Loving Poppy (ON HOLD)

0.2 "Sugar cookies and transport business."

02. "Sugar cookies and transport business."

Poppy.

A comfortable silence settled around them as they waited for Carla, poppy's maid, to get them tea. Poppy's wound was treated and bandaged, for which Alessandro was happy.

Poppy did not like the silence, however comfortable it might be. Poppy did not like it. She smiled at him when she saw him looking at her. It was already very new to her, she never brought anyone home before, let alone a boy.

She did not mean to crash into him. But her brakes were failed, she had no control over the thing.

But she had to admit, he was beautiful. A very beautiful human being. At first she thought he was mad and will shout at her but he was very nice. He even offered her a ride back home.

He had been nothing but good to Poppy and she was happy. Carla came in with a tray of tea and sugar cookies, Poppy's favourite.

Once served, Carla went back to the kitchen, leaving Poppy and Alessandro to themselves. The silence did not do well on making things less awkward for Poppy. She never started a conversation, she was too shy. She did not even think before inviting him in, she knew she won't get into trouble because her mother was not home, nor was her sister. And she trusted Carla to not say anything.

"Tell me something about you." Alessandro said suddenly making her jump in surprise and almost spilling her tea in the process. She recovered fast and processed what he had said. 'Something about me?'

"What about me?" She asked and he leaned back on the couch where he was seated.

"Anything. Just want to know the girl who crashed into me." He said with a chuckle and sipped the tea again. Poppy blushed at the 'crashed' word. She did not do it on purpose.

"I am sorry. It was not intentional." She mumbled and made Alessandro looked down at her.

"I was just kidding Poppy. About the crash part not the 'wanting to get to know you're part." He said. This made Poppy even more confused. She wondered why he wanted to know her? Would he be interested in being her friend? He would be her first friend in New York! Shifting from California was a decision that made her lose all her friends. She would be glad to have one here.

"What do you want to know? You tell me, I will answer." She replied with a small shrug. Alessandro nodded and opened his mouth to say something but a phone ringing interrupted him.

He took out the latest iPhone model from his suit pant pocket, his mouth formed into a frown when he looked at the caller.

"I am sorry I have to take this." He mumbled apologetically.

"It's okay. Go ahead." She said and continued to munch on her favourite sugar cookies. They were still warm and nice, just how she liked. Carla was the best cookie maker and Poppy loved them.

"What do you want Ben?" She heard Alessandro say harshly. She did not want to listen and intrude but how could she not? she was sitting at a hearing distance from him. She just pretended she couldn't listen to anything he was saying.

"Then what the f**k do I pay you for Ben?!" He growled. Poppy let out an involuntary gasp at the swear word. She did not curse in her life, and advised others not to too. Making a mental not to tell him not to swear again she nodded to herself.

"Well I don't care. Get that b****y shipment by the time I get back or you will not like what will happen." He hissed and she could feel the coldness of his words even though they were not directed at her. She felt bad for the person on the line.

Alessandro disconnected the call and turned back to Poppy. She smiled and asked him if everything was okay.

"My men lost a very important shipment. I am just pissed." He said shortly and Poppy nodded.

"So are you into transport business? You know with shipments and all. I couldn't have guessed." Poppy replied with a thoughtful gaze.

Alessandro almost choked on his tea. Poppy did not understand. She only knew that shipments were related to transport, so she concluded that he was in that line.

"Yes, yes I run a transport business. You are right." He replied still trying to catch his breath and coughing occasionally. It was not entirely a lie, he had business in transport line, but she didn't need to know the details.

"I should be leaving now. It's getting late, and I need to take care of some stuff." Alessandro suddenly said and got up to leave. Poppy followed suit and got off the couch. She walked him to the door like a perfect host and waved at him as he drove away. Though he left a little too early for her liking.

Later that evening, while Carla was fishing preparing dinner, Poppy took the time to look for some jobs around the city.

Poppy had recently shifted to New York with her mother and Elder sister, Lilly, all the way from California. Her first thought after graduating college was to move away from home. Poppy wanted to move in with her best friend Kathy but couldn't because her mother, Rebecca, and sister Lilly decided to move with her. Much to her dismay.

Poppy did not have the best relation with her mother and sister. Her mother was a very good lawyer and worked in a big law firm. She was not home most of the time, almost ignorant to Poppy and Lilly. This was highly disturbing for Poppy during her childhood as well as an adult but Lilly couldn't care less.

Lilly was popular back at home. She was outgoing and head cheerleader. Unlike Poppy, she never had problems facing a crowd. Lilly was known to be a humble and sweet girl among others but her true colours showed at home. A bitter and cold hearted person was what Lilly was.

But as the years passed Poppy grew used to their behaviour. Sometimes Poppy almost thought she lived alone. It was peaceful, as much as it hurt to think about it.

Alessandro's thoughts invaded her all of a sudden. Poppy was glad she met someone so nice. She wished to meet him again but what were the odds they would cross paths again? After all they had not exchanged numbers.

Drawing a long sigh Poppy went back to her job hunting and shortlisted a few places that were hiring.

She did not need any money, her mother earned enough to last a lifetime but Poppy did not want to live off her mother's money anymore. She wanted to be independent and explore. All her life Poppy had been the shy girl who sat in the corner with her precious books. Now she wanted to be more. She wanted a change and for that coming to New York was a great choice.

"Poppy honey! Dinner is ready, would you like to eat now?" Carla's sweet voice brought her out of her thoughts and she glanced at the big clock hanging on the cream walls of the house.

It was almost 7 o'clock and she felt hungry.

"Coming Carla!" She called and quickly changed into her pajamas. Poppy always found it easy and relaxing to eat in her pajamas, a habit she had inherited from her father. Her mood dulled a little at the thought of her late father.

It had been 8 years since her father's death. She felt a lump grow in her throat as she thought of the times they had spend together. He was her solace, her favourite human in the whole world and his memories brought tears to her eyes. Poppy decided this was not the time to cry, her father never liked when she cried. She bounced down to the dining hall and smiled at Carla.

"Here dear, eat up." Carla served her and prepared a plate for herself. Poppy insists Carla to eat with her in the absence of her mother and sister, since she never liked to eat alone.

They made small talks, asking about each others day. Finally Carla asked about Alessandro, she had been buzzing to ask about since the handsome man showed up at the front door with Poppy.

"Who was the handsome man you brought home Pop?" She asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Poppy did not know what to say. Was Alessandro a friend? An acquaintance maybe? She was not sure. But that did not matter she thought, they were most probably never meet again. That though did not feel very nice.

"You mean Alessandro. I crashed into him on my way from the library. Poor guy, I almost crushed him under by bicycle!" Poppy said as if it was the most horrifying thing in the world. Carla just laughed at her silliness.

"I hope he was not hurt too much by your bicycle, dear. That would be scandalous." Carla said and Poppy nodded.

"He was not. He even offered to drop me home since my cycle was broken. You saw my wound right? That was because it fell on me." Poppy said with a pout. She could still feel the sting.

"Oh honey, it will be alright. Tell me more about Alessandro. He seems nice."

"Oh he is! He is into transportation business." Poppy said and went back to her food, there was nothing more she knew about Alessandro.

"Well that's great. You are meeting new people and that is a big step. I am so proud of you." Carla said and patted her head then collected their plates and put them away.

Poppy may not have her mother around all the time but she had Carla. She was more of a mother for Poppy than Rebecca ever was. And Poppy was glad to have Carla in her life.

She went back to her room after bidding a goodnight to the humble housekeeper/maid and prayed before retiring to bed. She slept with a smile on her face. Content that today went good.