THE GIRL IN THE ORANGE KITTEN HEELS:

"Money talks and wealth whispers, you know, Eve. I love whispering... and talking," Lila chuckled. "I have a date tonight."

"Don't you always?" Eve said.

"Attention class," the professor's voice interrupted, making Lila roll her eyes. She quickly texted, "Ugh, I'll text you his name and send you his LinkedIn in case he kills me..."

8:30 PM

"Help, Eve! Do I wear the black or orange kitten heels?"

"Orange always! They make your eyes pop. And you never sent me this guy’s info. I can’t have my best friend end up on the Citizens app"

"OK and okay I’ll send over, love you, bye."

Lila adjusted her vibrant orange kitten heels as she entered the upscale restaurant, always a fan of Omakase. Her date, Alex, was already there, waiting at the bar in sleek sneakers of a brand Lila probably had never heard of, well-tailored pants, and a button-down with a quarter-zip over it. He looked like a man—one she wanted to be around. While she approved of him, his eyes lit up with approval as well. She felt her cheeks blush and her body tingle as they made their way towards one another.

The date started wonderfully, Alex pulled out her chair and pushed her in, something her dad had only ever done for her. Alex proved to be a charming and attentive listener. As he ate his  Wagyu nigiri he asked Lila questions about school and her family. He briefly shared stories of his travels and his business ventures, leaving Lila genuinely impressed. His laughter was contagious, and his demeanor was unexpectedly down-to-earth for someone so accomplished.

Just as Lila was savoring a bite of her dessert—fried ice cream, who knew it was so good?—her phone buzzed with a discreet text from Eve:

"Googled your guy. He's the CEO of a major oil company. BIG money, Lila. But be careful!"

Lila's interest piqued further, and she decided to explore deeper into Alex's views and lifestyle. The evening progressed beautifully as Lila and Alex discovered shared interests and laughed over personal anecdotes. She loved that he made her feel old and wise despite being young and maybe a little bit naïve. At the end of the date, he picked up the check swiftly; as they were getting up to leave, he put his hand around her back, making her feel a rush similar to what she had felt on a fairground ride she went on as a child. Outside the restaurant, Alex kissed her softly, a kiss Lila imagined people wrote and made movies about—the kind of kiss that makes your foot pop. Following this, he complimented her outfit, "I’ve never seen anyone wear orange shoes; you look beautiful," Alex said, before putting her in a taxi. 

Their first date was just the beginning; it led to a series of outings, each more delightful and revealing than the last. On weekdays, sometimes he would invite Lila to his office, where he would finish up work and she would sip on the organic sodas—the kind you couldn’t buy at any regular grocery store; you had to go to one uptown. On Sundays, they would play squash at a club he was a member of in the city. This made Lila feel special and different from the other girls her age, like she was dating someone cooler than they ever could. But then she would remember that she wasn’t dating him. And he wasn’t hers to claim.

As the months seemed to double, Lila learned more about Alex’s personal life, which included his sister—coincidentally named Lila—who always brought a smile to their conversations. Alex’s love for reading was evident from the extensive collection of literature that filled his living room bookshelf, from rare first editions to contemporary masterpieces, including a prized copy of the Gutenberg Bible. Lila admired this about him; his passion for knowledge and adventure was beyond the substantial wealth he had accumulated. It was his personality that charmed her the most—intelligent, thoughtful, yet surprisingly humble.

Despite the deep connection they were forging, there was one topic that often cast a shadow over Lila’s spirits—the nature of their relationship. Alex was adamant about keeping things casual, resistant to any labels that might define their bond.

"I really like where this is going, Lila," Alex would say, his tone sincere yet non-committal. "Why box us into something conventional when what we have is anything but?"

Lila, however, found herself struggling with this perspective. She appreciated the freedom of their interactions but craved the security that came with a committed relationship. His stance on avoiding labels, a stark contrast to the depth and understanding they otherwise shared, puzzled and saddened her.

Lila’s mom had always warned her about older men who only sought out younger women. She listened, but Alex seemed different. He never made her uncomfortable; quite the opposite, he made her feel more comfortable than when she was alone. He laughed at her jokes, read the books she recommended, and seemed to really care about more than just what meets the eye.

Yet, she couldn't deny the joy that Alex brought into her life. His niche humor, his ability to quote her favorite authors verbatim, and the warm evenings spent discussing everything from old music to philosophies on kids and marriage—these moments were more than she could have hoped for, overshadowing her concerns about their undefined status.

As they walked through Central Park one evening, Lila watched the leaves gently tumble in slow spirals around them. She saw two squirrels and thought, "I wonder if they are boyfriend and girlfriend?" Reflecting on the complex tapestry of feelings she had woven with Alex, she found his reluctance to define their relationship deeply disheartening. In the back of her mind, she harbored hope that the depth of what they shared might eventually inspire him to seek something more substantial than an undefined romance. However, she realized that she would not be the one to wait and change a grown man's mind.

With a sense of newfound resolve, Lila decided it was time to say goodbye. As she stepped into the cool city night in her orange kitten heels, she felt a whisper of wealth—but this time, she was the one doing the whispering. She would cherish the memories, the laughter, and the shared quiet moments, but she would not compromise her need for certainty. Tonight was her final act of whispering to a heart that wouldn't listen.