Chapter 2

 While Samantha goes on and on about this new book, I'm already second-guessing saying yes to her. I don't really get how someone can just sit and read pages of just words written on paper and find it entertaining. Well I guess if it's the books Samantha reads, I can understand the amusement. It's a little sad though. Reading about some made-up relationship and wishing it was yours is next level loneliness, and some of the male characters she's told me about have been very abusive to their so-called partner, and it excites her. If I were to get into a relationship, I would want it to be with someone who's kind, trustworthy, and very protective of me. Not protective in a possessive way, but like make sure I get cared for even though him getting a little jealous would probably be a little cute.

"What are you chuckling about over there?" Samantha asked teasingly.

"I didn't chuckle."

"Oh yes you did. Almost like reflecting back on a good memory and laughing at it," she says while coming to a stop at the stoplight and then quickly turning her attention to me. "Oh, my, James. Are you dating someone?" She squeals.

"What, no. Why would you think I'm dating someone."

"Well, you made this adorable little giggle that I read about in my books, and it's usually when the character is thinking or daydreaming about this boy she likes."

I stare at her blantly. "You read way too many sweet heart books. The lights on green, go."

I mean, she wasn't wrong, I was daydreaming about a scenario, but there's no boy to imagine doing it because I haven't the least interest in dating right now. Things are chaotic as they are, and I should add a relationship to the list of things I have to put effort in, no thanks, I'm good.

"We're here!" Samantha shouts while pulling into a parking spot. "I only hope those smut loving girly gals saved copies for us."

"Where's this enthusiastic behavior at when you're at work."

"If work was as exciting as the books I read, then I'd be more enthusiastic."

I shake my head and follow her inside. As the door opens, the store is crowded with women of all ages, all squealing and giggling with a book in hand. I can see Samantha fighting her way through the crowd to get to where the newly stocked books are. As I try to keep up with her, my eyes glance at the cover of this new book everyone is so excited about. On the cover is a shirtless, handsome man, dark brown hair, daring eyes, and soft pink lips. He's holding the chin of a woman, who's face is unrecognizable and is only inches away from kissing her. I can see why they're all squealing over it. He's a very attractive man.

"I GOT IT!!" Samantha yells, drawing my attention to her. " There was like only 4 left."

The expression on her face was like a kid opening a gift on Christmas and finding out their parents bought their dream toy. Her eyes shun like the morning star overjoyed that she was able to not only get a copy for her but for me as well.

"Wow Samantha, put you in a sport where all you have to do is reach the last copy of your favorite book, and you're sure to win."

Feeling athletically pleased with her effort to get these copies, she smiled with pride." There's no new book I can't reach, no crowd to big, no cracks too small." She says while making a fist. "Now that we have these, I'm going to have a look around for anything else that may grab my interest."

"Don't get lost in it all, remember we have to be back at work by 1:00."

"Yea yea meilly, I know I know, I won't be late. Promise." She smiles back at me before disappearing into the isles.

I do a little looking myself. Hopefully, they have some fashion magazines I can look at for the time being, so I head over to the magazines section. To my surprise, they had the latest fashion magazines on which company is at the top and excelling in their brands. Ofcourse Salomé is at the top. It's been the top fashion company for years now with its rival Vincenze at second place and Zephyrine in third. Working at Salomé has been a long-lasting dream of mine, well, at least it was. All their design are so elegant, down to the stitching. The materials for each outfit are carefully chosen and are normally rare fabric. I can't imagine accidentally spoiling a design and having to get the materials to start over. That would have been a nightmare. I skim through the magazine some more, and there seems to be some issue going on. Just as I was about to read about it, I realized my watch was saying 1:35.

"Crap, where's Samantha." I flew up from the floor frantically looking for her.Once I found her, I dragged her to the cashier to pay for her stuff and bolted through the door. "This is exactly what I didn't want to happen."

Samantha buckled her seat belt and started to back out of her spot. "I thought you were keeping track of the time."

" I was, but I thought you were as well. You said you weren't going to get lost in the books."

"Meilly, rule number 1, never trust a book worm in a book store. It's like bringing an artist into Michael's."

"Ugghhh, should have just stayed at work."

"Hey, we're going to be fine. You have a perfect record at work. You're never late and always working over time. Very dependable. You might get a little slap on your hand for this, plus you're going to just work the minutes lost anyway."

"I'm never doing this again."

"Lighten up meilly, it's not like it's the end of the world."

"Samantha, I need this job. Everything I have is dependent on this job, so don't tell me it's not the end of the world because if I lose this job, it is the end of the world for me."

"Geees, ok, I'm sorry. I'll get us back as quickly as I can."

When we got back, we were 45 minutes over our lunch time. Of course, we were scolded by our supervisor, and I was told how much of a bad influence Samantha is. While I got a warning, Samantha got a 3 day suspension as a punishment for always being tardy as well as a warning of possibly being fired if it happened again. I'm hoping that she actually makes the effort to get to work on time and stop going over her lunch break.

It has been such a long day. The supermarket tends to get even busier in the afternoons, being that that's the time everyone's making a stop before going home. It was my turn to lock up today, so I made sure to check everything off, restock the shelves, and turn off the lights.

"I swear, I'm never taking my lunch break with Samantha again." I said while turning the keys in the door and closing the security gates.

From the looks of how the sky is, it seems like it might possibly rain. Luckily, I planned on taking the bus home today. As I walked towards the bus, stop searching my bag for the dollar seventy-five to pay on the bus, I realized I couldn't find it anywhere. I grabbed my phone out to see if I could pay for it off the app only for my phone to die the moment I turned it on.

"Uggghhh, today is just not my day. Maybe if I walk fast enough, I can get home before the rain starts. It's only a 15-minute walk, so I think I can make it."

I started my journey down the street praying that God might hold up the rain until I get home. At about half point to my apartment I felt a little drizzle.

"No no no, please no, I don't have my umbrella."

The rain begins to shower down heavily. Feeling completely defeated without shelter insight, I decided to just finish the journey in the pouring rain. As I'm walking through the beating rain I can't help but feel overwhelmed and started crying about everything that has happened in the span of 3 years. It wasn't always like this for me. Things were pretty good before my dad died. The only responsibility I had was to focus on school. There was no worries of paying bills or paying rent. We actually had a house that my mom and I had to sell to pay off my student loans. Mom had to stop working after dad died because his death took a toll on her and she had a heart attack. Dad didn't have a 401(k) neither did mom because they were their own boss. Every money they had saved was spent on his funeral and the rest was treating mom, so now all the responsibilities had fallen into my hands. I don't want to complain or come off ungrateful, but sometimes I wish someone else could take over. Sometimes I wish that I didn't have to handle everything on my own but I'm the only person my mom has, all her family are in Panama and can barely help themselves but boy does it get draining.

Drenched in water I headed straight to the bathroom to take my wet clothes off and take a shower.I wasn't hungry for dinner anymore so I jus told my mom good night and went to my room to empty my bag so I could hang it to dry. The book that Samantha bought for me was slightly damped so I placed it on the bed while searching for my phone and charger. After drying them off I plugged my phone in. I glanced back on the book on my bed. Curious of what this book was about I decided to read the description.

A helpless and desperate intern in search for a position at the biggest company in her city ends up getting a job as a secretary for the boss. While she didn't go searching for love, somehow love found her as the CEO for the company she now works for has developed an interest in her. Between sneaky office meets and being spoiled with material things, the intern can't help but to feel as if her CEO lover is hiding something.

Sound like those Instagram short stories I see all the time. But at least a CEO of a big company found an interest in her and start spoiling her. That would be nice if someone started showing an interest in me and start spoiling me, even if the feelings would be one sided.

"But that would make me a gold digger."

Well, it doesn't really matter, as long as some pressure is taken off of me and I don't have to withstand everything. I crawled into my bed and got comfortable under the nice warm sheets as I slowly drifted off into a deep sleep.

"Would be really nice if a CEO fell in love with me."