Chapter 3 A Girl Like Nora

• * * * * * Nora’s POV * * * * *
• I arrived at the restaurant. Just like yesterday, the billboard sign said “Closed” but one can still see through the glass door. I pushed the rotate door from the right and walked in.
• The place was booming with decorations for the wedding. It needed just a few finishing touches to make it perfect. I got engulfed with the feeling of marriage; I wondered what it would feel like to get married.
• I had no idea what dating feels like, talk more of marriage. Even though so many boys tried to get my attention in high school, I ignored them and preferred to be single. I was always focused on my studies not because I enjoyed being called a bookworm but because I wanted to make my poor parents proud.
• I believed that there was time for everything; I should not be hanging out with the spoiled girls who let rich boys spoil them with money. It was not like none of them was attracted to me, a lot of them made attempts at me but I refused to be tempted by their money.
• “Nora, you are here,” the supervisor`s voice jolted me out of thoughts.
• I just realized that since I walked in, I had been standing, unconsciously clutching onto my handbag like I had a million dollars in it.
• “Good morning sir,” I greeted with a smile, acting like nothing had happened the previous day. Of course I still despised him, but to irritate him by making him feel that his punishment had no effect on me, I had to look happy.
• I could tell that he was a bit disappointed to see me smile like that; he had punished me yesterday, hoping I would learn my lesson today, but here I am, still pissing him off.
• “Good morning, how was yesterday night?” he asked with a smirk.
• “It was good, thanks for asking,” I replied with a smile of my own.
• “You know Nora, a beautiful girl like you should not be stressing yourself so much like this, yesterday night you could have come with me and I would have treated you to a quality dinner, you would have enjoyed the whole night. But no worries, today is another day, how about we go for dinner tonight at some five star hotel, then go clubbing afterwards,” he requested with a smile plastered on his face.
• I was silent for a while; I had no idea why this man kept troubling me. There are so many girls here who would jump at his offer so why does he keep pestering me? He should just go with one of them.
• “I am sorry sir, but I still can’t go with you.” I replied as politely as I could. I was trying not to cross my limits while stepping on his toes.
• Mr. Jones furrowed his eyebrows. He must be surprised that I was rejecting him a second time.
• “Come on Nora, stop playing hard to get and just say yes, I promise to spoil you with all the love in the world, we would have a lot of fun,” he persuaded.
• “I don’t want any of that sir, please forgive me,” I declined once again.
• “Just drop this act already, I know you are not as innocent as you claim to be, why can’t you date me? Huh? Tell me why you won’t be my girlfriend. Is it because I am not a millionaire? Because I don’t ride in a big car? Girls like you are so greedy,” he fired, now getting irritated.
• Me, greedy? So he thinks I am after rich guys, what a big jerk, I am not like the other girls he knows and if he thinks he knows me, then he is wrong.
• Luckily, there was no one there to watch the drama unfolding; the other workers were at the back. If anyone could see us, it would be the guy at the CCTV control room, but unfortunately he wouldn’t hear a word of what we are saying.
• “Please stop this sir, you are embarrassing yourself, I don’t want to go on any dates with you so please stop trying to force me,” I replied calmly.
• “I might not be able to get you fired but I could make you suffer, so think wisely before you answer. Are you going to go on a date with me tonight or not?”
• I was frustrated. Where in the world does a man force a woman into a relationship or to go on dates with him? And what does this fool take me for? A gold digger? He had mentioned that I was rejecting him because he didn’t have millions or a big car but how many times has he seen me with a guy in a big car?
• He also said that I was pretending to be innocent. Whether I was innocent or not, what does it have to do with the fact that I refused to go on dates with him?
• Maybe I should report him to his superiors, but wouldn’t that put me in more trouble? If I report him and he doesn’t get fired, then he would without doubt make the rest of my days a nightmare.
• “I am sorry sir, my answer still remains the same, I do not want to go anywhere tonight so please pardon me, but it’s a no,” I stated in finality.
• Mr. Jones crumpled his face, I refused him again so he was probably going to make me suffer.
• He groaned angrily, “very well then, I thought I should let you know what work you would be doing today, you have to…”
• He paused when we noticed two luxurious cars parked in front of the restaurant, then two able bodied men in black suits walked out of the second car and into the restaurant. It was obvious that they were bodyguards, but who were they guarding?
• The men walked to us with a solemn expression on their faces, they had dark sunglasses that covered their eyes.
• “Hello, how may I help you?” Mr. Jones queried, while I stood beside him silently.
• “We are here for her,” one of the men replied, pointing to me.
• My mind flipped and I wrinkled my eyebrows, “Me?” I asked, while looking around to see if anyone else was behind me.
• “Yes, you are Nora right?” he queried.
• “Yes, I am but who are you guys?” I asked back, with my heart beating loudly in my chest.
• One of the men dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out his identity card. “You don’t need to be scared, we work for Mr. Tony Queen, and our boss would like to have a word with you.”
• I was familiar with that name, it was the name of the man who was getting married in the restaurant a few days from now, but I had not seen him before, so why did he want to see me?
• “Is there a problem?” Mr. Jones asked.
• “No, not at all but if you are worried, you could call our boss to confirm.” He replied, “Please come with us young lady.”
• “No, I am not going anywhere with you, I don’t even know you or your boss, what does he want from me?” I queried.
• “I am sorry ma’am but we don’t have an answer to that question, we were strictly instructed to bring you to him, and we have to follow orders, so please come with us.”
• The men`s words made my heartbeat pick race, they made it sound like I was in for a lot of trouble but what had I done wrong? I have not even met him so what does he want from me?
• I turned to Mr. Jones and he gave me an evil smile. Then he chuckled.
• “Oh girl, it looks like you have messed with some really tough people, people you should have never stepped on their toes. I always told you that your greedy nature and stubborn attitude would put you in big trouble someday, it looks like that day is today,” he laughed in mockery and walked away.
• I couldn’t believe he was leaving me to face this alone. I scoffed and turned to the bodyguards, it didn’t look like I had much choice, they might force me if I refused to follow them. I wondered if Mr. Noah’s words were true? But I don’t remember doing anything wrong? So why would I be in trouble?
• The men led the way to the cars, they opened the back door of the first car and I walked in. fear was flickering in my eyes and my breathing paced, my heart had never moved so fast. I was scared, curious and anxious at the same time.
• The bodyguards got into the second car and the drivers drove off with me sitting alone in the backseat of the first car. I had not been in such an expensive car before, but not even the air conditioning could calm down my nervousness. I was petrified to my bones.
• To be continued.