The feelings of surprise and amusement bubbled in Emma on hearing the word 'game', not being the type to pass up on a challenge, barely glancing up from her phone. "Go on," she responded, acting disinterested.

"Go ahead and pick our mystery man," Eva said, leaning back against her chair, excited and optimistic that her 'trap' will work.

Emma stared at her in disbelief, as her surprise and amusement turned into shock and annoyance, "Eva, seriously? A guy?"

"That's what I said. A guy or nothing" Pointing her index finger at her sister with a note of finality.

Emma sighed, "Fine. Game on!"

Letting her eyes sweep across the room, she pointed out a few potential partners. Eva rejected them one after the other with a wave of her hand.

"No, no...none of them are interesting enough," she said, twirling some strands of hair between her fingers.

Just as Emma was about to give up, her gaze fell on him-a handsome young man waiting tables with quiet efficiency. He looked different from the others. Standing six feet tall with neatly packed long dark hair, his slim, muscular frame was impossible to ignore, even in the simple waiter's uniform. There was something magnetic about him, something that pulled her in before she could stop herself.

"Interesting choice," Eva whispered, following her sister's gaze. "Let's see if he's up for it."

When he finally got to their table, his face faded as though he'd seen a ghost.

He couldn't run because he was still conscious of his environment and knew that running hysterically on duty could lead to his getting fired.

The sisters exchanged confused glances. "Is everything alright?" Emma asked.

He swallowed hard, barely managed a stammered, "Y- y -yes, everything is fine."

But his body language gave him away. He was shaken, clearly trying to keep his cool. Something about them had rattled him deeply. It was nothing short of seeing a ghost.

They look exactly like Gabrielle, the goddess that had refused his advances for the umpteenth time back in Mexico.

How could people be so alike in this world? How? He just couldn't wrap his head around it.

He snapped out of his musing when Eva asked for his name.

"Alberto," he replied, this time in a more steady voice and a tint of Mexican accent that only amplified Eva's interest in him.

You see, Eva and Emma have been very close and they've always done everything together. The only thing they haven't shared is their sex partners, which was borne out of mutual respect for each other.

But as Eva's desire to have him heightened, her mind flashed back to when they were nine. The day she and Emma made a covenant of love, commitment, and loyalty to each other when their mother left them in tears and hugs.

Eva said, "Let's pinky swear" as she held out her pinky finger. And Emma, crossing her small fingers with hers, said, "I pinky swear that no man or woman will come between us, ever!"

Emma's heart beat a little faster because while her sister was in limbo there was an undeniable tension in the air... the way Alberto looked at them – no, at her stirred something unusual inside her. It was like he was seeing someone else, someone he longed for yet couldn't have.

Eva's voice pierced through the uneasiness, "Emma, let's go" and she turned to Alberto and said, "Let's have lunch tomorrow" passing him her card.

Alberto hesitated, a little taken aback, "I have work," he began, but Eva cut him short with the wave of her hand.

"Call in sick," she said turning to him with a grin. Then she pulled her glasses from her bag and put it on, walked away with Emma tagging along.

As they drove off, Emma's phone began to ring. "You left the mansion without your security details again," came her father's stern voice from the other side of the phone.

Emma simply said "sorry, Dad", as though it was nothing."So what's up, Dad?" she said trying to change the topic.

Their father was about to unleash his frustration on them, but decided otherwise. He had more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. "You girls should see me next week Friday in my study at 6 pm." He said under his breath and added. "Meanwhile, I just upgraded your credit card limit to $5m."

He could hear their screams of excitement and the fading sound of traffic in the background as he continued, "go treat yourself to something nice and be good girls..."

But their ebullient burst of happiness cut him short with screams of, "You are the best dad ever!"

He finally hung up the call smiling away.

The next day, Emma and Eva went shopping with Alberto. You could still see the excitement and glow of gratitude and happiness all over them.

As the week went on, the game the sisters were playing with Alberto continued. They showered him with gifts and attention. Gifts that Alberto could only dream of, and while he played along, he remained confused because, for one, he was starting to enjoy their company. They weren't the superficial scallywags everyone made them out to be.

Though he is unable to tell the striking resemblance between these twin sisters and Gabriella the girlfriend he never had, little did he know that he was in a game and the real game was yet to unfold.

By the time it was Saturday, everything was set for a grand dinner at the exclusive Hiroshi restaurant, where the final phase of their plan swung into full motion

The girls ran through a checklist to see that everything was truly ready.

Emma asked, "I hope the hidden cameras are up and ready?" Eva said, "Yes," grinning from ear to ear, licking her lip seductively.

She continued her questioning, "Are the cane, cuffs, and rubber in their proper places?"

Eva nodded, in the affirmative, beaming.

It was 8 pm, and it was a dinner to remember for Alberto.

Emma and Eva, having prepared meticulously, were dressed in identical, custom-tailored crimson gowns. The twins exude an aura of unrivaled elegance and sophistication. The gowns, designed by Elle Saab, were crafted from the finest silk; clung to their identical figures, detailing their curves. They were just breathtaking-every head turned as they entered the restaurant, their diamond necklaces sparkling under the dim lights.

About half an hour after taking their seats, Alberto is still nowhere to be found.

Emma said to Eva, you are the cause of this embarrassment! Beginning to get angry.

I am sorry, Emma; Eva apologized. We can just leave now, she said remorsefully.

Yeah, I think we should go before it gets worse.

Just as they were about to get up from their seats...