Chapter 1 Meeting a Handsome Stranger

Emily

Sitting down in the park, the cool evening breeze washed over my skin as I watched the children play, adults sitting on the nearby benches conversing or going on their merry way. Watching everything unfold, took me back to a time when I was a kid and I would enjoy the company of my father and mother when we would usually play in my favorite meadow that was near our house back in Texas. Those were happy days for me, and every day I wished I could be transported back to that time–– when I was happy and had no care in the world.

Sighing, I got up and walked back to my apartment building where I checked on the woman who made my heartbreak every day due to her condition going downhill. She was still fast asleep, lying peacefully with a smile on her face. Walking into her room, I kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “I love you mom,” before I ventured into the living room where I watched television until my mind got tired. Going into my room, I lay on my bed and closed my eyes, and fell asleep instantly.

Ring! Ring! my alarm went off blasting through my entire room, causing me to quickly shot up out of my sleep. I cursed the day when the inventor of the alarm clock invented the annoying contraption for their irritating and loud as hell. It seems these things go off when you're dreaming about something amazing that you don't want to wake up from because what you're dreaming about is pure bliss or when you are all snuggled up––enjoying the warmth of your bed when boom there goes the stupid alarm clock, going off and ringing very loudly irritating your nerves.

Looking at it in disgust I turned it off, wiped my eyes, and got out of bed. Stretching my tired aching limbs, I walked to the bathroom where I stripped out of my nightwear and stepped into the shower. Turning it on, I allowed the warm water to run over my body soothing my aching limbs. My body felt very tired and everywhere hurt, it was because I was doing overtime to generate more funds so I could buy my mom's medications that are now long overdue, that and the fact that I was lacking good sleep.

I had to be up and about every morning before dawn to make sure that my mom's breakfast was made, the house was in good order and to also get ready for work.

My mom was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer a year ago, and I have been struggling to pay for her chemotherapy and buy her medications. Since I am her only child and my dad had died from a heart attack when I was seventeen years old, I am now the breadwinner of the family. Due to her illness, I told her she should stay home and rest and I will provide for her and myself.

Since recently things have been getting harder to manage. The pay that I am receiving at the local bookstore that I worked at, which was very small, cannot cover the monthly bills, rent, medication, chemotherapy, and food items so I have decided that I will be looking for a job very soon with better pay and benefits. Turning off the water, I stepped out of the shower and walked to the mirror where I wiped the fog off that had escaped and fogged up the glass during my shower. Staring at my reflection, I saw a very beautiful petite girl with hazel eyes that once had a spark, hair that was long, black, and shiny, and a face that was pale and seemed much older than my age.

I used to often consider myself brave but truth to be told, I was a coward I could never defend myself not now and not when I was back in high school except for that one time I had to humiliate a rich guy who tried to use me for my body and to humiliate me in front of the entire school. I had to stand up for myself that day. I was thirteen years old when my dad had gotten a great job in Washington DC, which had resulted in us moving from Texas. The home that I grew to love with the beloved meadow that I enjoyed running in when the sun was setting and the tall grass had that evening glow to them.

Moving meant that I will be going to a new school and mixing with persons more fortunate than I was. We had gotten a small house, it wasn’t like some of the mansions I had passed while driving to school but it was comfortable and I liked it. Unfortunately for me, being the new kid and living in a small house were two combinations that resulted in you getting teased and bullied by rich snobby kids. I would often go home every day and cry on my mom’s shoulders, telling her I hated this place and I wanted to leave. I told her I was going to tell dad that I didn’t want to live here anymore but when I saw the smile on his face and the way his voice came out cheerful when he spoke about his new job, I kept quiet and I made my mom promise to keep quiet too.

I had endured the bullying and eventually gotten over it because I told myself that this was only temporary and life couldn’t get any worse but it did. It was like the universe was mocking me for some unknown reason like I did something wrong and karma being the bitch that she was was coming back to take revenge on me for something that I didn’t do.

It was Wednesday night when my mom and I was in the living room watching our favorite movie when we heard a knock on the door, it was an officer and he had come to inform us that my dad had suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital and was pronounced dead before he could even make it there. I felt like I was hit by a ton of bricks, I felt so lost… I felt like a part of me was gone and it was. I was depressed for months until one day I met a guy that I had fallen in love with and was quite smitten with. He was my rock in my time of need and I felt like I could trust him like I could offer a piece of me to him. I considered him to be my boyfriend.

But like I said, it was like I wronged the universe and karma was coming back to visit me, to torture me. That same guy that I had grown to love, was not who I thought he was. I had later come to find out that it was a one-sided relationship and he didn't feel the same way for me as I did for him. He was just trying to use me, to get in my pants then tell everyone how much of a slut I am. He used his charms and wits to comfort me, to invite me so he could use me–– that was how much of a douchebag he was.

I heard that he always did that to girls, humiliate them then laugh in their faces, he was a cold-hearted bastard and he thought that he could pull the same stunt on me but I had found out earlier about his ugly personality before we had actually could do anything, I had turned the cards on him humiliating him in front of the entire school. I told everyone that he was a maniac and that he had a small penis. That didn’t work out for me as I was labeled a whore, a slut, and was shamed every day.

Looking back, I saw how stupid I was falling for a rich guy. Back then guys like him couldn't fall for girls like me, not that something was wrong with me, it's just the popular crowd didn't quite “hang” with persons who weren't rich, wear designers, drive expensive cars, or live in huge houses with maids and butlers.

The constant bullying and humiliating Jake Smith didn’t make the situation any better and because of this, my self-esteem had dropped. My mom was tired of the tears so the insurance money that my mom had gotten from my dad’s death was enough to allow us to move to New York, a city where there were better opportunities and fewer snob bitches. Now, all that money was finished, and I was the one who was working to provide for both of us.

Sighing to myself, I tore my eyes from the mirror before I proceeded to brush my teeth. Finishing, I went to my room where I got dressed in my work attire, a black pencil skirt, a white V-neck ruffle sleeve blouse, and a pair of black flats. The same dull colors I wore every day––white, gray, or black or all combined.

After I got dressed, I walked to my mother's room to check on her. Opening the door, I saw that she was still sleeping soundly. Walking inside, I kissed her on her cheek before I went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast and lunch for both of us. After it was finished, I ate before I packed my lunch then put hers in the refrigerator. I then went to her room where I left her breakfast on the table beside her bed before exiting the room and going out the door.

Exiting my apartment, I locked the door behind me before I hurriedly walked down the hall and through the main door that led out to the street. Walking to the bus stop, I arrived just in time to catch the bus which would stop a few meters from my workplace. Entering I saw that Joe wasn’t the driver and I must say I was a bit disappointed. Joe was an elderly man who often drove the bus that took me straight to work when I was working at the bookstore. He was very caring and because of his nature, that’s how we had met.

Three years ago, I was on the bus sitting in the seat feeling nostalgic as memories of My dad washed over me so suddenly. I suddenly burst out crying, thankfully I was the only occupant otherwise from Joe on the bus. Joe had heard me and pulled over and came around to where I was. He asked me why I was crying and I told him and he began to comfort me. He cracked joke after joke and I could honestly say that I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. From that day forward, we became friends and every time he worked he always picked me up no matter where I was.

Arriving at work, I opened the doors to the bookstore and stepped in before closed the door behind me. Due to the bus system, I have to leave out early so normally I'm the first one who arrives so the manager entrusted me with the key.

Going inside I powered on the computer and sat down around the register waiting for everyone to arrive before we officially opened and before you know it, it wasn't long before I started buzzing the employees in. The day went on with a drag, people were hardly coming in and out of the store. Seeing that the day was going slow, I decided that I should take a quick lunch break but before I could, I heard a buzz at the door. Pressing the button, I buzzed the person in.

In walked a handsome man dressed in an expensive black suit that seemed to have been painted on his body. He looked like a male model or a picture straight out of a magazine. Standing about “six feet two” with a head full of black hair, a chiseled jaw, and an aquiline nose that complimented his handsome face. My eyes further scanned his body and I saw that his shoulders were broad and his huge muscles could be seen bulging through his expensive suit. He seemed like a man that demanded attention everywhere he went and at this moment in time, he had mined.

“Hello, good day. What may I help you with, sir?” I said to him but I doubt he heard anything I had said because he was staring at me like he had lost all his senses. While staring straight into his big beautiful brown eyes, I repeated, “Um hello sir what can I help you with?”

Snapping out of his gaze he smiled at me affectionately, to which I returned.

“I was wondering if you have the book titled ‘Start with Why?” he asked, “it's a business book,” he added after he saw that I looked puzzled.

“Oh, yes I think we do; would you like me to escort you to the business section?” I asked.

Nodding his head, I led the way. Reaching the business section that was located at the back of the store, I carefully but very hastily searched for the book. Not that I was in a rush or anything but because this man was very handsome and he made me very nervous.

The way he walked you could tell that he was very cocky and arrogant and I felt slightly intimidated but there was no way I was going to let him know that. He seems like the type of man that feeds off the fear of others, by looking at him I could tell that he was rich by the way he was dressed. Finding the book he asked for, I handed it to him before speaking then pointing in the direction that we just came from.

“You can cash it upfront.”

With a devilish smirk on his face, he asked, “Aren't you the cashier?”

“Oh- y-yeah,” I stuttered, before nodding feeling like an embarrassed idiot. With my face the color of a bright shade of pink, I hurriedly walked back to the front of the store. Arriving at my station, I cashed his item and placed it into a bag handing it to him. Taking the bag from my hand, I felt a small pull of gravity and little bolts of electricity emitting through my body when our hands touched. Giving me a wink, he walked outside the store. Shaking my head at him, I waited until he was out of sight before I went to the employees' section to catch my breath before having a quick lunch.

The rest of the day was uneventful and at exactly five pm when my shift ended I went into the backroom to grab my stuff so I could go home and rest. I wasn't doing overtime today because my six weeks of overtime were up. I was a bit happy because I was still very tired and I needed the time to rest. Collecting my items, I was about to walk out when Tim, one of my co-workers stopped me. Tim was someone who you could describe to be a nuisance, standing about ‘five feet three’ with a face full of acne and scars, a badly shaped nose, and beady eyes. He was the type of person I tried to avoid because of his personality.

“You still won’t go on a date with me Emily?” He asked hopefully.

“Tim, I'm going to tell you for the last time, I do not like you in that way and I won't be going on a date with you anytime soon,” I replied, annoyed by his persistent behavior.

“We will be going on a date one day, keep that in mind Emily,” he spoke confidently.

Scoffing at him, I rolled my eyes and walked away.

I swear he is so persistent and annoying. Don't get me wrong, it's a good trait that I like a man that I am very fond of to have but when I'm not interested, I find it to be downright annoying. Walking away I went around the front where I headed for the front door and then to the bus stop. Upon arriving I was just in time to catch the five-fifteen pm bus. Embarking, I paid my fare and sat down. Once again, I was disappointed to see that Joe wasn’t working.

Getting myself comfortable, I took my Ipad that my dad had gifted me for my twelfth birthday out of my bag and turned it on. Tilting my head back resting it on the hard seat, I closed my eyes as the words of Keyshia Cole’s Love flooded my ears. Hearing the words of the song, an image of the gentleman who had come inside the store earlier was now at the front of my mind.

Wait what the hell? I asked myself. This could not be happening. I can't believe I am thinking about someone I just saw and hardly even know. It was strange really because I am not the one to daydream or lust after someone that I had just met, not after what had happened back in high school.

Reaching my apartment building, I opened the door and was about to walk in when I felt a pair of eyes watching me intently.

Looking across the street, I saw a man standing in the shadows of one of the buildings across the street smoking a cigar. I was trying desperately to make out his face but I couldn't. Looking at him, I felt a chill run up and down my spine and an eerie feeling overtook me.

Swallowing hard, I hurriedly closed the door and leaned against it panting hard.

Regaining my composure and putting on a straight face I hurriedly walked to my apartment. Opening the door, I walked straight to my mother's room where I knocked on the door before opening it.

“Mom,” I called out to her. “I'm home.”

Walking inside, I saw that she was laying on her back just staring at the ceiling. She will often do this when she feels depressed and thinks that all hopes are lost. Going over to her, I sat at the edge of the bed and took her hands in mine.

“Mom we will fight this just please be strong,” I said to her but all I got was silence. Getting up off the bed, a single tear rolled down my cheek and I kissed her on her forehead before I walked outside of the room. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it and started crying.