Chapter 3 Ruined night

"Lilli," I heard Leleti, one of my roommates calling me before knocking on my bedroom door, while I was preparing for my interview next day, since I had just quit working for the trash CEO Edward Carrington.

The shared apartment was small but I was glad to have my own room. Since Leleti and the other girls were also from my town and I knew them well, I did not have to worry about terrible flat mates.

"Come in," I said.

She opened the door. "We're planning to go out. Would you like to join us?"

I gave an excuse about preparing for the interview but she wouldn't let me be until I gave in. "Okay, I guess a few hours wouldn't hurt. Where exactly are we going?"

"I don't know. Maria's brother is coming to pick us."

"Salvador?"

I knew Salvador. He used to like me, said he loved me when I was in high school, not more than a year ago. Salvador was great, only a year older than Maria and I. He was the full package but I had failed to connect with him for some reason and thought he was just not the one for me. Even when I told him how I felt, he never got mad or hated me. He remained the same decent guy and did not even date anyone until some months had passed. Or maybe he did but kept it private. There are guys you reject and the next day, you see another girl on his arm. Most of them have such fragile egos that they want you to think you were not all that and he can easily find someone else.

"I'm so excited. He's going to show us around."

"Okay, I'll start getting ready."

"Cool," she said, closed the door and left.

I was alone again. I stood up and went to open my suitcases. I had not yet unpacked because I couldn't find the time. By the time I arrived, I was still working on my grant proposal. Now, I realized it had been a waste of my time. I had spent hours, trying to make it perfect only for it to be trashed by a certain arrogant CEO who lacked basic courtesy. I lifted one of the suit cases, the one I knew had my jeans and placed it near the bed then opened. I scooped out all the clothes in it and placed them on the bed then took it back. I returned to the bed and started sorting through them.

After choosing the perfect pair and dressing up, I went to join my friends in the living area.

"Salvador is going to be so happy to see you, Lilly." Maria teased with a smile. She had known that her brother always liked me and even she did not hate me when she found out I did not like him back.

"It's been a long time," I smiled. "I guess he'll be happy to see all of us since we all know him."

Leleti laughed. "You're just saying that. All of us know that you're his favorite woman."

"He's already here," Maria said after reading a message on her phone.

My heart was beating as I went down the stairs, wondering what it was going to be like seeing Salvador again. I found it weird to be feeling anxious, considering that I had no feelings for him.

He was standing outside his car, leaning against it. New York had done him good. He looked even more handsome and strong. He was wearing black pants and a white dress shirt tucked in, his arm muscles seemed to be straining the material of the shirt. He smiled when we got out, a sparkling smile that could melt even the heart of the coldest woman. I smiled as we approached.

"Hello ladies," he said.

We all replied. He asked us how we were finding New York and Leleti told him we were slowly adjusting since it was different from what we were used to.

Maria opened the backdoor and entered. I was going to follow but Leleti pushed me aside and got in. "why don't you take the front seat?"

"Nice seeing you again, Lilliana." He said.

I smiled. "Likewise."

"Let's go," he went around the car to open the door for me.

"You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to."

"Maria told me you were working on a grant proposal and went to submit it," he said. "How did that go?"

"Not well," I told him. "The CEO trashed it. He said he needed newer and more creative ideas."

"That's unfortunate. Edward Carrington, right?"

"Yeah, you know him?"

"Not personally but he's pretty famous here. When he was still practicing medicine, he used to be a favorite but he quit last year to become the CEO of his family's company."

"He's a doctor?" I asked. I had thought he was some shallow person who only got the position because he was the son of the owner of the pharmaceutical company. I was no better than him. I had judged someone I did not know.

"One of the best," he said.

"I bet many women must be sad they can't fake illness to be seen by him." Maria said. I was not surprised. Maria, in her deep hormonal teenage stage had gone to the school sick bay almost every week when they recruited a young male nurse, fresh from nursing school at school. She was not the only one. In the end, they had removed him and hired only older nurses to work there.

"In fact one of the tabloid magazines reported that he had quit because he was tired of women faking illnesses and bothering him," Salvador said. "I don't know if that's true or not."

"It's possible," Leleti said. "I know of someone who used to something similar."

I laughed. "I know one, too."

"Okay, whatever.' Maria laughed. "I know that you are talking about me. I was so stupid. I saw him a month ago and realized he was not even as handsome as he had seemed back then. He's just a regular guy. He's even too regular for me."

I sighed. "Those were good old times."

Soon afterwards, we were silently looking out of the windows at the streets outside, admiring all the beauty that New York had to offer. Occasionally, Salvador would point out some specific places to us. The offices of some big publishing houses, theatres, movie and TV series sets among other interesting places.

Salvador stopped at a nondescript apartment building and told us to get out.

"Didn't you say you were taking us to some kind of musical show?" Maria asked. "You know how much I love live bands."

"Just come with me."

We went in and entered the basement of the apartment building. We could hear voices outside. When we saw the inside, we all got surprised. There was stage equipment at the front of the room, a small minibar, some rugs near the stage, a few people seated on them, drinking out of plastic cups. They all looked like college students, young. Incandescent lights shone over them.

"Wow," Leleti said. "I've heard of this before. Secret musical performances."

"Never heard of them," I said.

"No one knows the venue or what performances, who is performing etc until the day before. They happen all over new York."

"You're right," Salvador said. "Since I couldn't take you to a club or bar on your first day this was the best I could think of. I've attended a few and loved them."

Then there was a loud cheer. I saw everyone looking at the entrance. Turing I saw Ernie Styles, one of the most famous pop stars entering the room with a group of about four.

"I'm going to faint, Lele." She said, holding on to Leleti. "Ernie Styles is in the same room with me." She screamed excitedly rushing to her brother. "Thank you so much, Sal. Oh, I can't believe it. Ernie Styles is here!"

She was beyond. She was hyperventilating. To be honest, she had the best brother. He did something meaningful. I was happy to see Ernie too. While I was not a big fan of his like Maria, I liked his music. He was alright. He had been in a band for years before they split up. I used to love the band, was obsessed with it but when they split up, I didn't follow up with individual members. With time, my interest in them waned and I did not care anymore. As for Maria, she loved Ernie like nothing. She was still crazy about him, and his music.

Ernie walked into the room and called a greeting to everyone. The room had suddenly become livelier, with people talking and some staring at Ernie Styles who went towards the front and talked with a potbellied man while his mates set up the stage. Three girls later arrived, backup singers probably. There was also a woman who Salvador said was a comedian, a male solo singer among others. We got some wine and sat on the rugs at the front. There were seats at the back, some sat on them but others chose to stand up.

I thought everything was going to be great. I thought I was going to enjoy my third night in the big apple. I had amazing people around me. Ernie styles was present. I thought I would enjoy the performances and leave feeling happy and refreshed. I was wrong, more wrong than I could have imagined.

The moment I saw Ronnie Trump entering the room, everything changed. Our eyes met and he smiled and walked towards us. Salvador had gone to the back with his friends after introducing us.

"Lilliana Rivers," he said.

I glared at him, hoping that would make him go away but it didn't. He seemed to enjoy my discomfort.

"Please, leave me alone." I told him.

"However much I try, I keep running into you. Leleti stood up. "You shut up and leave us alone."

He chuckled and went away. Maria placed an arm around me and Leleti sat down.

"Thank you, Lele."

"No problem. I hate him even more than you do."

It was impossible for anyone to hate Ronnie more than I did but I just kept quiet. My night was ruined.

To make it worse, my young brother Henry had tumors and was hospitalized, and my single mother couldn't afford everything the family needed. Although I was on a scholarship, I still needed to work to get the money for my brother's medical fee.

I would definitely get suffered tonight, especially thinking about the important interview next day...