Chapter 3

“So, you’re an accountant?” Harry asked, sitting on the edge of the desk. By this time, both of them were crowding me.

“I- aspiring accountant,” I said, uncomfortable.

“John, can you leave?” Harry asked. The Johnathan guy was about to protest, I think, but a look from Harry silenced him, and he went out without much fuss.

After Johnathan had gone out, Harry went and sat in the chair. He almost belonged there. He looked so powerful and masculine, and I think my mind could shut up.

“You’ve been trying to avoid me,” he said with a smile and his sexy ass accent.

“I, uh, I haven’t?” I said, or more like asked.

“You have. And you haven’t been succeeding,” he said, making me frown. Haven’t been succeeding? I’ve successfully avoided him for about a week. What was he saying?

“I have been avoiding you for a week now, mister. And so well, might I add,” I said proudly.

He laughed, and I frowned again. “So successfully that every time you tiptoed past, I heard and saw you. Remind me what you wore yesterday? A pale blue sundress and-”

“It’s alright. You’ve won,” I conceded with a frown. I was really sure I was a master in stealth, and he had broken my dream just like that.

“So, tell me about you,” he said, and I hesitated. What did I say? Continue to answer the question the other man asked me? Or go professional?

I decided on the former. “I’m, I uh, I’m single. I’ve never actually had a boyfriend. Or gone on a date for that matter. I-”

“Woah woah woah. Hold up, little lady. You’re cute and all, but I just want to know about your professional competence,” Harry laughed, making me blush.

I was stupid. That was a fact.

“I… I just thought… cause- God, I’m so stupid. Please let me start over,” I begged. I really needed a job, and this was the last interview. I needed to nail it.

“Go ahead, little lady,” he waved his hand for me to talk, and I sighed in relief. “Why do you think I should hire you?”

“I, I am good at what I do. I am passionate and-”

“Darling, I don’t need a rehearsed answer. I’ve been listening to those for hours, and I’m already tired of them. Tell me, why should I hire you?”

“Because I need this job,” I tried again, but Harry shook his head.

“Tell me, why do you need this job?” He asked, and I sensed that it was the last time he was going to do so.

“I... I need this job! If I don’t get it, I’ll have to go back to my town and maybe work in a fast food restaurant making minimum wage. I don’t want that. I don’t want that for my future.”

He nodded when I finished, then said, “You can leave now.”

I was perplexed. That was it. He was going to make me pour my heart out and then just ask me to leave? What the hell?

“Sir?” I asked to be sure I had heard him correctly the first time.

“You can leave, darling. Thanks for your time,” he said, and I raised my brows. Wow. What an ass.

I was tempted to say what was on my mind, but I was tired. So, I picked up my stuff quietly and went out of his office. I didn’t bother to tell his receptionist or the asshole who had distracted me (Johnathan) goodbye. I was pissed at the world.

I walked briskly to the elevator and got in, not bothering to greet the people in it this time around. I was convinced none of them deserved my hospitality. I was tired.

I decided to walk home to reflect a little bit on what I was going to do next. Even though this town was not my dream town, it was better than being in that backward town where everybody, and I mean everybody, judged you.

I couldn’t go back there. I suffered a lot there. And going back would be a suicide mission.

I had lived in a small town where everybody knew the other’s business. You could have sex, and the next day, everyone would know you had a passionate orgy with about four men! God bless her soul. Or you didn’t attend church for one Sunday, and I heard she’s part of those Illuminati people.

I looked up suddenly and realized I had trailed away from the path to the house. I turned around to look for a familiar place. But nothing.

I went back a little bit, but I still could not find my way. I was officially lost. This was really one of the worst days of my life.

To top everything off, I didn’t know anyone in this town to call. And even if I did know someone, my phone was dead. And from what I was seeing, there was no store or cafe for me to ask for directions.

I walked till I reached a small coffee shop and got in. I thought of asking right away where I was but decided against it. I ordered a coffee and a muffin.

About forty-five minutes later, I was done. And I managed to organize my ideas. I went to the counter and smiled at the guy standing there.

“Excuse me, I know this sounds like a stupid question. But where are we? Like the street? My phone is dead,” I rushed to add so that he did not think I was a total airhead.

He laughed, and I blushed a bit. “It’s alright. You’re lost?”

“Yep,” I sighed in self-deprecation.

“Aw, don’t sound so down. My shift will be done in about fifteen minutes. Can you wait and I direct you to wherever you’re going to?”

“Yes! Thank you,” I said with relief evident in my voice. Thank goodness he had proposed. Because I was shit at following directions, and since my phone was dead, I couldn’t use Google maps.

I sat in a corner and waited. I lost track of time and got startled when he tapped me on my shoulder.

He looked so much taller now that he wasn’t behind the counter. He was really attractive, and his long hair and piercing only added to his appeal.

“Let’s go?” He asked with a smile, and I returned it. I took his outstretched hand and stood up, not forgetting to pick up my bag from the floor next to the chair I had been sitting on.

“So, where are you heading to?” the guy asked as soon as we got out of the coffee shop.

“Fifth Street,” I answered, looking at him from my long eyelashes.

“I’m heading there too!” He answered with an excited smile that was so contagious I had to return it.

“I’m in luck then,” I said, and he laughed.

“You so are. I’m Parker, by the way, and you are?” he asked, and I smiled. I was getting tired of calling him ‘the guy’ or ‘he’ in my head.

“I’m Iris, but not after the flower,” I added, then felt incredibly stupid. Why did I have to add that? Damn.

“Huh? After what then?” Parker asked, and I smiled in relief. My question hadn’t made it so awkward.

“Do you know Iris DeMent? That was probably a stupid question, but my parents loved her so much they decided to name me after her,” I explained jokingly.

“Well, the backstory of my name is not as interesting as yours. My mom liked the name, proposed it to my dad, and they agreed on it. End,” he joked, and I found myself laughing. Had I laughed this much in one day before? I didn’t think so.

As I was about to say something, probably stupid, he led me to a parking lot. We walked to a car, and he opened it.

I entered hesitantly, a bit skeptical. The car looked expensive, maybe too expensive for someone who worked behind the counter of a coffee shop. But I bit my lip and stopped myself from saying anything.

The drive was fun. Parker was funny, and it didn’t hurt that he was attractive. I found myself laughing at stuff that wasn’t even funny but that he managed to make funny.

Soon enough, I spotted my apartment complex. “There it is,” I alerted him, pointing at it.

He slowed down, then parked carefully to get a ticket. Or I think.

I turned to him and said sincerely, “Thank you so much, Parker. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“No problem,” he said, then added, “and we’re not going to find out how it would have ended up if I didn’t see you.”

I nodded and returned his easy smile. “Thanks again,” I said and made to open the door.

But his voice stopped me. “Wait!” I turned and looked at him. “Can I have your number?”

My heart started pittering in excitement. I had to admit I had kind of been expecting this, and I was happy he had asked for my number. I took his phone and inputted my number, muttered another thank you, and went out of the car after he unlocked the door.

As I was walking toward the building, I let the small laugh I had been holding in come out. Today was not so bad in the end. And I was kind of happy about what happened at Harry’s office. It had permitted me to meet someone and even exchange contacts! Now all I had to do was find a job, and my life here could actually start.