CHAPTER FOUR | REVIELING THE TRUTH
2129 Words
We walk side by side along the sidewalk, and pedestrians are annoyed about having to walk around us because my new friend refuses to let go of my hand. It did not matter that he so desperately wants to hold my hand; I don't mind it one bit; instead, my swirling thoughts about 'why?' bother me.
Why is this person so determined to help me when he doesn't even know my name. Neither many others do. It is a security risk to give out my name, and therefore I only it if it is absolutely necessary. My children need to be protected, and if this is the only way to do it, then that's what's going to happen.
He don't let go of my hand until we stand outside the café and he opened the door for me. The coffee smell hit me, and I breathed in the scent deeply. I love coffee; there is absolutely nothing better. Unfortunately, I cannot drink coffee anymore; it can be risky for my babies.Hence, I have stopped drinking coffee the day I first met my doctor.
"What do you want? Of course, I'm paying," he says without looking at me, carefully examining the menu on the wall.
"I can pay for myself; it's all right. Thanks anyway!" I calmly answer and dig in my purse after the wallet. He puts his hand on my shoulder and finally looks down at me, which he has to do, considering that he has to be at least seventeen inches longer than me.
"I insist. Please, choose what you want," he says smiling softly at me, gently hugs my shoulder in conviction; I nod and put my wallet back down.
"Then, I would very much like to have tea with soy milk, please, "I answer with a smile.
"No problem! Go and sit down; you should not stand more than necessary. I'll be right back with our order."
I walk towards a free table in the corner of the room and sit down in an armchair with trailing steps. While I am waiting, I have the opportunity to look around. The big Starbucks logo sits on the wall behind the p*****t counters. The walls paint is a cream-colored beige shade with green hanging lamps above the tables.
Black armchairs scatter at the bright wooden tables in the room. There are several light paintings on the walls with coffee quotes on them, and the floor is shiny white, probably freshly cleaned.
"Here you go," says the man and put down my cup in front of me on the table. "I hope it will taste good."
"Thank you," I say, and he sits down opposite me with a cup of black coffee in his hand. "You're very kind."
His cheeks heats, and a light pink shade begin to appear on his ear lobes. He clears his throat in an attempt to recover from the embarrassment he obviously feels.
"So, we haven't gotten the chance to introduce ourselves to one another." He stretches out his hand for me to take, which I do. "Jaxon."
I don't answer with my name; I simply shake his hand and tells him that it's nice to meet him.
"Why don't you want to tell me your name?"
"I can't tell you, it's not safe," I answer and look down at my hands to anxiously play with my fingers.
"Why isn't it safe?"
"Because he can find me and then..."
I interrupt myself before I have time to say something more because too much has already slipped out of my mouth. My eyes widen with horror when I realize what I've done. My breaths get shorter, and the panic spreads within me. How could I be so foolish?! Jaxon might as well be sent here by him...
"Hey, breathe, in and out. Nice and easy. Listen to my words and ignore everything else. You're going to be okay; nothing's going to happen."
His word calms down my swirling inside, full of poisonous scenarios. My breath becomes smoother and calmer, the more I listen to his words. After a little while, I breathe normally and look up at him through my eyelashes, self-conscious by how I had reacted. My eyes fill with tears that I refuse to let go of.
"I'm so sorry, thank you," I say, and he stares into my bright blue eyes anxiously.
"You have nothing to apologize for. If there's someone to apologize, it's me. It is clear that you have pieces that you are not ready to talk about." Jaxon says with a small smile on his face. "But maybe I can learn other things about you. Stuff that you would want to tell me."
"Like what?" I ask, and he leans back in the armchair while itching his head thoughtfully.
"What's your favorite color?" he asks, and now it's my turn to think.
"Either light blue or turquoise," I answer, and a smile is playing at his thin lips.
"Do you know the gender of your babies?" he asks, and I shake my head, 'no.'
"Aren't you curious?" he asks and looks at me with surprised eyes that makes me laugh at his words, if he only knew how many times I've heard that question already.
"I am, but I prefer not knowing. It would feel like getting a present you already know what it is. The magic kind of disappears."
"I've never thought about it that way before; you're smart."
"You sound surprised," I answer with a raised eyebrow.
"Not at all. I just find it interesting how a girl of your age already has achieved such maturity and intelligence. It is remarkable and admirable," he says, and his words warm my heart.
"Thank you."
We silently sip our warm drinks and look out the window for a while after that. It feels like neither one of us knows what to say or do. In the end, I'm the one who breaks the silence.
"So, what do you do?"
"I'm the COO at Damian Winston corporation."
My eyes widen. That company is one of the most successful companies in the world. They cover a large part of the work market here in the United States. Including construction, financial transactions, trading, and transport.
I've never sat down with a successful person like this before for a cup of coffee; it makes me very self-conscious. Which unfortunately also Jaxon notices when I nervously start to fiddle with my hair.
"Huh, not the reaction I imagined," he says with surprise embedded in his voice.
"What do you mean?" I ask with nervousness clearly demonstrated in my voice.
"Most girls start to fake laugh, toss with their hair, do a duck face with their lips, swank with their back so that their breasts look bigger, swing extra much with their butt... Yeah, you know what I mean," he answers and wave his hand casually while I scrunch my nose with disgust.
"Why the hell would I want to embarrass myself like that? I'm not some barbie or damsel in distress. I have survived and made it by myself for over five years alone with absent parents who value other things more than their only child. I don't have to act like a desperate bimbo to make others like me," I answer and point to my baby bump, making it evident that at least one person like me.
Jaxon laughs loudly at my comment, and it takes almost a full minute before he manages to calm down. He wipes the tears from his eyes.
"You have fire in you, beautiful. It is something that I admire and value highly. It's not bullshit with you; you're prepared for what you're getting into, and don't hesitate to say what you think. I like you."
I smile shyly and put a hand on my stomach. It is a little sore after the pressure that my children continue to push against the skin. I caress my bump slowly and breathe deep breaths with closed eyes. Jaxon is worried about me; I can see it in his eyes.
"Sometimes it really hurts, and then I have to do this to be able to relax. The tensions do not disappear otherwise," I explain to calm him down.
He's about to say something when my phone signal interrupts him. I give him an apologetic smile, and he indicates that I can answer.
"Hello?"
"Hello, sweetheart," Giselle's voice says on the other side of the phone.
"What can I do for you?"
"I'm afraid that I have bad news..." she says, and I try to swallow the lump forming in my throat.
"Okay, tell me."
"We're bankrupt..."
"WHAT?!" I yell and rise quickly from the armchair. "How the f**k did that happen?!"
"Don't upset yourself, darling, please. Steve had to take our profits to fix the building. An inspection was made earlier this week, and the house is not up to code. I thought that I could make it without the money, but I have now realized that there's no way this will work. I'm really sorry to say that you, unfortunately, starting today, you're without a job," she says, and a tear slips from my eye; I try to calm down my heart that's beating erratically.
"It's okay, I understand. Thank you for everything."
"I'm really sorry. We'll talk soon, okay?"
"Yeah, bye."
I hang up the phone and put my head in my hands. I have forgotten that Jaxon is sitting opposite me and therefore jump when he clears his throat.
"What happened?" he asks, and I sigh deeply, close my eyes for a moment before I open them again and tell him.
"I lost my job."
"What? Why?"
"Bankruptcy."
"Oh, that's too bad. I liked that café."
"Me too... The problem is that I need the money."
"I understand that three babies on the way, alone, and no job. I can look at the company and see if we have any gaps to fill."
"I can only work for another month; then, I can't do it anymore anyway."
"Let me at least check."
"There's no need; I will survive," I say and rise from my seat and pick up my bag. "Thank you for the tea."
I smile and walk out. The embarrassment of what just happened before Jaxon's eyes troubles me. How can I show myself weak in front of a person I don't even know? Stupid, stupid, stupid... I mentally beat myself over how I handled the situation. To my delight, I see that it is my apartment isn't far; I can walk and be home in ten minutes.
Raindrops meet my face when I look up at the gray sky. With a sigh, I start walking home. I slowly walk up the stairs, and my body aches. When I get to my door, I see that a note stuck on it.
"Dear residents,
we are sorry to have to announce that we will now have to raise your rent by $ 400 a month in order to be able to pay for the renovations that will soon take place. If you have any questions, please contact Steve."
My heart stops for a moment. $ 400?! I can't afford that! Oh my god, I lost my job and my home on the same day...
"f**k!" I scream in frustration.
I slide down along my front door and land on the floor in a sitting position. Unable to hold my tears any longer, I release all I have gathered inside of me. I'm sobbing loudly and sitting on the floor until my tears are over. I finally get up and open my door. I'm just about to close it when a hand stops it. Jaxon is standing in front of me, exhausted; it looks like he ran a marathon.
"Hello?" I say, perplexed.
"I'm sorry, I followed you because I wanted to know where you lived and heard you scream from outside. I thought something had happened to you, so I ran up here. Never doing that again, damn it, " Jaxon says between his heavy breaths.
"Thank you, but it's okay. Just a little trouble."
"Can't I please have your phone number? I'm worried about you, especially now that I know you've lost your job, and that you also tread up and down these stairs every day."
I hesitate at first but then nod and receive his outstretched phone. I enter my number and call myself so that I will have his number too.
"Thank you; now I can sleep peacefully. See you," he says and begins to walk away.
"Wendy," I say, and he turns around.
"Huh?"
"My name is Wendy."
"Nice to meet you, Wendy," he says and smiles before he walks away, while I close the door and feel relieved; I have a friend.
A/N:
Hello everyone!
I decided to change from chai latte to just tea, considering I got lectured about it even though I've worked in a coffee shop. Anyway, I will continue to edit the book until it's done, but since it isn't my first priority, it can take a while until it's completely edited.
Please, let me know what you think about the chapter! Lots of love!
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