Chapter 1

• * * * * * Nora’s POV * * * * *
• The halls of Kelly empire were booming with life as the workers ran helter skater, the five star restaurant had been shut down, starting from that day, in preparation for the wedding that would be held there in a few weeks. It was not just any wedding but a grand one.
• It was rumored that both the groom and his bride were billionaires, so the manager had to ensure that the venue was at its best look. The workers were gossiping amongst themselves, the males envied the groom while the females wished they were the bride.
• Among the female workers was me; my name is Nora, I have just graduated from high school at the age of eighteen years and had taken the job up in order to raise money for my tuition fees in the university. I have plans of seeking admission as soon as I have enough money.
• Although my parents are still alive, I live alone not too far from the restaurant where I work. My parents are poor and I do not want to add to their burden, so I took this part time job as a cleaner in the restaurant.
• “Nora!” I heard someone call my name as I was busy taking off the cobweb on the backyard wall.
• I turned around and saw Bella, my colleague. The both of us plus three additional girls had the role of keeping the restaurant clean, and after preparations today, we are expected to stay back and clean the whole place properly.
• “Hey Bella, what`s up,” I answered with a smile.
• “Nothing much, Mr. Jones wants to see you,” she reported plainly
• I crumpled my face, wondering what that man wants this time. Mr. Jones is our supervisor and I do not like him at all. The way he looks at me makes me uncomfortable, and so I try my best to avoid him
• “Mr. Jones wants to see me?” I unconsciously repeated the question. “Do you by any means know why?”
• “Not really, he just said I should ask you to see him in his office,” Bella replied. “I need to go back to work,” she added and walked off
• I noticed the strange attitude that Bella had displayed. Was that jealousy? But why would she even be jealous of me?
• I waved the thought off and headed to see the supervisor, his office was on the left block of the building.
• I arrived at his office and knocked on the door, while waiting patiently for permission to come in. A minute later, I heard his voice from the inside.
• “Come in,” he instructed.
• I opened the door and walked in, the supervisor was sitting on his desk, with a smug smile tugged on his lips.
• “You sent for me sir?” I muttered, with my face down, avoiding those flirty eyes.
• “Yes Nora,” he replied and stood from the table. He approached me and stopped beside her.
• He touched a few strands of my hair and that made me feel uncomfortable, I moved a bit away from him and he chuckled.
• “You are really beautiful Nora,” he complimented with a smile plastered on his face.
• “Thank you sir,” I replied nervously, cursing in my mind.
• “Stop calling me sir, I have told you several times to call me Jones,” He said and frowned.
• “But you are my superior sir?” I replied, still trying to avoid looking him in the eyes.
• “It doesn’t matter, okay? Anyway I called you here so I can ask you to go on a date with me tonight; we could go to some club, have a lot of fun, then we take the party home, what do you think?”
• I swallowed hard; I could not even imagine myself going out with this man, not just because I do not like him but because I was not ready for any of this.
• “I … I am sorry sir, I can’t go out with you,” I replied, my mind skipping in fear of his reaction.
• Mr. Jones crumpled his face on hearing that, I guess he was disappointed as he had not expected the rejection from me. Many of the female workers here wait for such an opportunity but I had the guts to turn him down.
• “So you mean that you don’t want to go on a date with me? You are declining my request,” he asked while watching me with furrowed eyebrows.
• “I am sorry sir,” I replied, still looking down.
• “Yes, you would be sorry… Get out my office,” he instructed in a stern voice.
• I gulped and turned around. I had angered the supervisor today and even though he didn’t have the power to fire me, he could still get back at me by punishing me, but I have no idea what the punishment could be.
• I walked out of his office without looking back; I had made up my mind to face the outcome. I would not go on a date with him; he even said take things to his house, who knows the nasty things going on in his mind.
• * * * * * * * * * *
• Later that evening, the other workers were done for the day and it was left for the cleaners to stay behind and keep the restaurant neat before leaving for the day. I had almost forgotten the issue with Mr. Jones as I had not seen him again since the incident.
• While the workers were leaving, I was surprised to see my colleagues leaving as well. I thought it was a joke when the first two left, but then I also saw Bella leaving.
• “Bella, where are you going?” I queried, she was halfway out of the restaurant already.
• “Oh, Mr. Noah said I can take the night off,” she replied to my surprise. Mr. Noah had given her a leave?
• “What? But Rose and Olivia just left, who is going to do the cleaning then?” I queried.
• “I don’t know, you can go and ask the supervisor,” she replied rudely and walked out.
• I was stunned, this better not be what I am thinking. I hurried towards Mr. Jones office and met him halfway out, he was already leaving.
• “Sir, did you give the cleaners a night off?” I asked in a shaky voice
• “No, just all apart from you, the cleaning of the whole restaurant would be carried out by you tonight.” He replied bluntly and walked out on me.
• That’s when it dawned on her; this was the punishment for my refusal to go out with him tonight.
• Few minutes later, the whole restaurant had been deserted, all the staff had left apart from those in charge of the light and security, but their office was upstairs so I was practically alone.
• I hurried and started the cleaning; my heart was boiling with anger and I despised Mr. Jones for what he had done. I was in a hurry because it was getting late already, if anything was to go wrong in the restaurant under my care, then I would be questioned. I swept and mopped the whole floor and around ten AM, I was through with the whole work.
• Well, doing that work was not much of a problem for me, I was from a middle class family and we do not have maids or servants to do the cleaning for us.
• I grabbed my handbag then headed out of the door, I walked out of the restaurant while looking into my bag to make sure that I had left nothing behind, suddenly I bumped into someone and the contents of my bag poured on the floor.
• “Sorry,” we both muttered at the same time. I had not seen his face but I could tell that he was a man from his masculine voice.
• I bent down and began to pick the items while he helped me. We picked almost everything and put it back in the bag, it was just my comb left on the floor. I went for it and he did too at the same time, our hands met and I felt electricity surge through my body.
• His hands were cold but tender. Whatever lotion he was using, it was doing well to his skin. I withdrew my hand slowly and looked up, straight into those grey eyes that made my jaws drop.
• Was he some sort of Demi-god or what? I can’t remember seeing anyone as handsome and hot as him before, his pink lips looked tender and mushy, his long and straight nose stood firmly above his upper lips.
• “Sorry,” he apologized again and returned the comb to me. His husky, yet calm voice jolting me out of my little trance
• “It’s fine, thank you,” I replied and accepted the comb, then I put it in my bag and we both stood up simultaneously.
• “So, do you work here?” He asked plainly.
• “Um… yes, is there a problem?” I asked. I don’t know why but it seemed like I had seen him before, his face looked very familiar.
• “No, not at all… I just want to see the manager,” he replied.
• “Oh, sorry… the manager had already left; maybe you should come back tomorrow. All the workers are gone, it’s just me here and as you can see, and I am also on my way home.”
• He groaned and looked around in disappointment; it looked like he desperately needed to see the manager.
• “Okay, it is fine, are you going that way? I can drop you off,” he offered, with a solemn expression on his face.
• I thought about it for a few seconds, well that’s how fast my mind processes things. I felt like it would not be a bad idea getting a lift from him, since I was going to trek anyway.
• “Yes, that would be nice, thanks.” I replied with a little smile. It was dark already and unlike him, I was not standing in the light, so I doubt he could clearly see my facial expression.
• “Okay, I would lead the way,” he said and walked off, I followed behind immediately.
• I couldn’t help but notice that he was wearing clothes with famous brand Logos, his jewelry looked really expensive and his cologne was so strong that my nose flared. I could tell that he was rich.
• We got to his car and he opened the front door for me. It was a really nice car, he got in and drove off in silence. I could see that he was bothered about something, the expression on his face was that of sadness, but it did not make him any less cute.
• The silence between us was awkward and I was not sure I would be able to survive it for the next ten minutes that it would take to get to my house. I thought I should start a conversation with him.
• “So, you could share your problem with me, I could help you.” I said almost in a whisper.
• “Huh?” he muttered and stared towards me with a worried face.
• “You look worried, tell me what is wrong, I might be able to help you,” I said boldly.
• He groaned, then sighed. “I wish you could, but you are in no position to help me.” He muttered.
• I see, but what exactly could he want from the manager?
• “Okay, maybe I can't help you or offer you a solution to your problems, but my mom would always say, no matter what situation you find yourself in, never lose hope or give up, because there is always a way out.”
• He smiled slightly, “your mom must be a nice person then, I don’t know if I can have as much faith as her, but I will keep those words in mind, thank you.” He replied.
• I nodded and smiled back, then I looked out of my side of the window. He seems to be a nice person, I pray he finds a solution to his problems soon.
• Few minutes later, we arrived in front of my one room apartment and I asked him to drop me, he seemed carried away and it took me tapping his shoulders to get his attention. He was really worried, I thought the rich have nothing to worry about.
• “So, do you mind telling me your name?” he asked, with a smile I considered flirtatious, but I doubt it was intended.
• “Oh, I am Nora, and thank you for the ride, enjoy the rest of your day,” I said with a smile.
• “Hmm… I doubt I will, but thanks anyway.” He smiled back and drove off.
• I stood there and watched his car disappear into the darkness. Well that was it, we were probably never going to see each other again, but I can say I felt a connection to him,I have not spoken to such length with a stranger before.
• I turned around and walked into my house, this was going to be another cold, lonely night.
• To be continued!!