Chapter 7 The Offer

• “I am sorry. You are not fit for the job.” The manager politely slid her resume towards her. Disappointment washed over her. It was the second place she had tried that day. The small café shop had a sign that they needed a waitress. Since she no experience, they had rejected her.
• The first place she tried was the job of a salesperson in a small outlet. They asked her about her past experience and after knowing what she did for a living, they ushered her out quickly saying they did not need a salesperson.
• She had never felt so insecure that she did at that moment after failing to secure a job in those two days. She had been seeking for a job since the previous day when she got a call that she was fired. She was not going to give up. She would find a job soon.
• She left the café and decided to call it a day. Her phone was dead and she was so tired because she had not been sleeping and eating properly. What she worried the most about was how to inform her mother that she had lost her job and how to bear the expenses. The monthly rent of the apartment was due and her mother needed medicines.
• She reached the apartment wiping the sweat off from her forehead. She pressed the elevator button, but it seemed like it was broken again as it was not moving.
• “Great!” She huffed. She had to ascend forty something stairs to reach their floor. She was already drenched in sweat. She was thinking deeply about where to apply next when she stepped on something soft.
• “Ah! What the hell!” She kicked the dead mouse on the stairs. It made her want to throw up. If it was some other time, she would have screamed with terror. But she felt so defeated—so drained that day. She did not even want to scream. Everything around her was getting on her nerves. She wanted to pull her hair out in frustration. She wanted to cry so badly, but she knew her mother would be able to tell that she had cried.
• After huffing and puffing, she finally reached her floor. She tried to compose herself a bit so her mother would not question her. She fished out her keys, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
• “I am home.” She announced cheerfully after stepping in. Her “cheerful” tone sounded fake to her own ears.
• “Come here, Olivia.” She heard her mother’s voice from the living room. She heard some other voice of a man as well. It made her frown. Except Mary and Sana, they did not have guests at their place usually, let alone a man…
• She shrugged and went inside. She was shocked beyond words on what she saw before her.
• “You!” She exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. Her mother looked at her confusedly for some reason. She did not ignore the fact that her mother had been chatting politely with the man before she entered. What the hell was he doing there?
• “Hi Olivia, I was waiting for you.” He smiled getting up. She was so dumb-founded. Not only was he at her place, he was acting like it was the most normal thing in the world. How the hell did he find her address?
• “What are you doing here?” She asked folding her arms. She was a little bit scared after suddenly finding him at her place. But he did not seem like he was there to harm her or something. Rather, he looked like he was at some formal event. He was wearing nothing unordinary. In fact, he was wearing simple jeans and a black t-shirt that fit his buff body like a second skin, but there was something about him that made him look out of league of everyone. He had a special aura about him.
• She still could not put her finger on what he wanted from her though.
• “You promised to meet me tonight. Did you forget already?” He laughed. He was so confident that she almost believed he was telling the truth.
• She was glaring at him thinking of throwing him out of her home when he came close to her and before she could process what he was doing, he hugged her.
• “What the—” She wanted to yell when she felt his mouth near her left ear. His warm breath left a shiver down her spine. Her ears were sensitive. Nothing and everything made them tickle.
• But that was not what concerned her at that moment. She had sweat all over her body. She was worried she stank.
• “I want to talk to you. It’s urgent. Please let’s go out for a few minutes.” He whispered. His voice sounded desperate. She frowned as she looked at her mother.
• Her mother was looking at them with confusion written on her face. She tried to smile at her.
• “She is mad at me. We have been making plans to meet, but I am always so busy.” He explained the non-existent plans between them seemingly convincing her mother. She was confused. It truly seemed like he wanted to talk about something important to her. But what?
• “Olivia, Thomas told me that you two are friends. You did not tell me you had a guy friend.” Her mother’s voice did not sound inquisitive but curious. She always pestered Olivia to find a guy and fall in love. Olivia’s priority was her mother though. She believed she had a lot of time to do that. Right then, her mother’s wellbeing was what mattered the most.
• “Oh! I’m hurt.” Thomas put a hand on his chest and looked at Olivia with a smile.
• ‘Quite an actor! Aren’t you?’ She addressed him in her mind.
• “Go and get ready, Olivia. He has been waiting for you to return for a while now. I tried calling you, but your phone was switched off.” Her mother told her. She slapped her forehead.
• “I forgot to charge my phone this morning.” She had forgotten to charge her phone, “I will go get changed.” She gave a glare to Thomas who smiled at her in return. She had to pretend otherwise her mother would get suspicious.
• She went to her room thinking why she was going along with his plans. He did not give off the negative energy to be doubtful of him. It would not hurt to listen to what he would have to say. But she was worried that he was going to tell her mother what her work nature was like. He probably did not know that she had hidden the fact from her. What if he told her she was a stripper? Oh no!
• She wanted to run outside, but she was drenched in sweat. She hated to stink. She had no choice but to take a quick shower. She wore a pink sheer shirt and white pants. She had had enough of jeans in that hot weather. Making a quick messy bun, she exited the room. It was not like she was going on a date, so there was no point in putting on makeup. In fact, it had been so long since she last went on a date—three years probably.
• She came out of her room to find them talking and enjoying. She was surprised at her mother. She was not the social type that was probably why she only had one friend. She shared her mother’s trait as she was an introvert herself.
• “She had always been like that ever since she was little.” Thomas was laughing at what her mother had said. She frowned. What were they talking about?
• She cleared her throat making them both look up. Thomas assessed her looking at her up and down, weirdly, with a smirk.
• “I will come back in a few. Take care, okay?” Olivia told her mother who was looking at her with a warm smile. She wanted to get it done with quickly.
• “Don’t worry about me. Enjoy your time.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and looked at Thomas with the same suspicious look. He smiled at her in return.
• “Let’s go.” She rolled her eyes at him and went ahead for him to follow. He did and they were out of the apartment.
• “Will you tell me what do you want?” She spat. She had a long day, so she was in no mood to entertain anyone at that moment. Thomas looked at her with a soft smile.
• “Wait up, will you?” His calm response made her angry, but she took a deep breath.
• “Let’s go outside. I cannot talk here.” He switched to a serious tone. She kept glaring at him but went ahead towards the stairs.
• “Wait! Why aren’t we taking the elevator?” He called from behind her. She turned around briefly.
• “Because it is broken.” She raised her brows and informed before continuing to descend the stairs.
• “It was not when I came here.” Despite her telling him it was broken, he pressed the button only for him to be embarrassed. But he was not. He shrugged and came towards the stairs while she was standing there and looking at him with a mocking expression.
• “What? I did not know it would break so soon.” He told her when she kept looking at him smugly. She shook her head and continued to go down.
• “Why do you live here?” He asked her after some time. It seemed he was already breathy. It was funny considering his built, and how much he must have been working out. A few stairs and he was out of breath.
• “What do you mean?” She asked without turning around.
• “Don’t mind, but this looks so shabby. You must have a pretty decent earning, so…” She knew what he was trying to imply. Even her co-workers were surprised to find where she lived. It was true that she earned enough to live in a nice apartment, but she could not tell anyone how she was the only source for her mother to live.
• “Did you come here to pass unwanted comments on my life?” She turned around folding her arms. He stilled looking at her with surprise. He must have not expected that.
• “I am sorry.” He raised his hands in defense. She continued walking until they were at the ground floor. She let out a sigh of relief.
• “Let’s go inside my car.” Thomas walked forward but stopped when he felt her not following him. He gave her a questioning look and noticed that she was debating whether to follow him or not. She still looked suspicious.
• “Don’t worry. I am not here to do anything stupid. I have an offer for you.” He must have caught her hesitation as he quickly inserted. It made her even more confused. What kind of offer did he want to make to her? And why?
• “My car is parked just outside. Please.” She looked at him, and he genuinely looked like he wanted to talk about something important. She nodded and followed him making him smile.
• He brought her to his car which looked so expensive. She knew he was rich, but she did not know he was that rich. Everything about him scream expensive. She felt a little small if she was being honest.
• He opened the passenger door for her, and she got inside after thinking for a moment. She was concerned about the fact that she was going to share space with a stranger--alone.
• He himself took the driver’s seat before talking.
• “Should we go somewhere or talk here?” He asked. She let out a sigh. She did not want to beat around the bush. She was already nervous at the way he was acting with her. Just the other night, he behaved with her so rudely. She had assessed the world and its people enough to know that no one would act nice without any reason. They would do so only when they needed something from you.
• “What do you want?” She asked coming to the point. He looked at her for some moment before taking a deep breath.
• “Marry me!” He said without missing a beat, making her gasp.
• What?